Training centres for disabled remain closed

CHENNAI: Despite serving the needs of several differently abled persons in the city from 1976, the Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for the Handicapped, run by the Government of India, has faced a new roadblock. The retirement of its trainers for three of the 13 trades that offers coaching in, has led to the closure of those sections for more than a year now.In its plush CTI campus in Guindy, the Vocational Rehabilitation Centre (VRC) for Handicapped, serves the needs of special persons throughout the year by organising special training programmes. Training is provided through the year, free of cost, in 12 trades, including screen printing, radio, TV and computer hardware, repair of domestic appliances and photography. The courses are organised through the year, with syllabus framed as per the needs of the individual, and his disabilities. At the end of the year, a course certificate and a stipend of Rs 2,000 is given. Currently, 90 students are pursuing training in different trades in the centre. “This training in specific vocations helps the disabled secure a job easily. Only last week, 29 such differently abled persons from this centre got employed in different posts in Godrej,” said PK Cherian, psychologist, VRC.Now, however, courses in metal trade, tailoring and carpentry have currently been halted. The reason is that the trainers for these three courses have retired and replacement recruitment is yet to be made. “The trainer for metal trade retired more than two years ago, while a trainer for carpentry retired in February this year. There are two tailoring courses of which one is non-functional now, as the trainer retired two years ago. We have written to the Ministry of Labour, which will have to consult with the Department of Personnel and Training and the Department of Finance, based on which recruitment will happen,” said PK Cherian. It is expected that the recruitment will be done in a year’s time, he added.