Date:06/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/06/stories/2008100659801000.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

DMDK’s scheme for visually challenged

Special Correspondent

The project will offer them holistic career training and create a venture capital fund

— Photo: M. Vedhan

launching a life: DMDK president Vijayakant inaugurating a project for visually-challenged persons in Chennai on Sunday. Premalatha Vijayakant is in the picture.

CHENNAI: Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam leader Vijayakant on Sunday launched ‘Light a Life,’ a project to provide holistic career training to the visually challenged people.

The training will include personality development, conversational English, basics of computer, advanced JAWS (job access with speech) and entrepreneurship training and counselling. It will be given through 60 computer education centres in districts. K. Pandiarajan, observer for the DMDK’s central Chennai unit and the brain behind the project, said that besides professional job registration and support, the project envisaged creation of a venture capital fund for the physically challenged.

“Any candidate with entrepreneurial spirit can draw a capital support ranging from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000. If three people form a team, they can draw up to Rs. 1 lakh,” he said.

Mr. Vijayakant said the DMDK was the only party in the State to have a separate wing for the physically challenged people. DMDK presidium chairman Panruti S. Ramachandran said the State government was only implementing the schemes envisaged by Mr. Vijayakant.

Mrs. Premalatha Vijayakant gave away identity cards to 300 persons to enable them to undergo the training.