How do you understand disability? Substantiate the need for inclusive policy framework in India in this regard.
Disability, once viewed through a medical model as individual impairment, is now understood through the social model as a condition produced by societal, physical and attitudinal barriers that restrict full participation.
Understanding Disability:
- The UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006), ratified by India, frames it as a human rights issue.
- India's RPwD Act, 2016 recognises 21 disabilities including autism, dwarfism, acid-attack survivors and mental illness.
- Census 2011 records 2.68 crore persons with disabilities (PwDs), though actual numbers are likely higher.
Need for Inclusive Policy Framework:
- Constitutional imperative: Articles 14, 15, 21 and 41 guarantee equality and welfare.
- Access gaps: Only a fraction of public buildings and transport are barrier-free despite the Accessible India Campaign.
- Employment: Below 4% reservation is often unfilled; private sector participation is weak.
- Education: Low enrolment and high dropout among children with disabilities.
- Digital divide: Assistive technologies remain unaffordable.
- Intersectionality: Women, tribal and rural PwDs face compounded exclusion.
An inclusive framework combining universal design, sensitisation, community-based rehabilitation and disability-disaggregated data is indispensable for realising a truly equitable society.
Answered By:
Sakshi Negi
Sakshi Negi is a Delhi-based journalist and content specialist with expertise in educational content and digital media, focusing particularly on government exam preparation and career guidance. With a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from NRAI School of Mass Communication and her background as a Kendriya Vidyalaya alumna, she brings unique insights into the Indian education system and government sector opportunities.
Important Questions from GS1
Underline the changes in the field of society and economy from the Rig Vedic to the later Vedic period.
Estimate the contribution of Pallavas of Kanchi for the development of art and literature of South India.
How far is it correct to say that the First World War was fought essentially for the preservation of the balance of power?
How far was the Industrial Revolution in England responsible for the decline of handicrafts and cottage industries in India?
The groundwater potential of the Gangetic valley is on a serious decline. How may it affect the food security of India?
