| Syllabus: GS- I, Subject: Society and Social Justice, Topic: Welfare schemes, mechanisms, laws and institutions related to disabled,
Issue: Consumers with disabilities |
Challenges faced by disabled consumers:
- Inaccessibility of goods and services and customer support options
- Remains invisible to businesses and corporates
Different reforms to address the concerns of disabled:
- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWDA) and the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) empower consumers with disabilities.
- RPWDA mandates universally designed consumer goods and accessible services.
- Complaints under RPWDA go to Disability Commissions, with non-binding directives.
The way ahead:
- CPA lacks specific provisions for consumers with disabilities, unlike RPWDA.
- Aligning CPA with RPWDA is crucial for equal protection and accessibility.
- Businesses should make offerings accessible to tap the market of persons with disabilities.
- Awareness about rights and resources can be raised through initiatives like Jago Grahak Jago Campaign.
- Government could consider bringing comprehensive accessibility guidelines for all goods and services.
| +1 advantage for mains (Data point)
·         In India, persons with disabilities account for 5-8% of the population (World Bank, 2009). |
