Date:09/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/09/stories/2007010919980200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Firms comfortable with physically challenged staff

Special Correspondent

Some companies now reserve at least two per cent of their jobs for such persons

Bangalore: Human resource can be a fascinating, yet a frustrating subject. And no one knows this better than anyone who is connected with recruitment of personnel.

Human resource professionals, chief executive officers and just about anyone, who has been through the ordeal of finding the "right fit for a job", can narrate any number of instances where their search has led to some bizarre experiences.

What has emerged out of such experiences is that it has brought in a complete change in mindsets, and human resource professionals have realised that they need to expand their myopic vision and look at a larger canvass to find talent. More IT and ITES firms here are seriously looking at physically challenged technically trained persons for jobs where their mobility is not a criterion. Firms such as Wipro and TCS have recruited such persons and are happy with their performance.

Employers are now looking at segments that were not conventionally in the reckoning - the differently abled persons. Employers have realised that they were losing out on the huge talent pool that exists among this group. Of course, what has also helped is that this group worked towards acquiring "employable" skills that make it easier for them to be integrated in the mainstream of corporate India. Some companies now reserve at least two per cent of their jobs for such persons.

Recruiting differently abled persons needs not just a complete different mindset, but also a suitable infrastructure to make the space comfortable, HR managers admit. Yet, it is encouraging that many companies despite not having "ideal" conditions have gone ahead and hired these people. What they lack in physical infrastructure, their "normal" employees have more than compensated to make the workplace more conducive to the comfort and productivity of these employees. Take the case of HTMT, a leading BPO firm, which has made a proactive effort to hire differently enabled persons. Says Satya Sai Sylada, HR Head, "The results of this exercise have been inspiring and encouraging. It is amazing to see the spirit within the teams that have these employees working with them. The differently enabled employees have also earned the respect of their peers across the company with their dedication and passion for their work."