Census of India: A Milestone for Disability Inclusion

Census of India enumerators conducting disability data collection in Indian community

The 2001 Census stands as a monumental turning point in India's journey towards disability inclusion.

This historic endeavor not only symbolised a commitment to recognize the rights and lived experiences of persons with disabilities, but also laid the groundwork for future advocacy in this crucial area.

In a pioneering collaboration, Ability Foundation joined hands with the Directorate of Census Operations to ensure that the voices of those often overlooked were heard and recorded.

In Tamil Nadu, the first State to initiate this transformative effort, sensitisation programmes were organised for over 1,50,000 census enumerators. Each enumerator became an ambassador of inclusivity, equipped with the knowledge and awareness needed to approach the task with empathy and understanding. To amplify these efforts further, the Foundation launched an extensive public awareness campaign, featuring eye-catching posters, informative stickers, and a powerful one-minute film directed by the renowned filmmaker Sri. Rajiv Menon. This film resonated widely, was aired on 22 national channels and cemented the importance of accurately capturing the data of individuals with disabilities.

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