In response to the evolving challenges and emerging opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in India’s skilling and livelihood ecosystem, DRF has articulated its dedicated Skilling and Livelihoods Strategy for Persons with Disabilities for 2026-2030. This strategy builds on the achievements of over 29 years of DRF’s work with more than 47,000 Persons with Disabilities, and sets a clear direction to accelerate inclusion, scale innovations, and create a barrier-free future.

DRF recognises the inherent diversity within the PwD population and the multiple intersecting barriers, social, systemic, educational, and infrastructural, that prevent meaningful participation in the workforce. Based on our deep programmatic experience and ground-level understanding, we have chosen to focus our efforts on three strategic components – (a) Inclusive Skill Development and Wage Employment across 15 disability categories, (b) Self-Employment and Enterprise Development to create dignified and sustainable livelihoods, and (c) System Engagement and Ecosystem Strengthening to influence institutions, employers, and policy frameworks towards greater disability inclusion.

In the strategy paper, we have deep-dived into the following areas: (a) Our Work in the Area of PwD Skilling and Livelihoods, (b) Challenges Faced by Persons with Disabilities in India’s Skilling and Livelihood System, (c) Opportunities in the Current Ecosystem, (d) DRF’s Skilling and Livelihood Strategy for Persons with Disabilities, (e) Strategic Principles, Priorities and Components, (f) Building Partnerships, and (g) Envisioned Impact.

To know more, please download our PwD Inclusion Strategy Paper.