In July 2024, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud spoke at the India Accessibility Summit and State Disability Commissioners’ Conclave in Bengaluru.
He highlighted a major shift in how disabilities are viewed in India.
Training, public meetings, and policy-making have contributed to this change.
Justice Chandrachud explained that administrative officers now have disability sensitization modules in their training programs.
State commissioners in some areas also organize public meetings.
These meetings aim to improve services and inform policies based on the real experiences of disabled individuals.
He mentioned institutions like the Centre for Disability Studies at NALSAR and think-tanks like CLPR and Vidhi Centre for Legal Policies.
These organizations, along with NGOs, are working to improve the understanding of accessibility challenges.
Private companies have also taken steps to promote inclusion through research, CSR efforts, and hiring practices.
Despite this progress, Justice Chandrachud said there is still a long way to go.
Full accessibility, autonomy, and equal participation for disabled persons have not yet been achieved.
He stressed the need for accurate data on disabilities, including information on gender, urban-rural divides, and different types of disabilities.
While more organizations are hiring disabled people, workplace conditions are slow to improve.
Technological solutions remain expensive and often inaccessible to those who need them most.
Justice Chandrachud pointed out that India is not ready to meet the needs of the approximate 20 crore people living with psychosocial disabilities.
Honest communication about these needs is key to finding effective solutions.
This case study shows India’s evolving approach to disabilities but also highlights the need for further progress in creating an inclusive society.
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