How to generate Rs 4.5 trillion by leveraging just 10% of India’s disabled population

Facilitating startups for just 10% of India’s 100 billion people with disabilities (PwD) can generate $450 Crores per annum.

Thilakam Rajendran, this year’s National Center for Promoting Employment of Persons with Disabilities (NCPEDP) awardee Helen Keller, said that providing assistance to people with disabilities who are of working age and are lagging behind in the job market Huge opportunities remain untapped. Lifetime Achievement Award.

Rajendran, while speaking on the World Day of Persons with Disabilities, pointed out that around 1.5 lakh Udyam-registered MSMEs run by persons with disabilities generate turnover $135 crore during the period from July 2020 to July 2022, according to a government report.

Udyam is a government initiative to help MSMEs avail its benefits and schemes.

According to a World Bank report, excluding people with disabilities from the economy will result in a loss of 5-7% of global GDP.

untapped potential

To tap into this untapped opportunity, NEDAR Foundation, founded by Thilakam Rajendran, has launched India’s first virtual incubator for entrepreneurs with disabilities. It provides comprehensive support through entrepreneurial development training, business coaching, financial linkages, market access and ecosystem participation through virtual platforms.

The initiative aims to support nanoentrepreneurs with disabilities who lack knowledge, skills, financial support and market access to build sustainable businesses through structured programs.

Now operating in 19 states, the program has helped more than 4,000 people with disabilities consider entrepreneurship as a viable livelihood option and trained more than 850 people.

The virtual model ensures accessibility for women with disabilities, women with reduced mobility and rural participants, and enables existing entrepreneurs with disabilities to participate without disrupting their businesses.

System-wide information management initiatives

The NEDAR Foundation also supports NEDAR (Network for Disability Assistance and Rehabilitation), the first business network for people with disabilities – with more than 250 members in 18 states. NEDAR members have generated approximately Rs. Annual revenue is 140 million rupees, 82 of which create 400 jobs.

NEDAR plans to partner with mainstream organizations to expand industry-specific incubation programs in sectors such as apparel and kirana.

The NEDAR initiative aims to increase the visibility of entrepreneurs with disabilities in the ecosystem.

For more than a quarter century, NCPEDP has been actively showcasing invisible contributors in the disability field. It launched the NCPEDP – Helen Keller Entrepreneurial Role Model Award in 2021 to increase the visibility of entrepreneurs with disabilities, in sync with the national entrepreneurship drive under Viksit Bharat and Make in India programmes.