A report released by World Bank in collaboration with the ministry of social justice and empowerment revealed the extent of disability prevailing in India.
India has 60 million people living with one or the other form of disability. Among them, 48% of people have damaged vision, 28% possess mobility impairment, 14% are disabled mentally and 10% have disabilities in hearing and speech, as found by the report 'People with Disabilities in India: From Commitments to Outcomes'.
The actual figures could be more, as viewed by NGOs because 2011 census is year to be completed.
The National Trust, a statutory body under the ministry of social justice and empowerment initiated a pan-India campaign `Badhte Kadam' last month that tries motivating people to respond to the questions regarding disability. But, it was found that people were biased towards those queries.
"People generally don't mind telling you that their neighbor has a disabled member in the family, but will shy away to admit that one of their own members is differently abled", said Poonam Natarjan, Chairperson of the trust. She added that people felt it shameful and even the doctor treated such patients differently making them realize what they lack.
The need of the hour is to spread awareness so that disable people can avail benefits from policies implemented by the Government. The nation's almost 95% of disabled population remain deprive of education, employment and healthcare, as told by the NGO.
Also, the Government discriminates with disable people when providing them jobs and constructing public sector buildings apt for their movement.
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