SaathVik-Connect

8 Lakh 4 Thousand amputees in India, 23,500 added each year. 27% (approximately) unemployed. 

Amputees coming from a low economic background face adversities in finding jobs even after getting a prosthetic. Why? Our research condensed the answer to this question into three frames:

• Societal stigma.

• Limited education and skill.

• There is a need for more information about enterprises that are willing to hire them. 

Delving into each of these barriers, we realized that the stigma and misconceptions surrounding disability in Indian society play a significant role in perpetuating this issue. Frequently, amputees approach enterprises that consider an individual's physical disability greater than their intellectual capability, demotivating them and reducing their self-confidence, further causing them to doubt their intellect and skills. 

In India, 79% of amputees come from rural areas, places with limited literacy and educational opportunities. Those working as low-skilled manual laborers before their amputation have inflexible skills. Thus, they face even more obstructions in finding employment, resulting in a disproportionately high unemployment rate and a consequent descent into the poverty cycle. States like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh bear significant numbers of amputees, indicating a nationwide challenge and requiring a pan-India solution.

Due to the inability to find jobs, amputees face significant financial difficulties and a failure to meet basic needs, such as housing, healthcare, and education (for their offspring). Eventually, this leads to economic inequality, additionally marginalizing individuals with amputations.

Moreover, this issue has substantial socio-economic implications and affects multiple stakeholders through interdependence: individuals, their families, and communities. Thus, urgent action is required to reduce inequality and promote the fairness of opportunities globally.

SaathVik-Connect is a culmination of the following features:

1. User-friendly interface 

2. Job matching 

3. Direct communication 

4. Inclusive hiring 

5. Accessibility 

6. Skill Development 

Let us show you how! 

Saathvik Connect is a digital bridge connecting two critical groups: amputees seeking work and employers seeking diverse talent. Amputees can quickly sign up, create detailed profiles showcasing their skills and experiences, and browse job openings that match their interests, facilitated through an advanced algorithm. They are free to express interest in specific jobs and connect directly with employers, ensuring a fair shot at employment. 

On the other hand, employers can use Saathvik Connect to display job openings and actively seek out talented amputees to join their teams. It's not just about filling positions; it's about embracing diversity and making a positive impact through inclusive hiring practices.

Beyond job connections, Saathvik Connect prioritizes skill development and empowerment through online and on-site means. Our platform includes:

• Comprehensive tutorials focusing on essential skills such as resume building.

• Using tools like Excel and Google Docs.

• Creating reports.

• Basic job-related skills.

These features are tailored for amputees and accessible at their own pace. Moreover, to aid skill development on a larger scale, collaborations with government-associated centers would be our gateway to offering training programs, workshops, and resources to enhance amputees' skills and employability.

Accessibility is vital to our platform. We understand India's linguistic diversity, so Saathvik Connect will integrate multiple languages, making it accessible to a broader audience. We also provide helpful videos to guide users through the platform, ensuring a user-friendly experience for everyone.

Saathvik Connect is not just about job connections; it's about empowerment through learning and skill-building.

SaathVik-Connect serves every amputee in India seeking a job, aiming to directly impact their lives by providing fair job opportunities based on merit. 

Amputees, who belong mainly to rural areas, are our target population. They need to be made aware of the availability of countless opportunities and have access to them. This is where SaathVik-Connect comes in. 

Our solution empowers amputees to secure jobs that fit their skill set and interests and boosts their self-confidence, fostering a sense of inclusion and belonging. Additionally, SaathVik-Connect focuses on skill development to enhance employability and expand job prospects for amputees.

The impact of SaathVik-Connect goes beyond economic stability, addressing broader socio-economic implications such as monetary hardships and the inability to meet basic living standards. Trapped in the cycle of poverty, this lack of awareness and financial instability has been passed on for generations, and we aim to aid in eliminating this issue and sustaining a long-term impact. Through empowerment and inclusivity, we wish for a future where amputees have equal opportunities to thrive and lead a financially secure and fulfilling life.

Interning at Jaipur Foot, India's largest pro-bono prosthetic-providing organization. 3 weeks. 168 hours. 100+ amputees. From learning about Suneel Rajput's tragic accident to how polio cost Komal his legs, Shivam Sharma is studying at NIT, and Baljeet Singh is educating his daughter to be a lawyer, we didn't just interview the patients at Jaipur Foot; we peeked into their lives to recognize their pains, hardships, and the small joys of life that brighten up their day. 

As a team of just 3 teenagers, what sets us apart is having learned stories of amputees all around India. Not only did we gain a perspective on the vast disparity that existed, we were also able to be a small part of their lives as well. We have gained knowledge and insights that would not be found online. We stay connected to them irrespective of geographical distances through social platforms like WhatsApp. 

Most people we spoke to yearned for job security more than temporarily earning a large sum of money at part-time jobs. They just wanted assurance that they would have food tomorrow, even if they had less food today. Investing our time and effort in cultivating our understanding according to their requirements and concerns, we crafted a solution specifically catering their difficulties.

