TTT NEWS NETWORK
MUMBAI | 11 DECEMBER 2025
To commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD), Taj Cidade de Goa – Heritage hosted a deeply insightful panel discussion that united educators, technologists, accessibility advocates, and IHCL Goa leadership. Anchored in the strength of IHCL’s ABLE Framework, the conversation focused on creating a transformative, inclusive pipeline that connects early education, emotional well-being, and AI-enabled skilling to dignified employment for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
Educators emphasised that the path to inclusion begins early. Ms. Neetal Amonkar, Member Secretary of Sanjay Centre for Special Education, delivered a powerful keynote on the “Classroom to Career” journey. She highlighted the importance of strengthening foundational learning, building real-world exposure, and ensuring that every student is prepared, confident, and supported as they transition into professional pathways.
Dr. Aanchal Gupta, Assistant Professor and Member of the Centre for Social Sensitivity & Action (CSSA), Goa Institute of Management, expanded on the academic lens of inclusion, emphasising how curriculum frameworks, sensitivity training, and industry-academia partnerships are essential for building a sustainable and scalable Skill Lens ecosystem for Goa.
From the hospitality industry, Mr. Hemant Jaiswal, Area Director – Human Resources, IHCL Goa, highlighted IHCL’s commitment to co-creating vocational modules with schools, supported by guided internships, visual learning aids, and accessible workspaces. He reiterated that IHCL’s Goa pilot project mapping 45 PwD profiles to 11 viable job roles offers compelling validation of the ABLE Framework as both socially meaningful and operationally effective.
Technologist Syam Ivaturi of Disha AI demonstrated how adaptive, inclusive AI tools not only support diverse learning styles, simplify task training, and enhance digital accessibility across hospitality workflows, but also expertly leverage AI-driven methods for precise skill identification and mapping. This enables organizations to connect individual capabilities with specific job roles, ensuring a highly personalized and efficient approach to inclusion and workforce development.
As the discussions converged, one message stood out clearly: inclusion is a strategic advantage that elevates teams, culture, and brand purpose. Mr. Ranjit Phillipose, Sr. Vice President – Operations, IHCL Goa, reaffirmed IHCL’s unwavering commitment to accessibility and dignity in the workplace, stating, “Our greatest strength lies in our people, and our ABLE network is a reflection of our belief that every individual brings unique talent and value. At IHCL Goa, inclusion is not an initiative; it is the way we choose to shape the future of hospitality.”
The day concluded with a shared pledge to strengthen the “Skill Lens Solution,” ensuring that every young person with a disability in Goa can envision and achieve a fulfilling and empowered career.
About The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL):
The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries bring together a group of brands and businesses that offer a fusion of warm Indian hospitality and world-class service. These include Taj – the iconic brand for the most discerning travellers and ranked as World’s Strongest Hotel Brand 2025 and India’s Strongest Brand 2025 as per Brand Finance; Claridges Collection, a curated set of boutique luxury hotels merging elegance with historical charm; SeleQtions, a named collection of hotels; Tree of Life, private escapes in tranquil settings; Vivanta, sophisticated upscale hotels; Gateway, full-service hotels designed to be your gateway to exceptional destinations and Ginger, which is revolutionising the lean luxe segment.
Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Jamsetji Tata, the Company opened its first hotel – The Taj Mahal Palace, in Bombay in 1903. IHCL has a portfolio of 601 hotels including 246 in the pipeline globally across 4 continents, 14 countries and in over 250 locations. The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is India’s largest hospitality company by market capitalization. It is listed on the BSE and NSE.
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