'21 million disabled people in India'

The Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday that India has 21.9 million disabled people. Minister of State for Home Affairs R.P.N. Singh put the exact number at 2,19,06,769 according to the 2011 national census.

People with Disabilities (PwDs) have often been called the biggest minority. The 2001 census had suggested that there were 20 million PwDs in our country and the 2011 figures suggest that number has increased. Several NGOs and others maintain that the numbers could be as high as 60 million.

The theme for this year's International Day for People with Disabilities was 'Removing barriers to make society inclusive and accessible to all'. Sadly, we are very far from having that - an inclusive and accessible society. Read an interview Dr Satendra Singh and Abha Khetarpal, where they expound upon the trials and tribulations faced by people with disabilities - How inclusive and accessible is our society?