By George

The past 10 years have seen the disability sector cover a lot of ground-beginning with the Persons With Disability Act 1995, the inclusion of disability in the National Census 2001 and the Election Commission recognising the need for making polling booths accessible. It is indeed heartening to see the Planning Commission including a number of persons with disabilities as part of the Working Group and the Steering Committee for social development that is drafting the 11th Five Year Plan. This definitely augurs well for persons with disabilities and is in line with the adage, 'nothing about us, without us'.

I think the next step is that persons with disabilities should be included in all aspects of national planning, since an inclusive society calls for the total participation of persons with disabilities at all levels of societal life. The involvement of persons with disabilities in the planning of policies would ensure that persons with disabilities along with their special needs are recognised and accommodated in all walks of life, be it agriculture, industries, education, rural development or sport.

Let's hope that by the time the country is ready for the 12th Five Year Plan, persons with disabilities would be part of all working groups and steering committees that would be working on that Plan. This would certainly accelerate the process of total inclusion.

Image of George Abraham's signature

George Abraham
Editor, beyond the I

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