Dear Atul, Glad indeed to learn about the big promotion in the offing for you and may you continue to be the highly respected ambassador of the visually challenged in the Tata group.
As Harish wisely put it, guinea pigs often have to suffer the most to make things better for those that follow. I am sure we all appreciate the good work NGOs are putting in to educate the IT companies to look at disabled resources as a potential talent pool. And, we are all aware that militant action can only be counter-productive. All that one wished to bring to the notice of the group members, especially the youngsters, are that things are not as hunky dory as the media and the IT companies make them out to be. It is not a level playing field and lots of our brethren are going to be either injured or eliminated in the treacherous terrain. As someone who has been advising the best and brightest visually challenged youngsters of Kerala to look away from the steady teaching jobs that are the traditional forte and to exciting new and well-paying careers in the IT sector, I felt I should highlight the not-so-palatable aspect of the latter's hiring practices of the disabled. In most cases, such bright youngsters, often from the lower middle class, would prefer steady jobs that pay less to the glamourous ones that pay handsomely, but, just blow up six months down the line. I just wanted to warn that like equity investments, these jobs are not for the risk-averse. Again, like equity investments, the rewards of taking the extra risk can be stratospheric. (smile) I would also like to add here that my own experience in the private IT sector, after 16 years of public sector service during which I eventually lost my sight, has been most rewarding in terms of the great learning opportunities it has provided and in terms of the love, respect and acceptance my team members have extended to me. So,believe me, I am no basher of the private sector or the IT sector. (smile) Rgds RS M: 98 472 76 126 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Atul R Sahay Sent: Friday, June 29, 2007 8:03 AM To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in Subject: [AI] My experience in private sector Friends, Having worked in one of India's leading private sector companies for about 15 years and having gone through the debate on AI, I feel I should share following thoughts and experience. 1. Most of us should realize that we are not traveling on a regular path. Rather we have been making our own path to navigate through. 2. Talking of IT sector employment, not too long ago, prior to interventions by hard working visionaries like Shanti Raghvan, employment of persons with visual impairment was few and far between. 3. The world at large is not aware of our potential as much as we are and it's natural too. We, by being militant in early stages, may actually harm the process of society beginning to accept us in more critical roles than ever before. 4. With dearth of knowledge workers in IT industry or even elsewhere, there is no reason why Companies will like to lose competent people, be they blind or otherwise. In April this Year, I gave up the position of Head Business Excellence in JUSCO Ltd., a subsidiary of Tata Steel. I had joined this Company in 2005 after having worked for 12.5 years in Tata Steel. When Tata Steel came to know about my decision, it didn't allow me to leave by assuring me of a good position back in Tata Steel. I will disclose the position after getting the letter formally within a day or two. 5. I have great faith in market forces. Let's keep building on our competencies and work as our own ambassadors. Nothing will stop us from achieving what we are deserving of. 6. Of course, we will have to market ourselves better and harder than others to get that "first break". Higher we go up the ladder, better is the acceptability. When I joined job initially, people doubted about my ability to execute paper work etc. Today when I go to assess Companies such as Tata Chemicals, mjunction, Tata Tinplate, Tata Johnson's, TAYO and the likes, people don't doubt or question. On the completion of the assignment, if at all anything, these Companies are left with a changed perception of visual impairment for ever. With regards and appreciation, Atul. To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
