Committed to development of differently-abled: Minister

New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) The government was committed to the development of differently-abled people by empowering them through education and skill training, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot said on Saturday.

Launching the National Action Plan (NAP) for skill training for differently-abled at a national conference on "Skill Development of Persons with Disabilities" here, the minister along with Rajiv Pratap Rudy, minister of state in the skill development and entrepreneurship ministry, said the differently-abled would be empowered so that they can be "on their own".

"My government is committed for the overall development of the differently-abled. We will provide them good education and training so that they can also contribute in the growth of the nation," Gehlot said.

He said loans on lower interest rates would be provided so that they could start something of their own.

"I have seen differently-abled persons with tremendous abilities and I believe if given proper training they could do wonders," the minister told reporters on the sidelines of the function.

Gehlot said the differently-abled are also part of the country's human resource and they just need to be provided opportunities so that they can contribute for overall development of the nation.

Rudy agreed with him and said the differently-abled deserved equal opportunities to move ahead in life.

"A separate sector skill council is also being established to scale up the initiative with quality standards as acceptable by the industry," he said.