Celebrating Inclusion: Shaping the Future of Disability Empowerment in India
AIF’s flagship Ability-Based Livelihoods Empowerment (ABLE) Program has long worked to bridge gaps for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) by engaging, enabling, and empowering them through targeted skill development and access to meaningful livelihoods. Beyond skills and jobs, ABLE has strengthened the national discourse on disability inclusion by convening governments, policy makers, DEI experts, and corporates to inform, influence, and drive systemic change.
In February 2024, advancing its mission of an inclusive India, AIF co-sponsored Purple Fest 2024, helmed by the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the august presence of Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, and Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, IAS (Secretary, DEPwD), the fest celebrated the spirit, talent, and achievements of Persons with Disabilities, bringing together 10,000 PwDs and civil society organizations to champion awareness, empowerment, and inclusion.
“We need to make disability inclusion a more vibrant and engaging realm. I am elated about our association with AIF – an organization that shares the mission of furthering the inclusion of PwDs in the formal workforce and building an inclusive India. With two decades of work experience in Disability Inclusion, AIF has demonstrated unwavering dedication to creating meaningful impact. Our unique association will rally more corporations to contribute meaningfully towards the creation of disability-inclusive spaces. And, the larger aim is to transform the narrative and build a future where inclusion is not just a promise but a palpable reality.” — Shri Rajesh Agarwal, IAS, Secretary, DEPwD
Reinforcing its commitment, earlier in 2024, AIF signed a landmark MoU with the DEPwD to double the participation of Persons with Disabilities in India’s formal workforce by 2030. Through this partnership, AIF’s ABLE Program will generate 100,000 new jobs for PwDs.
At the Purple Fest, AIF also marked another historic milestone by launching India’s largest disability employment campaign—Job fairs across 25 cities—in collaboration with the Divyangjan Rozgar Setu PM Daksh Portal. Beyond recruitment, the campaign delivers career counseling, resume-building support, Indian Sign Language training, employability skills development, and post-employment retention assistance. By bridging opportunity with preparedness, this initiative empowers PwDs to build sustainable careers while advancing India’s journey toward an inclusive workforce.
“This partnership signifies a significant milestone in our journey to foster empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and their inclusion in the formal workforce. The Purple Fest gave a unique platform for us to unite, celebrate the achievements of individuals with disabilities, and establish a comprehensive framework for developing and sustaining meaningful career pathways for PwDs. At the American India Foundation, we firmly believe in a world where disability doesn’t define a person’s ability.” — Matthew Joseph, Country Director, AIF
Driven by the ambitious goal of doubling the participation of PwDs in the formal sector by 2030, the ABLE Program continues to work closely with employers to create accessible and inclusive workplaces.
