New Delhi, April 14 (NationPress) As Parliament gears up to discuss the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, which proposes a 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) has urged for simultaneous advocacy for political reservations for persons with disabilities (PwDs).

While the Centre’s initiative to enhance women’s political representation is commendable, NCPEDP believes this moment represents a historic chance to rectify the ongoing underrepresentation of PwDs in legislative frameworks.

The organization has reached out to key political figures, including the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Lok Sabha Speaker, emphasizing the need to incorporate political reservations for PwDs within the broader electoral reform agenda.

According to Arman Ali, Executive Director of NCPEDP, although the Women’s Reservation Bill marks a significant advancement, it should also pave the way for greater inclusion of all marginalized groups.

The disability community continues to face substantial underrepresentation in decision-making roles, making their participation crucial for a genuinely inclusive democracy.

NCPEDP referenced the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which acknowledges the political barriers that exist, yet the lack of representation leads to critical disability issues being neglected in policy discussions.

India is known for having one of the largest populations of persons with disabilities globally. The 2011 Census indicated over 2.68 crore PwDs, a number many experts believe is an undercount.

With new census data anticipated soon, the urgency for direct political representation for PwDs has intensified.

NCPEDP highlighted that the proposed increase in legislative seats could be an effective strategy to implement reservations for PwDs without disrupting existing categories.

In recent years, NCPEDP has intensified its efforts to encourage political involvement among PwDs. For the 2024 General Elections, it has introduced a “Manifesto For and By Persons with Disabilities” and has engaged with various political parties, gaining cross-party recognition for several recommendations.

The organization has also initiated dialogues through its MP Forum on Disability and programs like “Empowering Inclusion” during parliamentary sessions.

Highlighting successful examples, NCPEDP pointed out that states like Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan have already implemented local-level reservations for PwDs, showcasing both the feasibility and effectiveness of such initiatives.

The organization urged Members of Parliament to prioritize this issue in the current session to foster a more inclusive and representative democracy.