THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vocational Rehabilitation Centre (VRC) for the disabled at Nalanchira has joined hands with the Centre for Disability Studies to organise an innovative training programme for the hearing-impaired to enable them to face recruitment examinations.
The VRC, which is under the Directorate General of Employment and Training, Union Ministry of Labour and Employment, has been organising programmes to help the disabled find self-employment. The new programme is meant to help hearing-impaired gear themselves up for the recruitment examinations conducted by the Railway Recruitment Board, Staff Selection Commission and banking agencies.
While the Centre for Disability Studies would chip in with the funds, VRC would offer technical assistance. The preliminary classes have been kicked off at the LBS Centre here and they are getting a good response from the students. An NGO, formed by the parents of the hearing-impaired, also has been rendering help.
‘’There have been no major programmes directed at the hearing-impaired. We thought that this kind of training would help them change their lives for the better. As of now, we are holding it every Sunday, but during vacation, we might make it on all working days too. The piloting is being done in the city, but taking a cue from the response, we might extend it to other districts too,’’ said C Satheesachandran, Deputy Director in charge of rehabilitation at VRC.
As of now, there are 62 students, all hearing-impaired, attending the programme. Both girls and boys have come forward to try the training, officials said.