Contemporary Dialogue

Abstract

India requires a new wave of educated and skilled individuals to adapt to a knowledge-based economy. Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) are a considerable part of the population of India, having untapped potential for ensuring the spirit of economic growth of the nation and an equitable society. Many regulations and Acts were enacted to encourage their growth and well-being, but the marginalised sections have been in the wrath of low skills and low productive employment due to the lack of access to education and training, or the low quality or relevance of training. This article approaches equating skill training concerning the quality of life, thus integrating differently abled personnel into the workforce. The paper aims to show how skill development escalates employment opportunities, expedites high productivity, and results in income growth and development. The reflections emerged from the study indicate that PwDs undergo deterrents thrown by the environment, thus posing constraints to physical access to employment, instead of the existence of remarkable schemes. This shows that disability is a social construct rather than an individual one, and as a result, due to a socially constructed mindset, PwDs face multiple challenges in accessing resources and benefits for themselves. Since India is making a beeline for emerging as a ‘Knowledge Economy’, it becomes peremptory to pivot on the amelioration of skills, thus targeting the dead centre, that is, the emerging economic environment.