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.
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