Q14.The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 remains only a legal document without intense sensitisation of government functionaries and citizens regarding disability. Comment.

The RPwD Act, 2016, aims for inclusion and equality for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). However, its legal strength is often undermined by inadequate sensitisation among government functionaries and citizens, hindering effective implementation.

Challenges & Impact

Societal stigma, insufficient training for government officials, and limited public awareness campaigns create significant attitudinal and infrastructural barriers. This results in PwDs facing continued discrimination in education, employment, and accessibility, despite legal provisions.

Measures for Sensitisation

Effective implementation requires comprehensive training for civil servants, sustained mass media campaigns, curriculum integration on disability rights, and active NGO involvement. This fosters a crucial shift from a charity-based to a rights-based approach.

Intense sensitisation is paramount to translate the RPwD Act's legal provisions into a lived reality, ensuring genuine inclusion and equal opportunities for PwDs.