*Leaving No One Behind: Strategies for Disability Inclusion in India* Authors: Sunaina Kumar | Shoba Suri | Oommen C. Kurian | Observer Research Foundation | December 2024 "An estimated 1.3 billion people, or 16 percent of the global population, live with disabilities, constituting the world’s largest minority group. Disability rates are higher among vulnerable populations, with 80 percent of persons with disabilities (PwDs) living in developing countries, where poverty, gender inequities, and the challenges of ageing further increase prevalence. The goal of ensuring full and effective participation of PwDs in society was first enunciated under the World Programme of Action (WPA) Concerning Disabled Persons, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1982. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), adopted in 2006, has now been ratified by over 150 nations. India was among the first countries to sign the Convention in 2007. Estimates on the prevalence of disability in India vary. Government data puts the figure at 21 million, or over 2 percent of the population. However, a World Bank report from 2009 suggests that this is an underestimate, indicating that 55 to 90 million people—5 percent to 8 percent of the population—live with disabilities. As in many other countries, persons with disabilities in India have historically faced marginalisation and exclusion. In 2016, India introduced the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, expanding the recognised categories of disabilities from seven to 21 to include physical, visible, invisible, and cognitive conditions. The Act marked a critical shift for ensuring that PwDs can live with dignity, without discrimination, and with equal opportunities. Disability inclusion is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2030 Agenda, embedded in the principle of “leaving no one behind”, has key indicators to ensure the inclusion of PwDs. In 2023, the theme for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)[a] was “United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with and by persons with disabilities”. Indeed, reports indicate the world is off-track in meeting most SDGs for PwDs. To commemorate IDPD that year, Observer Research Foundation, in collaboration with the ChangeInkk Foundation, hosted a day-long event in New Delhi, titled, “Empowering People with Disabilities: Innovations and Policies for Inclusion”. The panel discussions held during that day focused on three key themes: 1. Championing disability inclusion to position India as a growth and innovation powerhouse. 2. Legal and policy frameworks to promote the inclusion of individuals with 3. Assistive technology to unlock opportunities for individuals with The discussions covered critical gaps and enablers in policy and legal frameworks to empower PwDs, the role of the private sector in promoting innovation and inclusion, and the role of technology in harnessing the potential of PwDs. Participants underlined the need for addressing attitudes and mindsets, alongside fostering greater awareness and understanding of disability-related issues." https://www.orfonline.org/research/leaving-no-one-behind-strategies-for-disability-inclusion-in-india