Issues Related to

Development &
Management of
Social Sector - I
SOCIAL ISSUES

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Issues Related to Development &

Management of Social Sector - I
India is a fast-growing economy as well as a functioning democracy. It is reaching new areas of development.
However, social justice is still an unrealized aspiration for millions of Indians even after seventy years of
independence. The state must take a prominent role in establishing, designing, and running a healthy social
sector in order to provide universal access to quality services to its population while maintaining the
sovereignty and security of its inhabitants.

Content
 Development

 Economic Development

 Gross Domestic Product

 National Income

 Per Capita Income

 Social Development

 Social Progress Index

 Human Development Index

 Multidimensional Poverty Index

 World Happiness Report

 Political Development

 Democracy Index

 Relationship of Political Development with Economic and Social Development

 Inclusive Development

 Inclusive Development Index

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 Women

 Pregnant Women

 Widows

 Rural Women and Labourers

 Issues Faced by Women

 Women Distribution in the Workforce

 Government Initiatives

 Way Forward

 The Disabled

 Steps Taken for Encouraging Disability Inclusion

Development
 Development is a dynamic and evolving idea. Let’s see some definitions about development:

Development:
 The Brandt Commission, also called the Commission on International Development Issues defines:
"Development will never be and can never be defined to universal satisfaction."
 Development, according to Edward Weidner (public administration scholar), is the process of
progressing toward modernity, specifically in the direction of nation-building and socio-economic
improvement.
 The dictionary definition of development is "the process of growing into a fuller, more mature state." In
public administration, however, development is viewed as a dynamic process, a pace of change in a
specific direction rather than a mature end state. It is a desirable transition of society from one state
to another.

 The term development can be understood with its many types: Economic, Social, Political, and Inclusive,
among others.

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Economic Development
 Economic growth is defined as a long-term increase in the value of goods and services generated in a given
economy. The percentage rise in GDP is used to calculate the value. However, the term economic
development is different from economic growth. Economic development can be defined as the process of
improving a nation's, community's, or region's economic well-being and quality of life in accordance with
predetermined goals and objectives.

 While economic growth is a quantitative concept that is measured by GDP and Per capita income,
economic development is a qualitative concept that is measured in terms of the Human Development
Index, Physical Quality of Life Index, and Net Economic Welfare (NEW).

 Economic development is the result of a combination of market productivity and national welfare values.
Factors that affect economic development include education, infrastructure improvement, and an increase
in capital.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

 The gross domestic product (GDP) or gross domestic income (GDI) is one of the indicators of a country's
economic output and revenue.

Definition
GDP: It is the total value of all final goods and services produced within the borders of a country in a given
year.

 GDP is significant because it provides information on the size and performance of an economy. The pace of
increase in real GDP is frequently used to measure the economy's overall health. An increase in real GDP is
viewed as a sign that the economy is performing well in general. When real GDP grows rapidly, employers
are more willing to hire additional workers for their factories, and people have more money in their
purses. When GDP falls, as it happened in many nations during the global economic crisis of 2008 and
2020, employment usually falls.

 However, in some circumstances, GDP may be increasing, but not quickly enough to produce enough jobs
for individuals looking for work. GDP is merely a statistical tool that indirectly shows employment
scenarios. It is not the right indicator to understand the development of a country. Instead of focusing
solely on growth, greater emphasis should be placed on inclusive growth. Inclusive growth encompasses
not only expansion but also the benefits that come with it, such as development.

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National Income
 It is the sum of a country's entire income (wages and profits, interest, rents, and pension payments) for a
certain time period (typically a year). It is valued in monetary terms.

Definition
National Income: The total amount of money earned by the inhabitants of a country, including labor and
capital investment.

 It is useful in determining the country's economic progress. Eg. Wages, interest, rent, and profit received
by components of production such as labor, capital, land, and entrepreneurship in a country are
determined.

 Per Capita Income

 To assess the population's living standards, one must first understand the nature of income distribution in
relation to national per capita income. If there is income disparity, even if per capita income rises, the
income gap between the rich and the poor will widen—the rich will get richer and the poor will get
poorer.

 If the annual national income is distributed evenly among all citizens, this is what each citizen will receive.

Definition
Per Capita Income: Total national income divided by the number of inhabitants in the country equals per
capita income.

 Per capita income can be used as a measure of economic growth because a higher income means a
higher standard of living for people and a reduced incidence of poverty and inequality. However, in order
to achieve further growth and development, per capita income growth should outpace population
increase.

