Census 2027: A Historic Opportunity for Disability Data and Inclusion in India
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale declared on Tuesday that the upcoming Census 2027 represents a historic opportunity to accurately gather comprehensive data on all 21 officially recognised categories of disabilities. This initiative is poised to enable more targeted and effective policymaking for persons with disabilities across the nation.
First Census Post-RPwD Act 2016
Speaking at the launch of a significant handbook titled 'Beyond the Visible: A Handbook on Disability Inclusion for Parliamentarians', Athawale emphasised that this census will be the first conducted following the enactment of the landmark Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. He stressed that improved enumeration and disaggregated data are crucial for designing effective government interventions and ensuring better inclusion of persons with disabilities in all spheres of life.
The RPwD Act, 2016, was a transformative reform that expanded recognition to 21 disabilities, shifted from a welfare-based to a rights-based approach, and aligned India with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). For the first time, the law explicitly recognised political barriers as a major obstacle for persons with disabilities, stated Athawale, who serves as the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment.
Government Initiatives and Future Directions
The minister also highlighted key government programmes aimed at mainstreaming persons with disabilities, including:
- The Accessible India Campaign
- The Unique Disability ID (UDID) portal
- Skill development initiatives under PM-DAKSH
- Healthcare efforts under Ayushman Bharat
Athawale noted that the launch of the handbook, prepared by the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) in collaboration with Bajaj Finserv, along with Tuesday's roundtable discussion, will further mainstream the discourse on disability rights and inclusive policymaking within Parliament and beyond.
Translating Law into Action
Arman Ali, Executive Director of NCPEDP, explained that the handbook aims to assist parliamentarians in translating legal provisions into actionable policy and addressing the persistent barriers faced by persons with disabilities. This book will help translate the RPwD Act into real legislative action and make inclusion a lived reality in Indian democracy, he asserted.
Citing findings from a recent NCPEDP survey, Ali revealed that over 80% of persons with disabilities lack health insurance due to high premiums, exclusion of disability-related treatments, and denial of coverage. This underscores the urgent need for more inclusive healthcare policies.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of inclusive healthcare, schemes like Ayushman Bharat must explicitly cover persons with disabilities and provide comprehensive, lifelong support, including assistive devices, rehabilitation, and disability-specific care. The government is committed to removing these barriers so that no person with disability faces catastrophic out-of-pocket expenses, Ali added.
Panel Discussion and Political Engagement
The event also featured a panel discussion on inclusive health coverage and political participation, attended by several Members of Parliament and political leaders. Notable attendees included:
- Parliamentary Member of the Central Advisory Board on Disability, ET Mohammed Basheer
- Lok Sabha MP Eatala Rajender
- Rajya Sabha MP Fauzia Khan
- BJP spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan
- BJP's youth wing vice president Neha Joshi
- NCP (SP) spokesperson Anish Gawande
This gathering highlighted the growing political commitment to advancing disability rights and ensuring that the upcoming census serves as a cornerstone for equitable and informed policymaking in India.
