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It was the month of July if I recollect correctly. One of my blogger friends from Chennai was in Hyderabad. I had planned to meet him for dinner that day. He informed me that he would be bringing along another blogger friend of his. I was like, the more the merrier. I reached the restaurant and exchanged pleasantries with my friend as we waited for the third one to arrive. In about 10 minutes, I see an Innova stop in front of me and there he was. I was stunned to see him, an active blogger who is also blind. It was my first interaction with a blind person.
The best thing that I liked about him was his determination and positive attitude towards life. A foodie by heart and a techie by profession, the way he used his iPhone was remarkable. From opening apps to using maps, he was fast as an arrow. Apart from being a blogger, he is an accessibility head at a global firm. A perfect example of being self-sustained in current times.
Inclusivity and Diversity – need of the hour
This was just one example amongst thousands of other differently-abled people who are leading good lives. Many companies are creating special roles for differently-abled people and making themselves more inclusive and diverse. They take steps from making their campuses more accessible and creating an environment that’s helping them.
In my own company, I see a lot of roles that are taken up by differently-abled folks. From accessibility testing to invoice processing, we have people across the board. And trust me, you’ll come out all positive after you speak to them.
Ekart – Helping disabled become self-sustainable
Of all the things that I’ve seen and personally experienced, nothing brings more joy than seeing leading companies take steps for making their business more accessible. The latest one to join the bandwagon is Flipkart. The e-commerce giant already has a small differently-abled workforce. However, with this step of their, they are changing the dynamics of how the logistics industry functions.
They’ve set up a dedicated delivery hub in New Delhi that will be manned end to end by differently-abled people. From delivery executives to cashiers, operators to team leads, and floor managers, everyone in this hub will be a differently-abled person. The hub will aim to deliver 1000+ items daily in the region. The entire delivery hub will have special badges, flashcards, and other elements to aid in smooth functioning. They’ll also conduct sensitization sessions for the rest of the workforce so that they can embrace the change.
With this, Flipkart is not only creating job opportunities for the youth but also breaking the stereotype that differently-abled people can’t work in this industry. This is a decisive step by the company to have a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Becoming atmanirbhar – Tips to become Self Sufficient
Self-sustainability or atmanirbhar (a buzzword nowadays in India) is all about becoming self-reliant and using your strengths and resources rather than depending on others. Here are tips to become self-sustainable or atmanirbhar:
Learn things you like
The first and foremost thing is to learn the things you like. You may love to draw and are a good painter. However, there would be a sea of things that you are unaware of. Take help from the internet and learn the skills. Practice them and hone your skills to become a pro at it.
Showcase your skills
Once you’ve learned the skills, it’s time to showcase them to the world. Share your drawings and paintings with your friends and family. Let them know what your skills are. Only when they know they will talk about it to others.
Making money out of it
Now that people are aware that you’re a great artist, you’re all set to take up art assignments. You may be a good portrait artist and make portraits of people. Or you may be making paintings which people would love to have in their living rooms. You need to learn the art of converting your skill into a money-generating machine. With that, you’ll not only be doing what you love but also be paid for it. Self-reliance at its best.
You can either create your brand or work for others. The choice is yours. There are ample job opportunities out there for you. Companies like Flipkart and many others are doing their bit to become more inclusive and create more job opportunities for everyone. As good samaritans, we have to help make the world a better place for our differently-abled friends and help them fulfil their dreams. Have you shared space with a differently-abled person at your workplace? How was your experience? Share your stories in the comments below, tweet to me at @Atulmaharaj, DM on Instagram or Get In Touch.
It is high time – big companies need to be more inclusive and accessible.
I hope this initiative by Flipkart encourages more companies to take steps towards accessibility and inclusivity.
I have never thought about inclusivity in this way – thank you for this article!
I agree with you about sharing one’s skills. Social media is a wonderful way to spread the word.