Social Development
 Economic well-being is a one-dimensional indication of a country's success, but genuine progress is
determined by social well-being. Social development is a process that results in the alteration of social
institutions in a way that increases society's ability to achieve its goals.
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 It entails a qualitative shift in how society shapes itself and conducts its operations, such as through more
progressive population attitudes and behavior, as well as the adoption of more efficient processes or
advanced technology.

 It is measured by non-economic indicators such as Social Progress Index and Human Development Index.

Social Progress Index

 The social development of a country is measured by the Social Progress Index.

 It gives a broader understanding of how to measure a region's social progress by matching the steps that
many people, families, communities, and societies take to achieve higher and higher levels of social
progress.

 The relative performance of nations is shown through 54 indicators in the categories of fundamental
human requirements, foundations of well-being, and potential to progress. The index is based on the
writings of Amartya Sen, Douglass North, and Joseph Stiglitz, and is produced by the organization Social
Progress Imperative.

 The Social Progress Index (SPI) assesses how well countries meet their inhabitants' social and
environmental demands. The SPI assesses a society's well-being by looking at social and environmental
results rather than economic variables.

 Assessment points:

 Wellness (including health, shelter, and sanitation),

 Equality,

 Inclusion,

 Sustainability,

 Personal freedom and safety

Social Progress Index 2020:

 India received a score of 56.80 out of 100, placing it 117th out of 163 countries.
India excelled in:
 Nutrition and Basic Medical Care, Personal Rights, Shelter, Access to Information and Communications,
and Access to Basic Knowledge.
 Improvement needed in: Environmental Quality, Inclusiveness, Health and Wellness, Personal
Freedom and Choice, and Access to Advanced Education.

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Human Development Index(HDI)

 According to HDI, people and their capacities, not only economic progress, should be the final criterion for
judging a country's development.

 It is divided into four sections:

 Mean years of schooling,

 Expected years of schooling,

 Life expectancy at birth, and

 Gross national income per capita.

 The HDI is also used to question national policy decisions and to see how two countries with the same per
capita GDP can have such disparities in human development outcomes. For example, two countries may
have identical per capita incomes but vastly different life expectancies and literacy levels, resulting in one
having a significantly greater HDI than the other. These disparities spark discussion on government policy
in the areas of health and education, as well as why what one country can achieve is beyond the reach of
the other.

 The United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) has included two extra factors to account for
planetary pressure (Planetary Pressure Adjusted HDI), the material usage, and the carbon footprint of a
country. In comparison to most countries further up on the HDI, India's performance in these areas is
significantly better.

India’s performance:
 In 2020, India fell two places in the UN's Human Development Index, to 131st place out of 189 countries.
 But, performing better as compared to South Asian Countries. Eg. Bangladesh was ranked 133rd, while
Pakistan was ranked 154th, compared to India's rank of 131. India's HDI is higher than the region's
average in South Asia.
 Let’s see India's performance compared to the previous report has either improved or remained
unchanged in all four HDI metrics:
 The average life expectancy at birth has increased to 69.7 years, up from 69.4 years the previous year.
 GNI per capita increased to $6,681 in 2019, up from $6,427 in 2018.
 The expected years of schooling and the mean year of schooling stayed the same at 12.2 and 6.5,
respectively, as in the previous year.

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Source: www.hdp.undp.org

Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

 Multidimensional Poverty Index constructs a summary poverty statistic for a specific population using a
variety of variables, with a bigger value indicating a higher level of poverty.

 This figure takes into account both the percentage of the population classified as poor and the 'depth' of
poverty suffered by these 'poor' households. It analyses factors such as health, education, and standard of
living to estimate the prevalence and severity of poverty in a given population.

 MPI proponents claim that the method can be used to create a comprehensive picture of people living in
poverty, allowing comparisons across countries, regions, and the world, as well as within countries by
ethnic group, urban/rural location, and other important household and community characteristics. MPIs
are important as an analytical tool for identifying the most vulnerable people - the poorest among the
poor – as well as illuminating poverty patterns within countries and over time, allowing policymakers to
make more informed decisions.

Source: Measuring multidimensional poverty -

GSDRC
Indicators of Multidimensional Poverty Index

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India’s Performance:

 India is ranked 66th out of 109 countries in the Global MPI 2021.

 Bihar has the biggest proportion of multidimensionally poor persons in the state, followed by Jharkhand and
Uttar Pradesh.

