Firms welcome special employees

MYSORE: Taking care of children born with mental illness is indeed a matter of great concern for their parents. Their worries increase as the children grow up and could not find job unlike others. However, industries in Mysore about to set a new precedent. They have started treating the mentally challenged as ‘wanted’ and have provided space in their working area.At least four companies in Mysore city have provided employment to about 30 mentally challenged persons of which six are females, while several others are thinking on the similar lines.Vinyas Technologies, Engineering Plastics, Bhagavathi Apparels and Edu Stationeries are the four business units in the city which have provided space for the specially- abled employees.“Rangarao & Sons, Cubic Systems and Mysore Polymers are some of the industries which will also give employment to our children’,” said Anuradha Nandakumar, founder and secretary of Mysore District Parents Association for Empowering Developmentally Disabled, a group of parents having children with ‘developmental disabilities’ like mental retardation or autism or cerebral palsy.The companies have appointed a special teacher to provide need-based skills for these employees who are engaged in works like assembling, packing and others.For industries, its a win-win situation.Productivity has gone up as special employees do not waste time compared to the normal ones. The ‘special employees’ are being treated on par with other normal employees and get all benefits like annual bonus and increment.“It all started about six years ago when we started requesting industries to provide minor jobs to our children. Luckily, Vinyas Technologies responded positively heralding a new beginning for mentally challenged persons of the city while others followed suit,” said Anuradha.Raghavendra, a special teacher, said their special employees are just like other employees. They do not depend on others for anything and use public transport to commute.