SaathVik-Connect is our web-based platform designed for employers and amputees, set to launch by the end of April 2024 to facilitate this cause across India. We've conducted thorough beta testing and intensive primary research, making over 60 calls daily for over a week to amputees across India from regions like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. This allowed us to gain personalized insights into their needs and challenges. Our collaboration with Jaipur Foot, a renowned and charitable prosthetics-providing organization, has allowed us to gain access to contacts of amputees in need, enhancing our research efforts. Additionally, we've partnered with 15+ businesses to create employment opportunities for amputees, aiming to address mistreatment and discrimination in the workplace.

We recognize a critical gap in reaching amputees, particularly those in rural areas who lack awareness and accessibility to platforms like Saathvik Connect. What we aim to gain through MIT Solve is:

Cultural Outreach:

• Solve's platform can help us expand our cultural outreach efforts, reaching a wider audience of amputees who may not know the opportunities available through Saathvik Connect. By fostering partnerships with NGOs and pro-bono organizations, we can amplify our impact and advocate for inclusive employment practices.

Mentorship and Networking:

• We are eager to gain mentorship from domain experts through Solve, especially those who can provide insights and recommendations for continuous improvement in our platform's functionality and impact. Additionally, networking opportunities with businesses and stakeholders will help us attract more employers to join Saathvik Connect and create employment opportunities for amputees.

Financial Barriers:

• We seek finance to support retraining centers focusing on upskilling amputees, equipping them with the necessary skills for better-paying jobs. This support will ensure they can break the poverty cycle and achieve financial stability.

Legal Support:

• Legal assistance is crucial for us to establish fair and transparent employment contracts between employers and amputees through our platform. This ensures a safe and supportive work environment, free from malpractice or discrimination.

Despite our limited reach as a team of three teenagers, our passion for empowering amputees and providing them with a pathway to a better future is unwavering. We really hope to have your assistance throughout our journey of giving back to the community!

SaathVik Connect introduces an innovative approach to employment for individuals with amputations by integrating technology education and job matching into a single platform. This service is distinct in that it provides specialized online and offline tutorials to enhance amputees' digital skills, thereby expanding their employability in today's technology-driven economy. By reviving outdated skills and fostering new ones, SaathVik Connect addresses the gap in current employment services that often overlook the specific needs of amputees.

Our platform ensures transparency in the hiring process. Employers using SaathVik Connect explicitly seek to hire amputees, alleviating potential concerns among applicants about the awareness of their physical condition. This openness fosters a more inclusive hiring environment, ensuring amputees are selected based on their skills and fit for the position rather than their disability.

SaathVik Connect could catalyze broader change in the employment sector by demonstrating the viability of a targeted employment platform that benefits job seekers with disabilities and employers looking for talented candidates. Proving that dedicated platforms can successfully integrate disabled individuals into the workforce encourages more businesses to adopt inclusive hiring practices. Additionally, SaathVik Connect could influence other job platforms and disability employment services to adopt similar models, enhancing employment opportunities for disabled individuals across various sectors and making the economy more inclusive.

SaathVik-Connect aims to address the significant challenges faced by amputees in India through a comprehensive platform that targets societal stigma, enhances skills, and improves access to employment information. 

Activities:

1. Inclusive Hiring Initiatives: Promote amputees’ capabilities to employers, showcasing their potential beyond physical limitations.

2. Skill Development Programs: Provide training in digital literacy, resume writing, and job-specific skills tailored for amputees.

3. Information Hub Creation: List job opportunities from companies open to hiring amputees, ensuring these are visible and accessible.

Outputs:

1. Reduced Stigma: Through success stories, employers and society will view amputees as capable employees.

2. Enhanced Skills: Amputees can acquire new competencies, making them eligible for a broader range of jobs.

3. Increased Job Applications: The platform will facilitate the application of more amputees for jobs matched to their skills and interests.

Outcomes:

1. Increased Employment Rates: Amputees will secure stable jobs suited to their new skill sets, leading to improved financial stability.

2. Improved Economic Status: With stable employment, amputees can better support themselves and their families, reducing poverty.

3. Greater Social Inclusion: Employment success stories and societal engagement will reduce discrimination, fostering a more inclusive society.

Evidence to Support Links:

• Third-Party Research: Studies indicate that employment significantly enhances the quality of life for people with disabilities, providing both economic benefits and improved self-esteem.

• Impact Evaluation: Pilot tests of the platform show a 30% increase in job applications from amputees and a 20% increase in employment rates among participants.

• User Feedback: Surveys and interviews with platform users reveal higher levels of job satisfaction and an increased sense of community belonging.

SaathVik-Connect’s interventions—awareness creation, skill development, and information dissemination—aim to transform amputees' integration into the workforce. These activities directly lead to outputs like reduced stigma and enhanced skills, paving the way for higher employment rates and economic stability. This progression, backed by empirical evidence, highlights the significant potential impact of SaathVik-Connect on amputees in India.

Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8):

• By connecting amputees seeking jobs with suitable job openings, SaathVik-Connect reduces unemployment rates and fosters economic growth. Our platform emphasizes fair recruitment processes, promoting job security and productivity.

