English Language and Soft Skills Development workshop ends

June 5, 2009:"Most of us had little confidence or ability before we joined the workshop. Now we have the confidence to speak in English", said Nabeel about his and others' experience at the 60 day long workshop on English Communication and Soft Skills Development, organised by Insight. There was no hesitancy in his voice. His language said it all.

Applauding him were 13 other visually challenged persons who had been part of the workshop. The occasion was the valedictory session of the workshop at Press Club Hall, Thiruvananthapuram.

"There is no dearth of skilled people among the visually challenged. But unfortunately employers are prejudiced against us. We can  resist the biases by proving ourselves to the employers", said Sathyaseelan, Vice President, Kerala Federation of the Blind, reminding the participants about the various challenges ahead. He said that the workshop was a positive step towards improving the prospects of the visually challenged.

Dr. Usha Titus IAS, Secretary, Social Welfare Department said that it was a commendable effort on the part of Insight to train atleast 14 visually challenged perople in English language and soft skills.  Insight should work towards getting them placed, she said.

When a private company employs a person with disability, the Central Government will pay the employer's contribution towards the Employees Provident Fund and Employees State Insurance for the first three years. This is being provided as incentive by the Government for private companies. But no company has informed the Government yet of appointments of disabled people, said Dr Usha Titus.

The state Government has also announced that all disabilties would be assessed and disability certificates issued. This would help the disabled to apply for jobs in the Government sector which provides 3% reservation.

Dr. Usha Titus, distributed certificates to the trainees. Earlier R.V Jayapadma, Coordinator, SPACE gave a brief introduction to Insight and its activites. She said that the workshop aimed to provide an inclusive environment wherein the trainees were given excercises and group activities. Introduction to computers using ‘Orca’ screen reader on GNU/Linux platform was also given to the students as part of the course. More such free courses for the benefit of the differently abled will be conducted by INSIGHT in the coming year, she said.