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 Organisation 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 this, Samarthyam chose to collaborate with the

Date: 25 May 2021 Author: Samarthyam, India                  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 f