Context: International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)

• It is an international observance promoted by the United Nations.
• Established: 1992
• Objective: To promote the rights of people with disabilities and to raise awareness around their well-being.
• Theme: Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.
• Aim: To create equal opportunities for persons with disabilities through the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Later, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), was also adopted in the year 2006.

Current scenario in India

• Out of total 70.22 crore male Indian citizens, 1.5 crore are disabled.
• 1.18 crore disabled women in India out of 65.46 crore female Indian citizens.
• 20.3% of Indians with disabilities have movement disabilities
• 18.9% have hearing impairments
• 18.8% have visual impairments.

India is at the first spot in the world with the most visually challenged.

• More than 65% of the overall disabled Indian population lives in rural areas.
• Only 61% of the disabled children aged 5-19 years were getting an education.
• 27% never went to a school.
• Out of the total disabled population, 58% people are literates.
• 62% of disabled males
• 45% of disabled females

Schemes of Government of India for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities
Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS)

• ???????It is a central sector scheme.
• Objective: to provide grant-in-aid to (NGOs) for projects relating to rehabilitation for PwDs

District Disability Rehabilitation Centers (DDRCs)

• Objective: to facilitate creation of infrastructure and capacity building at district level for awareness, rehabilitation, training and guidance of rehabilitation professionals.

Assistance to Disabled Persons

• Objective: to assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances.

Accessible India Campaign/ Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan

• Objective: to create an enabling and barrier free environment
• Focus: Built Environment, Public Transportation and Information & Communication Technologies.

Awareness Generation and Publicity Scheme

• To spread awareness about the legal rights of disabled persons.

Research on Disability Related Technology, Products and Issues

• ???????It was introduced in the year 2015-16.
• It was decided to merge the scheme under the umbrella scheme of SIPDA

Objectives???????

• ???????To promote research in prevention and prevalence of disability
• To ensure active and compulsory involvement of PwDs in applied research and product development projects

Unique Disability ID Project (UDID)

• Objective: to create a National Database for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)

In-Service Training and Sensitization of Key Functionaries of Central and State Government, Local Bodies and other Service Providers

• Objective: to train and sensitize Government Local Bodies on new and important issues facing the disability sector.

Scholarship scheme

• Objective: to empower disabled students to study further in order to earn their livelihood and to find a dignified place in the society.