Shishu Sarothi organised a stakeholders’ conclave titled “Hospitality for All: Pathways to Inclusive Workplaces & Accessibility” as part of its new skill development initiative supported by LIC Housing Finance Ltd’s Sarthak program, in collaboration with Assam Skill University in Guwahati today, with the enthusiastic participation of key representatives of the hospitality and tourism sectors.
The hospitality and tourism sector is globally recognised as a high‑employment, service‑intensive industry with immense potential for generating diverse livelihood opportunities. However, it remains an underutilised avenue for the employment of persons with disabilities. Research and global evidence indicate that inclusive workplaces not only enhance diversity but also strengthen brand value and customer loyalty. With targeted training, improved accessibility, and increased sensitisation, the sector can significantly expand employment opportunities for persons with disabilities across hotels, restaurants, travel services, as well as Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism.
The Northeast region, with its rapidly growing hospitality industry, presents a timely opportunity to embed inclusive employment practices. With increasing demand for skilled professionals, the region’s youth—including persons with disabilities—can benefit from emerging opportunities in the sector. This conclave aligns well with the Government of India’s focus on skill development for persons with disabilities under the PM Divyang Kaushal Yojana. The Hon’ble Finance Minister, while announcing the Union Budget this year, also emphasised the importance of investing in skill development for persons with disabilities in the hospitality sector.
The objective of the programme was to bring together key stakeholders from the tourism and hospitality ecosystem in Assam to deliberate on inclusive employment practices. It aimed to serve as a platform for meaningful dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaborative action towards creating equal opportunities. The conclave specifically focused on sensitising industry leaders about the potential of persons with disabilities, discussing the challenges and opportunities in inclusive employment, fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and civil society organisations, and identifying actionable strategies to promote inclusivity in the hospitality and tourism sector in Assam.
Ms Ketaki Bardalai, Executive Director, Shishu Sarothi, welcomed the participants, underscoring the need for building inclusive and accessible workplaces in the hospitality sector and emphasising the organisation’s ongoing efforts towards empowering persons with disabilities through skill development. In the keynote address, Mr Arman Ali, Executive Director, called for a shift from charity to a rights‑based approach, urging industry stakeholders to adopt inclusive hiring, accessible infrastructure, and collaborative action for meaningful change. The Guests of honour, Mr Subhash Chandra Das, Vice Chancellor, Assam Skill University, and Mr Sarat Jain, Chairman, Shishu Sarothi, also endorsed the timeliness of this initiative and wished the conclave success.