Date : 5/12/2023

Relevance: GS Paper 2 - Social Justice - Inclusive Growth

Keywords: ILO, Census 2011, Unique Disability ID (UDID) card , Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016), SPARK Project

Context-

Disability, as both an identity and entity, intersects with various vulnerabilities, encompassing social, economic, and gender dimensions. Globally, a staggering 1.3 billion people, equivalent to almost the entire population of India, grapple with some form of disability, with 80% residing in developing countries and 70% in rural areas.

According to the 2011 Census data for India, individuals with disabilities make up 2.21% of the overall population. Among the disabled population, 7.62% are in the age group of 0-6 years.

The Significance of "By" in Disability Inclusion

• Understanding the power of language in shaping inclusive approaches, the distinction between "for" and "by" holds pivotal importance in disability inclusion.
• While "for" implies actions directed towards persons with disabilities, "by" emphasizes their active participation in the process. This linguistic nuance becomes a crucial factor in crafting policies and strategies that genuinely empower individuals with disabilities.

Economic Implications of Disability Inclusion

• A groundbreaking study by the International Labour Organization (ILO), titled "The price of exclusion: The economic consequences of excluding people with disabilities from the world of work," reveals that integrating persons with disabilities into the economy can boost global GDP by 3% to 7%.
• Despite the economic potential, prevailing stereotypes and limited job opportunities perpetuate exclusion, directly contradicting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Challenges in Rural Areas

• In India, various government schemes, including the Unique Disability ID (UDID) card under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016), exist.
• However, awareness and effective implementation, especially in rural areas, pose significant challenges.
• Persons with disabilities in rural regions confront more substantial obstacles, such as limited access to education, employment, and exclusion from developmental schemes.
• A shift from viewing them as objects of charity to recognizing their agency is imperative, particularly in the context of climate challenges faced by rural communities.

The Role of the Private Sector

• The private sector emerges as a key player in promoting the employment of persons with disabilities. Beyond a robust legal framework, engaging companies and building their confidence to hire and retain workers with disabilities proves instrumental.
• Collaborations with employers' federations, including those representing small and medium-sized enterprises, and trade unions demonstrate immense potential in fostering employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

The SPARK Project: Fostering Disability Inclusive Rural Transformation

• A beacon of inclusive practices, the SPARK project, initiated by the ILO and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in collaboration with the Women’s Development Corporation in Maharashtra, exemplifies a "by" approach.
• The project identifies persons with disabilities from villages and empowers them as Disability Inclusion Facilitators (DIFs).
• These DIFs, positioned at the grassroots level, engage with communities, persons with disabilities, caregivers, and women from self-help groups, raising awareness about disability inclusion and dismantling barriers.
• The SPARK project has brought about a remarkable attitudinal shift toward persons with disabilities at societal and administrative levels. By mainstreaming women with disabilities into existing self-help groups, the project has facilitated their access to funds, empowering them to start enterprises.
• This holistic approach exemplifies the transformative potential of including persons with disabilities in decision-making processes and economic activities.

Rural Resilience and Social Justice

• Achieving social justice necessitates the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all facets of development, particularly in rural areas.
• The bi-directional link between disability and poverty, nutrition, and hunger underscores the need for more inclusive opportunities and employment in rural settings.
• As rural areas grapple with climate challenges, rural resilience becomes paramount, making it imperative to prioritize the voices and needs of persons with disabilities at the heart of the global development agenda.

Way Forward:

Preventive Actions:

• Strengthen preventive health programs, with a focus on early screening for all children.
• Learn from Kerala's Comprehensive Newborn Screening (CNS) program to identify and address deficits in infants, reducing the burden of disability.

Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Approach:

• Implement the CBR approach to maximize the abilities of people with disabilities, ensuring access to services and opportunities for full integration within communities.

Increasing Public Awareness:

• Run social campaigns to change attitudes towards disability.
• Highlight positive representations of people with disabilities in mainstream media, following examples like "Taare Zameen Par" and "Barfi."

Inclusive Education:

• Address the stigma associated with special schools.
• Ensure a smooth transition channel between special schools and the broader community to promote inclusiveness among the disabled.

Collaboration With States:

• Focus on awareness for pregnant mothers and accessible medical facilities in rural areas.
• Support state governments for fiscal decentralization in the health sector to address the occurrence of disabilities.

Conclusion

The journey towards disability inclusion in India demands a comprehensive "by" approach, emphasizing the active involvement of persons with disabilities in all stages of decision-making and economic activities. The SPARK project serves as a beacon, showcasing the transformative impact of empowering individuals with disabilities at the grassroots level. As the world strives to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, a fundamental shift in commitment, solidarity, financing, and action is imperative to break the historical marginalization of persons with disabilities. By prioritizing their voices and needs, we can build a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient future for all.

Source- The Hindu