In a promising step towards informed policymaking and raising awareness on the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in Uttar Pradesh, four impactful research findings by fellows of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP)-Javed Abidi Fellowship Program have been recently released.
NCPEDP-Javed Abidi fellowship is an initiative to promote research on disability and enrich the public discourse and a crucial step in nurturing young leaders committed to advancing disability rights.
“Our fellows have shown that data-driven advocacy and dedicated outreach can drive meaningful policy change and empower communities. Their work carries forward the inspiring legacy of Late Javed Abidi, honoring his vision of a world without barriers, where everyone has an equal chance to thrive”, said Arman Ali, Executive Director, NCPEDP.
Javid Khan, focusing on the inclusion of persons with disabilities (PwDs) in livelihood schemes in rural Jalaun, UP, uncovered critical gaps in employment data and accessibility to government support. His research highlights that many disabled persons are unaware of existing livelihood schemes, with only 10% having taken loans from government banks or received employment training.
"Policy reforms are needed to enhance inclusion in employment schemes like MGNREGA, NRLM, and PMKVY, with a focus on outreach and community mobilization to bridge the awareness gap. Capacity-building for local governance and NGOs is also essential to implement disability-inclusive livelihood programs,” he said.
Amit Kumar Yadav’s study on infrastructural accessibility in secondary and intermediate schools in Etah district sheds light on challenges faced by children with disabilities. His research evaluates the Accessible India Campaign and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, revealing low enrollment rates among children with disabilities - 3,117 in primary schools and only 62 in secondary schools.
Addressing the often-overlooked area of caregiver needs, Priya Srivastava’s research in Lucknow reveals significant gaps in caregiving services and the impact of caregiver shortages on disabled people.
Her findings show that 85 respondents reported challenges in accessing care, with mobility impairments most affected, followed by cerebral palsy and visual impairments.
Only 0.6% of caregivers were professionals, highlighting a heavy reliance on family members, primarily spouses, mothers, and daughters-in-law. “Implementing structured caregiver training programs is crucial to equip caregivers with skills needed to support individuals with complex disabilities,” Priya said. “A government-supported caregiver allowance is also vital to ease the financial burden on families, and public campaigns promoting caregiving as a profession are needed to relieve the pressure on women caregivers.”
Balram Ghoshal’s study addresses challenges faced by leprosy-affected individuals in Uttar Pradesh, examining their access to social security, healthcare, and the societal stigma they face.
