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Give the disabled a chance, Chidambaram urges the corporate sector

Special Correspondent

Over 1000 differently-abled candidates throng the exclusive job fair

CHENNAI: Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Sunday urged the corporate sector to provide jobs to the physically challenged and pointed out that "differently-abled people are not disabled."

"A faculty or an organ [in them] is deficient, but they more than make up for that by being able to use other faculties and organs more efficiently," he declared inaugurating EmployABILITY-2006, a job fair organised here exclusively for them.

The Union Minister, who due to a sore throat had his speech read out, said the young men and women participants were educated. "They are qualified ... have skills and confidence. They have the will to overcome their handicaps. Please give them a chance," he appealed.

"In a way, I am also slightly impaired today ... I have nearly lost my voice," Mr. Chidambaram said. He was conscious that the government would have to do more to encourage the employment of differently-abled people. He intended to interact with the fair organisers to find new ways and means to help the differently-abled.

Nearly 1,100 differently-abled and academically qualified in a wide range of fields, from medicine, computer science, commerce, corporate secretaryship, accounts and arts and humanities, sought jobs at the fair, organised by the Ability Foundation, Confederation of Indian Industry and the Lions Club of Padi-Shenoynagar. An overwhelming majority of the job-seekers were orthopaedically impaired.

70 firms participate

Apart from the record number of candidates from 13 states, including from those far off such as Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, the fair had the largest-ever participation of 70 companies. The firms represented diverse industry sectors, including information technology, IT-enabled services, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, hospitality, banks, legal, logistics and construction.

Indian Bank chairman and managing director K.C. Chakrabarty said the mission of striving for financial inclusion of the underprivileged included promoting the cause of the physically challenged.

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