Poised For Change FIRST COUNTRY REPORT OF

Submitted in pursuance of Article 35 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)

Government of India Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment New Delhi TABLE OF CONTENT

ABBREVIATIONS ...... vi GLOSSARY ...... ix TABLES ...... ix FIGURES ...... x BOXES ...... x I: COMMON CORE DOCUMENT ...... XI II. Constitutional, Political and Legal Framework ...... xii III. Rights Regime ...... xiv IV. General Framework for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights ...... xvii STRUCTURE, METHODOLOGY AND TERMINOLOGY ...... 1 Definition of Person with Disability...... 2 II. Definitions ...... 5 III. General Principles ...... 6 IV. State Obligations ...... 6 Findings ...... 15 Future Plan of Action ...... 15 ARTICLE 5 – EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION ...... 15 I. Constitutional Mandate of Equality as applicable to Disability Rights ...... 15 II. Human Rights Conventions and Constitutional Jurisprudence ...... 16 III. Affirmative Action Measures ...... 16 IV. Equality and Non Discrimination in the Extant Disability Legislation ...... 16 V. Barriers to Non Discrimination ...... 17 Findings ...... 17 Future Plan of Action ...... 18 ARTICLE 6-WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES ...... 18 I. Constitutional Provisions ...... 18 II. The Status of Women with Disabilities in India: A Demographic Profile ...... 18 III. Policies Plans and Laws for Women with Disabilities ...... 18 Findings ...... 20 Future Plan of Action ...... 20 ARTICLE 7 CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES ...... 21 I. Constitutional Recognition to Rights of Children ...... 21 II. Ratification of CRC and Evolving Capacity of Child...... 21 III. Principles Informing Child Rights Policy ...... 21 IV. PWDA Provisions ...... 22 V. Enactments for Care and Protection of Children ...... 23 VI. Monitoring of Child Rights ...... 23 VII. Induction of Children with Disabilities in Child Protection Schemes and Programmes ...... 24 VIII. Equality of Treatment in Schemes and Programmes ...... 24 Findings ...... 25 Future Plan of Action ...... 25 ARTICLE 8 AWARENESS RAISING ...... 25 I. Statutory obligations under the PWDA and NTA ...... 25 II. Campaigns ...... 25 IV. Awareness Raising Programmes ...... 26 IV. Event and Celebrations ...... 26 IV. Awards ...... 26 Findings ...... 28 Future Plan of Action ...... 28 ARTICLE 9 – ACCESSIBILITY ...... 28 I. Constitutional and Legislative Recognition of Accessibility ...... 28 II. Ensuring Accessibility of Physical Environment ...... 29 III. Other Administrative Initiatives ...... 29 IV. Web Accessibility ...... 30 V. Judicial Interventions for Accessibility ...... 31 Findings ...... 31 Future Plan of Action ...... 31 I. Constitutional Provisions ...... 32 II. Right to Life and Pre-Convention Disability Related Laws ...... 32 III. Adjudication on the Right to Life for Persons with Disabilities ...... 32 Findings ...... 33 Future Plan of Action ...... 33 I. Legal and Institutional Mechanism on Disaster Management in India ...... 33 II. Policies and Schemes on Disaster Management in India ...... 34 III. Policy Implementation Strategy – Operationalizing the Norm ...... 36 IV. Non Governmental Initiatives ...... 37 Findings ...... 37 Future Plan of Action ...... 37 ARTICLE 12 - EQUAL RECOGNITION BEFORE THE LAW ...... 38 I. Legal Capacity and the Indian Constitution ...... 38 II. Legislations on Legal Capacity...... 38 III. Reforming Existing Legislations ...... 40 IV. Duty to Provide Support ...... 40 Findings ...... 40 Future Plan of Action ...... 41 ARTICLE 13 - ACCESS TO JUSTICE ...... 41 I. CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES ON ACCESS TO JUSTICE ...... 41 II. Effective Access to Justice ...... 41 III. Sensitization Courses in Judicial Academies ...... 42 IV. Procedural Accommodation in Legal Process ...... 42 V. Grievance Redress in Other than Courts ...... 42 Findings ...... 44 Future Plan of Action ...... 45 ARTICLE 14 – LIBERTY AND SECURITY OF PERSON ...... 45 I. Liberty under the Constitution ...... 45 II. Adjudication on the Rig