Where disabled means excellence, ISO 9002

‘‘I did not want to do charity or philanthropy. I wanted to give them an opportunity. Instead of questioning their weakness, I looked at their strengths,’’ Mehta says.

Today, the 20-odd physically or mentally challenged employees consider themselves second to none. With a regular employment and respect from their peers, they consider themselves part of the mainstream.

The story of Mukesh and Ranjanaben Patel is exemplary.

When physically-challenged Mukesh married Ranjanben, his family refused to cope with two ‘‘disabled’’ persons and asked them to leave their Ahmedabad home.

‘‘I was on the streets with my newly-wed wife. No one would give us a job. For a year, we lived in penury in Kalol. Then I came to Microsign Products and my life changed,’’ Mukesh says.

Now both work in the Trimming and Removing Division, where they give finishing touches to products.

‘‘We get proper salaries and we are proud we are not dependent on anyone. Economically, we are much better off now. With a little help from the company we have got a mechanised three-wheeler and bought a small house. Even my family shows respect now,’’ says Mukesh, whose brother is settled in the US and runs a motel.

Mehta had started Microsign Products in 1978. Sensitive to specially-abled persons—his own niece suffers from hearing impairment since childhood—a chance encounter with some physically-challenged persons put ideas in his mind.

In 1990, he decided to employ as many special people as he could. Now, of the 35-strong workforce, about 12 are hearing-impaired, eight are physically-challenged and a few have learning disabilities.

‘‘I have assigned them duties in which they feel comfortable. For example, those who are hearing impaired, operate the noisy machines. Those with learning disabilities get simple jobs like ‘sorting’ or ‘removing’ which may be boring for others,’’ Mehta explains.

Each takes home between Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000. It might seem little, but ‘‘the dignity and respect we get by being financially independent is more than enough,’’ says Mukesh.

Over the last few years, after working at Microsign and gaining confidence, many have moved to better positions elsewhere, taking up teaching jobs or becoming instructors in special schools.

For its efforts, Microsign has received the FICCI 2003-2004 annual award for Empowerment of Physically Disabled, the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People, Helen Keller Award, 1999, and the National Award for welfare of people with disabilities, 1999.