Project Vidhi--Employment for disabled

I am an engineer by profession and have majored in finance in the year 2018 from a premier MBA college (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade) Have always been intrigued with the idea of creating a sustainable solution to a social problem affecting our society. Often many choose the convenient route of participation by giving donations or some sort of support .While this is good this is not a long term solution and the problem still persists

India is a country of over 75 Million disabled people and most of these are excessively dependent on donations and charities for their survival.This is inspite the people have the capability and the skill to earn for their living 

Nabet taps on these inert capabilities by skill training our resources on job opportunities which match the industry demands and post this get these jobs outsourced form the industry or create opportunities in their premises

Unemployment is huge problem in our country .The problem is more adverse specially in the case of specially abled in India.In a country of over 75 million more than 85% of these people are unfortunately without jobs.The problem needs someone to immediately address this .The disabled are often vulnerable and are subjected to various kinds of emotional and mental tortures because of their disability. The least they expect is an opportunity to restores their self pride and respect which a job offers to them

Nabet identifies jobs which can be proficiently performed by the disabled.We create a curriculum in consultation with the industry and also get them to participate in the implemention. 

Post completion of the course we seek jobs which can be outsourced to us or opportunities created within the premises of the partnering companies. Interventions are made in the IT/ITes Hospitality retail etc for the specially abled 

The problem is the lack of access to opportunities.Even though India as a whole has progressed both economically and as a society a specific segment of the society has been left out from its progress. India' s disabled account for over 5% of the country at a huge number of over 75 Million people. Over 85% of these people are unemployed.The only option for them is in the government sector which is also limited. The problem is also not India specific but is a global problem. There is an urgent need to ideate on solutions which are replicable and can be implemented in other countries also with some customization .Major contributor to this problem is 

1.  There is a lack of awareness about the skills of the disabled .There is a need for an organization to play an intermediate and prepare end products which can be easily deployed on the projects of the companies 

2. The curriculum on which the disabled are trained have to checked for relevance and matched to the industry demand.

3. There has to be a live model which can be kept as the typecast which shall offer an easy model of replication for the industry

Nabet India is a NGO which works towards the employment and empowerment of the persons with disabilities .We identify jobs which can be proficiently performed by the people with disabilities and get these jobs outsourced from the companies or motivate companies to create positions in their own premises 

Our model offers  major advantages. These are

1. Companies get committed resources who serve with fill dedication.The understand the value of the job they get the gesture of the employer and the standards of work set to them. They treasure the opportunity and respond to the fullest.

2.Companies get access to an alternate talent pool which is typically useful in a attrition heavy industry

3. We reduce dependence on donations and charities and create a more sustainable solution which is a win win for all stakeholders specially  the disabled 

Beginning  with IT /Ites  we have create employment opportunities for more than 1500 people in the last 10 years. Our interventions are now beyond just the IT sector and we have created interventions in retails hospitality etc.Companies higher our resources as they are competent and contributing to the success of the companies and not out of charity

I serve the disabled community in India .These are a huge population which are without opportunities for employment for a very long period of time 

I undertook a lot of research before I started working for the differently abled. I wanted to understand what was the biggest challenge which was faced by the differently abled and I had spent over a years time trying to research to understand their needs and aspirations.

What I found was that the biggest weakness the disabled faced was the lack of opportunities.Many were not happy living their lives of dependence and wanted an exit form this.However this was not offered to them. While many had succumbed to their fate and had got immune to the insults and harassment which their dependence had created for them a sizeable number wanted an exit to this .They believed in their abilities and want an end to their misery which their economic dependence has created for them.  

Nabet has been their mission and its their hard work and dedication which has brought Nabet to where it has reached today. I lead a group of passionate torchbearers who have an important role to play in the decision making .

A society progress is often judged by how it treats its weakest link .Its important to ensure that every segment is carried forward and are given access to opportunity.

The problem of unemployment and social and economic apartheid is not an Indian specific issue but is spread across the world.

