The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), India’s leading cross-disability advocacy organization, in partnership with Mindtree, a global technology services and digital transformation company, today announced that nominations for the NCPEDP-Mindtree Helen Keller Awards for 2021 are open. The last date to submit nominations is October 25th, 2021.
Now in its 22nd year, the NCPEDP-Helen Keller Awards are among India’s most prestigious recognition for people and organizations working to promote equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs). NCPEDP has been partnering with Mindtree for the last six years to empower PWDs and inspire others to embrace the cause, accelerating inclusive and sustainable growth.
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The Helen Keller Awards were instituted in 1999 after a NCPEDP survey of the Top 100 companies in India revealed that less than 1% of PWDs were employed in public and private sectors. Since then, the awards have consistently created role models and celebrated achievements in the creation of employment for PWDs to motivate the society at large.
Arman Ali, Executive Director of NCPEDP, said, “The unprecedented changes brought about by the pandemic over the last two years have emphasized the need to bridge the gap in sustainability, inclusion and reasonable accommodation for all segments. While it is true that the pandemic has opened new avenues and opportunities for change, many sections, including PWDs, have become more vulnerable. The need of the hour is to create and sustain opportunities not only in employment, but also in self-employment and entrepreneurship for PWDs in both urban and rural areas. The NCPEDP-Mindtree Helen Keller Awards promote this idea of inclusive India and our contribution towards achieving the 2030 Global Agenda.”
Paneesh Rao, Chief People Officer at Mindtree, said, “It is an honor to be associated with NCPEDP in recognizing inspiring individuals and organizations for their spirited efforts and contributions towards social equity and inclusion. In many ways, the pandemic and the resulting shifts have widened the chasm separating PWDs from mainstream employment opportunities, jeopardizing their financial security and pushing them into deprivation. Mindtree Foundation is proud to support the empowerment of PWDs and help them earn dignified livelihoods. Coming against the backdrop of a global pandemic, this year’s Helen Keller Awards are especially more significant and inspiring as they underscore the power of human grit and resolve in making a positive difference.”
The NCPEDP-Mindtree Helen Keller Awards are open for nominations under the following categories:
Category A: Role Model Persons with Disabilities: Persons with disabilities from within the disability sector and outside who have been active as ambassadors of the cause of employment for persons with disabilities and are positive role models for others.
Category B: Role Model Supporter of Increased Employment Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities: Individuals from within the disability sector or outside who have contributed substantially to the cause of promoting employment opportunities for persons with disabilities over an extended period.
Category C: Role Model Companies/NGOs/Institutions: Organizations from the disability sector or outside who have shown their commitment towards promoting equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
We have also introduced a new category of awards this year, Role Model Entrepreneurs with Disabilities: Entrepreneurs with disabilities who have managed to set up businesses and sustained them over a period of time. The efforts of these individuals have positively impacted not only their lives but also the lives of others involved.
If you are one of these organizations or individuals or know someone who is, fill out the nomination forms and have it submitted by Monday, October 25, 2021.
To download the forms go to- https://ncpedp.org/the-ncpedp-mindtree-helen-keller-awards/
About NCPEDP:
Registered in 1996, the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) is the country’s premier cross-disability, not-for-profit organization working as an interface between Government, Industry, International Agencies and the Voluntary Sector towards empowerment of persons with disabilities. Its mandate is simple – to encourage the employment of people with disabilities, increase public awareness on the issue of disability, empower people with disabilities with knowledge, information and opportunities and ensure easy and convenient access to all public places. NCPEDP works on six core principles, also called the six pillars of the organization, namely: 1) Education; 2) Employment; 3) Accessibility; 4) Legislation/Policy; 5) Awareness/Communication, and 6) Youth.
To know more, please visit www.ncpedp.org
About Mindtree:
Mindtree [NSE: MINDTREE] is a global technology consulting and services company, helping enterprises marry scale with agility to achieve competitive advantage. “Born digital,” in 1999 and now a Larsen & Toubro Group Company, Mindtree applies its deep domain knowledge to 260 enterprise client engagements to break down silos, make sense of digital complexity and bring new initiatives to market faster. We enable IT to move at the speed of business, leveraging emerging technologies and the efficiencies of Continuous Delivery to spur business innovation. Operating in 24 countries across the world, we’re consistently regarded as one of the best places to work, embodied every day by our winning culture made up of over 27,000 entrepreneurial, collaborative and dedicated “Mindtree Minds.”
To learn more about us, visit www.mindtree.com or follow us @Mindtree_Ltd
