Tharoor calls for urgent reforms to include disabled people in the mainstream

New Delhi: Advocating for urgent steps to ensure inclusion of disabled people in the mainstream, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday called for overhauling of the conventional paradigm so that the legislative framework does not look like relics of a bygone era.

Pointing to gaps in policies, and seeking urgent steps to ensure budget allocations are adequately spent, Tharoor said that it is incumbent upon us to reconceptualise disability inclusion not merely as a social imperative but as an economic and political necessity.

Speaking at an event, 'Empowering Inclusion: A Dialogue on Disability, Politics and Economic Inclusion' organised by National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), Tharoor gave a clarion call to "work collaboratively towards a future where the principles of equality, dignity and inclusion are not mere aspirations but lived realities".

"While our legal edifice recognises 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 under-represented in governance, sidelined in policy deliberations, and overlooked in budgetary allocations,” he said.

Rajya Sabha MP Dr Fouzia Khan highlighted the urgent need to streamline data on disability.

"In 2025 census, we should have a separate segment for disabled people. In the absence of accurate data, resource allocation and effective policy intervention becomes a big hurdle," Khan said.

BJP MP Pratap Sarangi called for creation of a more humane and equitable society. He said the disabled needs empathy to be able to realise their true potential and join the social and economic mainstream.

Former Maharashtra MLA and Prahar Janshakti Party founder Bachchu Kadu highlighted the need to streamline budgetary allocations and ensure their judicious use so that the benefits reach the rightful.

Citing Maharashtra's example, he said that out of a total budget of Rs 25,000 crore, a mere Rs 1,400 crore is spent on disability.

"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," he said.

Highlighting the government's role, Praveen Prakash Ambastha, Deputy Chief Commissioner for People with Disabilities and Chief Vigilance Officer, Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities spelt out a series of initiatives for the disabled, and said there is a need to work collaboratively, asking all stakeholders to join forces.

Members of the disability advocacy groups in the gathering urged the Parliamentarians 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 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.

“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,” said Arman Ali, Executive Director of NCPEDP.