Sunil Singh
The year 2016 was a milestone for the disability rights movement in India. With the passing of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD Act), 2016, the nation made a constitutional and moral commitment to uphold the dignity, equality, and inclusion of its Divyangjan population. Yet, almost a decade later, the implementation of this progressive legislation in Jammu & Kashmir tells a far more discouraging story.
Despite numerous policy pronouncements and schemes, the ground reality for Divyangjans in J&K reflects a tale of administrative apathy, broken political promises, and deep-rooted systemic neglect. And this, unfortunately, continues even after the abrogation of Article 370, which was seen by many as an opportunity to bring all Central Laws including disability rights into full force in the region.
The Numbers That Speak Volumes and yet are ignored.
As per the 2011 Census, over 3.6 lakh persons in Jammu & Kashmir were living with one or more disabilities. That accounts for approximately 1.16% of the then-population. However, disability rights activists and local surveys point to a much higher number, especially from inaccessible districts and underserved tribal belts where disability often goes undocumented and unsupported.
Despite these numbers, the Government infrastructure, public policy execution, and welfare programs remain insufficient, inconsistent, and in many cases, absent altogether. It raises the urgent question:
Are Divyangjans in J&K being seen merely as statistical entries, or as citizens with rights guaranteed by law?
Post-370 Expectations and the Reality of Welfare
When Article 370 was abrogated in 2019, there was a chorus of assurances from the Centre and UT administration that it would ensure the extension of central schemes and laws to the people of Jammu & Kashmir. Indeed, it was after this political shift that the first formal pension of Rs 1,000/month for Divyangjans was introduced under central welfare guidelines.
However, the hopes of the disabled community were recently dashed. In the 2024 J&K Assembly elections, a major national party promised in its manifesto a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 for persons with disabilities a move hailed as long overdue and fair in the face of rising costs and economic vulnerability. But with the party failing to secure a majority, the new dispensation only increased the pension by a meagre Rs 250, raising it to Rs 1,250 a sum that remains grossly inadequate.
For a community struggling with mobility challenges, chronic health issues, and social isolation, ?1,250 a month is hardly sufficient to even cover basic medications, let alone transportation, therapy, or assistive devices. The manifesto promise remains unfulfilled, and with it, a community’s fragile hope for a dignified life.
Barriers in Access: Infrastructure and Employment
One of the strongest pillars of the RPwD Act is the mandate for accessibility in public buildings, education, employment, and transport. But in J&K, a walk or a roll through government offices or educational institutions quickly exposes the absence of ramps, tactile paths, signboards, or accessible toilets. Very few public buildings are compliant with accessibility norms, despite the law being clear and binding.
On the employment front, reservation quotas remain under-implemented, particularly in government recruitment drives. Skill development programs for Divyang youth are sporadic, rarely tailored to individual needs, and mostly absent in rural districts. As a result, most Divyangjans remain dependent on families or charitable organizations.
The private sector, too, has done little to accommodate or recruit Divyang persons. There are no policy incentives, monitoring mechanisms, or inclusion mandates being effectively implemented by the government to encourage equitable hiring practices.
Assistive Aids and CSR: A Missed Opportunity
Thousands of Divyangjans in J&K require mobility aids tricycles, wheelchairs, hearing aids, or motorized scooters to move about and live independently. While there are occasional NGO-led drives or individual efforts by philanthropists, the absence of state-sponsored or CSR-supported assistive device programs leaves a majority without any support.
The RPwD Act and national CSR guidelines both allow and encourage the use of corporate funds for disability welfare, but J&K has failed to mobilize these in a coordinated way. Banks, industrial units, and PSUs operating in the region must be approached by the administration to step in as part of their social responsibility.
A Community Deserving Policy
It is vital to state that Divyangjans in J&K are not seeking handouts or sympathy. They are demanding what is legally and morally theirs: the right to dignity, equal opportunity, and access to basic services. Welfare is not charity-it is a commitment rooted in the Constitution and affirmed by the Parliament.
It is time for the Jammu & Kashmir administration to form a Divyangjan Welfare Board, to conduct a fresh disability survey, and to deliver on both policy mandates and political promises. The silence around the needs of over three lakh citizens cannot be acceptable in a democracy.
Conclusion: Where Do We Go From Here?
A decade since the RPwD Act, and five years since Article 370’s abrogation, the Divyang community in J&K still waits for its rightful share of inclusion and attention. While manifesto promises are easy to print, the real test lies in their execution-and therein, the Government must not fail.
This is not just about disability it’s about the soul of inclusive governance. And as we talk of evelopment and progress, we must ask: Are we moving forward while leaving behind the very people who need our support the most?
The author is Saksham Jammu Kashmir National Organisation Working for Welfare of Divyangjans (Persons with disabilities)
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