New Delhi, December 3: “we reaffirm our commitment to keep working towards an inclusive, accessible and equitable future for our Divyang sisters and brothers. Their fortitude and accomplishments in various fields inspire all of us,” said PM Narendra Modi on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities today.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed annually on December 3. It was proclaimed in 1992 by the UN. It aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
India is a party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, having signed the treaty on 30 March 2007 and ratified it on 1 October 2007. Unlike those in the West, most people with disabilities in India and their families are focused on survival in the context of deep poverty.
The number of people with disabilities in India was stated as 21 million in the 2001 Census of India.[3] In the 2011 census, the figure rose by 22.4% to 26.8 million. According to the 2011 census, 20.3% of people with disabilities in India have movement disabilities, 18.9% have hearing impairments, and 18.8% have visual impairments. The 2011 census additionally collected data on mental disability for the first time, and found that 5.6% of Indians with disabilities fall into that category.
The Parliament enacted the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunity, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act in 1995 to provide recognition to the rights and special needs of the disabled in the country. It also provided for reservations for persons with disabilities in government jobs and higher educational institutions.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 replaced the earlier legislation, and widened the scope for defining disability in India, with types of recognised disabilities increasing in number from seven to 21. The reservation offered in the 1995 legislation was also increased to provide more opportunities for the upliftment of the disabled. The rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities are protected under the Mental Health Care Act, 2017.
The Indian government has also enacted initiatives such as the Accessible India Campaign to make public spaces and transportation barrier-free for persons with disabilities. The usage of the term Divyangjan (those with divine abilities) was also promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an alternative to the term 'Persons with Disability'.