**Executive Summary:**
This document addresses political reservation for differently-abled persons in local bodies in India. It clarifies that while there's no constitutional provision for such reservation, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 ensures their right to equality and non-discrimination, allowing them to contest elections. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is mandated to ensure accessible polling stations and materials for PwDs.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Constitutional Position:**
* Elections to local bodies are a State subject.
* The Constitution of India lacks specific provisions for political reservation for persons with disabilities (PwDs) in Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies, unlike reservations for women, SCs, and STs.
* **Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016:**
* Guarantees the right to equality and non-discrimination to PwDs.
* Allows PwDs to contest elections for Panchayats and Municipalities.
* Ensures participation of PwDs in Central and State Advisory Boards on Disability and Expert Committees.
* **Election Commission of India (ECI) Mandate:**
* Section 11 of the RPwD Act, 2016 mandates accessible polling stations and electoral materials for PwDs.
* ECI has implemented measures such as PwD mapping, accessible voter education through SVEEP, and home voting for persons with benchmark disabilities.
* The Saksham App allows PwDs to request assistance like wheelchair access or transportation.
**Impact Analysis:**
**State Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for conducting local body elections.
* *Action Required:* Ensure compliance with the RPwD Act, 2016 and collaborate with the ECI to provide accessible polling stations and materials.
**Election Commission of India (ECI) and State Election Commissions:**
* *Impact:* Mandated to make the electoral process accessible to PwDs.
* *Action Required:* Continue implementing and improving measures for accessible voter registration, education, and polling, including utilizing the SVEEP program and the Saksham App.
**Persons with Disabilities (PwDs):**
* *Impact:* Entitled to equality and non-discrimination in the electoral process.
* *Action Required:* Exercise their right to contest elections and participate in democratic governance, utilizing available resources and accommodations provided by the ECI.
**Central and State Advisory Boards on Disability and Expert Committees:**
* *Impact:* Forums for ensuring representation of PwDs in democratic governance.
* *Action Required:* Facilitate the participation of persons with disabilities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for welfare, social justice and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized sections of the society.
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities: A department under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, focused on the empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Smt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi: Member of Parliament who raised a question in Lok Sabha regarding reservation for differently-abled people.
Panchayats: Local self-government organizations at the village or rural level in India.
Urban Local Bodies: Local self-government organizations in urban areas in India, such as municipalities and municipal corporations.
Election Commission of India: Constitutional body responsible for conducting free and fair elections in India.
National Commission for Persons with Disabilities: Statutory body in India that acts as a watchdog for the rights and entitlements of persons with disabilities.
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: An Act of the Parliament of India enacted to fulfill its obligations to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 386
TO BE ANSWERED ON- 22/07/2025
Reservation of Differently-abled People in Local Bodies
386. Smt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the details of that have provided political reservation for differently-abled persons in local
bodies such as Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies, States or Union Territories along with the
year of implementation;
(b) whether the Government proposes to bring a National policy or amend relevant laws to
provide for political reservation for differently-abled persons in local bodies across the country,
in light of their continued under representation in governance, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any recommendations have been received from the Election Commission, National
Commission for Persons with Disabilities, or any expert committee in this regard, and if so, the
details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure greater political
participation and representation of differently-abled persons at all levels of democratic
governance?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI B. L. VERMA)
(a) - (c): Elections to local bodies such as Panchayats and Municipalities (Urban Local Bodies) is
a State Subject by virtue of entry 5 of the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution
of India. Unlike reservations for women, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs),
there is no provision for political reservation for persons with disabilities in local bodies such as
Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies under the Constitution of India. The Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 provides the right of equality and non-discrimination to PwDs
and as such there is no bar on persons with disabilities (PWDs) contesting elections for
panchayats and municipalities.(d) The RPwD Act, 2016 ensures participation of persons with disabilities in Central and State
Advisory Boards on Disability and Expert Committees for identification of posts for the purpose
of reservation to ensure their representation in democratic governance.
In addition to that, section 11 of the RPwD Act, 2016 mandates the Election Commission of
India and the State Election Commissions to ensure that all polling stations are accessible to
persons with disabilities and all materials related to the electoral process are easily
understandable by and accessible to them. The Election Commission of India has taken several
measures to make voter registration and polling accessible such as PwD mapping, accessible
voter education through the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP)
program that includes campaign in accessible formats, provision of home voting for persons with
benchmark disabilities etc. ECI has also launched the Saksham App that allows PwDs to request
assistance, such as wheelchair access or transportation to polling stations.
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