Pankh - Wings of Destiny

Persons with Disabilities (PwD) form about 2.2% of our society according to the Census 2011 report. This translates into 21.9 million affected individuals. In the year 2011, about 13.4 million PwDs were in the employable age group and that number has increased since then. Out of these almost 10 million are literate and are either marginal workers or non-workers. In the employable age group, about 2.1 million are marginal workers and the other 7.8 million are non-workers. The Vocational skilling gap amongst PwDs is 9.8 million and will rise to 10.8 million by 2022 if serious skilling interventions (covering formal employment, work contracts/ other informal jobs, and entrepreneurship opportunities) are not undertaken.

PANKH – Wings of Destiny aims to intervene and train Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and provide them employment opportunities in the retail industry. The initiative thus aims to create sustainable livelihoods for PwDs and also promote inclusive growth in the retail sector. Our beneficiaries are persons with speech and hearing disabilities and persons with locomotor disabilities between the age of 18-28 years who have completed their SSC/ SSLC. They come from low-income communities whose families are mostly engaged in the informal sector. We also train a small percentage of youths with low vision and other disabilities under the program. Our training programs provide the complete spectrum of skills in a very interactive and easy-to-learn manner with a focus on three key skills - Life Skills, English Language Skills, and Retail Specific Skills. The youth is also provided exposure by visiting Malls covering various formats of retail – QSR, Hypermarket, Supermarket, Apparel store, Luxury store, etc. On the completion of the training programs, retail organizations are invited to evaluate and interview candidates for placements. The Programs aim to achieve a minimum of 70% placement for the trainees under the program. Since its inception in 2011, the program has been instrumental in creating livelihood for people with disabilities in the retail sector. Over 15000 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) have been trained and employed in the retail industry under this program with over 500 retailers taking benefit of the same.

The initiative aims to create capability and capacity to provide training and sustainable livelihood for 10,000 PwDs annually through our centers all over India by 2022.

1. The impact of gainful employment is felt by the PwDs on his/her economic status, and softer aspects like confidence, attitude, reliability, etc.
2. Sensitize the retail industry fraternity to generate employment opportunities for PwDs 
3. The Funds raised under this Crowd fundraiser with Train 250 Persons With Disabilities at our Centers