CPI(M) Adopts Resolution Advocating Dignity and Justice for Disabled Citizens

Madurai: The 24th Party Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) has unanimously adopted a resolution addressing the persistent neglect and deprivation faced by India's disabled population. The resolution highlights alarming statistics from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), revealing that over 50% of disabled individuals in India live below the poverty line. It underscores the compounded challenges they face, including additional expenses for assistive devices, healthcare, caregiving, and transportation, leading to economic hardship and social marginalization.​
The resolution critiques the current administration's neoliberal policies, noting that privatization and contractual employment have diluted the 4% reservation in government jobs for disabled individuals. It points to the 2011 census data indicating an unemployment rate of 65% among the disabled, with placements through special employment exchanges as low as 0.9%. The resolution also expresses concern over stagnant allocations for the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS), which has remained at ₹300 per month since 2012, despite recommendations for substantial increases.​
In response to these challenges, the CPI(M) has put forth several demands:

● Extension of job reservations to the private sector, including temporary, casual, and contractual employment.​

● Enactment of a "Right to Pension Act" with provisions for annual increments to account for inflation.

● Removal of exclusionary criteria in the IGNDPS to make it more inclusive.​

● Increase in the central pension allocation to ₹5,000 per month.​

● Provision of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) cards to all disabled individuals.​

● Introduction of a caregiver allowance to support those assisting disabled individuals.​