The employers’ federation of Ceylon supports SMALL BUSINESS holders with disabilities
The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon Network on Disability took another initiative in the disability field. Under the LEED (Local Empowerment through Economic Development) Project the EFC is supporting persons with disabilities to expand their businesses. The common trend in the society is to grant self-employment aid which has a charity based approach. When self-employment aid is granted there is no proper mechanism to monitor the growth of the business. Also persons with disabilities have a mindset of a charity approach. But it is very important to have a right based approach. Therefore, the LEED project grants interest free loans for persons with disabilities to expand their businesses. It is very important to have entrepreneurs with disabilities.
The interest free loans are granted after proper analysis by the EFc team. In August 2015 EFC granted loans for 10 persons with disabilities to expand their businesses. The handing over of cheques was held at a small function organized by EFC at Mardap in Mannar district. To have a gender balance the EFC team selected 5 males and 5 female business holders. The loans were granted to 5 persons with physical disabilities, 4 wheel chair users and one person with a hearing impairment. These candidates have different types of businesses. It was very encouraging to see them involved in different businesses. The types of businesses they were doing were two candidates for fishing nets, phone repairing shop, curd business, CD shop, milking cows, poultry farming, agro industry, sewing and beauty culture. The project allocated loan facilities for a total of Rs. 800,000.
Picture descriptions:
Presenting the cheque by Ms. ManiqueGunaratne to a small business holder with a physical disability for manufacturing of fishing nets.
Presenting the cheque by Ms. ManiqueGunaratne for a small business holder using a wheel chair for manufacturing fishing nets.
By:
ManiqueGunaratne
Face time: 0094779571918
