New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) As Parliament prepares to deliberate on the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act proposing 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) on Tuesday called for a parallel push to ensure political reservation for persons with disabilities (PwDs).
Welcoming the Centre’s move to strengthen women’s political participation, NCPEDP said the ongoing reform moment presents a “historic opportunity” to address the persistent underrepresentation of PwDs in legislative bodies.
The organisation has written to the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker and leaders across political parties, urging that political reservation for PwDs be included within the broader electoral reform framework.
Arman Ali, Executive Director, NCPEDP, said that while the Women’s Reservation Bill is a transformative step, it must also open the door for broader inclusion.
He added that persons with disabilities remain significantly underrepresented in decision-making spaces and ensuring their participation is essential for a truly inclusive democracy.
Citing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, NCPEDP noted that “political barriers” are formally recognised, yet the absence of representation continues to result in disability concerns being overlooked in policymaking.
The organisation pointed out that India is home to one of the world’s largest populations of persons with disabilities. According to the 2011 Census, over 2.68 crore individuals were identified as PwDs, a figure widely considered an underestimation.
With updated data expected in the upcoming Census, the urgency for direct political representation has only grown.
NCPEDP also underlined that the proposed expansion of legislative seats offers a practical pathway to accommodate reservations for PwDs without impacting existing categories.
In recent years, the organisation has stepped up efforts to promote political participation among PwDs. During the 2024 General Elections, it launched a “Manifesto For and By Persons with Disabilities” and engaged with major political parties, with several recommendations receiving cross-party acknowledgement.
It has also facilitated dialogue through its MP Forum on Disability and initiatives such as “Empowering Inclusion” during Parliament sessions.
Highlighting precedents, NCPEDP said states like Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan have already implemented reservation for PwDs at the local level, demonstrating both feasibility and effectiveness.
The organisation urged Members of Parliament to take up the issue during the current session and work towards building a more inclusive and representative democracy.
–IANS
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