Society for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies Key Issues and
Operational Areas, Major Activiities & Achivements
Operational Districts: Chittoor, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam,Araria, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Patna, Samastipur,Chandigarh,New Delhi, South,Shimla,Ranchi,Bangalore,Hoshangabad,Mumbai,Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad
Operational States: ANDHRA PRADESH, BIHAR, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, HIMACHAL PRADESH, JHARKHAND, KARNATAKA, MADHYA PRADESH, MAHARASHTRA, UTTAR PRADESH
AchieveMents: Since its inception, the Society for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies (SDRS) has been constantly registering significant contribution in disability sector as also social sciences at national and international levels. Despite paucity of resources, it has curved out a niche for itself in the realms of participatory action research, social development, grassroots level social services, advocacy and policy- making processes. The most notable achievement of the SDRS lies in developing and getting recognition for Disability Studies (by Ministry of Human Resource Development/ Government of India) as an academic discipline to be taught in universities and colleges throughout the country. Consequently, Disability Studies programmes have been started in several universities/ academic institutions (including IGNOU, BR Ambedkar University, Periyar, Gauhati and Alagappa universities) at the instance of the SDRS. The process is in full swing in certain other universities (including the Universities of Kerala) to launch a series of programmes on Disability Studies.
In the sphere of disability advocacy, the SDRS has played a crucial role by taking up with concerned ministries/ departments/ organizations the cases of victimization and discrimination as also denial of basic human rights of the disadvantaged sections of society, including persons with disabilities (who are the aggrieved parties) at various levels, ranging from difficulty in issuance of Disability Certificate, Medical/ Clinical Referral Services, Accessibility and Education to Employment, Social Security, Promotion and Protection of Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Other Vulnerable Groups. Tens of thousands of persons with disabilities have so far been ensured justice at various levels. It is due to our sustained campaign that rights- based perspective of disability could be the cornerstone of 11th Five Year Plan on disability.
Similarly, the issues related to disability have been incorporated into the Poll Manifestos of National and State Level Political Parties in certain Statesââ¬âincluding Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Especially in the field of facilitating accessibility and implementation of three per cent reservation in education, employment and social security, it has been working uninterruptedly as an effective pressure group. The finalization of Report of 11th Five Year Plan Working Group on Empowering the Disabled (2007-2012), constituted by Planning Commission, Government of India under the chairmanship of Dr G. N. Karna (Honorary President of SDRS and a noted expert on Disability Studies/Human Rights). The SDRS has also been actively associated with Core Group on Disability, constituted by National Human Rights Commission/ Government of India to monitor the implementation of UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities by Central and State Governments. Quite recently, the SDRS has succeeded in getting the scourge of polio wiped out from a village named Mohan Budhiyam (falling under Pandual Block of Madhubani district of Bihar) affected by mass polio; as the NHRC took suo moto action on the petition moved by SDRS and directed the Government of Bihar to take appropriate corrective measures.
This is the only organization in India to develop and promote teaching and research in the area of Disability Studies as academic foundation of disability rights movement.
