Principal Scientific Adviser to the Govt. of India Launched Beta version of “SwarajAbility”- India’s first AI triggered Jobs Platform For Persons with Disabilities on 3rd February, 2022
Mumbai: The Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Govt of India – Prof. K. VijayRaghavan, launched Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (“Kotak” / “KMBL”) and its CSR Partner Youth4Job Foundation’s (“Youth4Jobs” / “Y4J”) Beta version of “SwarajAbility”- India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) triggered Jobs Platform for Persons with Disabilities on 3rd February, 2022. The launch event was held on a virtual platform and attended by Ms. Meera Shenoy, Founder CEO, Y4J, Mr. Jayesh Ranjan, IAS and Principal Secretary – IT, I&C in Telangana government and Advisor to Y4J, Mr. Prakash Apte, Chairman, Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited, Prof. B. Murthy, Director, IIT Hyderabad and Dr. Maunendra, Associate Prof. IIT Hyderabad.
“SwarajAbility” is a combination of two words Swarajya – which means independence – and Ability. The development of SwarajAbility is a multi-stakeholder collaborative effort for betterment of life of persons with disability. While the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) contributed by developing India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) based job platform for persons with Disabilities, PSA’s office monitors and gives useful suggestions and Visual Quest India develops the Job Portal. Youth4Jobs brought its rich experience in skilling, disability, and job linkages, and Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited, under its CSR Project for Education and Livelihood, has funded the entire SwarajAbility Project.
SwarajAbility, will provide independence to persons with disabilities, through 21st century training and jobs. Accessibility and ease of use for youth with disabilities is key.
Rohit Rao, Joint President, & Group Chief CSR Officer, Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited said, “Under its CSR Project for Education & Livelihood, Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL) has collaborated Youth4Jobs Foundation (Y4J). Over the years, Kotak and Y4J have been working together with a common goal to create equal education & livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities so that they can lead a dignified and independent life. Kotak Mahindra Bank’s CSR funded SwarajAbility project, which is being implemented by our CSR Partner Youth4Jobs Foundation, is our sincere effort towards reaching that goal.”
Meera Shenoy, Founder-CEO, Youth4jobs said, “SwarajAbility – the name reflects Gandhian values we believe in and Independence for persons with disabilities through technology, trainings and job linkages. The job platform is a user-friendly platform available on the web as well as mobile that will be accessible to less educated and educated youth with disabilities. Government, NGOs, youth, community, companies who work in the disability space will collaborate with this platform. There are 21 million persons with disabilities in India. About 70 per cent of them are unemployed or underemployed. The Right of Persons with Disability Act, 2016 for the first time highlights the rights of persons with disability for education and employment. SwarajAbility is a step in the direction to ensure that No One vulnerable gets left behind.”
Kotak Karma is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) identity of Kotak Mahindra Group.