Ascribing every electoral victory of the BJP to a certain popular welfare scheme or a superior organisational machinery- A myth-This could’t happen in Karnataka elections.
Two principal factors behind dominance of BJP:-
First, a dominant ideological agenda, represented by the expansive rubric of Hindu nationalism.
A trusted and charismatic national leadership (chiefly Prime Minister Narendra Modi) through super-charged electoral campaigns.
There need to be more inclusive opportunities and employment in the rural areas as a majority of persons with disabilities live here.
Globally, 1.3 billion people (which is equivalent to nearly the entire population of India) live with some form of disability. Of them, 80% live in developing countries; further, 70% of them live in rural areas.
Current systems are designed for persons without disabilities and end up being exclusionary to people with disabilities, resulting in them experiencing higher instances of poverty, lack of access to education and opportunities, informality and other forms of social and economic discrimination.
A case for inclusion - At the outset, the inclusion of persons with disabilities into the economy can help boost global GDP between 3% to 7%, as per the study by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Greater challenges in rural areas-The first step is awareness by the government, which begins with the capacity-building of community leaders who can advocate for this at the grass-roots level.
The private sector holds a key in promoting the employment of persons with disabilities.
The SPARK project (Sparking Disability Inclusive Rural Transformation (SPARK) project.) - The ILO and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in collaboration with the Women’s Development Corporation in Maharashtra.Through this project, persons with disabilities were put in the lead, being identified from the villages, and trained as Disability Inclusion Facilitators (DIFs) and then bring consciousness and knowledge amid their similar counterparts.
Conclusion: The goal of social justice cannot be achieved without the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all spheres of development, starting with rural areas and rural resilience.
