Job fair in Ahmedabad provides differently abled a level playing field

Amdavadis will be witnessing a unique job fair on Tuesday when the differently-abled people of Gujarat will participate in a job fair exclusively for the disabled. The fair, to be held at Blind People’s Association, will begin at 11 am.

At the end of the fair on Tuesday, over 300 people with low vision or hearing impairment or mild mental retardation and other physical disabilities will go back home with jobs such as housekeepers, helpers, office assistants and other unskilled positions in leading corporate houses.

“I am excited about the job fair. This will provide me a chance to become independent,” says Shivani Sheth, a job aspirant who is hearing impaired.

Of about 10 lakh disabled population of Gujarat, about 2 lakh are literate and looking for jobs. “I have been on a job hunt for quite some time, but to no avail. I expect this job fair to provide me with the opportunity I have been looking for” says Jenil Shah, who lost her legs to polio.

The event will see the participation of big names in the corporate world such as Lemon Tree, Veera Solutions, Safal Parivesh, Deisgnmac, Dairyden, Electro Services, Designmate Animation Films, Downey AV India Advisor limited, Skin Info Technology, Marketing Unlimited, Mr Thomas Electro Services.

A recent study carried out in the state by WHO says that 60 million disabled people in India are subject to multiple deprivations. Households with disabled members are significantly poorer, with lower consumption and fewer assets. Children living with disability are around four to five times less likely to be in school than Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste children, the study report said.

“We strongly believe that people with disability can contribute a lot to the economic and social development of the country, but due to lack of opportunities, disabled people hardly get employed,” says Shelly Bapna, the event co-ordinator.

A team from Vocational Rehabilitation Centre (VRC) will also be present at the fair to train and counsel the candidates for the interview. BPA has been awarded by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) for providing maximum job opportunities to the disabled in the state in 1982. “The event is an attempt to provide job platform to the disabled. We are overwhelmed by the responses from corporate houses. We plan to organise more such events in the coming days” Bapna adds.