Skip to main content

Comrades Editorial · 09 Oct 2026 (PDF)

​
In this edition

  1. Building an Inclusive India for Persons with Disabilities Social Issues

​
Social Issues

​
Building an Inclusive India for Persons with Disabilities

Source This editorial is based on “Disabled citizens and the future of AI” published in The Hindu on 06/10/2026. The article highlights that persons with disabilities continue to face systemic barriers despite legal protections, while AI risks reproducing exclusion. It calls for accessible technology, inclusive datasets, stronger enforcement and meaningful participation of disabled citizens in AI governance. Accessibility is now a legally binding facet of Article 21, as affirmed in the Rajive Raturi Case, 2024. Yet persons with disabilities (PWDs) in India face fragmented infrastructure, exclusionary classrooms, employment discrimination, digital barriers and weak social protection. Technology—assistive devices, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), EdTech and fintech—offers pathways to autonomy. Real inclusion, however, demands enforceable audits, universal design, intersectional policy and disability-led governance. What are the Key Challenges Faced by Persons with Disabilities in India?
  • Inaccessible Public Spaces, Transport Gaps and Weak Compliance:
    • Physical accessibility remains fragmented, making independent mobility difficult even where individual buildings have ramps.
    • An accessible office offers limited benefit if the approaching pavement, bus stop, pedestrian crossing or toilet is inaccessible. Missing tactile pathways, unreliable lifts and inaccessible boarding arrangements create dependence on companions and increase travel costs.
    • In Rajive Raturi v. Union of India Case, 2024, the Supreme Court found that recommendatory guidelines could not substitute for mandatory accessibility standards. The judgment also identified conflicting specifications for accessible toilets across sectoral guidelines, illustrating how regulatory inconsistency obstructs compliance.
  • Exclusionary Classrooms, Learning Barriers and Higher Education Gaps:
    • Enrolment does not ensure inclusion when students cannot access classrooms, learning materials, examinations or institutional support.
    • UDISE+ 2025–26 reported ramps with handrails in only 58.2% of schools. Thus, 41.8% lacked this particular facility; even its presence does not establish complete accessibility for children with visual, hearing, intellectual or multiple disabilities.
    • A report found that 355 of 798 medical colleges (44.5%) had not established the mandated Enabling Units. These units are responsible for reasonable accommodation, academic and clinical support, and accessible infrastructure. Their absence makes educational rights difficult to exercise in practice.
  • Employment Discrimination, Segregation and Denial of Accommodation:
    • Exclusion operates through recruitment criteria, workplace design and assumptions about productivity, restricting both entry and career progression.
    • The NSS 76th Round, 2018, recorded a worker-population ratio of 22.8% among PwDs aged 15 years and above. It demonstrates the scale of economic exclusion.
    • In March 2025, the Supreme Court struck down Madhya Pradesh judicial recruitment provisions that excluded visually impaired candidates and imposed additional eligibility conditions on PwD applicants. The case illustrates how apparently administrative requirements can produce indirect discrimination, despite candidates possessing the requisite qualifications.
  • Fragmented Rehabilitation, Assistive Technology Gaps and Unequal Healthcare:
    • Receiving a diagnosis or assistive device does not guarantee sustained access to rehabilitation and independent living.
    • A policy review in Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences identified relatively better access among organised-sector employees, while many informal workers, children and older persons remained inadequately covered.
    • Wheelchairs, hearing aids and prostheses require appropriate assessment, fitting, training, maintenance and replacement. Distribution alone cannot ensure usability; access must include the supporting services needed over time. Conditions whose functional effects change over time require continuing support.
  • Digital Exclusion, Inaccessible Verification and Financial Service Barriers:
    • Eye-blinking requirements, reading text from a screen and restrictions on assistance can exclude blind persons, people with low vision and acid-attack survivors from completing digital verification.
    • In Pragya Prasun v. Union of India Case, 2025, the Supreme Court addressed these barriers in digital KYC. It recognised digital access as integral to Article 21 and directed accessible alternatives, compliance with accessibility standards and human review of rejected applications.
