21 November,2010 08:41 AM IST | | Alisha Coelho
Mumbai-based Mirakle Couriers, that employs only hearing-impaired adults as staff, will be recognised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It will receive the National Award for the Empowerment of People With Disabilities in Delhi in the coming month.
"While the award feels great, we hope it will also send out the message that we are a serious business," said Rohan Mehta, Marketing and Business Development head of the company.
The company that was set up in 2008 by Oxford graduate Dhruv Lakra with just two other people at the time, has now grown to include 60 hearing-impaired employees who take care of 50,000 deliveries every month.
The company is looking to expand further. "Sympathy is the first reaction, followed by a 'let's try and see' sort of arrangement. We're hoping that with this award there's more confidence about the company because only when we start making profits can our staff really benefit," says Mehta.
Celebrations have been put on hold till founder Lakra, who is travelling, returns, but the employees are ecstatic. "There have been articles about our company, but this is something all of us understand and appreciate."
"Corporates are calling from other states, asking if the same can be done elsewhere or if they can work with our Mumbai team. We are looking at Bangalore, Pune and Delhi as next but it's too soon to say when," said Mehta.
