Steps for providing quality education and skill training to create employment opportunities for youth with disabilities were discussed at a southern regional meeting of the State Network of Organisation at a meeting here on Saturday.
Presiding over the meeting C. Shanthakumar, Director, Spastics Society, Tiruchi, said that though the government had given certain concessions for employment of youth with disabilities, many posts reserved for them were not filled up.
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Employers generally felt that the education level and skill training given to them were not up to the expected standards. Hence, the Network had drawn up a series of programmes to improve the level of education imparted and skill training given.
The objective of the Network was to promote inclusive education, advocacy and skill-oriented training for youth. About 25 NGOs have joined the State-level network of which 30 resource persons of NGOs from Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Theni and Dindigul districts participated.
L. Lobithas, consultant for NGOs working in the field of disabilities, explained the advantages of networking at State-level since it would be in a better position to work on behalf of various NGOs and also share their experiences and learning to develop further the cause of the youth with different abilities.
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Mr. Gnanasambandhan of Anbagam, Mayiladuthurai, said that according to the existing rules, no home for differently challenged youth run by NGOs could keep them in the homes above the age of 18.
Pouline Sofia Rani, programme coordinator, INTACT Special School, Tiruchi, stressed the importance of forming parents association in all special schools to get their support and lobby for policy changes for these voiceless youth.
Ramola Das, Headmistress, YMCA KAMAK Higher Secondary school for the Deaf, Madurai, welcomed. V.Ganapathy, consultant, State-level network, proposed a vote of thanks.