From Paralysis to Purpose: Meet the Youth4Jobs Changemaker Uplifting Lives in Rural Maharashtra

Summary

“You don’t need full strength to make a difference. You just need full heart.”

This is what Santhosh Kumar Gautham lives by—a quiet, determined man from rural Maharashtra who once feared becoming a burden, but today is a lifeline for hundreds of persons with disabilities. His journey from surviving a disabling childhood to becoming a community changemaker is made even more impactful by his association with Youth4Jobs, an organisation that believes in the power of potential—regardless of ability.

Together, they are changing the story of disability from one of despair to one of dignity.

 

A Childhood Altered. A Spirit Unshaken.

Santhosh was just five when a high fever and a wrongly given injection changed everything—leaving him with 45% paralysis in his right hand. The doctors gave up, and so did many around him.

“People said things like, ‘He won’t be able to ride a cycle. He won’t be able to earn.’ But I just kept telling myself—I’ll find a way.”

Born into a poor family of daily wage labourers, Santhosh knew early on that survival wasn’t optional—it was urgent. With three elder sisters and a younger brother, he grew up watching his parents break their backs just to put food on the table.

But even with a paralyzed hand and a thousand worries, Santhosh studied hard and completed his graduation. Not because he had everything going for him—but because he refused to give up.

Becoming a Divyang Mitra with Youth4Jobs

In 2024, everything changed again—but this time, for the better. Santhosh began working with Youth4Jobs as a Divyang Mitra—a bridge between the system and the people who often fall through its cracks.

It wasn’t just a job. It was his purpose.

“Before this, I knew what it felt like to be invisible,” he says. “Now, I want to make sure no one else feels that way.”

Through Youth4Jobs, Santhosh was trained to identify and mobilize persons with disabilities—helping them access free skilling programs, digital training, job placement support, and even livelihood and micro-enterprise opportunities.

He walks—or rides—door to door, helping candidates get their UDID cards, apply for assistive devices, access government schemes, and connect with training centres run by Youth4Jobs.

Sometimes, it means just listening. Sometimes, it means battling social stigma or unkind words from family members who have lost faith.

But every small win—a job offer, a skill learned, a wheelchair received—feels like a personal victory.

 

Transforming Pain Into Purpose

Ask anyone in his village, and they’ll point to Santhosh’s home when asked, “Where’s the person who helps people with disabilities?”

He has become a symbol of hope—not because he speaks loudly, but because he acts consistently.

One story he cherishes is of Rustom, a young man from a family where four members had disabilities. Santhosh enrolled them into a Youth4Jobs skilling program, helped them get documentation and job placements. Even today, the family calls him to say, “You changed our lives.”

Another time, he helped a girl with hearing impairment set up a small tailoring business after training. Her family, once ashamed, now proudly displays her work outside their home.

 

The Challenges Are Real. But So Are the Victories.

Santhosh’s work is far from easy. He’s faced resistance from parents, disbelief from villagers, and days where he has no money to recharge his phone, let alone travel.

“But I remember how it felt to be jobless. To feel helpless,” he says. “And that’s enough to keep me going.”

What makes it all possible, he says, is Youth4Jobs’ belief in grassroots change. They don’t just train people and forget them. They follow up, support, and even handhold families through the process.

Whether it’s a young girl with a locomotor disability getting placed at a tech company, or a visually impaired boy learning digital skills to start freelancing—these are not just numbers for Santhosh. They’re names. Faces. Futures.

 

The Man Who Was Told He’d Never Ride a Bike

Today, Santhosh not only rides a cycle—but a bike. He travels across blocks, attends disability awareness camps, helps others file for loans, and returns home to a loving wife and 10-year-old daughter.

His wife stands by him with unwavering strength. His parents, once full of fear, now hold their heads high in a home that Santhosh helped build.

 

‘Youth4Jobs Gave Me My Wings’

“What others do with strength, I try to do with compassion and consistency,” Santhosh says.

“Youth4Jobs didn’t just give me a role. They gave me belief. That someone like me—someone with a disability—can be a leader, a mentor, a changemaker.”

His dream?
“To ensure every young person with a disability in my region has a skill, a job, or a path to earn with dignity. No one should feel useless just because society says so.”

 

A Ripple Effect of Hope

Santhosh is not a celebrity. He doesn’t own a fancy office.

But in the dusty lanes of his village, on the lips of every family he has helped, and in the lives of young persons with disabilities now earning, creating, and believing in themselves—he is a hero.

And with Youth4Jobs, he’s building not just careers, but confidence, dignity, and a more inclusive India.

Are you ready to take the next step in your career?
Visit the Swarajability Job Portal today and explore hundreds of job opportunities tailored for persons with disabilities. Youth4Jobs and inclusive employers are here to help you achieve your dreams.

👉 Candidates: Register now to discover jobs that match your skills and aspirations.
👉 Employers: Sign up to access a pool of skilled, job-ready talent and build inclusive teams.
👉 Partners: Collaborate with us to create lasting impact and drive change for disability inclusion.

Register now on Swarajability

How to Get Started

1. Register on Swarajability: Create a profile on the Swarajability Job Portal and upload your resume.
2. Explore Job Listings: Browse through hundreds of job opportunities tailored for persons with disabilities.
3. Apply for Jobs: Apply for roles that match your skills and interests.
4. Attend Training Programs: Enroll in Youth4Jobs’ skill development programs to enhance your employability.
5. Get Hired: Land your dream job and embark on a fulfilling career journey.

Students with Blindness Training at Youth4Jobs Training Centres for Persons with Disabilities