Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Looking at the disabled people working hard on the sewingmachines, Nguyen Kim Khoi feels happy and wants to be able to help more people.

Khoi, adisabled man in Dong Ngac Ward, Hanoi's Bac Tu Liem District, opened a smallsewing workshop in 2009, providing vocational training and jobs for more than100 people with disabilities.

Every day,about 15 people with disabilities come here to learn sewing techniques.After finishing the course, they work at Khoi’s workshop and earn 4-5 million VND(130-170 USD) a month by sewing flags.

In additionto Khoi's establishment, in recent years, Hanoi has had more and more peoplewith disabilities open vocational training, production and businessestablishments, creating jobs for themselves and people in similar situations.

Someexamples are Vun Art Cooperative in Van Phuc Ward, Ha Dong District, Pink HeartHandicraft Cooperative in Hong Ky Commune, Soc Son District and Embroidery LtdCo in Quat Dong Commune, Thuong Tin District.

Vietnam hasabout 6.2 million people over the age of two with disabilities, making up 7.06 percentof the country’s population, according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids andSocial Affair (MoLISA).

Of those,more than 1 million are severely disabled. Most live in rural areas and manyare victims of Agent Orange.

Millions ofpeople and children with disabilities are nurtured and cared for in socialwelfare establishments.

With supportfrom the State budget, organisations for disabled people have also mobilisedother resources to improve the living conditions of this vulnerable group.

People withdisabilities are given care, treatment, orthopaedic surgery, functionalrehabilitation, and provided with appropriate assistive devices, healthinsurance cards and wheelchairs. They are also offered bicycles, scholarships,jobs or new houses.

At least 4.1million people with disabilities, orphans and poor patients have received helpsfrom the Vietnam Sponsoring Association for People with Disabilities andOrphans so far.

Fiftyprovinces and cities nationwide have implemented community-based functionalrehabilitation programmes.

Of which, 18provinces have rolled out the programme in all districts and communes.

According tothe Vietnam National Committee on People with Disabilities, in addition to thesocial protection policy, the best way to help them integrate into thecommunity is to help disabled people have confidence, support vocationaltraining and create job opportunities.

The countryhas more than 19,550 people with disabilities who have received vocationaltraining under a project.

The SocialPolicy Bank has offered job support for 118,781 employees, of which 1,738 areemployees with disabilities.

TheDepartment of Employment, MoLISA, in co-ordination with job service Centres ofQuang Ninh and Binh Duong provinces and Hanoi Association of People withDisabilities, has created stable jobs for 30 disabled people and supportedcareer counselling and business for nearly 2,000 people.

More than150 families with people with disabilities in eight provinces and cities havebeen provided animals, plants and production techniques from the Office of theNational Committee for People with Disabilities.

Nearly10,000 families have received loans from the Vietnam Blind Association with atotal amount of 51.65 billion VND.

Theprotection of rights and support policies for people with disabilities havealways been a deep concern of the Government, said MoLISA's Deputy MinisterLe Tan Dung.

Policies,resources and schemes to help people with disabilities are always adjusted tosuit reality.

Additionally,positive innovations in communication activities have brought many substantialeffects in raising awareness in society on caring and taking care of peoplewith disabilities; changing stereotypes about capacities of people withdisabilities and promoting vocational training for them.

To help themintegrate into the community, the Office of the National Committee for Peoplewith Disabilities and MoLISA will continue to develop and improve policies,support and amend the law to deal with shortcomings as well as create equalopportunities and reduce social barriers for persons with disabilities, Dungsaid./.