What Are The Expectations Of 80 Million Disabled Indians From 2019 Elections

With the ever-growing number of road accident cases, India has one of the biggest disabled population, anywhere in the world. According to some estimates, there are around 80 million people who are either born with disabilities or have become disabled due to accidents.?

But when it comes to providing basic amenities to the disabled community, India is way behind when compared to Europe and the US. Many believe that despite having such a large population, the disabled continue to be sidelined when it comes to policy making thus what they need often gets ignored.

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"India is still 'primitive' when it comes to providing accessibility to people on wheelchair. We don't have any education on how to deal with the needs of the disabled. This, unfortunately, is the case even in hospitals. Even in workplaces, the situation is not any better. Some companies do have a ramp on the sake of 'inclusiveness'. But the ramps are too steep, it is almost like trekking," Dr. Ketna Mehta, Founder Trustee of Nina Foundation, an NGO that works in the field of rehabilitation of disabled persons explained.

Providing accessibility, Dr. Mehta said is giving dignity to those living with disabilities, enabling them to live independently, without having to depend on someone in the family to accompany them every time they need to go somewhere.

Dr. Mehta, who herself has been confined to a wheelchair for nearly three decades said in India people are not even aware of how a wheelchair should be chosen.?

"Just think about buying footwear, we buy the best fit. Just like that, a wheelchair is an extension of an individual's body. In the west, there are Seating Clinics where an individual's body specifications like weight, height, the nature of the disability, which side of the body needs more support, etc are all taken into consideration before a wheelchair is prescribed. But in India, we are lagging far behind. We at Nina Foundation provide customized wheelchairs based on the individual's needs," she explained.?

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Virali Modi, another prominent disability rights activist said India should learn from countries like the US, where medical expenses of people with disabilities are covered under social security.?

Virali, who launched the #MyTrainToo campaign, in 2018, to make trains accessible for people on wheelchair said public facilities in India are not disabled friendly.?

"From public toilets to sidewalks, wheelchair accessible vehicles and wheelchair accessible uber cabs, these are some things that I have seen in the US. These are things that can be implemented in India without expensive infrastructure upgrades," she said.?

Virali who undertook a train journey to Kerala as part of her #MyTrainToo campaign said all it takes to make a railway station accessible is a portable ramp and isle-sized wheelchairs.?

Following her successful campaign and journey to Kerala last year, Virali said more than six railway stations and a few trains have been made disabled-friendly.??

"With my campaign, what we have been able to do was to demonstrate that making a public place 'disabled-friendly' doesn't always mean renovation. It can be done with minimal spending," she said.?

The 2019 Lok Sabha Elections is said to be the most disabled-friendly in history. The Election Commission is making all efforts to make all polling booths 'disabled friendly'.?

"As far as laws and policies for the disabled are concerned, I think, as citizens, we have to come together and raise our voice. Only when we have a collective voice, we can make it heard.? It is import to be visible as a community. Only then we can pinpoint and target those things you think is the most important," Virali said.

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Mehta, however, said in the political and policy front the parties have a lot of ground to cover when it comes to providing a better life to people with disabilities.?

"We are a community of 80 million people. We are tax paying citizens of this country, but all these years we have been given a second class treatment. I want all political parties in this country to specify in measurable terms, what they would be doing for people with disabilities. Do they even know the types of listed disabilities or about the pension given to people with disabilities? They must be made aware of all theses and made accountable," she said.?

Ms. Rima Pradhan and Viviana Mall in Thane celebrating their campaign #RespectWomenOnWheelchair at their event

While accepting that the current government has taken a number of steps towards inclusiveness, Dr Mehta said a lot more needs to be done by the next government, which should be carrying forward what the current government has done.??

"Whichever government comes next, should take forward the good steps this government has done for the disabled community. They should understand what the best practices are. We cannot create new things every time. They need to understand themselves about disability. Maybe one day they should go to the office on a wheelchair and feel for themselves, what it takes to live in this country with the disability," she said.