Post Covid-19 Rehabilitation of Youth with Disabilities through Skilling

India’s Lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19 virus and measures taken to manage the pandemic, had devastating effect on businesses and communities. The crisis continues post lockdown also. But the severity of impact of COVID-19 has been most intense among the people who are most marginalised and vulnerable. Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) are among the hardest hit. Most often they and their families get left out from the mass welfare measures of government agencies or during distribution of life saving provisions done from a central point in their locality. They are also the worst impacted due to the loss of livelihood and are also most likely to fall into further poverty and ill health if they are not able to access the immediate relief for survival and sustainable livelihood. 

Project Goals and Activities: 

·        To support 60 poor and marginalized young people and their families combat the impact of Covid

·        To support them access livelihood opportunities in the domains of Fitter and Electrical and Electronics Mechanics. Among these 80% will be Youth with Disability and 20% without disability. 

Project Activities:

The Foundation/Life Skill Training:

 During mobilizing the young people for skill trainings, some YwDs identified require some basic life skill training before being able to decide about taking up a vocation. About 40-50% of the prospective trainees undergo about 20-25 days Foundation course to prepare them on hygiene and soft skills. They are provided with rehabilitation and aids and appliances to make them functionally independent and job ready. Their assessment is done to establish alignment between their physical disabilities, aspirations and demands of the job.

The Skill (Domain) Training:

 Fitter: A six-month integrated course that prepares trainees to work as factory technicians -operate conventional machines, use hand tools and measuring tools and perform machine assembly. Students can also opt for advanced training in Auto CAD and CNC machines after the course for senior positions.

Electronics Mechanic: A six-month integrated course in basic Electronic Engineering – circuit design, electronic components, tools and equipment’s, soldering and de-soldering skills, repair and maintenance of consumer and industrial appliances. 

Modalities of the courses:

Duration: 6 months/8 hour classes – 4 hours of theory and 4 hours of practical classes.

Courses are run in two batches for each course, i.e., four batches are run simultaneously.

20 students are taken in each batch, out of which 15 students complete the course after accounting in dropouts, resulting in 15*4=60 students completing the course.

 Placement and post placement support after completion of Skills Training-

The youth are placed in industries with a minimum wage of Rs.8,000/- to Rs.10,000 per month. APD ensures >80% placement of the trained candidates and a post placement follow-up support of up-to 3 months to ensure retention. The past trend shows about 70% trainees are retained in their jobs.

Subjects taught:

Electronics Mechanic :

·        Safety of personal working and the equipment

·        Familiarization of basic electricity

·        Identification of various active & passive components and their applications.

·        Identification and applications of different Hand tools 

·        Identification, uses of Measuring Instruments & Electronic equipment 

·        Uses of electronic components in different circuits

·        As part of the course they are provided with on the job training (OJT).

 Fitter :

·        Safety of personal working and the machineries 

·        Familiarization of basic fittings and filings

·        Identification and applications of different Hand tools

·        Identification of metals and their applications

·        Identification, uses of Measuring Instruments  

·        Internal & External thread cuttings using Tap and die Sets 

·        Operations of various machines such as Lathe, Drilling, Grinding 

·        Usages of gauges - feeler, screw, pitch, radius, wire gauge

APD’s ELT training programs are co-created with experienced employers and aligned broadly with NCVT & MES (modular employable skill for short term course).This collaboration with industry ensures that our graduates are familiar with current industrial needs & best practices and have the relevant job skills that employers are looking for in entry level graduates. . 

APD has fixed about 4% i.e., Rs. 2000- as part contribution fees for 6 months residential training. However, the trend so far of trainees paying has been not encouraging as our recruits are from the most indigent and poorest sections of society. APD as a policy does not reject any applications if the trainees fail to pay their contribution, which is more likely in the current Covid-19 situation.

Young men and women will get an opportunity to have alternative livelihood post Covid-19

Employers are seeking and promoting placement of technical candidates.

Families of youth with disability are sensitized to disability issues, entitlements, economic and social independence 

90% of enrolled YWDs state they have gained technical skills 

Technical Trained youth are competent for employment

Enhanced Functional independence of the candidates

Placement for 80-90% of the trained candidates 

Employers are seeking and promoting placement of candidates.

PWDs are employed with prerequisite skills.