World Deaf Day: Let's hear them out

New Delhi: Deepak Narang works in a KFC outlet, loves “hotel wala khana”, dreams of meeting Virat Kohli one day. And yes, he happens to be deaf.

Deepak, who joined KFC about six months ago, wears his disability lightly. Like many other differently abled moving from the sidelines to the mainstream, the 30-year-old says emphatically that he isn’t looking for the sympathy factor.

Companies, including chains like KFC and Sagar Ratna as well as the Taj Group of Hotels and Lemon Tree Hotels, which employ those with hearing impairments are not looking for it either.

So when Deepak, who has a diploma in hair dressing, decided to quit a famous hair salon, he knew he would find options. And didn’t think twice.

“There was too much shifting from one store to another in my previous job. So I decided to leave it,” Deepak, who works in the kitchen and supply section in KFC’s Vasant Kunj branch, said in sign language.

His colleague and friend Sonia, whose hairstyle he says doesn’t impress him, interprets for him.

Ranjeet Singh, who has been working in KFC for seven years, is equally confident of doing his job – and doing it well. The 35-year-old, called a “product champion” for his ability to swiftly assemble a meal for a customer, wonders what his hearing impairment has to do with his job.

“People in villages think of hearing impairment or some other such thing as a taboo but not here in Delhi or other big cities. They watch television, read papers they understand,” he said.

Putting a stamp of approval on their efficiency is Sharmistha Venyshetty, area manager of the food brand.

“This outlet’s Zomato rating is one of the best in Delhi.

In our guest survey portal, we get excellent customer service compliments. And the good thing is they have been consistent.

So just no complaints at all from this team here,” said Sharmistha about the Vasant Kunj outlet that has 11 differently-abled employees.

KFC currently has more than 170 hearing impaired employees at 20 restaurants across India.

Other companies follow similar policies.

At Delhi’s Taj Mahal Hotel, for instance, Ruchi Vyas, who is hearing impaired, has been working for the in-house spa as an associate for over 30 years. Then there is Pradeep Thapa in the bakery section and Veeru, who goes by one name, in the housekeeping department of the five-star property.

“We are committed to creating an all-inclusive workplace, where each member is respected and motivated to contribute to the growth of the organisation. Our hiring policy recognises the potential in each employee, including those who are specially abled,” said Binu Nair, human resource manager, The Taj Mahal Hotel.

Change has been slow in coming but it is here, thanks to the efforts of people like National Deaf Society founder Ruma Roka.

NDS has successfully generated employment for over 1,600 hearing impaired students in brands such as Standard Chartered, NIIT, Costa Coffee and Pearson.

“The deaf are not dumb. And people have realised it by now. I remember in the beginning, the doors were very firmly closed for their employment they used to tell me, ‘Very good work. Take this Rs 5,000, but we can’t employ them’. This has changed for good now.

“The same companies are now coming year after year saying they have this opening or another. This is because they realise that the deaf are less distracted and more productive.” 

Roka started NDS in 2005 from her two-bedroom flat in Noida with just five students and now has five centres across India – taking in students aged five to 35 and teaching them a spectrum of skills.

“My students are winning employees’ of the month awards and the drop out rate is also low. In short, this is a win-win situation for both,” said Roka.

It indeed is.

There are many sounds in this silence, for anyone interested in listening.