Lok Sabha Question No. 386 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: Reservation of Differently-abled People in Local Bodies
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Smt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

## 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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