India & disabilities

Question 1

Context?

Answer 1

December 3:marked by the UN as International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Question 2

Facts & figures?

Answer 2

2.2% of India’s population lives with some kind of physical or mental disability

Question 3

How are the disabled identified?

Answer 3

Till 2011:7 kinds of disabilities

Changed to 21 when the Rights of People with Disabilities was introduced in 2016.

Question 4

Who was identified as disabled by 2019 report?

Answer 4

temporary loss of an ability as well as neurological and blood disorders in addition to the earlier definition, that included mental retardation and permanent inability to move, speak, hear and see.and also includes deformities and injuries of acid attack victims as disabilities

Question 5

Who are disabled and in what way?

Answer 5

• higher proportion of men
• more prevalent in rural areas
• Inability to move without assistance - most common disability

Question 6

Constitutional Frameworks for Disabled in India?

Answer 6

1. Article 41 of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)
2. subject of ‘relief of the disabled and unemployable’ is specified in state list

Question 7

What is Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016?

Answer 7

1. types of disabilities have been increased from 7 to 21. The act added mental illness, autism, spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, chronic neurological conditions, speech and language disability, thalassemia, hemophilia, sickle cell disease, multiple disabilities including deaf blindness, acid attack victims and Parkinson’s disease which were largely ignored in earlier act.
2. It increases the quantum of reservation for people suffering from disabilities from 3% to 4% in government jobs and from 3% to 5% in higher education institutes.
3. Every child with benchmark disability between the age group of 6 and 18 years shall have the right to free education.
4. to ensure accessibility in public buildings in a prescribed time frame along with Accessible India Campaign.
5. A separate National and State Fund be created to provide financial support to the persons with disabilities.

Question 8

What is United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)?

Answer 8

The Convention was adopted by the General Assembly in December 2006 and it came into force on in May 2008.

The convention seeks to engage member countries in developing and carrying out policies, laws and administrative measures for securing the rights recognized in the Convention and abolish laws, regulations, customs and practices that constitute discrimination.

It requires countries to identify and eliminate obstacles and barriers and ensure that persons with disabilities can access their environment, transportation, public facilities and services, and information and communications technologies.

It asks member countries to recognize the right to an adequate standard of living and social protection which includes public housing, services and assistance for disability-related needs, as well as assistance with disability-related expenses in case of poverty.

Question 9

What is Accessible India Campaign (AIC)?

Answer 9

• nationwide flagship campaign of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• The aim of the Campaign is to make a barrier free and conducive environment for Divyangjans all over the country.
• It was launched on International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3rd December, 2015.

Question 10

What is DeenDayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme?

Answer 10

DDRS is a Central Sector Scheme of Government of India which is being implemented since 1999 for providing financial assistance to NGOs working for education and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.

The objectives of the scheme are:
1.To create an enabling environment to ensure equal opportunities, equity, social justice and empowerment of persons with disabilities.

2.To encourage voluntary action for ensuring effective implementation of the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.

NGOs are being given assistance under DDRS for providing a wide range of services to children/persons with disability, e.g.
programmes for pre-school and early intervention
special education,
vocational training and placement
community based rehabilitation
manpower development
psycho-social rehabilitation of persons with mental illness
rehabilitation of leprosy-cured persons, etc.

The “Scheme to Promote Voluntary Action for Persons with Disabilities” was revised and was renamed as the “Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) from April 2003.