 Kerala has the lowest population poverty rate, with Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Goa, and Sikkim following
closely after.

 Bihar has the most number of malnourished people, followed by Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
and Chhattisgarh.

Source: www.hdp.undp.org

World Happiness Report

The rankings are based on polling that considers six factors:

 GDP per capita (Purchasing Power Parity),

 Social Support,

 Healthy life expectancy at birth,

 Freedom to make life choices,

 Generosity, and

 Corruption Perceptions.

 The World Happiness Report is published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network to the
United Nations (UN).

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India’s Performance:
 In the World Happiness Report 2021, India was rated 144th, which is lower than the 2020 rankings
where India secured the 139th rank. Starting at number 111 in 2013, it has steadily declined till the 2021
report, a 25 percent drop. Despite economic growth, and India is one of the world's fastest-growing
economies in recent years, this drop has occurred.
 India’s Performance in different Indicators:
 Intangible categories like Generosity and Freedom to Make Choices have seen a significant improvement
in India's rating.
 In a freedom of speech, India's score improved.
 The long-standing problem of corruption persists and has grown.
 India’s position has slipped in both Positive and negative effects.
 Positive effects are measured in happiness, laughter, and enjoyment, while negative consequences are
measured in concern, despair, and wrath.

Source: www.hdp.undp.org

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Political Development
 Political development is characterized by political stability, political freedom, decentralization, rule of law,
political harmony, secularism, equality, and autonomy.

Definition
 Political freedom is closely related to democracy. It deals with the people's engagement in electing and
governing their representative government.

 Political stability means that political institutions like democracy or dictatorship or authoritarianism. The
degree of political stability is measured by the absence of crimes, riots, coups, poverty, and income
disparities.

 Decentralization is a political process in which administrative authority and responsibilities of the central
government are transferred to lower-level organs of government like state governments, panchayats, and
non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

 Let’s see how India stands upon these parameters:

Democracy Index
 Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index gives an overview of the situation of international
democracy for 165 countries. The five criteria that make up the Democracy Index are:

 Election process and pluralism,

 Civil freedoms,

 Government functioning,

 Political involvement,

 Political culture.

 Each country is then categorized as one of four sorts of regimes based on their scores on 60 indicators
within these categories: complete democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regime, or authoritarian regime.

 Due to "democratic backsliding" by authorities and "crackdowns" on civil freedoms, India fell two spots to
53rd place in the 2020 Democracy Index's global ranking. India's total score in the Index dropped from 6.9
in 2019 to 6.61 in 2020. Here, India has to improve on with sincere attitude to make a healthy democracy.

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Source: www.eui.com

Democracy Index - India’s Ranking over the years

Relationship of Political Development with Economic and Social

Development
 The establishment and stability of democracies are linked to economic development in some ways.

 On the one hand, there is a significant link between economic growth, capital accumulation, and
democracy, while on the other hand, there is a link between political instability and income inequality.

 This relationship is particularly evident in South Asian countries, where the impact of political growth may
be seen in the areas of economic and social development. When the Indian subcontinent was under the
influence of British colonialism, economic growth and social development suffered. However, after the
advent of democracy, through proper policies and programs, the country developed along the lines of
economy and society.

Inclusive development
 It entails poor people having access to basic health and education services. It entails ensuring equitable
opportunity for everybody, as well as empowering people via education and skill development.

 It also includes a method of growth that is environmentally sustainable, aspires for good governance, and
aids in the creation of a gender-conscious society.
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 Skill development, financial inclusion, and social development are elements of inclusive growth.

 Rather than focusing solely on quick growth, inclusive growth takes into account both the rate and
pattern of growth (World Bank, 2009). It will be difficult to ensure sustainable inclusive growth and quick
poverty reduction unless the core causes of structural exclusion and discrimination are addressed.

 According to the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), inclusive growth is
defined as economic growth that is evenly dispersed across society and generates opportunity for
everyone.

Inclusive Development Index (IDI)

 India was placed 62nd out of 74 emerging countries in the World Economic Forum's Inclusive
Development Index (IDI) and was among the least inclusive countries in the Group of 20 (G-20).

 The IDI is based on the assumption that most people measure their country's growth by their personal
level of living rather than GDP. Growth and development, inclusion, and intergenerational equity, and
sustainability are the three characteristics used to calculate inequality.

India was also not among the top ten most inclusive emerging and developing economies, a list that
included Nepal, China, and Sri Lanka.

