WORLD DISABILITY DAY: WHERE DOES INDIA STAND TO COMBAT ITS DISABILITY CHALLENGES

The International Day of Disabled Persons, which was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

The United Nations announces a theme each year to observe the day which focuses on how society can broaden its perspective towards people with disability through  the removal of physical, technological and attitudinal barriers.

The theme for 2017 International Day of People with Disability is “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all”. The bottom line of the theme is to ‘leave no one behind’ and make people with disability independent enough to actively contribute in society. This global framework aims to strengthen the resilience of people with disability by providing full access to justice, health care services, infrastructure and accessible communities along with focusing on education, lifelong learning, and sustainable economic growth through employment.

Going by the 2011 population census data, India has a population of 26.8 million disabled people however, the World Bank data suggests that the total number of persons with disabilities in India is between 40 and 80 million. Despite comprising such a significant portion of the total population, persons with disabilities live a very challenging life in India. In India, the term ‘disability’ is often perceived as ‘inability’ which generally creates preconceived notions about their capabilities.

Take the example of Asma Ali, who is 100% visually impaired from birth and has been working with the State Bank of India in Chandigarh for the past two and a half years. Everyday, she attends customers at the front desk of her branch and patiently guides them. As per Asma, “sometimes customers don’t cooperate. I don’t feel disabled but at times people make me feel so”.

So today, December 3^rd should be the day to reflect on where we have been going wrong as a society with respect to citizens with disabilities and how these wrongs can be undone.