New Delhi, Mar 17: Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, described the upcoming Census 2027—the first after the enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016—as a historic opportunity to recognise all 21 categories of disabilities through trained enumeration and improved data collection. Speaking at the launch of India’s first handbook on disability for parliamentarians, Beyond the Visible: A Handbook on Disability Inclusion for Parliamentarians, prepared by the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), Athawale emphasised that accurate, disaggregated data will allow for targeted and effective interventions for persons with disabilities nationwide.

The event featured a high-level panel on inclusive health coverage and political participation, attended by MPs ET Mohammed Basheer, Eatala Rajender, Dr Fauzia Khan, and other dignitaries. Arman Ali, Executive Director of NCPEDP, said the handbook will help Parliamentarians break barriers faced by persons with disabilities and translate the RPwD Act into actionable legislation.
Athawale praised the efforts of NCPEDP, the National Disability Network, and Bajaj Finserv CSR for producing the handbook, calling it a valuable guide to strengthen inclusive policymaking. He highlighted the government’s initiatives under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including the Accessible India Campaign, Unique Disability ID (UDID) portal, PM-DAKSH skill development programmes, and focused efforts under Ayushman Bharat, which aim to mainstream persons with disabilities in national development.
Ali noted that over 80% of persons with disabilities currently lack health insurance due to high premiums, exclusion of disability-specific treatments, and denial of coverage. He urged that schemes like Ayushman Bharat provide comprehensive, lifelong support, including assistive devices, rehabilitation, and disability-specific care.
Athawale stated that the handbook and the roundtable discussions will further mainstream disability rights in Parliament and public life, marking an important milestone in India’s journey toward an inclusive and Viksit Bharat. Reaffirming the government’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas,” he assured that no citizen will be left behind.
Jebi Mather, MP, Rajya Sabha, remarked, “This handbook will go a long way in sensitizing us towards the language we use for persons with disabilities and guide us in raising relevant questions during Zero Hour.”