Source: Elements of Inclusive Growth

Inclusive development can be understood by studying the disadvantaged groups such as women, children, the
elderly, disabled, transgenders, etc. Let’s see one by one:

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Women
 Women, who make up about half of the world's population, have an important role in society, as
caregivers, educators, in the workforce, and for community development. They are known to face
numerous social and economic challenges.

Pregnant Women
 Women in India are at risk of pregnancy-related complications, especially if they are wed in their
adolescent years. Prenatal care, competent care during childbirth, and care and support in the weeks
following childbirth are all essential for all women. All births should be aided by trained medical personnel,
as prompt diagnosis and treatment can mean the difference between life and death for both the mother
and the infant.

Scenario:

 The Indian government has been concentrating on measures aimed at improving maternal health indices.

 The Total Fertility Rate has decreased from 2.2 to 2.0, according to the National Family Health Survey 5.

 In 17 of the 22 states, there has been a rise in prenatal care visits during the first trimester. In addition, the
number of institutional deliveries has increased.

 The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK)
are some of the schemes launched by the government for pregnant women.

 The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 provides for payment of average daily wages to a woman for the duration
of the absence of her pregnancy, as well as six weeks immediately after the delivery.

Widows
 India has the world's highest widow population, accounting for ten percent of the country's female
population. In India, widowhood is experienced differently depending on socio-economic class, customs,
religion, tradition, and time period. Customary laws, deeply ingrained patriarchal customs, religious
legislation, and widespread bias in inheritance rights still apply to them. As a result, widows are still
shunned and abandoned by many Indian families from various groups.

 National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) provides for Rs 800 per month pensions for widows, elderly
poor, and disabled, and Rs 1200 per month for those above the age of 80.

Rural Women and Labourers

 In India, women are an important part of the workforce.
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Statistics:

Census 2011

 According to the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, the total number of female workers in India
is 149.8 million, with female workers in rural and urban areas totaling 121.8 and 28.0 million, respectively.

 Factories Act, 1948 provides for safety and health measures for women working in factories. It further
specifies that no woman shall be compelled or permitted to work in a factory between the hours of 6 a.m.
and 7 p.m. The prohibition of night work is also mentioned under Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of
Employment Act), 1966, and Mines Act, 1952.

 The provision for separate toilets and washing facilities for women has been provided under many acts.
The provision for creches at the workplace has also been provided.

 Let’s understand the developmental issues faced by Women:

Issues Faced by Women

 Violence against Women and Girls

 Also known as gender-based violence, it includes violent acts committed against women or girls. Such acts
take the form of human trafficking, domestic violence, rape, acid attack, eve-teasing, etc.

Points to Remember
 NCRB Report on Crimes against Women - Comparison between 2019 and 2020

 Pandemic-hit 2020 saw crimes against women in cities falling by 8.3%.

 There were 371,503 incidents of crime against women registered across the country in 2020, compared to
405,326 in 2019.
 The state with the most such cases (49,385) was Uttar Pradesh, followed by West Bengal (36,439), Raja-
sthan (34,535), Maharashtra (31,954), and Madhya Pradesh (31,954).

 Rape, outraging modesty, dowry deaths and harassment, acid attacks, and kidnapping are all examples of
crimes against women.

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Gender Pay Gap

 This is a form of gender discrimination where women do not get equal pay as men for doing the same
work.

 According to a survey, the gender pay gap has widened during the COVID-19 pandemic, with women being
left behind on salary hikes and incentives. Only 65% of women in India earned a wage raise or bonus for
taking on new duties or roles, compared to 70% of males.

Patriarchy
 Patriarchy is a family system in which men hold primary power in the decision-making process of the
family, group, or government. This system hinders the social and economic development of women. It
takes the form of various social evils such as dowry, sexual harassment, polygamy, etc.

 Indian society has been largely patriarchal since ancient times. Preference for sons has been highlighted in
texts of the Vedic period. Women were seen as a threat to the purity of the household which is why they
were restricted inside homes. Education was denied to women. Constitutional provisions and various laws
removed many of the ingrained discrimination faced by women. However, society remains largely
patriarchal which hinders the social and economic development of women.

Lack of Education
 As per the 2011 Census, India’s literacy rate was 74% and women’s literacy rate was 65.46%. The reasons
for the low literary rate for women are social discrimination, gender equality, and the occupation of girls in
domestic chores.

