'India to train 4 million people with disabilities for employment'

SINGAPORE: India will train four million people with disability for employment in sectors, including beauty and wellness, IT and tourism, in the next seven years, said chairman of a society which helps in training physically challenged people.

"We have a target to skill close to four million people with disability by 2022, and we are hopeful we will be able to achieve that," said Patu Keswani, chairman of Skill Council of People With Disability.

Keswani, who was appointed chairman of the Skill Council of People With Disability about two months ago, said 12 sectors have been identified for people with 19 disabilities as per a bill tabled in parliament.

"The challenge is now to look at these 19 disabilities and the 12 sectors," he told PTI after addressing the two-day Singapore Human Capital Summit which begin yesterday.

The sectors, include beauty and wellness, IT, tourism and hospitality, he said.

The SCPWD's skilling programme will also cover disabled youths from rural and slums of India, for employment.

The SCPWD will also use technology in training programmes for reaching out the people across the country.

Corporations in India have responded well to the Skill India initiative as well as the SCPWD, said Keswani.

SCPWD is a society promoted by Confederation of Indian Industry and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.