Varanasi: Nearly 450 young people with various disabilities on Saturday participated in a job fair jointly organized by two NGOs and a government agency in Varanasi, a city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

“Disability is both a cause and consequence of poverty, contributing vulnerability and social exclusion,” said Manmeet Singh of Jan Vikas Samiti (JVS, forum for people’s advancement), a nodal social service organization of the Indian Missionary Society’s Varanasi Province, one of the organizers.

Singh, who is JVS’ Chief Manager Programme Development, told Matters India that people with disabilities from low and middle income groups face barriers that limit their equitable access to health, education and social development. This reduces their chances of access to decent work.

Other organizers were Sarthak (well done) Educational Trust, a Delhi-based organization working for the differently abled, and Vocational Rehabilitation Centre (VRC), Kanpur, a unit of the federal Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Through the support of Sarthak, companies such as Aegis, V-Smart, Vishal Mega Mart, Max, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Spencer’s, Pizza Hut sent their representatives to the fair to interview candidates.

People above 18 with high school education enrolled their names at the fair. They came from neighboring districts of Varanasi.

Apart from the interview, the participants were given counseling. Later, the companies shortlisted eligible candidates for the required job. VRC will contact them in due time as per the vacancies.

Sarthak’s project director Swati Singh said the job fair was a medium to create sensitivity among the corporate and create jobs. Her NGO has organized 82 fairs and created more than 5000 job opportunities for the disabled until now, she told Matters India.

Prior to the Job-Fair, one day seminar and workshop was organized for nearly 25 organizations working in northern India. Rajnath Prasad from VRC, Dr. Jitender Aggrawal, Chief Executive Officer and founder of Sarthak, Amitabh Mehrotra, executive director of Spark India, Lucknow, took classes on “Inclusive livelihood and Equal Opportunity.”

Manoj Kumar Tripathi, Regional manager, V-Mart Retail Limited, told the Matters India that he was spellbound to see a peaceful atmosphere and meticulous planning for the differently abled candidates. He found the candidates “at ease and confident” while being interviewed. He said he was impressed when he came to know that his interviewees were graduates.

Selecting at least 15 candidates is great indeed, said one of the interviewers. He said physical disability should not deter any person’s personal aptitude.

Birju Prajapatri, a candidate, said that he was happy to participate in such an event hoping to get a job in near future.

Bholanath Sonkar, final year student of Bachelor of Arts course, wants more such programs so that people can come to know other differently abled people and their struggles.