WB: Differently abled people to live differently

Kolkata, May 21: People deprived of any ability can lead a life with a difference and dignity, more so if there are supporting NGO's and Corporates.

A combined employability study of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on the differently abled people had revealed that 60 per cent of the corporate houses in the eastern region are still laid back in terms of employing disabled people.

According to the 2001 census, over 20 million people,constituting about 2.13 per cent of the country's total population, suffer from either physical or mental disability.

To employ such people a company must have its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which necessitates a company to have adequate infrastructure.

However, the study revealed that 73 per cent of the companies do not have any CSR.

The three month study conducted on 22 companies showcased that despite CSR policies in MNCs and IT firms, there were many constraints for the differently-abled persons to get direct access to the industry.

It averred that several companies were willing to recruit these people, but there was a lack in skilled labour.

Different NGO's like Manovikas Kendra and Institute of Cerebral Palsy have come forward to help such people get a way to lead a normal life.

Though efforts were on from the NGO's by imparting vocational trainings, the study indicated that there was a huge gap between the curriculum offered and the demands of the Corporate houses.

''IT Companies have proper CSR policy, they should come forward to help this section of people,'' said Swarup Roy, Chairman IT Promotion Cell, West Bengal.

The study revealed the employment status of disabled in companies like IBM, which employed 140 alone in Bangalore, ITC, a total of 22 and Titan about 122, which is four per cent of their total employee strength.

Asif Iqbal, a programmer with Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) could be a glaring example in this case. He works on computer with an unique voice-recording software.

''Softwares like JAWS, MAGIC and CURZWEL helps me work although I am blind. I have trouble in handling the modern warships, but technically I am not disabled,'' Iqbal stressed.

Speaking on the issue of employment of People With Disabilities (PWD), state Assistance Commissioner (PWD) K S Adhikaree said, "With the increasing job opportunities in the BPO sector, projected to be over six lakh by 2008, we need to increase employment opportunities for disabled in the corporate world.

UNI