These Amazing Indian Businesses Are Hiring Differently-Abled People Because Everyone Matters

When the Supreme Court directed states to implement legislation on the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PwD), some Indian businesses were already leading the way. And now new names have joined the list. While on the outside it seems these companies are building their brand identity by being more exclusive, the fact is that they're being more inclusive. And may be that's because everyone matters.

Today, we look at 12 businesses that have welcomed differently-abled people without bias.

1.?Mirakle Couriers

Founded in 2009 by Dhruv Lakra, Mirakle Couriers is an organisation that hires low-income deaf men and women who, according to their website, have 'learnt-by-doing knowledge in data entry and manipulation, tracking and scanning, sorting and other branch operations.' Today, these men and women are breaking stereotypes. Amazon Transportation Services has recently joined hands with Mirakle couriers in order to reach customers in Sakinaka, Powai, and South Mumbai. Suffice it to say, these men and women are today leading completely different lives, those marked with love, kindness, respect and independence.

Facebook/Miracle Couriers

2. Echoes

An eatery located in Delhi’s Satya Niketan, Echoes greets customers with a card that reads – “Eat, engage, energise with the café managed by differently-abled staff. Let’s lead by actions together”. The restaurant is run by six hearing-and-speech-impaired waiters. Bridging the communication gap between the customers and waiter was initially a challenge for the owners. But with the help of bells and bulbs, they simplified that problem.

Facebook screenshot via 101India

3. Lemon Tree

The hotel chain began employing differently-abled people in 2007. It trains differently-abled staff for 10 days in a programme called ‘See, Smile, Greet’. People with speech and hearing impairments carry notepads and pens to communicate. Employees with Down Syndrome receive one hour of training every day and carry whistles to alert others when they feel overwhelmed.

hotels.com

4. Capgemini

Capgemini started recruiting PwDs in 2012 and employs over 200 employees with disabilities. These include speech, visual, and hearing impairment, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. The company feels that the differently-abled work harder than other employees. They are inducted in roles such as account processing, technology support and software development.

glassdoor

5. Nukkad Teafe

An initiative by owner and founder Priyank Patel, this Bhilai café employs people with visual and speech impairment along with members of the transgender community. Customers can learn how to communicate in sign language apart from participating in a plethora of other activities.

Nukkad Teafe/Facebook

6. Costa Coffee

This famous coffee shop chain employs around 100 – 15% of their store employee base – PwDs. The chain of cafes is now planning to increase that number across all their stores. There is a store in Delhi’s Green Park, which is fully managed and run by the differently-abled. ?

retail news asia

7. KFC

KFC employs persons with hearing and speech impairments and has over 170 specially-abled employees across all stores India. The chain conducts special trainings over an 11-week period where the people are sensitised in subjects such as English, critical thinking, food safety, life skills, etc.

flickr

8. Mirchi and Mime

Mirchi and Mime – The Indian Grill and Bar situated in Mumbai employs people with hearing and speech impediments. All communications are done in sign language with the servers and other staff. Their food menu comprises of items with corresponding images. The bar draws inspiration from a Toronto-based bistro "Signs”, which works on the concept of hiring the differently-abled.

Mirchi and Mime via hungry forever

9. Café Coffee Day

CCD’s hiring policy includes employing the differently-abled who are given the tag of “Silent Brewmasters” who brew coffee behind the counter. Since they possess a heightened sense of smell and vision, they ensure their coffees that are served with perfection.

et retail

10. Accenture

The company has successfully been running the ‘Skills to Succeed’ initiative in India. The programme empowers the PwDs with skill training for jobs such as business process outsourcing, hospitality and facilities management, retail, etc. Accenture also has a ‘PwD Champions Network’ for their differently-abled employees. Also, all of Accenture’s facilities are easily accessible by PwDs.

India Builder Corporation

11. IBM

IBM has a special policy that has 3 As – Accommodation, Accessibility, and Attitude. The company employs the PwDs in various departments such as Project Management, Consulting, Quality Assurance and Human Resources. In 2016, IBM had conducted four-hour awareness sessions to sensitise senior employees in displaying unintended bias toward the PwDs.

wikipedia

12. Wipro

At Wipro, the focus is on creating a comprehensive framework and ensuring inclusivity in all spheres of working. Its hiring policy for the differently-abled is completely merit-based across all roles and not just in “identified jobs”. Wipro puts long-term focus on developing its special task force.

Wipro

Kudos to these businesses for leading by example!

Story updated on November 24; inputs from Priyanshi Mathur