COVID19: Lockdown how it is affecting people with disabilities

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) has rolled out a five grantee project in the Asian Pacific region in order to cull out an assessment of the current situation of persons with disabilities (PwDs). As a part of this initiative, Samarthyam Organization was selected as a partner in India for project titled “Protecting and empowering persons with disabilities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic”.   Aims and Objectives ·         To strengthen the capacities of PwDs and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPD), mainstream community networks and government agencies in the State of Rajasthan, India ·         To integrate disability rights and inclusion into institutional and community structures, processes and mechanisms, thereby contributing to an improved standard of living for persons with disabilities. The Soft Launch of the UNESCAP- Samarthyam Project In order to achieve th...

Date: 25 May 2021           At present with India battling probably the most mutant version of the deadly Covid-19 virus, there have been innumerable instances that have shown how persons with disabilities (PwDs) are neglected and end up falling through the cracks. As the ongoing devastation of the pandemic continues to unfold; in such a scenario, the poor, the marginalized and the ostracized end up being the most badly affected. Amongst them, PwDs are one of the most vulnerable populations. Introduction Inclusion of PwDs through the various aspects of the pandemic from the initial phase of the lockdown in 2020 to the vaccination drive to the present humanitarian crisis has been flawed, with challenges and gaps, at every step along the way. Even though, PwDs are at a higher risk of Covid-19 and even death, yet they are not being given the needed priority in India’s Covid-19 response. This can be observed from the fact that every guideline issued for PwDs h...

While Covid-19 has exposed the vulnerabilities of the disenfranchised in our country, once again the invisibility of persons with disability has come to the fore. India has over 150 million persons with disabilities (30 million with severe disabilities) approx. 120 million of senior citizens and 85 million super senior citizens, i.e. persons above the age of 80. Each of these three groups comprise persons with partial or complete dependency on others for their daily needs, mobility and access to resources and information. This is the case in normal times. In times of a lockdown this dependency, particularly with lack of access to caregivers, makes them vulnerable, and in many cases, completely incapacitated. “The aged need help to get around, to buy groceries, to resources and services, based on their mobility level, age related health conditions or debilitating co-morbidity. This is true for persons with disabilities, particularly those with mobility related disabilities, as well”...

Samarthyam (www.samarthyam.com) is an Organization of People with Disabilities (OPDs) founded in 1991. We have a Special Consultative Status with United Nations ECOSOC, since 2015. The pioneering efforts of Samarthyam are recognized by UN agencies and Government of India, for example promoting rights based advocacy, inclusive, accessible and sustainable environment with focus on independent, safe mobility and gender equality (girls and women with disabilities). Samarthyam team  is working with proactive approach to reach out to grassroots OPDs with the help of  central and state governments  and  UN agencies . As India continue to battle the pandemic, we are amplifying our outreach to people with disabilities to reassure that their survival is a priority by promoting connectivity in rural and remote areas, assuring information in accessible formats and preventing discrimination. The Covid-19 crisis is new.   It is requiring us all to act, inte...

I was in complete shock when India  21 days  lock down  was announced on 23 March 2020  due to Covid-19 . I had no cue how I will get access to my caregiver who helps us (my sibling and mom) at home for activities of daily living. I started talking to local police and higher officers in the government. I was denied the curfew pass as I was 'disabled' and was asked to call 'relatives' to seek help during the lock down. I was stunned with this kind of behavior but could understand the gravity of the situation- they did not had any instructions/orders on 'disability inclusive response and consideration' during lock down.  Challenge My priority was to get a curfew-pass for my caregiver and then move on to find solutions to this distress as there are senior citizens and people with disabilities (more than 20 million) and many have high support needs.  I got a curfew pass with immense difficulty from local police station that too when the police...