  • Certification Delays, Repeated Assessments and Administrative Gatekeeping:
    • Access to entitlements often depends on navigating medical boards and documentation systems that themselves create substantial barriers.
    • In January 2026, the NHRC warned that repeated reassessment can cause anxiety, fear and uncertainty about employment continuity. It questioned mass reverification and highlighted poor access to medical boards, particularly for people with irreversible disabilities.
    • Delayed or inaccurate certification can consequently postpone educational concessions, recruitment benefits and other entitlements.
  • Inadequate Social Protection and the Extra Disability Costs:
    • Ordinary poverty measures can overlook the additional expenditure required to achieve comparable living standards.
    • The Rural Development Ministry’s January 2026 year-end review listed central contribution of ₹300 per month under the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) for eligible BPL persons aged 18–79 years with 80% or more disability. This equals approximately ₹10 a day.
    • Accessible transport, personal assistance and recurring care expenses can reduce disposable income. Caregiving can also limit another household member’s earning opportunities, creating a disability–poverty cycle that cash support alone may inadequately address.
  • Entrenched Ableism, Intersectional Discrimination and Denial of Autonomy:
    • Stereotypes and paternalistic attitudes undermine dignity, social participation and control over personal decisions.
    • In Nipun Malhotra v. Sony Pictures Case, 2024, the Supreme Court developed guidance on disability portrayal and distinguished demeaning “disabling humour” from humour that challenges stereotypes.
    • A 2025 systematic review of healthcare access in India identified barriers to sexual and reproductive healthcare, risks to reproductive autonomy, and heightened vulnerability to abuse and neglect among women with disabilities.
    • For persons with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities, families or institutions may substitute their own preferences for the person’s wishes. The resulting challenge concerns informed consent, supported decision-making and independent living, alongside material access.
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016
  • About:
    • RPwD Act, 2016, effective from 19th April 2017, replaced the 1995 disability law and gave effect to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). It combines civil rights, reasonable accommodation, affirmative action and institutional accountability.
    • Persons With Benchmark Disabilities (PwBDs) generally means persons with at least 40% certified specified disability.
  • Key Provisions:
    • Expanded Disability Coverage and Distinct Eligibility Categories: The Act expanded recognised disabilities from 7 to 21, covering conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, specific learning disabilities, acid-attack-related disability, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, haemophilia, thalassaemia and sickle-cell disease.
    • Equality, Dignity and Reasonable Accommodation:
      • Section 3 protects equality, dignity, integrity and personal liberty. Disability alone cannot justify deprivation of liberty.
      • Reasonable accommodation, defined under Section 2(y), requires necessary individual adjustments without imposing a disproportionate or undue burden. Denial of such accommodation is included within discrimination.
    • Inclusive Education and Higher-Education Reservation:
      • Section 31 gives children with benchmark disabilities aged 6–18 years the right to free education in a neighbourhood or special school of their choice.
      • Section 32 requires at least 5% seat reservation in government and government-aided higher educational institutions, alongside five years’ upper-age relaxation for admission.
    • Government Employment Reservation and Service Protection: Section 34 provides at least 4% reservation in government establishments for persons with benchmark disabilities. Section 21 requires every establishment, including private establishments, to notify an Equal Opportunity Policy.
    • Universal Accessibility across Buildings, Transport and Digital Services: Sections 40–43 cover accessibility standards for the built environment, transport, information and communication, and consumer goods.
    • Social Security, Healthcare and Rehabilitation Support: Section 24 requires suitable social-security schemes within governmental economic capacity; assistance must be at least 25% higher than comparable schemes for others.
    • Nationwide Certification: Sections 56–59 govern assessment, certification and appeals; certificates are valid nationwide.
    • Accessible Voting, Justice and Protection From Abuse:
      • Section 11 requires accessible polling stations and electoral materials; Section 12 addresses equal access to courts, tribunals and legal aid.
