THE CONTEXT: India is undergoing a transformative shift in disability rights, driven by the government’s commitment to inclusivity and empowerment for persons with disabilities (PwDs). This movement is supported by various policies and initiatives to ensure equal access to opportunities and full societal participation for all individuals, regardless of ability.
THE ISSUES:
- Inaccessible Infrastructure: A significant challenge for PwDs is the lack of accessible infrastructure. According to a 2018 report by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, only 3% of buildings in India were fully accessible.
- Educational Exclusion: Despite the Right to Education Act, PwDs face barriers in accessing quality education due to a lack of inclusive schools, trained teachers, and assistive technologies. Approximately 45% of disabled people are illiterate, and only 62.9% of those aged 3 to 35 have ever attended regular schools.
- Workplace Discrimination: PwDs encounter significant challenges in securing meaningful employment due to workplace discrimination, lack of reasonable accommodations, and societal prejudices. However, India has nearly 3 crore people with disabilities, only about 34 lakhs are employed. This reflects a substantial gap between employable individuals and those employed.
- Healthcare Access: Accessing appropriate healthcare is a major challenge for PwDs. Many healthcare facilities lack disability-friendly equipment or trained staff to handle specific needs. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed these vulnerabilities, with PwDs facing increased risks and reduced access to essential services.
- Social Stigma and Discrimination: Deep-rooted social stigma and misconceptions about disabilities continue to marginalize PwDs. They often face discrimination, exclusion from social activities, and even violence. This social ostracism impacts mental health and overall quality of life.
- Lack of Data and Policy Implementation: Rigorous data collection and poor policy implementation hinder the inclusion of PwDs. Disability is absent mainly from data collection efforts, affecting planning and policymaking.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES:
Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan): This campaign aims to create a barrier-free environment across:
- Built Environment: Enhancing accessibility in schools, medical facilities, and workplaces.
- Transportation: Improving access to air travel, buses, taxis, and trains.
- Information and Communication: Developing accessible websites and media content.
- Sign Language Access: Increasing availability of sign language interpreters and enhancing captioning services.
Empowerment Programs:
- Divya Kala Mela: Celebrates the craftsmanship of differently-abled artisans, promoting economic self-reliance. Events like Divya Kala Shakti showcase artistic talents of Divyangjan artists.
- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: Ensures dignity and equal opportunities for PwDs, aligning with the UNCRPD.
- National Trust Act, 1999 & Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992: Focus on welfare and regulation of services for PwDs.
- Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS): Provides grant-in-aid to NGOs for various projects, which could be extended to support adaptive sports technology development.
Financial and Educational Support:
- Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances (ADIP): Provides aids and devices to eligible individuals.
- Skill Development Initiatives: Programs like PM-DAKSH provide skill training and employment opportunities through the Divyangjan Rozgar Setu portal.
Additional Government Initiatives:
- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: Ensures dignity and equal opportunities for PwDs, aligning with the UNCRPD.
- Indian Standard Accessibility for ICT Products and Services, 2023: Mandates accessibility requirements for ICT products and services1.
- National Institutes and Composite Regional Centres (CRCs): Provide rehabilitation services and professional training.
THE WAY FORWARD:
- Enhancing Accessibility: To address the issue of inaccessible infrastructure, the government should accelerate the implementation of the Accessible India Campaign. The campaign aims to ensure that all public buildings, transportation systems, and digital platforms are accessible. It targets built environments, transportation ecosystems, and information and communication technology (ICT) ecosystems.
- Inclusive Education: Providing specialized training for teachers to handle diverse learning needs and use assistive technologies effectively. Incorporating inclusive education strategies into mainstream curricula to accommodate students with disabilities. Allocating more resources to develop accessible educational materials and infrastructure.
- Employment Opportunities: Implementing vocational training programs that enhance employability, like Sarthak’s Job Entrepreneurship & Empowerment Training Program (JEET), which has successfully trained over 80,000 PwDs. Encouraging partnerships between government, NGOs, and private sector companies to create more job opportunities and inclusive workplaces.
- Social Sensitization: Conducting nationwide campaigns to educate the public about disability rights and promote positive perceptions of PwDs. Implementing guidelines for accurate and respectful representation of PwDs in media, as suggested by the Supreme Court’s guidelines on preventing stereotyping in visual media.
- Digital Inclusion: Ensuring all digital services are accessible by incorporating features like screen readers, closed captions, and voice commands. Developing inclusive e-governance platforms that provide multimodal interfaces compatible with various assistive technologies.
THE CONCLUSION:
The evolution of disability affairs in India reflects a growing recognition of the rights and potential of persons with disabilities. The government fosters inclusivity, creativity, and resilience within the community through dedicated departments and initiatives, contributing to a more inclusive society where everyone can thrive.
UPSC PAST YEAR QUESTION:
Q. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, remains only a legal document without intense sensitization of government functionaries and citizens regarding disability. Comment. 2022
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:
Q. Evaluate the effectiveness of India’s legislative framework for protecting the rights of Persons with Disabilities. What additional measures are needed to ensure full implementation of these laws?
SOURCE:
https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2024/oct/doc2024105410301.pdf
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