Unveiling the Invisible: Exploring disability and its economic ripples through the eyes of youth

I was in my car, on the Golf Course Road, in Gurgaon when I observed a girl sitting in a wheelchair struggling to navigate the uneven pavement. As it was near our society, my driver instinctively slowed the car to take a better look. I noticed that all pedestrians hurried past her, seemingly oblivious to her problem. Moved by an unknown instinct, I got down from the car and offered my assistance. And that two-minute conversation about her daily struggles made me realise the countless challenges she faces every day and even more I understood the importance of inclusion in a whole new light.

It isn't just about physical accessibility; it is about creating a society where everyone, regardless of their ability, feels valued, respected, and included. It is about recognising the unique strengths and contributions of every individual, regardless of their differences.

For me I realised, it's about taking an action to create a more inclusive and compassionate space for all. It reinforced my commitment to advocating for disability rights and fostering a culture of inclusion in my community. While, I am privileged to be studying in a school that follows inclusive education, there is a gap when it comes to education for children with disability, or even exclusion from playgrounds. Our census data suggests that the literacy rate of people with disabilities is around 55% that is much lower than our national average of 74%.

Research has shown that a $13 trillion economy is to be explored by integrating persons with disabilities and their ecosystem in economic activities. It also has the potential to create 100 million jobs in the world to cater for the 15% of the total population considered to be people with disabilities to integrate in the purple sector economy. The purple economy as a term has been coined by EnAble India as the colour of disability is purple. The thousands of stories which are not explored yet of people with disabilities getting economic independence can also be understood with the above-mentioned experience.

Nearly two-thirds of people with disabilities in India remain unemployed and this problem further intensifies at the intersection of gender, disability, and poverty, as men with disability are twice as likely to secure jobs as compared to women.

Unfortunately, with an estimated 30 million disabled individuals in India, only around 3.4 million are currently employed across various sectors.

— Writer is a student of Class XII, Shri Ram School Aravali, Gurgaon