New Delhi, April 14 (NationPress) As the women's reservation bill approaches potential approval, experts are calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, to advocate for the political representation of individuals with disabilities, an official stated on Tuesday.

Arman Ali, Executive Director of NCPEDP and author of India's inaugural handbook on disability for Parliamentarians, titled 'Beyond the Visible: A Handbook on Disability Inclusion for Parliamentarians', remarked, “The Women’s Reservation Bill is a significant advancement; however, it should also pave the way for wider inclusivity. Individuals with disabilities are notably underrepresented in decision-making roles. Their involvement is crucial for a genuinely inclusive democracy.”

During the release of the handbook last month, Athawale endorsed the proposal from the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) to initiate a national dialogue on securing political representation for persons with disabilities.

Athawale further noted that the upcoming Census 2027 presents a major opportunity to acknowledge all 21 categories of disabilities through skilled enumeration and enhanced data collection.

The NCPEDP has sent a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, PM Modi, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, along with leaders from various political parties, urging that reservation for persons with disabilities be included in the broader electoral reform framework.

The correspondence emphasized that “political barriers” are explicitly recognized under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the lack of representation often leads to disability-related issues being neglected in policy formulation.

With the proposed increase in legislative seats, the NCPEDP highlighted a timely opportunity to facilitate inclusive representation without impacting existing categories.

“India hosts one of the largest populations of individuals with disabilities. According to the 2011 Census, over 2.68 crore individuals were classified as persons with disabilities, a figure many consider to be an undercount. As new data is anticipated in the upcoming Census, the urgency for direct political representation is becoming more pronounced,” Ali added.

The NCPEDP has also called upon Members of Parliament to prioritize this matter during the current session and advocate for the integration of reservations for persons with disabilities into the broader electoral reforms.