PAPER III General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations

Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the population by the Centre and States and the Performance of these Schemes; Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions and Bodies constituted for the Protection and Betterment of these Vulnerable Sections

In News:Investing in persons with disabilities

Are government measures effective in uplifting people with disabilities and addressing their issues?  Give reasons in support of your answer.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), persons with disabilities (PwDs) constitute 4.52% of the Indian population.Government made significant strides to address the needs of people with disabilities.

Government Measures in India for People with Disabilities

1. Legislation and policy framework:

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 was enacted to ensure that all persons with disabilities can lead their lives with dignity, without discrimination, and with equal opportunities. It provided for reservation in education and employment 

 National Policy on Disability: provides for physical rehabilitation     educational rehabilitation and economic rehabilitation, for PWDs

2. Institutional measure: A separate Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities was carved out of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment;
3. Welfare Schemes:

• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana: For providing Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for Senior citizens belonging to BPL category.
• Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) Scheme: provides for distribution of aids and assistive devices;
• Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme: Promote Voluntary Action by releasing grant-in aid to NGOs. 
• Scheme of Incentives to Employers in the Private Sector for Providing Employment to Persons with Disabilities.

Although the government has taken various legal and welfare initiatives for the cause of disabilities, there has been a limited impact to further their rights.

1. Implementation Gaps: While the laws and policies exist, their effective implementation can be inconsistent across different states and regions.Issues such as inadequate infrastructure, lack of awareness, and bureaucratic hurdles often hinder the effectiveness of these measures.
2. There is a lack of data on prevalence and instances of disabled in the country. Further, there is also a lack of universal definition of who constitutes the disabled.
3. Social stigma attached to the disabled and people’s attitudes towards them is the main cause of a limited impact.Disabled people have been presented as socially flawed able-bodied people, not as disabled people with their own identities.
4. Educational institutions lack the necessary infrastructure and support mechanisms .Data from the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People reveals that less than 1% of India’s educational institutions are disabled-friendly
5. Workplaces lack robust diversity policies that would give proper representation to PwDs. Despite the legislative mandate of providing reservation for PwDs, employers have failed to do these.
6. Limited Accessibility: Despite efforts to improve accessibility, many public spaces and transportation systems remain inaccessible.
7. Financial Constraints: Adequate funding for disability programs and services can be a challenge.

Way forward:

1. The Indian education system needs an inclusive framework to promote PwDs. Shiv Nadar University model can be promoted.It  enumerated a disability support policy, which includes providing personalised support to students on a case-by-case basis, depending on the student’s health condition every semester.
2. States should implement effective compliance mechanisms for PwDs. Brazil’s model can be adopted.In brazil, companies with more than 100 employees must have PwDs comprising 2%–5% of the total workforce, and non-compliance results in fines.
3. Changing societal attitude: Success stories of people with disabilities can be showcased to inculcate positive attitudes among people. For example, A movie like “Srikanth” can inspire positive attitudes by highlighting the remarkable achievements of individuals with disabilities. 

Source:https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/investing-in-persons-with-disabilities/article68566214.ece

https://www.mospi.gov.in/sites/default/files/reports_and_publication/statistical_publication/social_statistics/Chapter%208%20-National%20redressal.pdf