Employment > Success Stories

Sakthi Trading Company: Focussing on abilities

Sakthi Trading Company has integrated disabled persons into it's corporate vision. More than one-fifth of its employees are persons with disabilities.

Sakthi Trading Company is familiar to most of us through its brand of Sakthi Masalas. The company follows H.R. policies that have the right ingredients for a successful and responsible company.

The company was founded by P.C. Duraisamy 27 years ago with a meagre investment of Rupees 10,000. Today, it generates a turnover of Rs 331 million. Behind the financial success lies a story of great commitment to the cause of persons with disability.

Of the 500-strong workforce of Sakthi Trading Company, an impressive 103 are disabled persons. What’s more, the company employs people with all disabilities: currently it has 35 persons with visual impairments, 10 with hearing impairments, 50 orthopaedically disabled and 8 persons with mental disabilities.

Sakthi Trading Company is acutely aware of the ground realities for disabled persons seeking employment. Its culture reflects the concern and devotion to principles of equal opportunity. The work areas of the company are accessible through ramps and railings. The toilets have spaces specially designed for people with disability. Physiotherapy and electrotherapy are available for employees and children with disabilities. They call it “Special arrangements for special people”.

The work has been divided to suit persons with specific disabilities. While people with orthopaedic impairment are responsible for packaging, visually impaired persons are given jobs that utilise their tactile functions such as sorting and peeling. Persons with mental disability are given routine mechanical jobs that do not require complex decision-making.

The goal is to make all disabled people independent and impart a sense of pride in them. The result is visible in the beaming faces of its employees.

Sakthi Trading Company has endured hardships and harassments in its unbending commitment to correct corporate behaviour. Today, it is poised to play a leading role in the global market for spices. And in the wake of its success ride ‘special people’ of a very special organisation.