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National Thermal Power Corporation: Opening its doors to people with disability

N.T.P.C. has re-aligned its policies to make its workplace more accessible and disabled-friendly. A massive recruitment drive has resulted in the employment of more than a hundred persons with disability.

No one needs an introduction to the National Thermal Power Corporation (N.T.P.C.). Since 1975, we have all been literally seeing by their light! Though N.T.P.C.’s main business is developing thermal power, it is heartening to note that it has also been deeply committed to empowering marginalised sections of society. N.T.P.C. has always had a large social heart, but today we talk about its specific commitment to the cause of disabled persons.

In 2001, N.T.P.C. undertook a comprehensive review of its H.R. requirements to identify jobs for persons with disabilities. As a result, it identified 10 categories of posts for employment of persons with disability in Group A and B, 40 categories in Group C and 6 categories in Group D.

The review was followed up with a recruitment drive in 2001-02, which resulted in the employing of 173 persons with disability. The drive began with advertisements in all major dailies of the country. In addition, individual projects released their advertisements in local media. Besides the advertisements, detailed notifications of the vacancies were sent to the Special Employment Exchanges, Vocational Rehabilitation Centres and National Institutes of Disabilities.

As a result, N.T.P.C. received about 40,000 applications – a first in Indian corporate history. N.T.P.C. has been holding interviews in its projects with due care to ensure that all persons with disability carry back memories of having been treated equitably. So far, 82 persons with disability have been selected for Group C and D posts, while another 30 are expected to join in the coming months.

N.T.P.C. is also looking at its physical environments to ensure access for its disabled employees. Special ramps with railings have been constructed for improved access to buildings. Toilets with proper signages are also being installed. The C.P.W.D. guidelines for accessible buildings have been circulated to all N.T.P.C. projects, and some units have already taken a lead in implementing the guidelines. At the Corporate Centre in New Delhi, exclusive parking has been provided for persons with disability with direct access from the parking lot to the building.

Adopting a holistic approach, N.T.P.C. provides adequate training to Project Affected Persons who have acquired a disability at work. Under its income generating schemes, it provides disabled persons with training, support in terms of seed money and liaison with Government departments to set up small businesses. N.T.P.C. also provides accommodation to voluntary agencies that work for the disabled. Centre for Upliftment of Handicapped and Orphans, Utkalmani Gopabandhu Blind Relief Society and Council of Existential Education are three agencies that have received accommodation from N.T.P.C. A school for hearing and speech impaired children and mentally challenged children is being run by the Ladies Club in Vindhyanchal. N.T.P.C. has also provided financial assistance to organisations in the disability sector.

Recently the Corporate Centre has decided to purchase all its stationery such as files, folders, envelopes and pads from agencies of disabled persons. Depending on the success of this scheme, all N.T.P.C. projects are likely to follow suit.

N.T.P.C. has clearly been setting examples worth emulating by other public and private sector companies. The company not only produces electricity for the nation; it also illuminates the path for other corporate citizens.

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