Executive Summary

Committed to addressing the needs of marginalized communities across India, Anudip proposes to set up 3 training centres and train 300 educated but unemployed persons with disability through its Specially-Abled Vocational Education (SAVE) program, from urban and semi-urban areas of Westbengal, Maharastra & Uttarakhand over a period of eight months. Anudip in collaboration with corporate partner intends to implement SAVE program for marginalized specially-abled youth and women in the age group of 18-30 years.

Background

Persons with disabilities (PwDs) are perceived as incapable of performing highly-skilled jobs. The perception and myth surrounding PwDs have acted as a barrier to their development. PwDs are not expected to do well in jobs and often taken for granted and seen as a hindrance to growth. PwDs are not provided equal opportunities in education; leading to a lack of skills and job opportunities. Fear of losing family status and to protect the child from exploitation, parents prevent disabled members from going out for education or jobs. The rehabilitation measures should be targeted according to the needs of the disabled with community participation. At the ground level, the persons with disabilities continue to be neglected by family rather than community. This situation and social stigma make them isolated from peer groups, higher education, often basic education which keeps them far from developing social skills for life.

Based on the data collected from the 2011 census, rural India has shown a high rise in the number of disabled in the country; from 2.21% in 2001 to 2.24% in 2011. It is safe to assume that this is due to poverty which is highly prevalent in the country. Disability is most visible among poor communities due to their lack of access to basic needs like health care facilities, nutrition to pregnant women, post-natal vaccination etc. In developing countries, 80% to 90% of persons with disabilities of working age are unemployed, whereas in industrialized countries the figure is between 50% and 70%. Although it is critical to address the issues leading to disability market it is equally important and challenging to change the perception of the community, policymakers involved in developing inclusive intervention programs.

Proposed program

Specially-Abled Vocational Education (SAVE) program is a three months extensive skills development program exclusively for persons with disabilities (PwDs). The program is designed to provide employability skills to the unemployed men and women who are orthopedically disabled and unable to earn their livelihoods by themselves. During these three months program, the target group will get skills training on Workplace English, Workplace Readiness, Workplace Information Technology (IT), Digital Literacy and Financial Literacy. Post-training, the graduates will be provided placement assistance by Anudip’s placement cell according to their expertise. Students will be placed in BPO, Back Office and IT & ITeS sector. Total of 240 hours of training will be provided (4hours/day, 5 days/week, and 12 weeks program per batch). Post-placement, Anudip’s placement team will follow days/week, and 12 weeks program per batch). Post-placement, Anudip’s placement team will follow up with the candidate for three months. The total training program will be carried for a total 8 months (2 months for centre setting up and months for imparting training).

Project Goal and Objectives:

The project objectives are defined below

• To set up training centres in the respective communities where students will have convenient access from their homes
• To enrol and train 300 youth and women with disabilities in 3 locations.
• To facilitate and improve the employment process of disabled people by evaluating their existing skills, continuous evaluation and enhancing their employability skills 
• To ensure people with disabilities have equal access to job opportunities
• To provide handholding support to the candidates during placement and after placement
• To establish a network and strategic partnership

Beneficiary Target 

Through this training program, Anudip will mobilize persons with disabilities from marginalized communities. Entry-level qualification of the candidate is expected to be minimum 10th class passed. Each training batch would be consisting of 10-12 students.

Activities

Following activities will be taken up during the proposed training program:

• Identification of the target beneficiaries from the project area
• Building up a rapport with the target group
• Meeting with the target group
• Counselling of the target group and their family members
• Location identification for 2 training enrol  
• SAVE program for 50 individuals in six months
• 12 weeks training schedule for each batch of students
• The Mid-term and end-term assessment followed by certification
• Mock interview session and interview preparation
• Job placement assistance
• Post-placement support

Training Module

Through this skill development training program, Anudip will provide a market aligned curriculum to the candidates to enhance their employability skills according to the market trend. Anudip’s training modules give special emphasize on employers’ need. The program will include these following modules:

• Workplace Information Technology (IT)
• Workplace English
• Workplace Readiness 
• Digital Literacy
• Financial Literacy
• Interview Preparation

Outputs

Anudip’s SAVE program is exclusively designed to empower the PwDs both economically and socially by providing them with a platform. Post-training the following outputs will be achieved:

• 300 students will be trained
• 50% placement of the graduated students will centres
• Number of unemployed PwDs will be decreased
• Skills developed of the graduate students
• Career development opportunity
• Placed students get a chance to gain economic independence
• Affordability of basic needs
• Acceptance among the family and society

Timeline

Anudip will run this project for eight months in these three locations. Each batch will consist of 10-12 students.

Employer partnership for placement

Anudip’s placement team has agreements with more than 200 companies, works with the demand side of livelihood opportunities opening avenues for graduating students. Hiring companies are encouraged to visit our centres and lecture and contribute to the training curriculum. This not only helps in developing a long-term relationship with our clients but also encourages students to develop realistic expectations for their careers. Anudip’s students have been placed in well-known corporates like- Destimoney, Tatwa, Intelnet Global Services, Tech Mahindra, Atcis BPO, IKF, Aegis, Infosite, Concentrix and BMA Wealth Creator etc. The average salary of Anudip placed students have been Rs. 6500 – 7000 p.m.

1. 50% placement of the graduated students will be achieved
2. Affordability of basic needs and higher confidence in themselves
3. Acceptance among the family and society

Anudip transforms lives by creating aspirational livelihoods through digital inclusion in emerging economies. A nonprofit company with operations in India and USA, Anudip has been empowering motivated young job aspirants from difficult backgrounds since 2007.  Anudip beneficiaries, are from high-need, marginalized communities, tribal, people with disabilities or victims of trafficking.