Why there are so few persons with disabilities (PWDs) mainstreamed in our society? Why they are invisible even after being 2 per cent population in India? They are majorly missing in social, cultural and economic circles.

Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) recognizes the equal right of all persons with disabilities to live in the community, with choices equal to others, and shall take effective and appropriate measures to facilitate full enjoyment by persons with disabilities of this right and their full inclusion and participation in the community.

Disability traps individuals and families in poverty, which means they are more likely to be born disabled or gradually become disabled. Therefore, being inclusive and giving equal rights and opportunities to persons with disabilities is imperative to achieve the SDG of leaving no one behind.

Caritas India’s CBR programme has taken the challenge to mainstream persons with disability into our society. The programme is doing wonderful work under its social domain to bridge the socio-economic gap for the PWDs by ensuring personal assistance, marriage and family, culture and arts, recreation, leisure and sports including access to justice.

Ensuring personal assistance

In severe disabilities, PWD requires personal assistance to help them participate and include themselves in the community. While the immediate assistance comes from the family members, the CBR programme identifies local volunteers to provide this assistance as per the needs. It facilitates support for children with disabilities through the children’s support groups in schools as well as in their respective villages. Children without disabilities assist children with disabilities in their mobility, in performing daily life activities, participation in sports and games and in other recreational activities. Similarly, the members of mother’s groups assist persons with high support needs in the form of providing respite care to people with disabilities as needed and in giving moral and technical support to the families.

Relationships, marriage, and family

Often PWDs are denied their right to marriage and have their own families. Finding suitable matches and sustaining the relationship sometimes becomes a challenge. Caritas India CBR programmes, initiate the dialogue with the family members leading to some persons with disabilities getting married and maintaining good relationships. A few Organizations of Persons with Disabilities organize “Marriage Mela’ – an annual event to facilitate marriages amongst people with disabilities. Many state governments have introduced financial assistance to the newly married couple ensuring social security.

Recreation, leisure, and sports

Every person is gifted so are the PWDs who excel in certain sports and games. Special events were organized to encourage them to participate and enjoy such activities. There are many talented people having excellent skills in drawing, singing, and painting etc., They are also encouraged to participate in the social, cultural, and other recreational activities organized in the community. These efforts certainly boost the confidence of people with disabilities and promote their visibility in society as people having special abilities.

Access to justice

People with disabilities are quite often discriminated against for the right to property. Many a time, facilitate access to justice. CI CBR programmes sensitize the members of the self-groups of persons with disabilities, family members and other stakeholders on the legal provisions and the right to access justice.

Integration in the local programmes

PWDs participate actively in the celebration of World Environment Day organized by the local government and plant tree saplings across programme areas and further care for the saplings planted. Similarly, they keenly participate in the Swachch Bharath Abhiyan – the cleanliness drive organized on 2nd October every year keeping their surroundings clean and green. Their visibility and contributions are highlighted through these programmes.

PWDs are not objects of Charity but have the same rights and dignity as others. We need to challenge the mindset of millions of people to bring them into leadership and decision-making roles in our society to realise true development.

We need to keep in mind that disability does not discriminate but recognise that everyone is different in their abilities to enjoy their life to the fullest.