India’s Tryst with Disability Justice and Universal Accessibility: Rethinking Access, Inclusion, and Equity in Public Policy Transformation

Abstract

For India to meet the sustainable development goals for disability inclusion, realizing disability justice through universal accessibility for persons with disabilities (PwDs) is essential. Universal access guarantees equitable access for PwDs and ensures their just inclusion in mainstream society. India’s National Sample Survey reveals that a significant number of Indian citizens harbour a disability, with a higher prevalence being reported among older adults, among males, and among people living in rural areas, showing that accessibility is as much a matter of justice as of provision. Poverty and disability are intricately connected, and there is evidence of these leading to vulnerability and exclusion from society and the labour force. The lack of reliable public data on accessibility to PwDs in India impairs inclusion, with some of the challenges being in defining disability and recognition of stigma and exclusions. Poor implementation of well-meaning policies and inappropriate budgetary spending further exacerbate this. Achieving universal accessibility demands more than legal affirmation; it requires strong political will, sustained financing, and administrative accountability. In the backdrop of the recent Supreme Court ruling on universal accessibility, this exploration discusses the importance of grassroots activism and public policy development that is inclusive and efficient with monitoring and evaluation systems in the policy design phase, such that efficiency and learning are imbibed throughout the development, implementation, and evaluation phases. For this to sustain, achieving accessibility must shift from a legal–technical exercise to a justice-oriented target grounded in the nation-building agenda, with sustained financing and continued grassroots activism.