Identification of Disability for Inclusive Development: Lessons from Disability Census of Kerala, India

Abstract

The identification and representation of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) has been a contentious issue due to the lack of methodological standardization. This study scrutinizes the methodological innovation made by the Indian state of Kerala for identifying PwDs in its special census on disability in 2015. The study used disability data from the 15th Census of India and the Disability Census (DC) of Kerala and used descriptive statistics to compare the two on demographic, health, social, and economic dimensions. The prevalence of disability in Kerala was found to be around 2.2% in both the censuses. However, between the two data sources, the share of different disabilities varied from 1% in the case of mental retardation to as much as 10% in the case of locomotor disability. Robust data collection in two stages by trained health professionals, incorporation of detailed categories of disabling conditions, and inclusion of a large number of dimensions in DC made it an effective survey. It is important to improve the identification of PwDs to properly address their unique needs and promote an inclusive development. Defining “mental retardation” to capture disability can be derogatory to many; however, disability in mental health has been defined as “mental retardation” and “mental illness” in the 15th round of the Census of India. As a result, these are the terms that will be used throughout the article.