New Delhi: Lemon Tree Hotels, India’s largest chain of moderately priced, upscale, full service business and leisure hotels was bestow with the prestigious NCPEDP – Shell Helen Keller Award for their belief in equal rights and providing gainful employment to persons with disabilities. Lemon Tree Hotels currently employs 44 differently-abled people across its 13 properties and works closely with experts to arrive at comprehensive and innovative training modules that enable them to perform at par with other employees.

Speaking about the company’s philosophy, Mr. Patu Keswani, CMD, Lemon Tree Hotels said, “This year we have been able to achieve a new milestone as our comprehensive guest-contact training program has enabled many of our DAP to seamlessly integrate with the front-end team. “ Proper training and motivation instils self-confidence, self-reliance and a sense of pride allowing one to overcome every hurdle in life. Lemon Tree Hotels intends to provide gainful employment to 300 DAP i.e 10% of employee strength by 2012-2013.

India is home to approximately 60 million specially-abled people. Addressing the current scenario, Chief guest – Hon’ble Home Minister, Shri. P. Chidambaram said “The explosion of communication makes the disabled aware that they are not a burden on the society. They cannot be regarded as the burden on the society. They have a right to lead normal lives. They have a right to demand that they will be recognised as full-fledged rights holding citizens of this country. They are good to participate in every aspect of life.”