3rd December, 2007

International Day of Disabled Persons is observed on 3rd December every year. The initiative underlining the theme of ‘Decent work for persons with disabilities’ seeks to widen the grasp of disability issues, champion the rights of disabled people, and enable equal employment opportunities to help them live a life of dignity.

Talking of human rights issues of disabled people, a recent case of discrimination meted out to a disabled individual in India, has attracted much public ire.

Just a couple of months back, Rajiv Rajan, a 34 year old NGO employee ailing from Multiple sclerosis, was not allowed to board a Jetlite (erstwhile AIR Sahara) flight in the absence of an escort. Rajiv Rajan had to face public humiliation and wait for long hours after being disallowed to board the domestic flight.

Incidentally, Mr. Rajiv Rajan was a frequent flyer and had not witnessed any such incidents in the past. He was on his way to attend a meeting of the national trust which works for the cause of the disabled people. Though the airline tendered an apology to Rajiv Rajan, following a nation wide stir, the emotional scar of the event on the victim may not heal in a long time to come.

This is not an uncommon phenomenon. Most often, the disabled have to contend with many forms of physical and social barriers along with their disability which restricts their complete participation in society.

Statistics More than 500 million people in the world are disabled According to the Census, 21 million disabled people exist in India. In reality, the figures could be anywhere between 40-90 million. More than 20 per cent of the poorest in the world are disabled Nearly 90% of the disabled children in developing nations do not go to school

Types of Disabilities

Disabilities could be Physical, Acquired or Developmental in nature.

Disabilities which are generally apparent at birth or in the immediate period following birth normally manifest as physical disabilities.

For instance – Spina bifida, Cerebral Palsy are apparent during birth and are life long physical disabilities. This form of disability hampers their physical mobility.

Acquired disabilities can strike at any time irrespective of age, race or gender. Accidents, injuries, Alzheimer’s disease, Multiple sclerosis are some of the examples of acquired disabilities. These could hamper their physical abilities or lay siege on their mental faculties.

Developmental Disabilities are abnormalities manifesting at birth which hamper the development and growth of an individual. Mental retardation, Down’s syndrome, visual impairment, hearing impairment could be some of the examples of developmental disabilities.

World Programme of Action

A recent World Bank report has revealed that disabled people are the most segregated in Indian society. Pity, bias and stigma against the disabled prevail, as revealed by a survey, where more than 50% of households felt that disability is a ‘curse from God’.