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Self Employment of Persons with Disabilities in Urban Areas of East Wollega Zone, Western Oromia, Ethiopia


Dr. Akshaya Kumar Mohanty
Abstract

Social policy agenda could be seen as integral part of the nation‟s economy, contributing to economic growth, equity and sustainability and should not be treated as competing with economic resources. The persons with disabilities are the neglected citizens in the socio-economic transformations of many African countries including Ethiopia. As a result, these groups are forced to live in economically poor and precarious conditions. In light of this, this research paper refers to the determinants of self-employment of the persons with disabilities and existing gender differences within the group. A simple random sampling of the persons with disabilities was made from all the six sub cities, under Nekemte town, proportional to their size in each sub city. A total of 121 persons with disabilities were drawn and analyzed using both descriptive and econometric analysis. The study revealed that 25.62 percent of persons with disabilities are engaged in income generating activities equally with other healthy (active) citizens of the people in the area. The use of credit, the social capital and better health condition are variables identified in significantly influencing their participation in income generating activities. The proportion of participation of female persons with disabilities is higheras compared to male counterpart. There is discrepancy in annual income of female heads compared to male headed. At the same time the study indicates that a significant number, 30.58 percent, still require a continuous support (health, food, sheltering, clothing, and so on) from any source to cope up with the highly competitive living condition. The study recommends support on enhancing their educational level through training, health condition and provision of credit to increase their engagement in income generating activities for the healthy (able to work) persons; and provision of a continuous assistance for the remaining households that are in bad health condition.

Volume 12 | Issue 4

Pages: 216-223

DOI: 10.5373/JARDCS/V12I4/20201435