Nisheeth Mehta

In this age of global competition, you wouldn’t expect compromises on quality from a company that makes components for Volvo, Mercedes, Tata Motors, Hewlett-Packard and Reliance Industries.

And you would think that Nisheeth Mehta, CEO of Microsign Products, an engineering plastic fastener manufacturing company in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, has done just that by employing 60 per cent of his staff from among the physically challenged.

But, Mehta insists charity is the last thing on his mind. While the Persons With Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, reserves three per cent jobs for this category, as many as 13 of Mehta’s 20-member team are people with physical and mental disabilities.

Mehta claims his productivity has increased by at least 20 per cent, has almost zero attrition rate and has bagged several awards including the National Award for Welfare of People with Disabilities for fulfilling corporate social responsibility.


“My employees are known for their ability to transform their limitations into strengths,” says Mehta. Candidates are assigned jobs to match their capabilities. Tukesh Bhatt, the first differently-abled employee Mehta hired 17 years ago, is a mechanic working at the noisy engineering machines. The noise does not affect Bhatt, who is hearing impaired. So, are his six other colleagues working in a high decibel atmosphere.

Mukesh and Ranjana Patel, the physically challenged husband-wife duo, cannot walk after their legs were crippled by polio. “Our area of work does not require us to be on the move We are supervisors and quality control officers for the finished products,” say the Patels.

Intellectually-challenged boys -- Hirak Patel and Kaushik Patel -- have been assigned the simplest job in the operations. “Any person would find the job monotonous, reducing his productivity and motivation. But, it doesn’t affect these boys. Often, they do not stop working. Most of the time, we have to ask them to stop,” says Mehta.

Mehta has recruited most of his “special” employees while on his daily morning walk. Tukesh used to wander aimlessly on the roads after supplying milk-packets. One day in the early 90s, he bumped into Mehta and set him thinking. This smallscale entrepreneur had begun thinking doing something for society by then.

Mehta, who was impressed by the special skills acquired by his niece Raksha, who is hearing impaired, thought of employing Tukesh, giving him a chance to get back to the mainstream. “I am married now and have two sons. All my problems have been ironed out,” says Tukesh.

Mukesh and Ranjana owe their respect in society and even their marriage to Mehta. “We used to work 12 hours at a roadside food stall, rolling out puris and making subzi, earning a meagre Rs 10 per head everyday. He spotted us five years ago and asked us to try working at his factory instead.

Then, our life changed completely,” says Mukesh. Mukesh’s parents were against his marrying Ranjana, who was physically challenged too, as they feared they would both end up being a burden on the family. "People now cite our case as an example of how the impossible can be achieved," says Ranjana.

Today, Mehta’s company, which meets the tough ISO-9002 and QS-9000 certification standards, has a turnover of over Rs 2 crore.

“My next goal is to inspire corporates and business units to provide employment to the differently-abled,” says Mehta.