Their is often a lack of awareness about the abilities of the disabled people. They are considered worthy only for the sympathy of the society and not given a place in the mainstream workforce of the country. We work towards restoring the dignity and self respect of the disabled

I had a personal tragedy in my life which made me personally motivated to take up disabled empowerment as my lifes calling .One year prior to starting Nabet I was trying to research and identify the missing element in the disability ecosystem in India.I found that while their were many organization which were skill training disabled they were not ensuring to ensure the freshness of the ciricullum. Also the narrative was more appeal and grant driven and was not trying to emphasize the skill set and abilities of the disabled. There was an urgent need to make 2 changes.

1.Identify problems faced by the corporate and how can our intervention help limit or solve their problem. We need to identify an opportunity for mutual value creation which would be an incentive to participate 

2. Propagate the difference between disability and workplace suitability. Often a persons disability in no ways affects certain aspects of a persons work as that disability in no ways hampers the productivity of the persons work .Eg a visually impaired is ideally suited to carry out contact centre operations as it does not affect his work remotely. 

Tremendous success both domestically and internationally we have achieved 

I lost my grandmother due to disability and made it my life challenge to serve the disabled in India and across the world.

While deciding on how will I impact their world I wanted to identify what was the biggest problem that was faced by the disabled in India. I identified that for long the yearned for their economic independence and the self respect which comes with it. This was often denied to them and this was particularly troubling to my mind. I was out to create a model where their skill rather than their disability will be highlighted and talked about .I have also been able to create a model of parity where equal work and equal pay has been achieved for the work done by the differently abled.

The challenge now is to replicate the model in all parts of the countries and keep identifying and growing newer avenues of growth.We are disrupting other industries and creating new opportunities for employment and growth for the disabled. I have a mission to create a million jobs for the disabled and I seek the support and participation of all to achieve it 

1. I am an engineer by profession and have also done my majors in finance form one of the leading and prestigious college of India .This college has an elite alumni network which helps in getting my mission across the decision makers of many companies 

2. My education helps me rightly articulate the business benefits the companies stand to gain apart from the social benefits of undertaking the program .

3. From a humble beginning of 15 people and I client ( A leading telecom MNC in India ) in 2012 I have been able to create jobs for 1500 plus people and presently engaged with 7 leading MNC directly in or program,

4. Nabet has also been able to create an attractive and a well positioned board who are all industry stalwarts and are also as passionate about the cause. Their industry background also helps in making the noise in the right circles and help get the required impact.

5. NABET has been acclaimed both nationally and internationally for our work and are cause has been celebrated from leading organization for our unique and innovative effort.

6. Nabet has also been among the only partners selected by Government of India for implementing skill development efforts for the specially abled in India. We are also been awarded a 5* centre by the government of India 

7. Nabet has also been awarded by the Queen of England and is also offered fellowship of the Royal Commonwealth society

Faced with numerous challenges while starting Nabet would try and highlight a few .Off course there are so many that the space will be insufficient

1. While making this decision I was aware that this may not be as monetarily rewarding as against pursuing a corporate career which matched my academic qualification. This was also to being ready to interact and work with people who would always be suspicious of your intent behind making the shift to this less monetarily rewarding career.I bared all of this and I am pretty happy with what came out of it  

2.  The local villages close to my place of work where very unwelcoming with the idea of having this program run at the present workplace. They had their superstitious which considered the disabled as bad omens and thus were not ready to support us in any ways. To show their displeasure they refused offering their rooms for disabled to stay in it . Slowly and steadily we have been able to win their goodwill and trust 

3.It was also a task to change the perception of the  companies from considering the disabled resources as only sympathy worthy to useful and contributing team members

A leader has the added responsibility to always hide his fears and emotions and always reflect an aura of assurance and confidence to his employees and team members 

This gives confidence to the team and this helps in ensuring that they work to their full potential .Its the leaders duty to absorb their fears and tell them that you shall ensure their safety. I consider a recent incident worth mentioning in this 

 Recently one of our clients discontinued our engagement with them and offered a 3 months severance period for this.The quoted business losses during COVID times as a reason for this. 

While this was a stressful time for me I had to ensure that there is new work which is brought for the team to ensure continuity for their services. I was also running against time as I knew that in case the new project is not found within 90 days we would have no option but to let the few members engaged in that project go. After numerous sleepless nights and days of networking and cold calling whomever possible I ensured the availability of new project for the team. Its a leaders job to absorb the stress 

No Not part of any other project

1. There is innovation in process.

Companies are asked to consider option to customize their Set Operating Procedures and their workplace to the extend possible to consider inclusion of the disabled. Our performance worth ethics and competence  and work ethics are the drivers for this 

2. Innovation in Thinking process

The disabled are made to rethink how they want to lead their lives and also how after long they have an opportunity to be not missed out on .Also how they are the torchbearers and also the flag bearers for the success of the project.

