News

Volume 8 Issue 3 - February 01, 2011

U.P. Consultation on Census 2011 & Disability

D.N.I.S. News Network, India: Urging disabled people to make themselves count in the Census of 2011, speakers at the U.P. State Consultation on Census 2011 and Disability said that headcount of people with disabilities would definitely make a positive difference. The consultation was organised in Lucknow on January 19 by National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (N.C.P.E.D.P.) in association with S.P.A.R.C. India.

“It is for the first time in India, that people with multiple disabilities will be a part of Census 2011. The census will not only include the well known disabilities like blind, deaf, orthopaedically disabled, etc but will also recognise disabilities like dyslexia and autism under the ‘Any other’ category. Thus, for the time mental retardation and mental illness will be counted as two separate categories,” said Javed Abidi, Honorary Director of N.C.P.E.D.P.

The U.P. Consultation focussed on the following issues: The question on disability, awareness within the disability sector and amongst disabled people and families, training and sensitization of enumerators, advocacy with the State Government, Media, P.S.U.s and all others.

According to Census 2001, the total number of disabled people in India was 2.1 per cent of the total population. However, as per U.N., around 10 per cent of the Indian population was disabled. “There is a huge gap between the two data, which means that a large number of the disabled are yet to be counted. But many people try to hide the disability because of stigma. We urge them to come out and get themselves counted,” said Amitabh Mehrotra, Founder of S.P.A.R.C. India.