      • Sections 6–8 cover protection against cruelty, violence, exploitation and situations of risk.
      • These provisions recognise PwDs as citizens, rights-holders and participants in public life.
    • Monitoring Institutions and Grievance Redressal:
      • The Act provides for Central and State Advisory Boards, district-level committees, and Chief and State Commissioners to support implementation and investigate rights violations.
      • Section 23 requires government establishments to appoint grievance officers; registered complaints must be inquired into within two weeks, with escalation available to the district committee.
    • Penalties for Violations, and Fraud:
      • Under, Section 89, first contravention attract fines reaching ₹10,000; subsequent contraventions attract ₹50,000–₹5 lakh.
      • Fraudulently obtaining benchmark-disability benefits can attract two years’ imprisonment, a fine reaching ₹1 lakh, or both.
How Technology Helps Persons with Disabilities in Inclusive Development?
  • Assistive Technology (AT) & Bio-Engineering (Physical Autonomy)
    • High-Tech Mobility: Indigenous innovations like ‘NeoBolt’ (developed by IIT Madras)—a motorized wheelchair attachment—convert manual wheelchairs into road-worthy vehicles, restoring outdoor mobility.
    • AI-Powered Visual & Sensory Aids: Tools like Microsoft’s Seeing AI, screen-reading software (NVDA, JAWS), and refreshable Braille note-takers convert visual environments and text into real-time audio and tactile feedback.
    • Cochlear & Prosthetic Interventions: High-end bionic limbs and advanced cochlear implants distributed under the ADIP (Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances) Scheme restore functional independence for severe locomotor and hearing impairments.
  • Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) & Accessible Governance
    • Unified Digital Identity: The Unique Disability ID (UDID) system digitizes certification and service delivery, eliminating duplicate documentation and enabling seamless cross-state welfare access.
    • Crowdsourced Accessibility Mapping: The Sugamya Bharat App allows PwDs to photograph and report non-accessible public buildings, transportation nodes, and infrastructure directly to municipal authorities for real-time grievance redressal.
    • Web Accessibility Standards: Compliance with Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW) and WCAG 2.1 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) ensures government portals (e.g., DigiLocker, UMANG) are screen-reader compatible and color-contrast optimized.
  • Inclusive Education & EdTech Innovations
    • Sign Language Digitization: The Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) has created a digital repository featuring a 10,000+ word ISL dictionary and converted NCERT textbooks into ISL video format.
    • Dedicated Broadcasting Channels: Under PM e-VIDYA, dedicated TV channels (e.g., Channel 31) deliver curriculum-aligned lessons using sign language and audio-described content.
    • Accessible Publishing Formats: The widespread adoption of DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) and EPUB3 formats allows visually impaired students to navigate complex academic textbooks, charts, and mathematical equations autonomously.
  • Digital Employment & Workplace Integration
    • Work-from-Home (WFH) & Hybrid Models: Cloud computing, collaborative digital tools (Slack, Teams with live auto-captioning), and remote connectivity allow severely impaired individuals to overcome physical commute barriers and enter formal IT and service sectors.
    • Skill Portals & Matchmaking: The PM-DAKSH Portal leverages technology to offer industry-aligned vocational training, digital literacy modules, and targeted job-matching for PwD job seekers.
    • Adaptive Workplace Hardware: Ergonomic input devices, eye-tracking keyboards, and voice-to-text dictation software enable PwDs to perform specialized administrative and coding tasks at equal productivity rates.
  • Smart Urban Mobility & Financial Inclusion
    • Accessible Public Transit: Smart cities deploy low-floor electric buses with automated ramp deployments, acoustic bus-stop notifications, and tactile flooring at metro stations under the Accessible India Campaign.
    • Acoustic & Accessible Fintech: Talking ATMs with braille keypads, voice-guided UPI applications, and multilingual AI voice assistants (e.g., AI Bhashini) enable financial self-reliance without reliance on family escorts.
What Steps are Needed to Make India Inclusive for Persons with Disabilities?
