Thousands with Disabilities March in Delhi, Call Out Government’s Empty Rhetoric

New Delhi,— Over 3,000 people with disabilities gathered in the heart of the capital yesterday on February 10, 2025 to voice their dissatisfaction with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, accusing it of neglecting their needs.

The protest, held at Jantar Mantar, was organised by the National Platform for the Rights of People with Disabilities (NPRD) and saw participation from fourteen disability rights organisations across India. The "Disabled People's Assembly" highlighted widespread frustration among people with disabilities whose issues have been largely ignored by the government.

Several Members of Parliament joined the assembly, expressing solidarity with the people with disabilities and vowing to raise the issue in Parliament. Among them were John Brittas, Dr. V. Sivadasan, Bikashranjan Bhattacharjee, and A.A. Rahim from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]; Tiruchi Siva from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK); Javed Ali Khan from the Samajwadi Party (SP); Fouzia Khan from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP); Masum Noor from the Trinamool Congress (TMC); P. Santosh Kumar from the Communist Party of India (CPI); Jose K. Mani from the Kerala Congress (M) [KC-M]; Haris Beeran from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML); Ajithkumar Buyan, an Independent Member of Parliament; and Mahua Maaji from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

“The government has closed its eyes and ears to the struggles of people with disabilities, focusing only on one section of society. We stand with you today, here on these streets, and we will continue to fight taking your demands inside Parliament until your voices are heard and your rights are fully recognised,” said John Brittas, his voice filled with emotion as he addressed the gathering.

Representatives of the NPRD and various state organizations also voiced their concerns, emphasizing the systemic neglect faced by people with disabilities across the country. A memorandum detailing the key issues and demands was formally submitted to Shri Virendra Kumar, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment.

The assembly was not without its challenges. The people condemned the Delhi Police for revoking permission to hold the event at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium at the last minute.

"At the last minute, we were pushed to Jantar Mantar, as if our voices were too dangerous to be heard. Under the watch of Home Minister Amit Shah, the Delhi Police treated us—people with disabilities—as a threat, simply because we dared to stand up. Despite having been granted permission, we were told to move, citing security concerns,” said Gireesh, secretary, Differently Abled Persons Welfare Federation (DAWF).

The assembly underscored growing frustration with the government's treatment of people with disabilities. It highlighted the Union Budget’s continued disregard for their needs. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her budget speech on February 1, 2025, made no mention of people with disabilities, despite her repeated pledges of “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas.” The budget allocation for the Department of Empowerment of People with Disabilities (DEPwD) was a mere 0.025% of the overall budget—an amount that disability rights organizations have long argued is grossly inadequate and fails to address the vast challenges faced by people with disabilities.

One of the most glaring issues is the stagnant Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension. While the cost of living has steadily risen, the pension for people with disabilities has remained frozen at Rs. 300 per month for almost two decades.

For over a decade, the government has remained silent on this demand, offering little more than symbolic gestures—like ‘re-branding’ people with disabilities as 'Divyangjan,' a term meaning 'divine-bodied,' which people with disabilities find patronising and disconnected from their real struggles—while failing to address their actual needs.

The scheme’s exclusionary nature is another point of contention. While the Rights of People with Disabilities Act (2016) recognises people with disabilities of 40% or more as eligible for entitlements, the IGNDPS only covers those with 80% disability or above—and even then, only those in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category. This means that the vast majority of people with disabilities are excluded from the benefits, with the scheme covering only 3.8% of the disabled population as per the 2011 census.

Muralidharan Vishwanathan, General Secretary of NPRD, emphasized the importance of revisiting these exclusionary criteria, calling for a law guaranteeing disability pension as a legal right. "We demand an increase in the pension to Rs. 5,000 per month to ensure that people with disabilities can live with dignity and support their basic needs," he stated.

Meanwhile, as unemployment and poverty continue to rise among people with disabilities, many are left with limited opportunities for work. The government’s failure to increase funding for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), which prioritises people with disabilities, has raised concerns. Despite growing demand, the 2025-26 budget kept MNREGA’s allocation stagnant at Rs. 86,000 crore, further limiting access to this vital lifeline and leaving people with disabilities further excluded from meaningful support.

Furthermore, the government has ignored the mental health crisis that has been highlighted for two consecutive years in the Economic Survey. Despite calls for action, the allocation for the Telemental Health Programme has been reduced, from Rs. 90 crore in 2024 to Rs. 79.6 crore in 2025. Similarly, the Scheme for Implementation of the People with Disabilities Act (SIPDA), crucial for the success of accessibility programs and the enforcement of the Rights of People with Disabilities Act, has seen its funding cut yet again.

From the continued neglect of basic needs to the exclusionary nature of crucial welfare schemes, the protest at Jantar Mantar served as a powerful reminder that the Indian government has long failed to prioritise the rights of people with disabilities. As the fight for a more inclusive society continues, people with disabilities are calling for tangible change—change that will allow them to live with dignity, security, and the promise of a better future.

In an ironic twist, the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) introduced a supplementary module under the theme "Viksit Bharat" ("Developed India"), touting government schemes and initiatives, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Vision 2047.’ Among its chapters is one titled "Arthik Unnati Me Divyangjano ka Yogdaan Vikasit Bharat ki Raah" (The Role of People with Disabilities in Economic Development), which highlights the supposed contributions of people with disabilities to economic growth.

However, this chapter, like many others, remains a mere reflection in textbooks, full of lofty phrases and abstract ideals. While it acknowledges the obstacles people with disabilities face in accessing employment and economic participation, the reality of inclusion remains far from the government's policies and budgetary allocations. The true test of progress lies not in words on paper, but in tangible actions that uplift and empower those who need it most.