Indian Statistics

How many Indians are disabled ?

 

The most recent Census of India (2001) conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) points to a disability percentage of 2.13% putting the number of PWDs at 2.19 crore. However, these figures are extremely conservative and the office of Chief Commmissioner for persons with Disabilities (CCD) estimates that about 5% of the Indian population is disabled.

 
As per National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), the total number of disabled in the country is approximately 7.5 crores out of which only 0.54% are employed in PSUs and another 0.05% are employed in the private sector.

 

In 1991, the NSSO, through the Department of Statistics (Ministry of Planning and Program Implementation) conducted a sample survey of literacy and disability related questions, published in Sarvekshana in the 47th round. The sample survey included over 38,000 participants with disabilities from both urban and rural areas. The following figure highlights some of the findings:

 

Figure: Disability-Specific Statistics - NSSO 1991 Survey

Disability specific statistics from the nsso 1991 survey : 23.1% locomotor disability, 5.1% speech disability, 10.4% visually impaired, 8.4% hearing impaired. 41.5% other physical disabilities and 11.6% overlapping disabilities. source: jica country profile on disability, 2002

Source: JICA Country Profile on Disability, The Republic of India, 2002, original source: SARVEKSHANA, 47th Round NSSO

 

Table: Sex and Location of PWDs National Sample Survey 1991

Sex

Urban

%

Rural

%

Total

%

Male

4,950

21.8

17,737

78.2

22,687

58.5

Female

3,473

21.6

12,628

78.4

16,101

41.5

Total

8,423

21.7

30,365

78.3

38,788

100.0

Source: JICA Country Profile on disability, The Republic of India, 2002,
Original source:SARVEKSHANA, 47th Round, NSSO

 

The above statistics does not include the following categories of people who are not covered by the defination of disability under the PWD Act (1995):

  • People with various Impairments eg. RSI (Repetitive Strain Injuries) or Slip Discs etc.

  • People recovering from fractures and temporary disabilities

  • Short stature people

  • Pregnant women

  • Senior citizens with limited functional abilities

Although the above listed people are nt included under the disability statistice but they are also just as affected by handicapping environment.


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