Lack of Political Representation

 India is ranked 18th in terms of political empowerment in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap
Report 2020. The four parameters that are considered in the index included Political empowerment,
Education attainment, Economic Participation, and Health and Survival index. Female representation in
higher offices, however, remains low.

Social Stigmas and Superstitions

 Social issues such as honor killings, female foeticide, genital mutilation, the stigma around menstruation
stem from the inherent discrimination inflicted upon women. Most of such traditions are banned by law,
however, are still practiced covertly. When there is a period of poverty and stigma in a community, it is
difficult for women and girls to manage their periods safely and with dignity. Protecting human health
necessitates the provision of safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygienic environments.

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Statistics:

 It is estimated that 500 million women and girls around the world do not have access to proper menstrual hygiene
facilities. This increases the risk of infection for women and their families.

 Between 2014 and 2016, 288 cases of honor killings were reported, according to a Supreme Court judgment on
honor crimes.

 India is responsible for nearly half of all missing female births worldwide due to female foeticide.

Challenges due to the Covid-19 Pandemic

Employment for women is more vulnerable to the crisis than jobs for males. Introducing economic assistance
packages for vulnerable women and their families, such as direct cash transfers, enhanced unemployment
benefits, tax credits, and expanded family and child benefits, can help. Direct cash transfers, which would
entail delivering money directly to poor or low-income women, could be a lifeline for individuals trying to
meet basic needs during the pandemic.

Global Gender Gap Report 2021 - India’s Performance:

 India is now placed 140th out of 156 countries, making it one of the worst achievers in South Asia.

 India's political empowerment rating has dropped, as has the number of female ministers. However, as compared
to other countries, it has done relatively well in terms of women's political engagement.

 The gender gap in economic participation in India expanded by 3% this year. Women's projected earned income in
India is only one-fifth that of men's, putting the country in the bottom ten globally on this metric.

 India ranked last on the Health and Survival Index. The biggest issue, according to the paper, is a skewed sex ratio.
The ratio is due to son preference norms and gender-biased prenatal sex-selective techniques.

Women Distribution in the Workforce

 The majority of women entrepreneurs in India work in low-paying businesses.

 Women are more likely to start businesses in the manufacturing, tobacco, garment, and textiles sectors.
This could be due to the fact that certain businesses are known for requiring less physical labor.

 In the industrial sector, there is likewise a strong negative link between average industry wages and the
percentage of female-led factories.

 In the corporate sector of India, women make up only 20-22 percent of the workforce. At the senior and
highest levels, this drops to 12-13 percent.

 India is ranked 140 out of 156 nations in the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index 2021.
Government Initiatives

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Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, Redressal) Act,

2013
 Under the POSH Act, Sexual harassment refers to any unwanted sexually defined behavior, ranging from
minor infractions to the most extreme kinds of sexual abuse and assault, including rape.

 Any undesired sexually defined behavior that has the intention or effect of unnecessarily interfering with
an individual's work performance or producing an intimidating, hostile, abusive, or offensive working
environment is considered sexual harassment at work.

 In a workplace setting, preferential or detrimental treatment, a threat to employment status, humiliating

treatment, etc are included in sexual harassment.

Death Penalty for Sexual Offences

 One of the most horrific crimes against humanity is sexual assault on women and children. As a result, the
public has a genuine and justifiable interest in resolving such concerns, leading to the call for the death
sentence to purportedly prevent sexual offences.

Laws and Regulations:

 Against this backdrop, the Maharashtra cabinet adopted the Shakti Bill on Human Rights Day 2020,
broadening the scope of harsher and mandatory penalties for non-homicidal rape, including the death
penalty.
 The Disha Bill, which imposes the death sentence for the rape of adult women, was passed by the
Andhra Pradesh government in 2020 (pending presidential assent).

 Introducing the death sentence, on the other hand, diverts focus away from long-term challenges and
solutions. It implies that such crimes are committed because the punishment is insufficiently severe. There
are also concerns that these acts exclude marital rape in their list of sexual offenses.

Mahila-e-Haat
 The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched this direct online marketing tool to promote
women entrepreneurs. This is part of the government's 'Digital India' project.

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Source: www.timesofindia.com

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao

 The goal of this social effort is to eliminate female foeticide. It also increased awareness about the
assistance available to young Indian girls in need.

