Disability rights body pushes for political quota for PwDs in legislatures

The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) has called for political reservation for persons with disabilities in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies , urging India to move beyond a welfare based approach and ensure genuine representation in law making institutions.

Arman Ali, Executive Director of the NCPEDP, said disability in India is still largely viewed through a welfare lens , focused on pensions, aids, appliances, and scholarships, rather than as an issue of equal rights and participation . He stressed that persons with disabilities continue to be excluded from decision making spaces , limiting their role in shaping policies that directly impact them.

“If disabled people are always an afterthought, things will not change unless we have a seat at the table ,” Ali said, adding that nation building must actively include the disabled community as equal participants.

The organisation has demanded either a separate reservation for persons with disabilities or their inclusion within existing reservation frameworks, including women’s reservation and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe quotas, along with proportional representation in legislatures. It has also called for reserved seats for PwDs in the Rajya Sabha.

Calling the present moment “historic,” Ali pointed to the proposed expansion of Lok Sabha seats through delimitation , saying it offers a rare chance to address long standing gaps in representation. “If not now, then when,” he said.

The NCPEDP has written to President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and leaders across political parties, urging inclusion of political rights of persons with disabilities within broader electoral reforms. National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People

The body noted that India has over 2.68 crore persons with disabilities as per the 2011 Census, though the actual number is believed to be higher. It said the lack of representation often results in disability issues being overlooked in policy making .

It added that with the proposed expansion of legislative seats, there is a timely