Mechanism for Implementing National Policy on Differently-abled

The following mechanism is in place for implementation of the National Policy:

  • Department of Disability Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is the nodal Department to coordinate all matters relating to implementation of the Policy.
  • The Central Coordination Committee, with stakeholder representation, coordinates matters relating to implementation of the National Policy. There is a similar Committee at the State level.
  • The Ministries of Home Affairs; Health & Family Welfare; Rural Development; Urban Development; Youth Affairs & Sports; Railways; Science & Technology; Statistics & Programme Implementation; Labour; Panchayati Raj and Women & Child Development and Departments of Elementary Education & Literacy, Secondary & Higher Education; Road Transport & Highways; Public Enterprises; Revenue; Information Technology and Personnel & Training are also identified for implementation of the policy.
  • Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies are associated in the functioning of the District Disability Rehabilitation Centres. They are required to play a crucial role in the implementation of the National Policy to address local level issues.
  • The Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities at Central level and State Commissioners at the State level, play key role in implementation of the National Policy, apart from their respective statutory responsibilities.

UNCRPD, 2006

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 2006 was adopted by UN General Assembly on December 13, 2006 and opened for signing by the State Parties on March 30, 2007. Adoption of the Convention has really imparted empowerment to Persons with Disabilities across the globe to demand their rights and make State, private and civil society agencies accountable for enjoying their rights.

India is one of the few first countries which ratified the Convention. Consequent upon India signing the Convention on March 30, 2007 and its subsequent ratification, it has come into force in the country w.e.f. May 3, 2008. The Convention places the following three important obligations on each State Party:

  1. Implementation of the provisions of the Convention
  2. Harmonization of the country laws with the Convention
  3. Preparation of a Country Report

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