 The 'Save the Girl Child' movement was started on January 22, 2015, as a collaborative endeavor by the
Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Ministry of
Human Resource Development. It began with a Rs 100 crore seed investment. It primarily targets
Uttarakhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, and Haryana clusters.

One-Stop Center Scheme

 'Sakhi' is the popular name for this scheme. The 'Nirbhaya' fund was used to implement it on April 1, 2015.

 One-Stop Centers are being established across the country to provide victims of violence with shelter, a
police station, legal, medical, and counseling services all under one roof, as well as a 24-hour helpline. 181
is the toll-free hotline number.

Source: www.utkaltoday.com

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Swadhar Scheme
 The Swadhar scheme was launched by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2002 to
help women in challenging situations to get back on their feet. This program aims to offer marginalized
women and girls housing, food, clothes, and care. Widows abandoned by their families and relatives,
women convicts freed from prison and without family assistance, women survivors of natural
catastrophes, women victims of terrorist/extremist violence, and so on are among the beneficiaries. The
majority of the implementing agencies are non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

STEP
 The Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP) Scheme aims to offer women the
skills they need to be employable, as well as the competencies and skills they need to become self-
employed or entrepreneurs. The duration of a woman's project will be up to five years. It will be
determined by the kind, type of activities, and the number of beneficiaries to be served.

 Agriculture, horticulture, food processing, handlooms, tailoring, stitching, Embroidery, Zari, and other
handicrafts, as well as computer and IT-enabled services, are among the sectors. Soft skills and workplace
abilities such as spoken English, Gems & Jewellery, Travel & Tourism, Hospitality, and others are included.

The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA)

 The scheme which was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides a fixed day for
pregnant women to receive free, thorough, and high-quality antenatal care on the 9th of every month.
This program improves antenatal care detection and follow-up of high-risk pregnancies helps to prevent
maternal mortality and lowers India's MMR.

Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK)

 This program includes free maternity services for women and children, a statewide rollout of emergency
referral systems and maternal death audits, as well as improvements in healthcare governance and
administration at all levels.

Way Forward
 Improving gender balance is a critical first step toward India's development and increased economic
growth while also achieving gender equality.

 The gender balance in the recruiting process will be ensured through procedural acceptance of both men
and women sharing the responsibility of parental care through measures like paternity leave.

 Sensitization of society and coworkers to gender issues might be beneficial.

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The Disabled
 Disability researchers have long emphasized the importance of policy shifts toward a social model of
disability, which is important for creating disability-inclusive societies.

 All existing policies and development initiatives must have a disability-centric approach.

Steps taken for encouraging Disability Inclusion

Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016

 It replaces the 1995 Act on Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunity, Protection of Rights, and Full
Participation). It is based on the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities.

 People with "benchmark disabilities" are individuals who have been certified as having at least 40% of the
disabilities listed in the Act. Persons with benchmark disabilities are eligible for additional benefits such as
preference in higher education, government jobs, land allocation preference, and poverty alleviation
programs, among others.

Sarva Shiksa Abhiyan

 It provided a monetary stipend of up to Rs. 1200 per kid per year, as well as district-level plans for
students with disabilities and resource institution involvement.

 The SSA also maintained a zero-rejection policy, which meant that no disabled kid could be denied
admission.

Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, 2018

 From pre-nursery to Class 12, the scheme proposed treating school education holistically and without
segmentation. It has been an overarching program for the school education sector, spanning from pre-
school to class 12. As a result, it was written with the larger purpose of increasing school effectiveness as
measured by equal access to education and equitable learning results.

 Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), and Teacher Education (TE)
all fall under one umbrella.

National Education Policy 2020

 Children with disabilities will have equal opportunities to participate in the mainstream educational
system. NEP emphasizes the necessity of developing procedures that allow Children With Special Needs
(CWSN) or Divyang to have the same access to quality education as any other kid.

SOCIAL ISSUES | Issues Related to Development & Management of Social Sector– I PAGE 21
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 Inclusive Education is emphasized in which students with and without disabilities learn together. Children
with severe or multiple disabilities will require the recruitment of special educators with cross-disability
training. It is also in conformity with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4.

Household Sanitation for Persons with Disabilities Guidelines

 A set of guidelines for accessibility was developed by the Swachh Bharat Mission. In addition, the
administration expanded the scope of government aid for home toilets to include households with
disabled members.

RBI Guidelines
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a guideline titled "Banking Facility for Senior Citizens and
Differently Abled Persons." It instructed banks to use inclusive methods such as priority service and
accessible banking.

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