Rural

When it comes to concerns of disabled citizens in rural India, some very basic needs emerge that might otherwise be taken for granted – even one complete meal for all members of the family in a day is often not guaranteed. Poverty and disability form a vicious circle, with malnutrition, a lack of access to clean drinking water or medical health causing the disability and the disability being exacerbated by poverty.

The voices of disabled citizens in rural areas seldom reach policy makers. Disability and development continues to follow a top-to-bottom approach. People with disabilities are seen as recipients of charity and not as contributors to the nation’s development. The election process needs to include disabled people; not only being ensuring that they are able to vote, but also to stand for elections at all levels.

Baseline Report

The Baseline Report on People with Disabilities in Rural India attempts to list out the various schemes that impact people with disabilities in rural areas, the various budgetary allocations and reported utilisations and make preliminary recommendations for further discussion/analysis.

Related Sections of the UNCRPD

The issues of people with disabilities in rural areas is a cross-cutting issue, and almost all the articles of the UNCRPD are relevant.