India's 2.2% population suffering from disability: NSO survey for July-Dec 2018

The overall percentage of persons with disabilities in the population was 2.2 percent from July 2018 to December 2018 in the country, showed a National Statistical Office (NSO) survey report on Saturday. The NSO, a wing of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, has conducted a Survey of Persons with Disabilities during July 2018 to December 2018 as a part of 76th round of National Sample Survey (NSS).

Before this, the survey on the same subject was carried out by the NSO during the 58th round (July-December 2002). "In India, the prevalence of disability (percentage of persons with disability in the population) was 2.2 percent - with 2.3 percent in rural and 2 percent in urban areas. Prevalence of disability was higher among males than females," it said.

Among males, the prevalence of disability was 2.4 percent, while it was 1.9 percent among females, it added. The main objective of the survey was to estimate indicators of incidence and prevalence of disability, cause, age at onset, facilities available to the persons with a disability, difficulties faced by them in accessing/using public building/public transport, the arrangement of regular caregiver, out-of-pocket expenses relating to disability, etc.

The present survey covered 1.18 lakh households across India. The survey said among persons with disabilities of age 7 years and above, 52.2 percent were literate.

"Among persons with disabilities of age 15 years and above, 19.3 percent had the highest educational level as secondary and above. Among persons with disabilities of age 3 to 35 years, 10.1 percent attended pre-school intervention program. Percentage of persons with disabilities of age 3 to 35 years, who were ever enrolled in an ordinary school, was 62.9 percent," it said. The percentage of persons with disabilities living alone was 3.7 percent, while 62.1 percent had a caregiver. About 21.8 percent had received aid/help from the government, and another 1.8 percent had received aid/help from organizations other than the government.

About 28.8 percent reported that they had a certificate of disability. Among persons with disabilities of age 15 years and above, Labour Force Participation Rate in usual status (ps+ss) was 23.8 percent, the survey said adding that for those aged 15 years and above, it was 22.8 percent.

"Among persons with disabilities of age 15 years and above, Unemployment Rate in usual status (ps+ss) was 4.2 percent," it added.

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