  • Enforcement of Statutory Accessibility Audits & RERA-Style Oversight:
    • Transition from voluntary compliance under the Accessible India Campaign to a mandatory, legally binding enforcement model is critical.
    • Establish an independent National Disability Accessibility Authority (NDAA) equipped with penal powers to penalize non-compliant public and private real estate entities.
    • Implement third-party, continuous Universal Design Audits for all public infrastructure, transit hubs, and private commercial spaces, using certified accessibility auditors from the PwD community.
  • Modernizing Built Environment via Transit-Oriented Accessibility:
    • Mandate 100% low-floor, kneeling electric bus fleets under PM-eBus Sewa and ensure tactile paving, voice-guided lifts, and audio-visual passenger information systems across all Metro rail networks and ISBTs.
    • Execute continuous, obstruction-free pedestrian pathways with standardized tactile ground surface indicators (TGSIs), audio-enabled traffic signals, and curb ramps at every intersection.
  • Inclusive ESG Mandates, Impact Bonds & Economic Empowerment:
    • Require SEBI to mandate specific Disability Equity & Inclusion (DEI) metrics within the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework for top-1000 listed companies, penalizing poor workforce integration.
    • Launch outcome-based Social Impact Bonds co-funded by government and corporate CSR funds to incentivize private skill-training providers based on long-term job retention rates of PwD candidates.
    • Expand the PM-DAKSH scheme by establishing specialized Inclusive Business Incubation Centers providing low-interest, collateral-free credit via National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) for PwD-led startups.
  • Institutionalizing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) & Early Intervention:
    • Reform state curricula to incorporate UDL frameworks—providing multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression—supported by specialized Assistive Technology Labs in every PM-SHRI school.
    • Establish District Early Intervention Centers (DEICs) equipped with AI-assisted screening tools (such as the PRASHAST App) for early identification of neurodivergent conditions, learning disabilities (dyslexia, dyscalculia), and developmental delays.
  • Enforcing Digital & AI Accessibility under DPDP Frameworks:
    • Enforce compliance with GIGW 3.0 and international WCAG 2.2 AA standards across all fintech, e-commerce, healthcare, and e-governance apps, backed by DPDP Act regulatory oversight.
    • Deploy open-source natural language models via AI Bhashini to enable real-time, offline voice-to-Indian Sign Language (ISL) conversion, text-to-speech for regional dialects, and automated screen reading for low-resource devices.
    • Expand the ADIP Scheme scope to include subsidies for high-tech digital hardware—such as refreshable Braille displays, eye-tracking input devices, and AI smart glasses—indigenized via Make in India incubators.
  • Intersectionality, and WGSS Methodologies:
    • Update future Census and NSO survey frameworks to replace binary disability queries with the international Washington Group Questions on Disability Statistics, capturing functional limitations more accurately.
    • Formulate specialized sub-schemes under state social welfare departments targeting the double marginalization faced by rural women, Dalit, Tribal, and LGBTQIA+ individuals with disabilities.
  • Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DiDRR) & Political Empowerment:
    • Enforce NDMA Guidelines on Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Management across all state and district disaster management plans, utilizing geotagged UDID registries for priority evacuation during extreme weather events.
    • Expand Election Commission of India (ECI) measures via the Saksham App, deploying 100% accessible polling booths with tactile EVM overlays, Braille voter guides, door-to-door postal ballot facilities, and ISL-interpreted political broadcasts.
    • Introduce reservation or quota mechanisms for PwDs in local self-governance bodies (Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies) to build bottom-up leadership and grassroots advocacy.
Conclusion
  • India’s disability agenda must move from welfare-oriented support to rights-based inclusion, where accessibility is treated as a prerequisite for equal citizenship. Legal mandates must translate into measurable outcomes across infrastructure, education, employment and digital platforms. Technology should complement, not replace, human agency and participation. Strong enforcement, universal design, intersectional policymaking, adequate social protection, and representation of persons with disabilities can build an accessible, dignified and inclusive India for all today.