New Delhi: Disability rights groups have come up with a first-of-its kind manifesto before the upcoming general elections to demand inclusivity and unbiased distribution of social schemes to people with disabilities.
The 10-point “Manifesto For and By Citizens with Disabilities”, which was presented at the Delhi Press Club Thursday, also demanded a sum be earmarked for people with disabilities in budgets.
The initiative is being led by the groups National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) in collaboration with the National Disability Network (NDN).
Making a case for the manifesto, NCPEDP Executive Director Arman Ali said: “We are not just people with disabilities, but also caregivers, students, civil society, and organisations across different kinds of disability. The idea of disability needs to be looked at as a mainstream issue… as a part of development.”
The rights groups said people with disabilities encounter systemic barriers like inaccessible polling stations and a lack of information, hampering their political participation.
Communication barriers, social stigma, and discrimination further discourage their involvement. Political parties often overlook their needs, as shown by the absence of dedicated cells and limited inclusion in election manifestos, they said.
People with disabilities constitute 2.21 percent of India’s population, totalling 26.8 million individuals, according to the 2011 census.
Despite India’s significant strides in disability rights — it was one of the first countries to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and implement the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 — the political inclusion of disabled people remains a challenge.
With over 10 million registered voters, people with disabilities represent a considerable electoral force in the 2024 general election. Yet, their participation in the political process is miniscule, rights advocates said.
Ali added: “These one crore disabled people cannot be considered as an afterthought; it cannot be seen only from the perspective of charity.”
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Reservation, Census
The manifesto calls for allocating 5 percent of the total budget to people with disabilities and an Ayushman Bharat-like scheme for them.
It urges that all public and private spaces be accessible to people with disablities by 2026, along with compliance guidelines for businesses. Additionally, there’s a demand to increase the monthly pension under the National Social Assistance Programme by Rs 5,000.
The manifesto also proposes establishing state-of-the-art sports infrastructure, based on universal design principles, for para-athletes.
Activists also pushed for amending Paragraph 15 of the Constitution to include the word divyang, which refers to people with disability, and emphasised reservations in government jobs and education.
The report says: “The government should provide 5 percent reservation and the President of India should arrange for reservation and nomination of persons with disabilities in the Rajya Sabha.”
They also demanded a “separate census”.
General Secretary of Para Sports Foundation Pradeep Raj doubted whether persons with disabilites made up ony 2.21 per cent of India’s popularion since the proportion of the global population is 16 percent, according to the World Health Organization.
The former international athlete said: “How is it possible? We are using the 2011 census for this (figure). We need a census for them and only after that, can we progress.”
‘Make election campaigns accessible’
There was also discussion of advocacy efforts to ensure full participation in elections. Activists expressed optimism, citing past instances where major political parties like the Congress had included their demands in their manifestos.
Activist Gautam Siddharth, who communicates using sign language, emphasised the need for a segregated survey to enable more effective government action.
According to Ali, people with disabilities aspire to be part of development in the modern era. He said if a pension of only Rs 300 continued to be provided even in modern times, the country would not progress.
He said that they were in touch with major political parties and also the Election Commission of India. “We are watching this very closely. We will also analyse what will be said in election campaigns. Will these (pre-poll schemes) be accessible to us?”
Ali said that only 1 crore people with disabilities were registered as voters, and that rights organisations would encourage others to register to strengthen their movement.
“This manifesto is just a beginning. It will ignite conversation on disability inclusion across the country,” he added.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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