New Delhi / Gurugram, August 28, 2023. Edtech company SkillArbitrage has declared its provision of fully funded scholarships for 200 persons with disabilities (PWD) to pursue upskilling courses.The courses are designed to facilitate job placement in both the domestic private sector and remote freelance opportunities in countries such as the US, UK, and Canada. Successful completion of the courses will result in co-certification by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). PWD candidates often encounter challenges in securing suitable employment due to hesitations from organizations to hire them based on their talents and skills.The upskilling courses cover a spectrum of in-demand skills, including content writing, finance, compliance, startup generalist, strategic HR, artificial intelligence, accounting, and bookkeeping, among others.To qualify for the scholarship, candidates must present a government-issued disability card or certificate. The scholarships will be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis to 200 learners with disabilities.
“SkillArbitrage is fortunate that we have the resources today to support the PWD community” said Ramanuj Mukherjee, CEO, SkillArbitrage. “We have been giving 100% scholarship to all PWD candidates who approached us already. We are now ready to expand the program aggressively and we hope to be able to cater to 200 brilliant minds over the next 6 months and help them to achieve their dream careers.”
Himanshu Karkhane, a native of Aurangabad, transitioned from an engineering career to become a startup generalist and virtual assistant through the Startup Generalist and Virtual Assistant Training program after receiving the scholarship. Diagnosed with an autoimmune disease only two months into his job at Tata Consulting Engineers, he pursued online learning to forge an international career.Another scholarship recipient, Sachin Rathore, currently in his final year pursuing a law degree from Aligarh Muslim University, opted for the Diploma in International Contract Negotiation, Drafting, and Enforcement offered by LawSikho to enhance his practical skills and knowledge.
Muskan Anand, an English Hons graduate, benefitted from the scholarship programme already. In her words: “With this course, I will be able to take up freelancing opportunities which will help me to earn a little while I continue with my studies.” As she also pursues her law degree, she is making her childhood dream come true. “Ever since I was in 9th standard I knew I wanted to do law. As a Person with Disability and as a female, many of my rights get violated, hence I decided to pursue law so that I can protect them,” she said.
According to Vibhas Sen, Head of Marketing at SkillArbitrage, who is an IIM Calcutta alum and a paralympian, “Many jobseekers with disabilities find remote work more suitable and convenient, but very few programmes exist for them. Even remote learning opportunities are few, that is why we thought of bringing classrooms to the homes of our learners. At the heart of our mission lies the passion to ignite curiosity and empower minds. With our 100% scholarships for the physically disabled, we embark on a journey to redefine accessibility in education.”
SkillArbitrage aims to extend the success of PWD scholarships in legal courses to encompass a broader range of non-legal subjects.