Companies are also motivated to see the value of the proposition and how they stand to gain from this

3. Change in perception of society.

Disabled are now considered as equal and contributing members of the society who deserve the safe rights and respect which they should be rightfully given

I expect that the success of Nabet will have ripple and replication effect in different parts of the country and the world at large

The solutions are replicable and tangible and can get large scale impact if applied with customization in different geographies.

The inclusion of the huge mainstream workforce will bring huge and tangible impact in the lives of the disabled and the society. They would transform and become breadwinners and supporters for their family and also celebrate a life of economic independence. 

The world bank predicts that even if 50% of the disabled in the country are brought into the mainstream workforce their is a possibility of the GDP of the country to be increased by 5-7 % 

There is a potential for a tectonic change in the lives of the specially abled and its worthy of making it a lifes mission

Number of disabled people skilled trained in the past 8 years 

1568

Numbers of disabled people to be trained per year (We have opened 3 satellite centres) presently 

680

Number of disabled to trained in the next 5 years (We intend to open 8 Satellite centres )

7250

These are the projected and directly impacted candidates in the past,The impact of those who are intangible is off course larger 

1. There is a urgent need for alignment and sharing of best practices .I shall seek a platform and collaborate with international leaders in other countries so that the work can be easily replicated and greater impact can be achieved

 2. I have a goal to scale the model beyond India also and thus want to work in another South Asian country. I have the requisite endorsement which can help with this 

3. I want to open and disrupt other industries which can create employment for the differently abled while ensuring that the required competence is maintained in the effort .

4.I also want to setup an industrial unit where the disabled are involved in manufacturing a product which has a possibility of B2C interface.This would help in reducing our dependence on a organization and make the end customer the only dictator of our growth model. 

3. I want to also run a consultation for social entrepreneur who want to create a model which can ensure sustenance and social impact for a special audience. 

1. Financial is off course a huge factor up on the list. COVID has put a question on the continuity of many companies and there is a fear which is quite alive. 

2. Technical issues are also involved in identifying the product to ensure that the right SOP and service operability standards are met. Also 

3. Market Barriers are off course a perennial inhibitor .We need some insights on what products and service would be best suited to be worked on assuming sustainability and viability of the project

Financial Constraints : Trying to increase market share in the present services we offer.Have also increased the scale of our each to capitalize on CSR funds and more order

We are also trying to engage industry leaders and our present board members to find the answers to the rest of the questions 

1.Vodofone Idea: Work outsourced to us 

2. TATA AIa insurance: Work outsourced to us 

Multiple business in the Mahindra Group 

and many others 

We also engage with our donor partners who help with the fuding needs of the organization Government of India is amongst the donors who have partnered in this

1. We providing IT support services to our clients .We charge a pricing model which includes the salaries of the employee and a markup for the organization .This markup covers our admin expenses and also is ploughed back into the corpus which helps in running the skill training and employment program. SImilar models are offered in the other industries intervened. We also charge a HR hiring charges in case the employee is not on our roles and is hired by the partnering employee directly

2. We offer skill training services on the latest courses in the IT /Ites sector which meets their needs. These courses are free of charge and is paid out of the corpus which we gain from the services offered and the CSR funds raised

3.We also indulge in empowering schemes beyond the skill training part .These includes preparation for competitive examinations , government entrance  examinations etc

4. During their training all expenses are borne by Nabet

There is a combinations of all the above models been implemented at Nabet

1.We offer professional services which are billed at market rates which helps in building a corpus

2. We also reach out to companies for CSR grants in order to support our program

Our services business raised a revenue of close to $154285 in the FY 2019

Our grants raised last year was $171428 via grants last year .

We need to raise to raise grant of $181428 to meet our organizations funds requirement for the year 2020

Major expenses are on increased operating cost of new centres

As of now they are in their early stages and cannot be completely paid of from the service revenue support .Thus grant support is needed in the early stages