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Going by the last census report, the number of differently-abled people in India is a whopping 2.65 crore, which comprises roughly 2.21% of the Indian population. Among them, around 12.6 million happen to be males while 9.3 million are females. It comes as no surprise that in a large insensitive society such as ours the differently-abled are subjected to insults, inequalities, indignities, and even violence. And when it comes to the employment figures around 63.66% of the differently-abled in India are unemployment. However, the positive side to the story is that notwithstanding the uncaring attitude of people against the differently-abled the latter is slowly moving up the ladder of education, skill development, and success. There are salutary examples of such people achieving great feats and becoming an inspiration for others – Arunima Sinha, the dogged mountaineer being just one of the many. To improve the condition of the differently-abled and allow them to join the mainstream, the government has taken measures such as:
In addition to education, the differently-abled should be taught vocational skills to enable them earn their livelihood. In fact, many of them are capable of becoming entrepreneurs who can, in turn, employ others.
Vocational training for skill enhancement: With academic degrees no longer sufficient to land a job it has become important for the college and university pass outs to gain suitable skills and increase their employability. The differently-abled can undergo different types of vocational training and prepare themselves for various jobs that are part of the digital ecosystem. The list is given below:
Digital Marketing: With most businesses and customers going online, digital marketing has taken center stage. It has given businesses, small or big, the latitude and wherewithal to reach out to their customers on the go at lower costs compared to traditional marketing. Differently-abled students can learn the various avenues of digital marketing such as SEO, SMO, SMM, PPC, and many others, and run marketing campaigns for various companies on the internet. It can be an extremely well-paid career if one learns the nitty-gritty of the trade.
Web development: Most businesses today have moved online or are in the process of doing so. The pandemic has brought to fore the importance of having an online presence to reach out to customers and deliver goods or services to them. Website development is one skill that has a growing demand in the job market. Enterprises are looking for skilled candidates who know the technologies that go behind making a robust website. By getting skilled in web development, differently-abled candidates can not only find suitable jobs for themselves but establish start-ups of their own.
IoT and AI skills: Technology is growing at a rapid pace. With 5G communications on the anvil, enterprises are gearing up to incorporate IoT devices and AI into their value chain. This has created opportunities for people skilled in IoT and AI, especially the differently-abled who can now enhance their skills and handle the cutting-edge technologies of the day. Further, since these are niche jobs they are likely to offer a well-paid career.
Conclusion
To live a life of dignity and contentment, the differently-abled must skill themselves in the latest technologies of the day. The growing demand for such skills in the job market can keep them in good stead and allow them to become a part of the mainstream.
