<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">In Tamil Nadu, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Pratima Bhoumik inaugurated a 10-day-long 'Divya Kala Mela 2023' at Chennai today. The ten-day exhibition is a unique event that showcases the products and craftsmanship of Divyang entrepreneurs.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Inaugurating the event, the Minister said that the Government is keen to include everyone in the development of the country. She </span>said that there are schemes for imparting training, and skills and extending financial assistance to Divyang brothers and sisters. <span style="color: #333333;">She said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the initiative to provide a place for local entrepreneurs in global business. The Minister said that 2.75 Crore rupees loan assistance were distributed to the divyangs in the State today so that the divyangs can learn to stabilise and improve their business activities.</span> Loans were distributed to 274 Divyangjans across Tamil Nadu under NDFDC scheme by Tamil Nadu State Apex Corporative Bank, Tamil Nadu. <span style="color: #333333;">She said that essential equipment and smartphones were also provided to them.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">More than 100 Divyang artisans/artists and entrepreneurs from around 20 States/Union Territories are showcasing their products and skills in the fair. <span style="color: #333333;">She added that 87 stalls have been kept in the mela which were all managed by Divyangs.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">She said that this fair is proving to be a powerful medium to spread the concept of 'Vocal for Local'. The Minister said that Central Government has increased the categories of Persons with Disabilities from 7 to 21. She also told that the reservation for Persons with Disabilities in government jobs has been increased from 3% to 4%. In Government educational institutions the percentage has been increased from 3% to 5%. <span style="color: #333333;">She added that 87 stalls have been kept in the mela which were all managed by Divyangs.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"> </p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">She said that, this fair is proving to be a powerful medium to spread the concept of 'Vocal for Local'. The Minister said that Central Government has increased the categories of Persons with Disabilities from 7 to 21. She also said that the reservation for Persons with Disabilities in government jobs has been increased from 3% to 4%. In Government educational institutions the percentage has increased from 3% to 5%.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"> </p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">On this occasion, Shri Naveen Shah, Chairman Cum Managing Director, National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation,  said that the Government has taken the initiative of organizing Divya Kala Mela in every major city of the country. Till now, nine Divya Kala Mela have been successfully organized and this fair at Chennai is the 10th in the series of such fairs. Earlier this fair was organized in Delhi, Mumbai, Bhopal, Indore, Guwahati, Jaipur, Varanasi, Secunderabad, and Bangaluru.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation is a CPSE under the aegis of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities is organising the said fair as the nodal agency.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>