Partnership aims to help disabled youth gain the skills to work in financial services
Elly Yates-Roberts |
Microsoft India and the State Bank of India’s corporate social responsibility arm, SBI Foundation, have partnered to create new opportunities for young people living with disabilities. The programme aims help them find work in the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector through technology and training.
In the first of the programme’s three years, the firms aim to upskill 500 youth for BFSI jobs across India. According to a Microsoft news story, the programme will be driven by government organisations including industry skilling bodies and non-profits to build a sustainable and scalable programme that empowers youth with relevant industry skills. The firms are also working to promote cross-industry advocacy for hiring people living with disabilities.
“Focusing on accessibility, diversity and inclusion is central to delivering on our mission of empowering every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more,” said Jean-Philippe Courtois, executive vice president and president of global sales, marketing and operations at Microsoft. “With over 26 million people living with disabilities in India, it’s essential that we find new ways to use technology to enable everyone to fully participate in the 21st century economy. By partnering with SBI Foundation, we have an amazing opportunity to benefit both people living with disabilities and the BSFI sector.”
Microsoft and SBI Foundation will also develop a marketplace to help BFSI companies connect with those living with disabilities to share training and employment opportunities.