World's first AI-baseed job marketplace for disables launched in India

The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) has created India's first AI-powered career portal for people with disabilities (PwDs).

Through tech training and jobs, it will promote independence to those with disabilities. The platform is designed specifically for people with impairments such as vision impairment, hearing impairment, and motor disorders who are looking for work.

The platform will assess the available data and recommend the necessary training for the job seeker in question.

It was created in both web and mobile formats to ensure that the campaign reaches as many people as possible.

Prof. Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, soft-launched (Beta-Version) of 'Swarajability,' a project developed by IITH in collaboration with Youth4Jobs and Visual Quest, with funding from Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.

The key project has brought together a variety of organisations with a variety of skills. While IITH provides AI knowledge, Visual Quest India serves as the developer, and Youth4Jobs contributes its extensive experience in skilling, disability, and job placement. Kotak Mahindra Bank is funding the project.

In India, there are 21 million people with impairments. Around 70% of them are either unemployed or underemployed. For the first time, the Right to PwD Act 2016 emphasises a person with a disability's (PwD) right to education and employment. PwDs will be able to gain skills and be connected to jobs as a result of this. However, one major issue they encounter is that the majority of existing platforms are inaccessible and do not cater to the unique needs of people with disabilities.

The relevance of building this platform, according to the developers, is that if the country is to realise its demographic dividend, the most vulnerable, such as youth with impairments, must be competent and connected to long-term prospects.

This may be made easier with technology, ensuring that no one is left behind. This tailored job platform is called 'Swarajability' because it empowers people with disabilities through technology, skills, and job connections. It's an attempt to incorporate cutting-edge technology that allows people with impairments from all walks of life to participate and explore work prospects. According to them, youth receive instruction that is tailored to their specific skills and knowledge.

'It's a one-stop shop for businesses looking to hire people with impairments.' It also aids non-governmental organisations (NGOs), educational institutions, and governments in their efforts to promote diversity and inclusion.'

Prof. Vijay Raghavan stressed the importance of carefully evaluating technical advances in both the software and hardware sectors with groups of people who need them before the industry scales them up for a revolutionary impact. He also stressed the importance of remembering the age-related subgroups of persons with disabilities; children are a particularly vulnerable group, and their difficulties must be taken into account.

Meera Shenoy, Founder-CEO, Youth4Jobs; Jayesh Ranjan, Secretary, Information Technology, Telangana government; Prakash Apte, Chairman, Kotak Mahindra Bank; Prof. B. S. Murty, Director, IITH; and Dr. Maunendra Desarkar, Associate Professor, Department of CSE & AI, IITH were among those present.