Guidelines for increasing Political inclusion of disabled

Source: The post Guidelines for increasing Political inclusion of disabled has been created, based on the article “After ECI guidelines, charting a path to disability inclusion in politics” published in “Indian express” on 10th January 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS paper 2- Polity- Electoral Reforms

News: The article discusses guidelines released by India’s Election Commission for political parties to use disability-friendly language and be more inclusive of persons with disabilities.

What are the guidelines for increasing Political inclusion of disabled?

The Election Commission of India has issued 11 guidelines for political parties. These guidelines focus on three main areas:

Focus on Disability-Inclusive Language: The guidelines urge political parties to avoid derogatory and dehumanizing terms when referring to persons with disabilities (PwDs). For example, the negative comparison made by Tamil Nadu leader A Raja in Sep. 2023, equating Sanatan Dharma with leprosy and HIV, highlights the kind of language these guidelines aim to prevent.

Ensure Accessibility of Information: Political parties are advised to make their websites accessible to PwDs. Additionally, they should organize events in locations that are accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities.

Inclusion Within Political Parties: The guidelines encourage the inclusion of PwDs at all levels within political parties. This includes developing training modules on disability for party workers and making efforts to integrate PwDs in various party roles and activities.

What are the benefits of these guidelines?

1. Encourage political inclusion of PwDs, aligning with the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
2. Guidelines promote inclusivity and accessibility for PwDs in the political sphere.

What are the limitations of these guidelines?

Advisory Nature: The guidelines are not mandatory. Some use mandatory language like “should” and “shall,” while others are more discretionary, using terms like “may.”

Exclusion from the Model Code of Conduct: These guidelines are not part of the official Model Code of Conduct for elections. It’s unclear if violations of certain guidelines will lead to actions under section 92 of the RPwD Act, which penalizes atrocities against PwDs.

Ambiguity in Language: There is some confusion about the usage of certain terms like “blind,” “deaf,” and “dumb,” which can be technical terms but might be considered derogatory in some languages.

What should be done?

1. A consistent approach is needed across all guidelines.
2. The draft National Policy for Persons with Disabilities doesn’t currently include a chapter on political inclusion, which should be added.
3. There is a lack of data on the number of legislators with disabilities. The Election Commission is encouraged to include disability information in nomination forms and affidavits for elections.
4. The draft National Policy for PwD lacks a chapter on political inclusion. Incorporating such a chapter would align with Article 29 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, emphasizing the political rights of PwDs.

Question for practice:

What are the key areas addressed by India’s Election Commission guidelines for promoting disability-friendly language and inclusivity in political parties?