Odisha: Ram Kishor Sharma bags National Awards
Bhubaneswar, Dec 10: Sri Ram Kishor Sharma Rehabilitation Officer of Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped (VRCH), Bhubaneswar, Ministry of Labor and Employment, Government of India received National Award on 3rd December, 2015 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi said in his message that Persons with Disabilities are having immense innate abilities, they should be given proper opportunities and physical and mental barrier should be removed for their comprehensive development. Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan which has been launched today is a step ahead in this direction.
Union Finance Minister Sri Arun Jaitley, Cabinet Minister Sri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Minister of State Sri Krishna Pal Gurjar (MoS), Sri Vijay Sampla, MoS, Sri Lov Verma, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment were present in this award giving function.
The National Award is conferred on Sri Ram Kishor Sharma for his relentless efforts for economic empowerment of PWDs. Sri Ram Kishor Sharma is an authority in sensitization, networking and skill development initiative. He has authored nine books published by Govt. of India, Govt. of Odisha, UNDP, Indian Red Cross, Action Aid etc. He has also designed and executed very unique programme like Koraput-Nabarangpur module to extent benefits of Govt. schemes to grass root disabled, Mini self employed scheme under which about 2000 PWDs got self employment support through community resources.
Mr. Sharma was instrumental in implementation of National Handicapped Finance Development Scheme including District interface programme under which about 1800 PWDs got loan of Rs. 8.06 crore. Mr. Sharma initiated first ever process of job fairs to sensitize and ensure job opportunities for PWDs in private corporate world. VRC has conducted evaluation of 66325 (male 47900, female 18425) and extended rehabilitation services to 17355 (male 13456, female 3899) adult PWDs in age group of 15 to 50. VRC organized about 700 camps in about 279 blocks/NAC/municipality.
Mr. Sharma is working in VRC since July 1991. Skill development initiatives in joint collaboration with Govt. of Odisha have been scaled. Further department of Social security and empowerment of PWDs, Govt. of Odisha has sanctioned grant of Rs. 2.71 crore to construct first floor of VRC girls and boys hostel to increase the training capacity from 400 to about 800. Three more trades like beauty parlor, mobile repairing and computer hardware will be added for which training proposal to Directorate of Mission Employment has been submitted.
National awardee 2015 Mr. Sharma opined that external positive factors like awards, felicitations, appreciations certainly motivate to work more but internal self motivation is most important for providing sincere services to society.