LifeMeet – Krishnakant Mane, Founder OnlineKhata

Team L&M

Krishnakant Mane, widely known as KK Mane, is a pioneering name in India’s technology space and the country’s first visually impaired IT professional turned entrepreneur. Through his personal and professional journey, he has brought attention to the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals in employment. Mane has shared instances where highly qualified visually disabled candidates were denied job opportunities, with employers citing disability quotas as an excuse rather than evaluating candidates based on merit. This highlights a critical gap in inclusive hiring practices in India.

According to KK Mane, the primary issue is not capability but accessibility and awareness. Many organisations still lack accessible recruitment processes, assistive technologies, and inclusive workplace environments, which limits opportunities for visually impaired professionals. Additionally, societal perceptions—often shaped by media stereotypes—create misconceptions about their abilities. Mane stresses that visually impaired individuals are equally capable of excelling across professions, and the need of the hour is a shift towards skill-based hiring and equal opportunity employment.

Despite these barriers, Krishnakant Mane remains optimistic about change. As the founder and CTO of Bookmatic Pvt Ltd, he is actively contributing to inclusive innovation in fintech through solutions like OnlineKhata. Beyond entrepreneurship, he continues to advocate for awareness, empathy, and structural change in workplaces. His message is clear: employment for people with disabilities should be driven by talent and competence, not treated as charity. Promoting workplace diversity and inclusion is essential for building a more equitable and progressive workforce in India.