Taj Cidade de Goa Hosts Dialogue on Strengthening Pathways for Persons with Disabilities

Taj Cidade de Goa – Heritage recently brought together educators, technology leaders, and representatives from IHCL Goa for a special discussion held in recognition of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD). The session explored how Goa can build stronger, clearer pathways that support individuals with disabilities from their early years through to stable, dignified employment. IHCL’s ABLE Framework served as the reference point for the conversation, with participants sharing experiences from the fields of education, skilling, and hospitality.

Reimagining Early Support Systems

One of the central themes was the importance of beginning inclusion work at the foundational stage.
Neetal Amonkar from the Sanjay Centre for Special Education spoke about the need to equip young learners with steady academic support, exposure to real situations, and continuous confidence-building mechanisms. She underlined that career preparedness is not a final step but a long process that must begin early in a child’s development.

Academic Institutions as Catalysts for Social Change

Offering an academic perspective, Dr. Aanchal Gupta of the Goa Institute of Management explained how educational institutions can shape long-term inclusion outcomes. She highlighted the role of responsive curricula, sensitisation efforts, and active collaboration with industries in creating an environment where students with disabilities can access training that aligns with real job opportunities.

Hospitality Industry’s Role in Career Creation

From IHCL Goa, Area Director – Human Resources, Hemant Jaiswal, shared how the organisation has been working with schools to design vocational learning experiences that are practical and structured. He referred to initiatives in Goa where PwD candidates have been mapped to specific job roles based on interest and ability—demonstrating that targeted interventions can help build a more inclusive workforce within hospitality.

AI Tools Supporting Personalised Skill Development

Technology specialist Syam Ivaturi from Disha AI discussed how emerging tools can simplify training and bridge accessibility gaps. He noted that AI-based systems can help identify skills more accurately, customise learning experiences, and provide easier methods for understanding tasks—all of which support individuals with varying learning needs in navigating workplace expectations.

IHCL Leadership Highlights Inclusion as Core Value

Reflecting on the broader significance of the initiative, IHCL Goa’s Senior Vice President – Operations, Ranjit Phillipose, spoke about the organisation’s commitment to strengthening accessibility across its operations. He reiterated that inclusive practices contribute to a stronger organisational culture and are central to how IHCL envisions the future of work and hospitality.

Collective Direction for the Future

The event concluded with participants agreeing on the need to refine and expand Goa’s “Skill Lens” efforts so that young people with disabilities can access more structured, purpose-driven career pathways. The group expressed confidence that continued collaboration among educators, technologists, and hospitality leaders will help establish a long-term, supportive ecosystem.