International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPWD) 2024

About International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD):

• IDPD, observed annually on December 3, celebrates the resilience, contributions, and leadership of persons with disabilities (PwDs) worldwide. 
• This day serves as a reminder of the global commitment to fostering inclusivity, advocating for the rights of PwDs, and creating equitable opportunities for all. 
• This year's theme is “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future”.
• The IDPD was proclaimed in 1992 by United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3.
• It aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development and increase awareness of their situation in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life.
• Building on many decades of UN work in the field of disability, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), adopted in 2006, has further advanced the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other international development frameworks.

Initiatives by the Indian Government:

• India has made significant strides in promoting the rights and inclusion of Divyangjan through various policies and campaigns. A few of these initiatives are listed below:
  • Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
  • Accessible India Campaign
  • Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS)
  • District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC)
  • Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/ Appliances (ADIP) Scheme.
  • Schemes For Implementation of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 (SIPDA): It is a comprehensive "Central Sector Scheme" that encompasses 10 sub-schemes.

Q1: What is the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 (RPwD Act)?

It was enacted in the year 2016 and came into force on 19th April, 2017. It replaced the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights, and Full Participation) Act, 1995. The objective of the RPwD Act is to ensure that all persons with disabilities can lead their lives with dignity, without discrimination, and with equal opportunities. The Act lays down specific provisions to uphold such rights. It incorporates the rights of persons with disabilities covered under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), to which India is a signatory.

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