KOTHARA (MAHARASHTRA): The Leprosy Mission Trust India’s (TLMTI) Inclusive Holistic Development of Individuals with Disabilities (IHDID) project, based in Kothara, Maharashtra, celebrated International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) by taking a step to empower persons with disabilities.

The project, supported by CBM India had formed a co-operative credit society, exclusively for persons with disabilities (and managed by them), a few months back. A total of 300 people with disabilities have already become members of the society. The society lends money to its members to start livelihood activities, like agriculture, starting dairy farms, opening grocery shops, tailoring shops, etc.

This is the first co-operative credit society in Maharashtra exclusively for people with disabilities – a co-operative credit society of the people with disabilities, by the people with disabilities, for the people with disabilities!

The project has big plans to expand the membership base of the society and with this objective, organised a meeting of persons with disabilities on December 3, in TLM Kothara Hospital. Over 500 persons with disabilities, along with district and block presidents of Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) attended the meeting.

Understanding the potential for improving the quality of their lives, around 150 people took membership in the society then and there.