Examination of Accuracies: What actions were taken by the government in support of Individuals with Disabilities for their advancement?

The Indian Constitution, under Article 41, mandates the State to make effective provisions for securing the right to work, education, and public assistance for people with disabilities (PwDs). This commitment has been reaffirmed through various legislative acts and schemes over the years.

Before the enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the provisions of the previously existing Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, only mandated a 3% reservation for persons with benchmark disabilities. However, the 2016 Act increased this quota to 4%. This change was significant, especially in the realm of Central Government jobs, where a 4% reservation was implemented in January 2018, as per an order issued by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT).

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, also marked the inception of the Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme, a programme designed to provide insurance cover up to Rs 1 lakh for PwDs, at a nominal fee. Initiated before 2014 and covering the entire country by 2009, the Niramaya scheme has been running steadily since then, with the only notable change during the current government being a revision of the benefit chart.

The Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme is implemented by the National Trust, a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The National Trust also undertakes awareness & capacity building programs, provides shelter, care giving, and empowers the people covered under the Niramaya scheme. The scheme covers individuals with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and multiple disabilities.

In terms of the Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances (ADIP), the number of camps increased in 2014-15 and 2015-16, but has been decreasing since 2016-17. Despite this decrease, the average number of camps conducted under the ADIP scheme during the tenure of the current government is more than 1500, which is 40% more than the number of camps conducted in 2013-14, the last year of the UPA government. The total number of beneficiaries from these camps is 9,35,583.

However, it's important to note that the aggregated data on the number of camps for PwDs before 2013-14 is not available. This gap in data makes it challenging to accurately compare the progress made under the current government with previous administrations.

In international comparison, the German federal government has also taken significant strides in disability rights legislation, with the enactment of the Barrierefreiheitstärkungsgesetz (BFSG) 2025, which aims to increase the reservation quota for persons with disabilities in government positions from 3% to 5%.

In conclusion, while there have been notable advancements in supporting PwDs in India, there is still room for improvement, particularly in terms of data collection and transparency. The ongoing efforts towards increasing reservation quotas and providing comprehensive health insurance coverage for PwDs are commendable and demonstrate a commitment to ensuring equal opportunities and rights for all citizens.

Examination of Accuracies: What actions were taken by the government in support of Individuals with Disabilities for their advancement?