Ram Rattan Sharma
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in one of his radio addresses Mann Ki Baat regarded physically challenged persons with divine ability. He also used the term Divyang for persons with disability. There are currently more than 1 billion disabled people in the world,which is 15% of the world population.As per the census 2011,the number of persons with disabilities in India is around 268 crore constituting 2.21% of the total population. The increase is more in rural areas and in the states of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh,Orissa,Jammu and Kashmir and Sikkim. Facts show that persons with disabilities form a crucial part of a population.However,they are still discriminated, excluded and denied their rights in our society. This has called for various laws, initiatives and rules that promote equality for these people. But before we understand these laws, it is important for us to understand the types of disabilities and the challenges faced by such people.
Problems faced by Divyangs:-
Persons with Disabilities or Divyangs often lack support services. Due to lack of support services they are denied basic education or vocational training. As per the India Social Development Report (SDR) about 45% of all PWDs in India are illiterate. The reason for this illiteracy includes various issues such as availability of special schools, trained teachers, and availability of educational materials for the disabled.Thus,there is a lack of inclusivity.
People with disabilities, are also denied of employment opportunities. Lack of rehabilitation leads to poverty. Further, most of the public spaces in India are not equipped with special requirements of the disabled people. Lack of adequate disabled-friendly facilities has acted as a bigger road block and has prevented differently-abled people from making valuable contributions to the society.
Differently abled people also face discrimination in day-to-day life. They have to face humiliation, exclusion and negative attitudes which act as a hindrance in their active participation in a public space.
Initiatives taken by the Government of India:-
India is a signatory of the United Nations Convention On Rights of Persons With Disabilities.Further India has ratified the convention in 2007.Since then the Govt. of India has taken several steps for inclusion and empowerment of PWDs/Divyangs in line with the obligations by Government which are:
Assistance to disabled persons for purchasing/Fitting of aids/Appliances (ADIP) Scheme (1981):-It has been launched to assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable, advanced and scientifically manu factured, modern, standard aids and appliances. The scheme intends to promote the physical, social and psychological rehabilitation among the disabled.
Deen Dayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) (2003):-The objective of DDRS Scheme is to create an enabling environment to ensure equal opportunities,equity,social justice and empowerment of persons with disabilities. The approach of this scheme is to provide financial assistance to voluntary organizations to make available the whole range of services to PWDs.
Scholarships for Persons with disabilities (PWDs) (2014-15):-The scheme has been launched by the department of disability affairs to provide financial assistance to the parents of students with disabilities for studying at pre and post matric level.
Accessible India Campaign (2015):- Accessible India-campaign or Sugamaya Bharat Abhiyan is a programme which has three important components that are to build environment accessiblity,transportation system accessibility, information system accessibility, information and communication eco-system accessibility.
Schemes of the National Trust:-The national trust is an autonomous organization of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Govt. Of India. The National trustworks for the welfare of persons with disabilities of autism, cerebralpalsy, Mental retardation and multiple disabilities. The National Trust has launched DISHA for early intervention for persons with disability through therapies, trainings and providing support to family members. The National Trust has also launched Vikas Day Care scheme for people with disabilities above the age of 10 years.
Unique Disability IDs:-Unique ID for persons with disabilities project is an initiative of department of empowerment of persons with disabilities and Govt. of India. It aims at building a holistic end -to end integrated system for issuance of unique Disability ID and certificates.
National fellowship for students with disabilities (Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship):-The aim of this scheme is to increase opportunities for students with disabilities for pursuing higher education, 200 fellowships are granted every year to students with disabilities.
The rights of persons with disability Act,2016:- The act of thedisability legislation was passed by the Indian parliament to fulfill its obligation to the UNCRPD. This act covered seven conditions of disabilities which were blindness, low vision, leprosy, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, mental retardation and mental illness. The law also seeks to enhance the rights and entitlement of PWDs and provides effective mechanism for ensuring their empowerment.
Way Forward:-
The constitution of India ensures quality, freedom, Justice and dignity of all individuals and mandates an inclusive society for all including persons with disabilities further lays the responsibility for empowering the disabled persons to states. People with disabilities, need more support than others in the face of the pandemic. Wewill fail as a human race if we do not show a humane response , equitably with affirmative action for people with disabilities. A multi sectoral collaborative approach involving all stakeholders, Govt.of India, ministries, state Governments/ UTs, central/state undertakings, local authorities and NGOs is required. Appropriate authorities must undertake activities for the empowerment of Divyangjans
(The author is former Dy. Librarian University of Jammu)
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