Several employers in Madurai have thrown open their workplaces to
people with intellectual disabilities. Like Sandhya Devi, who has
secured a job in Lady Oak College despite mental retardation, several
others with same or similar disorders have found jobs. With growing
awareness on the condition and the difficulties faced by the disabled,
private sector employers are showing willingness to hire those who are
differently-abled, mentally.
People with intellectual
disabilities are proving their skills as managers and office and library
assistants. Their performance has been satisfactory, prompting many
private firms to call for more employees who can understand their work.
"Unfortunately, few mentally-challenged people are provided required
skills," said R Ravikumar, principal of Bethshan Special School.
Employers find a few advantages in recruiting special people. "They
are polite and obedient. They won't loiter or talk unnecessarily. Above
all, they do their job perfectly," said Jayabal, coordinator of the
special school.
B Nagavel, a resident of Thathaneri, joined as a sales person in an automobile company here in 2005. Despite his disability, he has grown to become a manager. "Three normal people are working along with me. As I know more about the spares, they keep on asking me for details. When I am not in the shop, they would give a ring on my mobile phone," he said.
S Karthikeyan, a 32-year-old resident of Nethaji Road, has been working as a library assistant in CSI Jeyaraj Annapackiam College of Nursing. He keeps books according to the library catalogue. Talking about his work, his mother S Subathra said he has been doing his job well and so far there has been no complaint about his work. The vocational training he got has worked wonders, she said.
A few other mentally-challenged people TOI met at workplaces in Madurai are Robert Dinakaran, an office assistant; M Gautham, a spare parts sales in-charge in Kalayani Honda; and J Karthick, a store-charge at Solaimalai Wheels.
Source : TOI , 3rd December 2013
No comments:
Post a Comment