Country Needs to Capitalise on Disabled

Institutional bias and the differently abled

Many bright physically challenged students even after qualifying the All India Admission Tests are denied admission to management courses simply on the assumption that they will not be able to cope with the course and environment around them. Such institutional biases and the lack of infrastructural facilities have been the reason behind their absence from traditional corporate positions of managers and entrepreneurs.

The lack of higher educational institutions which are disabled-friendly makes certain that the careers of many bright children with disabilities do not reach their true potential.

Economic growth alone can never truly indicate the progress of a nation and the welfare of its people. The real measure of growth and development depends on the extent to which we care for and value our citizens, especially those who need special attention and services.


Mainstreaming the disabled

Being an integral part of our society, the physically challenged deserve every opportunity to contribute to the nation’s economic growth and to find a niche for their capabilities in the whole scheme of things. They ought to enjoy the opportunity to be trained and developed so that they can be gainfully employed. As long as they are willing to learn, adapt and pick up new skills, they need not be excluded from the mainstream.
 



NCPEDP’s big leap

The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) works in this direction. It is a non-profit voluntary organisation working as an interface between government, industry, international agencies and the voluntary sector towards the promotion of better employment opportunities for disabled people in India. It works on the principle of empowering the disabled so that they should be able to make financial choices for themselves.


Institutions lend a helping hand
 
There are a few other institutions which have also begun to bridge this gap. The Institute for Integrated Learning in Management's (I.I.L.M.) Community Service Centre, with the help of NCPEDP, is offering free management education under the ‘Label Us Able’ manager programme for those with physical challenges.

I.I.L.M. provides opportunities for physically disabled students to study management courses. These aim at enhancing their mental and intellectual abilities while training them for managerial positions. The course tries to bring the hidden potential of such students to the surface level. Disabled students thus are given an opportunity to contribute towards the efficient growth of the economy.

The selection of these candidates for the course is done on the basis of class 12th marks. An interview is also conducted for assessing their aptitude for the subject. The knowledge base of the student is also tested in the process. The physical condition of the applicant is taken into account for the final interview.

The course is offered free of cost in keeping with their claim to a disabled friendly environment. The medium of instruction for the course is English. It has 10 modules, and each module is of six months.

The programme targets the development of future professional managers from amongst students who have physical disabilities. Physically disabled students are allowed to join any module depending on the minimum educational qualification required for it and also the physical requirements of the managerial job.

Certificates and Diploma/Degrees are awarded to the students who qualify at the end of the module/s. Assistance in job placements is provided by the institute for physically challenged students who graduate from I.I.L.M. .