Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: As the special session for the discussion of the Women’s Reservation bill nears, the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) has called for political reservation for persons with disabilities as Parliament prepares to deliberate on the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, which proposes 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.Describing the proposed legislation as a significant step toward enhancing women’s political participation, the organisation said it also presents an opportunity to address the underrepresentation of persons with disabilities in legislative bodies.NCPEDP has written to the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, and leaders across political parties, urging them to consider political reservation for persons with disabilities within the broader framework of electoral reforms.“While the Women’s Reservation Bill is a transformative step, it must also open the door for broader inclusion. Persons with disabilities remain significantly underrepresented in decision-making spaces. Ensuring their participation is essential for a truly inclusive democracy,” said Arman Ali, Executive Director, NCPEDP.The organisation pointed out that “political barriers” are explicitly recognised under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and said the lack of representation often results in disability-related concerns being overlooked in policymaking.The letter also noted that the proposed increase in the number of legislative seats could create space for such inclusion without affecting existing reservation categories.“India is home to one of the largest populations of persons with disabilities. As per the 2011 Census, over 2.68 crore individuals were identified as persons with disabilities, a number widely considered an underestimation. With updated data expected in the upcoming Census, the need for direct political representation has become increasingly urgent,” Ali said.NCPEDP highlighted its efforts to promote political participation among persons with disabilities, including the development of a “Manifesto For and By Persons with Disabilities” during the 2024 General Elections, which involved consultations across the country and engagement with major political parties.The organisation also cited initiatives such as its MP forum on disability and dialogue platforms like “Empowering Inclusion” aimed at strengthening discussions on disability inclusion during Parliament sessions.It further noted that states such as Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan have implemented political reservation for persons with disabilities at the local level.NCPEDP has urged Members of Parliament to raise the issue during the ongoing session and consider integrating such provisions into electoral reforms, stating that increased representation would contribute to a more inclusive and participatory democracy.Parliament is scheduled to convene from April 16 to 18 to take up the Bill, which also includes an expansion of seats.
