Mains Marathon 2024

Approach Briefly introduce the significance of the Supreme Court's guidelines in combating stereotyping and discrimination against PwDs in visual media. Highlight the Major Challenges faced by PwDs in India Suggest Measures to Empower Persons with Disabilities in India. Conclude Suitably.

Introduction

As per Census 2011, the number of Persons with Disabilities in the country is 2.68 crore , which is 2.21% of the total population of the country. Recently,the Supreme Court of India has issued landmark guidelines to prevent stereotyping and discrimination against persons with disabilities(PwDs) in visual media.

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Recent Supreme Court Guidelines to Prevent Stigmatisation and Discrimination :

• Language Use: The framework emphasizes avoiding words like "cripple" and "spastic" which cultivate institutional discrimination and contribute to negative self-image.
• Stereotyping: It calls for an end to stereotyping differently abled persons in visual media and films, urging creators to provide accurate representations rather than mocking disabilities.
• Inclusive Language: Terms that individualize the impairment and overlook social barriers, such as "afflicted," "suffering," and "victim," should be avoided.
• Inclusive Collaboration: The principle of "nothing about us, without us" is highlighted, encouraging the involvement of persons with disabilities in creating and assessing visual media content.

The Major Challenges faced by PwDs in India :

• Inaccessible Infrastructure: Infrastructure remains largely inaccessible to PwDs. Public spaces, transportation, and even many private buildings lack proper ramps, elevators, or tactile paving.
  • According to a 2018 report by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, only 3% of buildings in India were found to be fully accessible.
  • This architectural apartheid significantly limits the mobility and independence of PwDs.
• Educational Exclusion: Despite the Right to Education Act, many PwDs face barriers in accessing quality education. The lack of inclusive schools, trained teachers, and assistive technologies creates a knowledge gap.
  • Approximately 45% of disabled people are illiterate, and only 62.9% of disabled people aged 3 to 35 have ever attended regular schools
• The Glass Ceiling of Prejudice: PwDs face significant challenges in securing meaningful employment. Workplace discrimination, lack of reasonable accommodations, and societal prejudices create a glass ceiling.
  • India has almost 3 crore people with disability (PwD) of which around 1.3 crore is employable but only 34 lakh of them have been employed.
• Healthcare Hurdles: Accessing appropriate healthcare remains a significant challenge for PwDs. Many healthcare facilities lack disability-friendly equipment or trained staff to handle specific needs.
  • The Covid-19 pandemic further exposed these vulnerabilities, with PwDs facing increased risks and reduced access to essential services.
• The Invisible Chains of Social Stigma: Deep-rooted social stigma and misconceptions about disabilities continue to marginalize PwDs.
  • They often face discrimination, exclusion from social activities, and even violence.
  • This social ostracism impacts mental health and overall quality of life.
• Digital Divide: As India rapidly digitalizes, many PwDs are being left behind due to inaccessible digital platforms and technologies.Websites, apps, and digital services often lack features like screen readers or closed captions.
  • A 2020 report by the 2020 Web Accessibility Annual Report found that 98% of websites fail to comply with accessibility requirements for People With Disability
• Legal and Policy Implementation Gap: While India has progressive laws like the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, implementation remains a major challenge.
  • Many provisions remain on paper, creating a "paper tiger" syndrome.
  • For instance, a 2019 report by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities revealed that only 23 out of 35 states/UTs had constituted State Advisory Boards on disability, as mandated by the Act.

Measures to Empower Persons with Disabilities in India :

• Disabled-Friendly Infrastructure: Upgrade public infrastructure to be disability-friendly, including clearly demarcated ramps, tactile paths, accessible public transportation, and adaptive technology in workplaces.
  • Implement strict guidelines to make school, hospitals, and digital services easily accessible to all.
• Increased Research and Development in Artificial Limbs: To enhance the quality of life for persons with disabilities in India, increasing research and development (R&D) in prosthetics is crucial.
  • This can be achieved by boosting funding from both government and private sectors dedicated to innovation in prosthetics.
  • Establishing specialized national and regional prosthetic research centers will provide a focused environment for cutting-edge developments.
• Clear Identification of PwDs: A crucial step forward in ensuring that only genuine persons with disabilities (PwDs) receive benefits is the implementation of a stringent identification and verification system.
  • This can be achieved by creating a centralized digital database that records and verifies disability certifications through biometric authentication and regular audits.
  • Regularly updating and cross-checking this database with other government records will help identify and eliminate cases of false claims.
• Changing Perceptions about PwDs: Shift societal attitudes by promoting the use of empowering terms such as "Divyang" instead of "Viklang" (disabled).
  • Highlight the abilities and achievements of PwDs through media, arts, and public platforms to foster a more inclusive and respectful society.
  • Badhte Kadam initiative is a significant step in this direction.
• AI-Powered Accessibility Audits: Implement AI-driven accessibility audits in urban planning.
  • Use machine learning algorithms to analyze city infrastructure, identifying accessibility gaps in real-time.
  • This could involve deploying sensor networks and computer vision systems to map out accessible routes, detect obstacles, and suggest improvements.
    • Such a system could continuously update, providing dynamic accessibility information to both city planners and PwDs.
• Universal Design Innovation Hub: Establish a national Universal Design Innovation Hub, bringing together designers, engineers, PwDs, and policymakers.
  • This hub could focus on developing and scaling up innovative, cost-effective universal design solutions for products, services, and infrastructure.
  • It could also serve as a testing ground for new accessibility technologies before wider implementation.
• Gig Economy Inclusion Initiative: Create a dedicated platform within existing gig economy apps that caters specifically to PwDs, offering flexible, skill-matched job opportunities
  • This could include features like sign language support, and AI-assisted task matching.
  • Partnering with major gig economy players could rapidly scale this initiative.
• Disability-Inclusive Disaster Management System: Create a comprehensive, tech-driven disaster management system that specifically addresses the needs of PwDs.
  • This could include real-time accessible emergency alerts, GPS-tracked evacuation assistance, and a database of PwDs' locations and specific needs for first responders.
• Adaptive Sports Technology Hub: Establish a national Adaptive Sports Technology Hub to develop cutting-edge assistive technologies for para-athletes.
  • This could include AI-powered prosthetics, smart wheelchairs, and VR training systems.
  • With India's growing focus on sports, this initiative could boost para-sports participation and performance, while also generating innovations applicable to everyday life for PwDs.
• Inclusive Digital Governance Platforms: Redesign e-governance platforms with a focus on universal accessibility.
  • This would involve creating multimodal interfaces (voice, text, video) for all government services, ensuring compatibility with various assistive technologies, and providing real-time sign language interpretation for video-based services.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court's guidelines represent a pivotal moment in the journey towards inclusivity for persons with disabilities in India. However, to truly transform this vision into reality, we must collectively commit to dismantling the barriers that perpetuate exclusion. A society that embraces its diversity is one that thrives, and by integrating PwDs into the mainstream, we unlock a wealth of talent, innovation, and creativity.