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Disabilities

The constitution of India ensures equality, freedom, justice and dignity of all individuals and implicitly mandates an inclusive society for all, including persons with disabilities. In recent years, there have been vast and positive changes in the perception of the society towards persons with disabilities. It has been realized that a majority of persons with disabilities can lead a better quality of life if they have equal opportunities and effective access to rehabilitation measures.

According to the Census 2001, there are 2.19 crore persons with disabilities in India who constitute 2.13 percent of the total population. This includes persons with visual, hearing, speech, locomotor and mental disabilities. Seventy-five percent of persons with disabilities live in rural areas, 49 percent of the disabled population is literate, and only 34 percent are employed. The earlier emphasis on medical rehabilitation has now been replaced by an emphasis on social rehabilitation. There has been an increasing recognition and emphasis on mainstreaming persons with disabilities in the society based on their capabilities. (No.3-1/1993-DD.III Government of India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, National Policy for Persons with Disabilities)

Explanation of disabilities definitions:











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