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Experts Urge Modi, Athawale to Push for Disability Quota in Politics

Anticipating the passage of the women's reservation bill, disability rights experts are intensifying calls for parallel political representation for persons with disabilities. The NCPEDP has authored a handbook for parliamentarians and written to top leaders, including the President and Prime Minister, urging action. The group emphasizes that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act recognizes political barriers, and their concerns are often overlooked without direct representation. With updated disability data expected from Census 2027, advocates see a critical opportunity for inclusive electoral reform.

Key Points: Calls Grow for Political Reservation for Persons with Disabilities

  • Push for disability quota in politics
  • Handbook released for MPs on inclusion
  • Census 2027 key for better data
  • NCPEDP writes to top leaders
  • Representation vital for inclusive democracy
2 min read

Anticipating women's bill's passage, calls intensify for quota for the disabled (Lead)​

As women's quota bill advances, disability rights advocates urge PM Modi and Minister Athawale to champion political representation for persons with disabilities.

"While the Women's Reservation Bill is a transformative step, it must also open the door for broader inclusion. - Arman Ali"

New Delhi, April 14

Anticipating women's quota becoming a reality soon, experts have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale to also push for political representation for persons with disabilities, an official said on Tuesday.​

The author of India's first-ever handbook on disability for Parliamentarians, titled 'Beyond the Visible: A Handbook on Disability Inclusion for Parliamentarians', Arman Ali, NCPEDP Executive Director, said, "While the Women's Reservation Bill is a transformative step, it must also open the door for broader inclusion. Persons with disabilities remain significantly underrepresented in decision-making spaces. Ensuring their participation is essential for a truly inclusive democracy."​

While releasing the handbook last month, Athawale had supported the suggestion from the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) for a parallel national discourse on ensuring political representation for persons with disabilities.​

Athawale also said that the upcoming Census 2027 is a big opportunity to recognise all 21 categories of disabilities through trained enumeration and vastly improved data collection.​

The NCPEDP has now written to President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, PM Modi, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, as well as leaders across political parties, urging the inclusion of reservation for persons with disabilities within the broader electoral reform framework.​

The letter highlighted that "political barriers" are explicitly recognised under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the absence of representation often results in disability concerns being overlooked in policymaking.​

With the proposed expansion of legislative seats, the NCPEDP emphasised that there is now a viable opportunity to create space for inclusive representation without affecting existing categories.​

"India is home to one of the largest populations of persons with disabilities. As per the 2011 Census, over 2.68 crore individuals were identified as persons with disabilities, a number widely considered an underestimation. With updated data expected in the upcoming Census, the need for direct political representation has become increasingly urgent," added Ali.​

The NCPEDP has also urged Members of Parliament to take up this issue during the ongoing session and work towards integrating reservations for persons with disabilities within the broader electoral reforms.​

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Absolutely agree! My cousin is visually impaired and the challenges he faces in daily life are immense, often because policies are made by people who don't understand. Having their voices directly in Parliament would change everything. Hope the government acts on this.
R
Rohit P
While the intent is good, we must be careful. Adding too many categories of reservation can make the system very complex. Maybe we should focus on implementing the women's quota first and ensuring infrastructure (like accessible polling booths) is perfect before adding new layers.
S
Sarah B
The 2011 Census number of 2.68 crore is staggering, and it's probably much higher now. If such a large population has no direct say in lawmaking, how can we call it a representative democracy? The handbook 'Beyond the Visible' is a great first step.
V
Vikram M
Good move by NCPEDP. Representation matters. When we talk about 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', it must include persons with disabilities. The upcoming Census 2027 is the perfect opportunity to get accurate data and build a strong case for this reservation. Jai Hind!
K
Kavya N
It's about time! Think of the practical issues that never get addressed – public transport, building access, digital accessibility. Who better to flag these than someone who lives with these challenges daily? This isn't about charity, it's about rightful participation.

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