This document discusses issues faced by the disabled population in India such as lack of data, employment, education, health access and discrimination. It provides statistics showing that over 26 million people in India have a disability. Males have a higher rate of disability at 2.41% versus 2.01% for females. The types of disabilities and constitutional frameworks are outlined along with key legislation and government programs to support the disabled population such as Accessible India Campaign, Deen Dayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme, and scholarships. Improving prevention, education, awareness, access, employment and policy intervention is needed to better empower the marginalized disabled community.

1. Empowering the
Marginalized:
Initiatives and
Policies for
Disability
Empowerment"

2. Issues and Challenges
Inadequate Data and
Statistics
Emloyment Education
Health Accessibility
Poor Implementation
of Policies and
Schemes
Descrimination Poverty
Social
Exclusion
Justice

3. Prevalence of Disabilities
26.8 million
persons
Citing census 2011,
the report states that
there are 26.8 million
persons with
disablities in india.
2.21%
Of total population
213 in 10,000 persons

4. Prevalence of Disabilities
44%
11.9 Million females
with Disablities
About 2.01 percent
of India’s female
population reports
having a disability.
14.9 Million Males
with Disabilities
About 2.41 percent
of India’s male
population reports
having a disability.
56%

5. Disabled Population by Type of Disability

6. Constitutional Frameworks for Disabled in India
Article 41 of the Directive
Principles of State Policy
(DPSP) states that State
shall make effective
provision for securing right
to work, to education and
to public assistance in
cases of unemployment,
old age, sickness and
disablement, within the
limits of its economic
capacity and
development.
The subject of ‘relief
of the disabled and
unemployable’ is
specified in state list
of the Seventh
Schedule of the
constitution.

7. Legislations for Disabled

8. Programmes/initiatives for Disabled in India
Accessible India
Campaign : Creation
of Accessible
Environment for
PwDs:
A nation-wide flagship
campaign for achieving
universal accessibility that
will enable persons with
disabilities to gain access
for equal opportunity and
live independently and
participate fully in all
aspects of life in an
inclusive society.
DeenDayal
Disabled
Rehabilitation
Scheme:
Under the scheme
financial assistance is
provided to NGOs for
providing various
services to Persons
with Disabilities, like
special schools,
vocational training
centres, community
based rehabilitation,
pre-school and early
intervention

9. Programmes/initiatives for Disabled in India
49
Countries
Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase /
fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP): The Scheme
aims at helping the disabled persons by bringing
suitable, durable, scientifically-manufactured, modern,
standard aids and appliances within their reach.
National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities
(RGMF)
The scheme aims to increase opportunities to students
with disabilities for pursuing higher education.
Under the Scheme, 200 Fellowships per year are
granted to students with disability.

10. Way Ahead
Prevention
Preventive health
programs need to be
strengthened.
01
Education
Proper teacher training
to address to the needs
of differently-abled
children and facilitate
their inclusion in
regular schools.
02
Awareness
Awareness campaigns;
to educate and aware
people about different
kinds of disability.
03
Access
It should be made
legally binding to make
buildings disabled-
friendly.
04
Employment
Disabled Adults need to
be empowered with
employable skills
05
Policy Intervention
Pluto is considered a
dwarf planet
06