The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has partnered with the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) and EkStep Foundation to launch a digital platform called Purple Dots. Signed on 10 September 2026, this collaboration aims to connect persons with disabilities to government benefits, employment opportunities, training programmes and assistive devices more effectively.
How Purple Dots will work
The Purple Dots initiative operates on a simple principle: creating digital profiles that link needs with available support. Persons with disabilities can build a profile indicating what they require—whether employment, a wheelchair, skill training or other assistance. At the same time, employers, service providers, NGOs and government departments create their own profiles listing the opportunities and services they provide.
These profiles connect through an open digital system that allows real-time matching. Rather than creating separate systems for each scheme or organisation, Purple Dots uses a unified digital framework that lets different institutions discover and respond to disability-related needs quickly. This approach aims to replace the current fragmented system where services and opportunities exist but remain difficult to find.
The framework involves DEPwD’s policy oversight and nationwide presence, ALIMCO’s ground-level experience in the disability sector, and EkStep Foundation’s technical expertise in building digital public infrastructure. Together they will design, develop and scale the initiative across districts.
What this means for you
If you are a person with disabilities, Purple Dots could reduce the time and effort needed to locate relevant government schemes, job openings, training courses or assistive devices. Instead of visiting multiple offices or websites, a single profile can connect you with available opportunities nearby. For employers and service providers, the platform offers a simpler way to reach qualified candidates and beneficiaries who need their services. The digital bridge aims to make existing support systems visible and accessible rather than creating new entitlements.