Landscape of Employment Opportunities and Sustenance for Persons with Disabilities in India

Employment is essential for personal dignity, social stability, and economic prosperity, as every citizen has the right to work, irrespective of physical or social constraints.Ensuring equitable opportunity for all is an integral priority of any nation towards its population.According to the 2011 Census, the number of persons with disabilities (PwDs) in the country is 26.8 million, constituting 2.21 per cent of the overall population.Skill, however, maybe deciphered to bring off a marked task with competence or garner adroitness in a particular sphere or stream.Census 2011 indicates that around 13.4 million PwDs are between the employable age range of 15 to 59 years.This paper thus analyses current organisations, schemes, and programs pertaining to employment prospects for PwDs, encompassing an examination of available provisions, beneficiary access, and a comprehensive report on Budget allocation patterns for different sectors.This study adopts a descriptive survey to examine existing policies, programs, and schemes concerning employment for PwDs.The findings of the study indicate that employment opportunities, skill development missions, and assistance of resources have made an effort to thrive both economically and sociologically.PwDs in India,particularly in Mizoram, have escalated over the past decade, yet access to these initiatives remains limited, as indicated by the study.Moreover, since PwDs have a significant role in shaping the nation's economy, raising awareness and outreach becomes paramount to increase the number of beneficiaries to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 & Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)-4, 8 & 10, which recognise the economic empowerment of people, including PwDs.