The group described the proposed legislation as an important step towards increasing women’s political participation and said it also provided an opportunity to address the under-representation of people with disabilities in legislative bodies.
NCPEDP has written to the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha and leaders of various political parties urging them to consider political reservation for persons with disabilities within the broader framework of electoral reforms.
“While the Women’s Reservation Bill is a transformative step, it must also open the door to wider inclusion. People with disabilities remain grossly underrepresented in decision-making spaces. Ensuring their participation is critical to a truly inclusive democracy,” said Arman Ali, Executive Director of NCPEDP.
The group pointed to the 2016 Disability Rights Act’s explicit recognition of “political barriers” and said a lack of representation often resulted in disability-related issues being ignored in policymaking.
The letter also stated that the proposed increase in the number of legislative seats could create space for such inclusion without affecting the existing reserved categories.
“India has one of the largest populations of people with disabilities. According to the 2011 Census, more than 2.68 billion people were identified as disabled, a figure widely considered to be an underestimate. With updated data expected from the upcoming census, the need for direct political representation is becoming increasingly urgent,” Ali said.
NCPEDP highlighted its efforts to promote the political participation of people with disabilities, including the development of a Disability Declaration during the 2024 general election, which involves national consultations and engagement with major political parties.
The organization also cited initiatives such as the Forum of Disabled Parliamentarians and dialogue platforms such as Strengthening Inclusion, which aim to enhance discussions on disability inclusion during parliamentary meetings.
It also pointed out that states like Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan have implemented political reservation for persons with disabilities at the local level.
NCPEDP urges members of Parliament to raise the issue during the ongoing session and consider incorporating these provisions into electoral reforms, noting that increased representation will help build a more inclusive and participatory democracy.
Parliament is scheduled to meet from April 16 to 18 to consider the bill, which also includes seat expansion.