India’s International Cooperation in disability sector- An Overview

International Cooperation in disability sector- Relevance for UPSC Exam

Disability and International Cooperation: India’s International Cooperation in disability sector is important for UPSC exam as it will come under society part of the syllabus of GS paper 1 and Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population along with International Relations of GS Paper 2.

Disability Sector in India in news           

• On the occasion of celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM), Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment held a Press conference about the Achievements of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in the last 8 Years.
• On this occasion, we are going to highlight India’s International Cooperation in disability sector.

India’s International Cooperation in disability sector

• Signed UNCRPD: India has signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and subsequently ratified the same on October 1, 2007.
• Part of Incheon Strategy: India is also a Party to the Incheon Strategy “To make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and Pacific Region since 2012.

• Participation in 2020 Paralympics: Participation of many disabled persons in Paralympics 2022 were facilitated by the government.
  • Participants in the 2020 Paralympics held at Tokyo were felicitated by the Department of social justice and empowerment.

विकलांगता क्षेत्र में भारत का अंतर्राष्ट्रीय सहयोग- एक सिंहावलोकन

Bilateral Cooperation in Disability Sector

• India Australia Cooperation in Disability Sector: India has signed a MoU with Government of Australia for cooperation in disability sector in 2018.
  • Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) Project is being implemented in collaboration of University of Melbourne which is in line with the area of cooperation mentioned in the said MoU.
• India Chile Cooperation in Disability Sector: In 2022, Union Cabinet has also approved the proposal of this Department to enter into a bilateral agreement with Government of Chile for cooperation in disability sector.
• India South Africa Cooperation: An MoU is under process to be signed with Government of South Africa for cooperation in disability sector.

Institutional Infrastructure in Disability Sector

• Two new National Institutes- Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) set up in 2015 and National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR) established in 2019.
  • ISLRTC developed of ISL Dictionary. Launched 3rd Edition of the Dictionary with total 10000 terms in 2021.
  • ISLRTC signed an MoU with NCERT in 2020 to convert textbooks of class I to XII into ISL (Digital Format).
  • ISL e-content of NCERT textbooks of classes I-V launched on 23rd September, 2021.
  • 13 new Composite Regional Centres as outreach/ extension centres of respective NIs established.
• Funding for National Institutes: Various buildings of National Institutes & their Regional & Composite Regional Centres (CRCs) constructed at a cost of Rs. 258.82 crores to facilitate smooth service delivery to PwDs.
• Centre for Disability Sports: It is set up at Gwalior to provide state-of-the art training facilities for Divyang Sports Persons which is likely to be made functional in 2022. Another such centre is proposed at Shillong.
• Awareness Generation: Department and office of CCPD jointly organized a two days’ sensitization workshop on 4th to 5th March, 2022 at Kevadia, Gujarat.
  • It aimed to create awareness about the RPwD Act, 2016, various initiatives and the Schemes & Programmes of Government of India for empowerment and inclusion of Persons with Disabilities and roles and responsibilities of the States therein.

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