Context

The week-long Exhibition-cum-Fair “EKAM Fest” organized by National Handicapped Finance Development Corporation (NHFDC) under M/o Social Justice& Empowerment began.

About

• Fest is hosting several activities like cultural extravaganza including performances by Divyang artists and well-known professionals. 
• It is an effort for promoting entrepreneurship and knowledge among Divyangjan community, generating awareness among society about potentialities of PwDs & providing a major marketing opportunity to PwDs entrepreneurs. 
• NHFDC is making efforts for the development of a brand and platform for the marketing of products of these determined entrepreneurs. 
• Accordingly, the name of the brand has arrived at Ekam (Entrepreneurship, Knowledge, Awareness, and Marketing).
• The word Ekam also represents the inclusiveness, oneness and unity which appropriately describe the efforts being put in by NHFDC to develop the marketing platform and aggregation of the products through the promotion of entrepreneurship, knowledge sharing, Awareness creation and marketing initiatives amongst the Divyangjan. 
• It is an opportunity for all to encourage these products made with extraordinary determination by the divyang crafts persons and entrepreneurs.
• Since women have contributed a lot in the embroidery work, NHFDC should encourage Divyangjan, especially women Divyangjan for entrepreneurship in this sector so that Divyangjan may get employment and self-employment. 

The new initiatives of NHFDC launched in Fest are as follows

• NHFDC Swavalamban Kendra (NSK): NHFDC has taken an initiative to establish PWD owned micro skill training Centers throughout the country for skill training of PwDs. These NSKs will have the capacity to provide quality skill training to around 120 PwDs per year NSK. The PwD owner of the NSK is expected to earn around Rs 20,000 per month.
• Safe Cabs in Delhi and Indore: NHFDC has arranged with Sakha Cabs where the PwD owned commercial vehicles will be driven by the Women drivers to provide safe taxi option for the women, children and senior citizen commuters. Such Safe cabs are already in operation at New Delhi and Indore Airport. The vehicles here are financed by NHFDC under its scheme.
• Safe Drinking Water E Carts: NHFDC has recently agreed to finance E-carts fitted with RO water dispensing vending machines. These carts will sell water in paper glasses maintaining hygiene. The carts will be supported in operation by Bharat Jal. The PwD owner is expected to earn Rs 10,000/- to Rs 15,000/- per month in the operation of these carts.

About NHFDC NHFDC is an Apex corporation under the aegis of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and is working since 1997.  It is registered as a company, not for profit and provides financial assistance to the Divyangjan/Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan/PwDs) for their economic rehabilitation and provides several skill development programmes to empower them to grow & sustain their enterprises.  To empower the Divyang and marginalized groups of the society more closely, NHFDC has taken a step forward and established the NHFDC Foundation, this year.  Recognizing the absence of a connect with the market which hinders fair prices and volumes in the sale of the unorganized tiny Divyang entrepreneurs, NHFDC Foundation is making efforts for the development of a brand and platform for marketing of products of these determined entrepreneurs.