Empowerment through Policy Framework: An Analysis of the Draft National Policy for Persons with Disabilities

The National Sample Survey report (2018) in India describes that the prevalence of disability is 2.2 %, which is similar to the figures from the 2011 census i.e. In India of the 2011 census, there were 2.68 crores of persons living with disabilities. In 2006, the Indian Government framed a national policy for differently-abled persons covering the prevention and rehabilitation of disabilities. It also focuses on the rehabilitation of women and children with disabilities, facilitating a barrier-free environment, improving social security, initiating research, and formulating guidelines, among others. Later after 15 years, in 2021, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment released a draft National Policy for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan). The scenario in 2021 has faced many changes compared to that of 2006. One important legislative development was the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act in 2016, followed by the adoption of the National Education Policy in 2020. In better alignment with global initiatives, India ratified UNCRPD and acceded to various international resolutions directly or indirectly related to PwDs. The paper illustrates India's National policy for persons with disabilities. Generally, governments' policies are a means and mechanism for addressing the needs of citizens. Even in terms of disability, this existing policy and the new draft is a vehicle of sought-after change, which is the empowerment and inclusion of PwDs. Hence, the policy should consider the needs of the recipients and that it can meet those needs. The purpose of the current paper is to analyse the current policy as well as the recent draft policy, its strengths and weaknesses, and to identify areas that need attention.