National Policy for Persons with Disabilities

It was brought in 2006 with the objective of recognizing that Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) are valuable human resources for the country and it seeks to create an environment that provides PwDs equal opportunities, protection of their rights and full participation in society.

Significant Features of the Policy

• Prevention of Disabilities: It calls for programme for prevention of diseases, which result in disability and the creation of awareness regarding measures to be taken for prevention of disabilities during the period of pregnancy and thereafter to be intensified and their coverage expanded.
• Rehabilitation Measures: It calls for physical, educational and economic rehabilitation of PwDs.
• Women with Disabilities: Special programmes will be developed for education, employment and providing of other rehabilitation services to women with disabilities keeping in view their special needs.
• Children with Disabilities: They were considered as the most Vulnerable Group and require special attention.
• Barrier Free Environment: It calls for eliminating hurdles and creating a disabled friendly environment (Physical infrastructure).
• Issue of Disability Certificates: The Government must ensure that the persons with disabilities obtain the disability certificates without any difficulty in the shortest possible time by adoption of simple, transparent and client-friendly procedures.
• Other briefs include –ensuring social security, promoting participation of NGOs, promoting research and collecting regular data on status of PwDs.
• Right of Person with Disability Act, 2016 has been created on the above principles.