PANAJI
The State Commission for Persons with Disabilities (SCPwD) has called upon the G20 leaders to include PwDs in future job scenarios by ensuring these individuals are also a part of the post-job market vision.
The issue was discussed at a consultation on ‘Disability and Employment’ held as a part of the Disability, Equity, Justice Working Group Civil 20 India - a global platform for independent disability interventions, at the G20 meeting, on Thursday.
The Commission led by Guruprasad Pawaskar also raised apprehensions that excluding 1.3 billion approx individuals worldwide living with disabilities can impose a high cost on a country, amounting to up to 7 per cent of its GDP.
“It is crucial for the global community, from human, social, and economic perspectives, to incorporate the needs and recommendations of persons with disabilities into the 2023 G20 Leaders' Declaration. Individuals with disabilities face a higher likelihood of unemployment, underemployment, or economic inactivity compared to those without disabilities. This systematic exclusion has significant macroeconomic implications for the G20 countries,” he further said adding,
“There are tangible economic losses associated with disability, stemming from factors such as unemployment, underemployment, and reduced labor productivity caused by an environment that restricts individuals with disabilities. Consequently, employed persons with disabilities are unable to reach their full potential in terms of productivity.”
The consultation held by the Commission in collaboration with the US Consulate General, Mumbai; Mariwala Health Initiative, and Rising Flame also saw Founder and Executive Director of Rising Flame Nidhi Goyal pointing out that growth and development will neither be inclusive nor sustainable if policymakers don’t consider persons with disabilities within the system.
“It’s time that persons with disabilities are not seen as individuals needing charity but as individuals who contribute to society and to the economy. A discussion like this ensures that we are making recommendations to the G20 leaders to not only have persons with disabilities be a part of the labour force today and be business leaders tomorrow, but be a part of the vision of the jobs and work of day after as well,” she said.
The panelists further emphasized the importance of equal opportunities, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency, mental health and safety, ways to address sexual violence at the workplace, etc during the day-long programme.
