Towards Economic Participation: Examining the Impact of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in India

This paper examines the probable impact of India’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), particularly in terms of promoting economic participation. The paper presents findings from recent fieldwork, conducted in India at the beginning of 2011. The main aim of the study was to examine some current national-level developments, relevant to disability, and to compare various approaches to promoting economic participation at the grass-roots level, with a view to determining the potential of the CRPD to make a real difference to the everyday lives of disabled people. The paper concludes that the CRPD has already had some impact at the national level. Furthermore, there are signs that some parts of Indian society are becoming more inclusive of disabled people, in the areas where research was carried out, thus increasing the likelihood of greater economic participation for disabled people in the future.