Challenged find job-hunt not too challenging in Ahmedabad

On World Disablity Day, the Blind People Association organised a mega job fair, inviting disabled people from all over the state to get opportunities of employment. Thirty-five companies turned out to recruit suitable candidates from among the 750 candidates who registered in the fair from all over Gujarat.

Out of them, 155 candidates got jobs on Saturday itself. Participants flocked in from cities like Surat, Vadodara and Junagadh and the association helps people who faced transportation or other problems.

Among the recruiters, first timers like Tata Motors and Eagle Software Solutions were conspicuous by their presence, along with other biggies including Safal Construction Private Limited, Lemon Tree Hotel and Café Coffee Day.

On its fourth anniversary, the fair reached a new stature over the years. This year the most popular jobs have been that of data operator, receptionist, call centres/BPOs and liftman. According to Blind People’s Association’s Public Relations officer, Shelly Bapna, the average salary this year will range from Rs6,500-7,000.

Bapna has also said that this year the association is providing help in the entrance exams as well. At least eight boys have been placed with banks including nationalized banks like the SBI.
Last year the association witnessed 1,000 registrations.

“All the companies undertake CSR activities now. However, we encourage them to hire not out of sympathy but because these candidates are capable,” said Bapna. The whole process will continue over the period of a month.

“This fair is organised to celebrate the world disability day. It’s a open platform. We act as a moderator and we want to make future secure for everyone. We want every blind person to become independent,” Bapna further said.

Four counters placed at four different points at the gate were divided into visually challenged, MR City (mentally retarded and cerebral), orthopedic (physically handicapped) and hearing counters, purely to make data collecting and analysing easier.

Executive Director of BPA, Bhushan Punani said that this fair proved that the people with disablilty can now get white collar jobs. Until last year, people wanted jobs like carpentry and such types. Now people want assistant jobs, which prove that they institutes who are training such people should change their ways of training. “I appreciate the response of the corporates.

The only wish is that larger companies open their doors to people with disabilities in the coming years,” he said.The fair also had a separate counter for micro credit for the blind women. Providing loans to women in the age group of 18-60 for starting their own enterprise, the scheme has been supported by Christoffel Blindenmission.