Solving twin issues of employment, empowerment

Handmade products like woven bags and games and handlooms were common features across the stalls, which hailed from across the State. “Making the products is a form of therapy, especially for our mentally challenged employees. It helps curtain outbursts and keeps them busy. It also helps them work on their hand-eye co-ordination, motor skills, and dexterity,” said Kavithaa Narasimhan, founder of Madras4Enterprises, a social enterprise that employs nearly 60 disadvantaged people including people with disability in rural areas of Tiruchy and Tirunelveli.

People with disability involved in the production process are given a percentage of profits or a stipend, and the skills they pick up from making handicrafts are beneficial for long-term employability. “Adults with disability looking for employment approach us and we offer them training to make these products. Through this, they are also coached on essential soft skills like communications skills that will help them find employment in other companies,” said Leya Rebekka, project co-ordinator with Anbalaya, a centre for people with intellectual disability in Tiruvottiyur.

However, this training must be given to children with disability as well, said a member from V Excel Educational Trust, a centre for children with special needs, as these skills are picked up faster by children.

According to Radha Ramesh, director of Vidya Sagar, people with disability cannot only be associated with the production of handicrafts. “These skills are helpful for people with disability, but they need to be trained in a variety of life skills upon reaching 18 years of age to assist their employability. Organisations must provide these skills to them so that people with disability can contribute in many ways to society,” she said.