Udupi: A large-scale job fair exclusively for persons with disabilities (PwDs) will be organised on March 14 at Moodlakatte Institute of Technology & Management, Kundapur, under the Samruddha Byndoor programme. Byndoor MLA Gururaj Gantihole said the ‘Adidvara Udyoga Mela’ is being organised by Assis Tech Foundation, Bengaluru, in collaboration with the department for empowerment of differently abled and senior citizens, with support from several organisations.The job fair is open to PwDs from across the coastal belt, including Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts. Organisers expect over 800 participants to attend the event.The MLA said although 3% reservation is provided for PwDs in higher education, only about 0.5% of seats are currently occupied. Employment levels remain low, with only 1 in 3 persons with disabilities employed on average. The economic loss caused by their exclusion from the workforce is estimated to be between 3% and 7% of GDP.Through the Adidvara initiative, Assis Tech Foundation aims to bridge this employment gap. The initiative received support from MLAs and MPs of Coastal Karnataka. More than 50 companies, including start-ups from Udupi and Mangaluru, are expected to participate in the fair. The objective is to help PwDs secure jobs and lead independent lives.To ensure wider participation, information and beneficiary identification points have been set up in Udupi, Mangaluru, Kundapur, Byndoor and Bhatkal, with support from the department for empowerment of differently abled. KSRTC has agreed to arrange free bus facilities to the venue. As part of the initiative, Symbionic Tech will conduct measurements for people who need robotic arms. The prosthetic devices, which normally cost around Rs 1.5 lakh, will be provided free of cost to selected beneficiaries. Around 60 people with disabilities are expected to benefit from the initiative, the MLA said.Symbionic Tech, an NGO, will mobilise funds for the project. The event is being widely promoted on social media and is probably first of its kind in coastal Karnataka.
