Sports and Fitness services for differently-abled individuals
Are the funds allocated by the government towards the advancement of the differently-abled community through sports and fitness serving the purpose?
1 hour ago
Source: Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
Sports and fitness services in India are known to rarely consider and account for differently-abled individuals and their requirements in this domain. Almost 2.7 crore people are differently-abled in India to varying extents, which accounts for 2.2% of our population. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 2 million deaths per year worldwide can be attributed to physical inactivity. People who are differently-abled are more susceptible to living sedentary lifestyles, which increases the risks of muscle wasting, pressure sores being formed, as well as doubling the risks of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity.
Persons with disabilities report frequent mental distress, anxiety, and depression — almost 5 times as often as able-bodied persons. Regular fitness-related activities, including weight training, cardio, crossfit, and yoga, are healthy ways to cope with mental stress. Staying fit boosts energy and morale, stimulating various feel-good brain chemicals. Yet, for a variety of reasons, the differently-abled find it difficult to find an avenue for physical activity. Around the world, people have recognized that access to sport by people with disabilities provides benefits both to the individual and society. A resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly identified “Sport as a means to promote education, health, development, and peace.” Specific to people with disabilities, in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 30, Section 5 says that State Parties will “take appropriate measures:
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To ensure that persons with disabilities have an opportunity to organize, develop and participate in disability-specific sporting and recreational activities and, to this end, encourage the provision, on an equal basis with others, of appropriate instruction, training and resources.
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To ensure that children with disabilities have equal access with other children to participation in play, recreation and leisure and sporting activities, including those activities in the school system;”
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities is the Government department responsible for sports and fitness centers and accessibility for the differently-abled. Every year the Central Government allocates funds to the department for the advancement of the lives of the differently-abled community.
The above data shows that allocation of funds have increased over the last five years with the center allocating close to Rs. 1,200 crores to the department. A big emphasis and focus of the department has been development of sports facilities and fitness centers for the individuals. Disability rights groups and organizations such as NCPEDP want a de-escalation of cost of living for PwDs and removal of GST on goods like assistive technologies and aids for people with disabilities. In addition, groups also want the tax ceiling for disabled people to be kept at Rs 5 lakh. They have also been asking the government to consider providing tangible incentives to private organizations that are implementing provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act and have four per cent differently-abled employees.