Shobha Ramswamy

Titan's enlightened policy of employing people with disabilities has paid dividends for the company, while helping these children of a lesser god turn their lives around

Among the multitude of barriers that the disabled in India have to navigate, the most debilitating is the lack of employment opportunities. There is enough sympathy going around to make a lame man walk, but precious few jobs. Part of the blame for this rests with employers, but, as Titan Industries has shown, there are exceptions.

The disabled are more than capable of delivering the goods in the workplace, provided companies take the trouble to identify areas where the abilities of the handicapped can be put to productive use. In the case of Titan, one of the world's largest timepiece manufacturers, it began with an inclination to help the handicapped. By the early 1980s the company had started introducing 'disabled' employees in its workplaces, becoming one of a handful of Indian enterprises attempting to reverse the job-market bias against people with disabilities.

Currently, the disabled constitute about 4 per cent of Titan's total employee strength. This includes 29 employees with physical disabilities, 84 with hearing and speech impairments, and four with vision impairments.

Titan understood that the watch industry provides several employment opportunities for those with disabilities. Tasks with low levels of body risk, the least physical movement and minimum verbal communication were identified and categorised ability-wise. The physically impaired were set down to polish watch cases and assemble components and the hearing impaired to strap watch heads, while the vision impaired found a place in the company's packaging and despatch division.

Titan's unique recruitment strategy meant combing the countryside in search of capable candidates aged between 18 and 24. Appropriate selection procedures were adopted, depending on the nature of the disability. The company arranged counselling sessions with the families, to make the transition into the factory smooth. "Titan was clear that these people are an intrinsic part of our society and need understanding, support and opportunities, not charity or misplaced compassion," says Mamatha Bhat, who has been closely involved with the initiative.

Hiring was but one component of Titan's plan for the disabled; ergonomically designed workspaces were just as important. For example, the provision of handrails makes walking within the Titan factory effortless for physically challenged employees. Several steps were taken to address their special needs: training to enhance technical competence, computer literacy, non-discrimination in all policies, creating a conducive work environment by effective grievance handling, counselling to tackle problems like exploitation, marital conflicts and emotional problems.

Those with disabilities were housed with regular employees, which contributed to their integration with the rest of the workforce. Even work areas were made common. Fortnightly meetings sensitised the company about issues concerning the disabled and their families. Supervisors who interfaced with the hearing impaired were trained in sign language. Today, in the strapping department, it's nearly impossible to distinguish the hearing impaired from the others, as everyone uses sign language.

The introduction of employees with disabilities early in the life of the company contributed to their acceptance as equal members of the workforce, promoting cohesion in the working environment.

Apart from providing employment and financial independence, the disabled at Titan have improved their social standing and boosted their self-esteem. Around 96 of them are married, with Titan playing matchmaker for eight couples. Most own homes in the Titan township and their children study in the best schools.

With time, Titan has realised that the disabled members of its family are more loyal and far more focused on the job. Despite the physical shortcomings of these employees, productivity and quality have never been issues. Titan's children of a lesser god
are no longer classified as disabled, merely 'differently-abled'.

Uploaded in March 2005