Empowering Inclusion: A Dialogue on Disability, Politics and Economic Justice

Our legislative framework on disability should not resemble like relics of bygone era: Shashi Tharoor

NCPEDP holds a discussion with MPs to highlight necessity of policy inclusion
New Delhi, March 11, 2025: Advocating for urgent steps to ensure inclusion of disabled people into the mainstream, Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday called for overhauling of the conventional paradigm saying that our legislative framework should not look like relics of a bygone era. Pointing to gaps in policies, and seeking urgent steps to ensure budgets allocated are adequately spent, Tharoor said that that it is incumbent upon us to reconceptualize disability inclusion not merely as a social imperative but as an economic and political necessity. He also gave a clarion call to "change conventional paradigms and work collaboratively toward a future where the principles of equality, dignity, and inclusion are not mere aspirations but lived realities."

Tharoor, while delivering the keynote address at 'Empowering Inclusion: A Dialogue on Disability, Politics and Economic Inclusion' organised by National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), further said, "While our legal edifice recognizes disability as a critical dimension of human identity, the implementation of these rights has not kept pace with the nation's aspirations. In our contemporary socio-political milieu, persons with disabilities are still underrepresented in governance, sidelined in policy deliberations, and overlooked in budgetary allocations."
Dr Fouzia Khan, MP of Rajya Sabha, while highlighting the urgent needs for streamline data on disability, saying, "In 2025 census we should have a separate segment for disabled people. In the absence of accurate data the resource allocation and effective policy intervention becomes a big hurdle."
Former Maharashtra MLA and founder of Prahar Janshakti Party Bachchu Kadu, highlighted the need to streamline budgetary allocations and ensure their judicious use to reach the benefits to the disabled people. Citing example of Maharashtra, he said out of a total budget of Rs 25,000 cr a mere Rs 1400 cr is spent on disability, he said, "Ensuring the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities requires more than just philanthropy - it demands concrete policy action, substantial budget allocation, and stringent implementation. While Maharashtra has taken big steps towards inclusion, the challenges remain vast. From inadequate funding to inaccessible education and technology, we must move beyond token measures and commit to systemic change. Only then can we build a truly inclusive and empowered society for all."

MP Pratap Sarangi called for creating a more humane and equitable society and asking for empathy for the disabled to be able to realize their true potential and mainstream them into our social and economic fabric.
Highlighting the role of the Government of India, Praveen Prakash Ambastha, Dy. Chief Commissioner for PwD & Chief Vigilance Officer, CCPD spelt out a series of initiatives for the disabled, and said that there is a need to work collaboratively, asking all stakeholders to join forces.

Members of the disability advocacy groups urged the Parliamentarians that there is merit in considering the need to move beyond token representation and ensure robust legal and policy frameworks for disability inclusion. They argued that despite the existence of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, systemic gaps in implementation and budgetary neglect continue to widen inequalities, and in this backdrop disability rights cannot remain an afterthought in policymaking. The disability advocates called for making it a legislative priority.
Arman Ali, Executive Director of NCPEDP, reflected the urgency of the issue, stating, "For far too long, disability has been invisible in India's policy discourse. We need to break this cycle of exclusion and build a future where persons with disabilities are not just seen from the prism of welfare, but are active contributors and decision-makers. Political and economic inclusion for persons with disabilities is not just a necessity - it is a constitutional and moral imperative."
The dialogue served as a clarion call for policymakers, media, and civil society to demand tangible action beyond empty promises. With disability inclusion at a crossroads, NCPEDP remains committed to ensuring that disability is recognized not as a charitable concern, but as a fundamental issue of governance, policy, and justice.

For media inquiries, please contact:
anjali_rai@ncpedp.org

NCPEDP
E-150, Ground Floor, East of Kailash, Kailash Colony, New Delhi 110065
Anjali Rai, anjali_rai@ncpedp.org

National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) is a cross-disability non-profit organisation working with a range of stakeholders; to advocate for the rights of persons with disability along with encouraging their employment; increasing public awareness; creating and disseminating knowledge, information, and opportunities; and working towards easy and convenient access to all public places, products, services, and technologies.

This release was published on openPR.