Disability Confidence at workplace workshop organised by DFID UK, SCPwD and v-shesh at Indore on May 15th, 2019

Disability Confidence at workplace helps in sensitizing corporates on inclusion of Persons with Disabilities into the workforce. India has a population of 2.68 crore Persons with Disabilities (Census 2011). Out of which approximately 1.34 crore are in the employable age of 15 to 59 years.

As per the National Action Plan, India intends to train 25 lakh youth by 2022. However, employment of skilled PwDs in industry is a challenge due to lack of sensitization and mapping of disability specific job roles.

The Department for International Development (DFID) – Government of United Kingdom, Skill Council for Persons with Disabilities (SCPwD) – Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (GOI) and v-shesh hosted a workshop on #DisabilityConfidence at Workplace along with the employers at Hotel Effotel in Indore on May 15th, 2019. This was part of a series of workshops which the consortium is organizing pan-India to helps in sensitizing corporates on inclusion of Persons with Disabilities into the workforce. Eight such workshops have been hosted since September 2018 across Ahmedabad, Delhi, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh and Jamshedpur.

Thoughts, Provocations, Optimism and Collaboration were the mainstay of the session and these together, made the session very interesting and effective. Key areas of discussions during the workshop were (i) barriers in recruitment (ii) how Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 is an opportunity to improve HR practices and (iii)industry best practices on disability inclusion. With

sharp focus on addressing barriers (rather than impairment), the participants shared their experiences, learning and discussed practical solution relevant to the situations they face as employers or job seekers. The workshop format was

highly interactive; engaging the participants through online mobile app-based quiz and empathy building activities. Sign language interpretation, material in alternate formats, support for transcribing et al were available, thus making the workshop accessible for all participants.

“The human spirit is one of ability, perseverance and courage that no disability can steal away” – Kanhaiya , Employee Flexituff, Venture’s International ltd

20+ organizations and 35 participants from sectors such as IT Business Processing, Financial Services, Hospitality & Retail, Healthcare, Manufacturing participated in the workshop. Amongst these, Apna Sweets, Lemon Tree,

Big Bazaar, Landmark Group and Flexituff Venture’s International ltd have more than 100+ PwD working across job roles. These companies shared their

respective journey and the step by step approach they followed to make each job accessible for PwD and accordingly pave way for making an inclusive and progressive organization

“Our approach is opportunity based and not charity based. Our mission is to enable PwD to participate meaningfully in the economy and to encourage others to learn and follow” – Rajesh Sharma , HR – Apna Sweets

“Businesses should not be biased by the myths associated with disabilities and should instead just go forward and extend opportunities. And when they do it, they will realize that it is something they should have done years ago” – Pritish , HR , Big Bazaar