CJI Chandrachud Highlights Evolving Perspectives on Disability in India

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud highlighted significant shifts in how disability is perceived and addressed. Speaking at the India Accessibility Summit, he noted the contributions of training academies, public meetings, policy think-tanks, and private entities. However, he stressed the need for better statistics and improved workplace conditions for persons with disabilities.

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Saturday underscored a significant shift in perceptions towards disability.

Speaking during the inaugural session of the India Accessibility Summit and State Disability Commissioners' Conclave in Bengaluru, he pointed to how training, public meetings, and policy-making have transformed the approach towards disability. Training academies now include disability sensitization modules, and state commissioners are organizing public meetings to enhance service delivery and shape policies based on lived experiences.

Justice Chandrachud also highlighted the contributions of institutions like the Centre for Disability Studies at NALSAR, Hyderabad, policy think-tanks such as CLPR, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policies, NGOs, and other entities in promoting accessibility. He mentioned the pivotal role private corporate entities play through research grants, CSR contributions, and inclusive hiring practices.

However, he emphasized that considerable work remains to be done to achieve true accessibility, autonomy, and equal participation for persons with disabilities. Accurate statistics, disaggregated by gender, urban-rural divide, and types of disabilities, are crucial. While the employment of persons with disabilities is increasing, workplace conditions are improving slowly, he noted. Moreover, technological solutions often remain prohibitively expensive and inaccessible. He called for honest communication to address these challenges, especially in the context of the roughly 20 crore people living with psychosocial disabilities in India.