Feasibility of Employing People with Disabilities in the Indian IT Sector

Abstract

This paper explores feasibility of employment of People with Disabilities across the disability spectrum in the Indian IT Sector. In India, “people with disabilities face many obstacles when it comes to learning employable skills” and finding meaningful jobs under good working conditions. “Though India has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD), there are still many difficulties facing people with disabilities in the labour market”. In this context, the aim of this study is to understand the challenges faced by employers in “hiring and retaining people with disabilities in the Indian IT companies”, and to identify possible strategic interventions for future advocacy or project work.

The primary concern expressed by the majority of respondents was the perception that workers with disabilities were unable to function at work. The form of work that is acceptable for People with Disabilities was another top concern. Most of the respondents agreed that hiring disabled workers would support the workplace; among them, improved CSR efficiency and increased morale of employees. In order for these challenges to be properly understood and sufficiently addressed, future studies should continue to concentrate on employer demand side issues with regard to disabled workers.