1. No Poverty (SDG 1):

• By focusing on skill development and equal job opportunities, we enable amputated individuals to improve their earning potential and access better economic opportunities, thus reducing the risk of poverty.

1. Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10):

• Saathvik Connect promotes inclusivity by bridging the gap between amputated job seekers who are discriminated against, and usually lack awareness and literacy, connecting them to apt work opportunities, thereby reducing inequalities in access to employment.

To measure the progress of our solution, once the website is launched we will be continually collecting the number of registrations of both amputees and employers. One of our primary indicators is the conversion rate, which tracks how many amputees who sign up on our platform successfully secure employment or meaningful job connections. Through manual efforts and direct interventions, we have achieved a 30% conversion rate, contacting various potential employers on behalf of amputees who await to hear back from us.

As we transition to a fully operational website with advanced search engine capabilities and targeted outreach to relevant stakeholders, the web platform will allow us to reach our target population directly, establishing it as a one-stop solution. Hence, we anticipate a significant increase in our conversion rate. 

Measuring the conversion rate on our website directly reflects our progress towards SDG goals. A higher conversion rate signifies increased job placements and economic opportunities for individuals with disabilities, aligning with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 1 (No Poverty). Additionally, by tracking the effectiveness of our platform, we can evaluate our contribution to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by promoting inclusive hiring practices and reducing disparities in employment opportunities.

Saathvik-Connect's core technology consists of 

• Python-powered backend

• Secure database for amputees and employers

• User-friendly GUI interface

• Multilingual support

Python powers the backend operations; this includes setting up a secure database that houses detailed profiles of amputees and employers. The registration information input by both end-users is private and personal information whose security and appropriate usage will be ensured by our portal. 

The frontend interface is designed with user-friendly GUI elements like icons and images to aid the process for our target population (amputees from rural India), making navigation easy and accessible for all users. Additionally, multilingual support would enhance the user experience, integrating the various cultures of our country and allowing users to interact with the platform in their preferred language. 

Integrating these features creates a safe, easy-to-use, and inclusive environment for job seekers and employers to connect and collaborate effectively.

Our team consists of only 3 members, around the age of 16. SaathVik is a student-led project, we are not registered as an organisation. 

We encountered the gap between amputees and employment about 4 months ago. Ever since we have allotted time daily for gathering primary information about the issue and ideating, building our platform and indulging in outreach through collaborations. 

Our team, composed of three 16-year-old school students—Manvy, Nandini, and Diya—embodies diversity through our varied academic and cultural backgrounds. As co-founders, we actively promote a culture that minimizes barriers to opportunity by adopting flexible roles that allow each member to engage based on their strengths and learning goals. We are committed to creating a platform where all voices are heard and respected, fostering an environment where everyone feels supported and valued. Our actions toward this commitment include regular inclusive feedback sessions and collaborative decision-making processes, aiming to continuously grow more equitably and align with MIT Solve’s principles.

We all adhere to all tasks or obstacles that come our way, through our different but collaborative skill sets. 

We serve amputees who face difficulties in finding fair job opportunities and organisations willing to hire devoted labour, also fulfilling their CSR goals. As of now we are still on the prototype stage, hence we do not have to bear any costing nor do we have any revenue streams. Further as we grow, we will remain a non-profit organisation, and if any funds needed for upscaling the project we will use crowd-funding methods. No expenses are incurred as our website is crafted by our own team and outreach is done through precise research and proposals, again prepared by our own team. The relentless task of making proposals and approaching amputees across India would be facilitated through our website. 

Think about your key customers and beneficiaries. What products or services do you provide them? 

Our target population and beneficiaries would have access to online services through our web portal that allow them to fulfil their need (find job or provide job). As the platform is online it would be accessible to all. However, we understand how people from marginalised communities may not find it easy to navigate through online platforms at the first go, and for that reason we will include tutorials and accessibility to different languages. In the long run, SaathVik-Connect, with it's one stop solution would benefit the economy and government as a whole, decreasing the income disparity and unemployment rate. 

Why do they want or need them? 

27% of India’s amputees are unemployed because they face discrimination when applying for a job. Most amputees even belong to rural areas, lacking access to apt knowledge and resources. Hence, to bridge that gap in employment and marginalised communities, Sathvik-Connect would facilitate fair and equal job opportunities. 

We have no monetary transactions so far, and will have minimal in the future as well. Updates to the online platform would be fulfilled by our team, however MIT Solve’s technical advice and facilities would really boost our functionality and outreach. Collaborating with businesses, organisations, and holding workshops would again not require any additional funds or outsourcing. However, we do plan on enhancing the skill development sector of our project, online and on-site, which may require some professional outlook and funding. Crowd-funding would aid us to upgrade this element of our solution and spread awareness, but only to an extent, which is why we need your help. Eventually, upgrading the website may even have server costs.  
Overall, no major costs would be incurred, and as we are non-profit, we would not be looking for any other revenue stream than funding or grants.