On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, observed on 3 December 2025, the spotlight shines on approximately 11.8 million women in India grappling with intersecting barriers of gender, disability, and economic exclusion, facing unsafe public transport, inaccessible hospitals, workplace discrimination, and digital divides.
These women, advocates for autonomy and opportunities rather than charity, represent 1.18 crore females within a total disabled population of 2.68 crore as per recent government data, while stakeholders including families and policymakers highlight the urgent need for inclusion under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
No major new policy announcements emerged this year, but ongoing judicial rulings and surveys underscore persistent gaps like 80% lacking health insurance.
Layered Daily Struggles
Women with disabilities in India navigate a web of obstacles that amplify their marginalisation, from public buses without ramps or low-floor access to hospitals missing braille signage, tactile paths, or sign language interpreters, leaving routine healthcare visits fraught with risk.
Workplace bias compounds this, with unequal pay, hiring prejudices, and limited training access pushing many into isolation or dependency, especially in rural areas where 69% of the disabled population resides amid scarce resources.
Violence looms large too women and girls with disabilities face up to ten times higher risks of abuse, neglect, or denial of marital and maternal roles compared to non-disabled peers, as cultural stereotypes label them burdens rather than contributors.
A recent analysis captures this poignantly: “Women with disabilities confront a triple handicap of gender, impairment, and discrimination,” trapping them in cycles of poverty and exclusion.
Vital Statistics and Human Stories
The 2011 Census pinpointed 11,824,355 disabled women out of India’s 2.68 crore total disabled individuals (2.21% of the population), with recent Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) reports confirming around 1.18 crore females, predominantly rural (1.04 crore) over urban (0.36 crore).
Literacy gaps persist girls with disabilities rarely access education, slashing employment prospects, while a 2025 survey revealed over 80% of disabled people, especially women with haemophilia, multiple disabilities, or dwarfism, lack health insurance, facing gender-specific barriers even when eligible under schemes like PM-JAY.
Human stories abound: entrepreneurs like those in “Invisible to Visible” battle stigma and infrastructure deficits, yet emerge as innovators; caregivers echo isolation exacerbated by socio-economic strains.
“Genuine inclusion demands changing societal mindsets alongside tangible facilities,” urges a disability rights expert, spotlighting lost GDP potential from exclusion estimated in billions.
Evolving Legal and Policy Landscape
India’s framework began strengthening with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, expanding recognised disabilities to 21 and mandating 4% reservation in government jobs plus accessibility across transport, education, and public spaces, building on the 1995 Act’s foundations.
Supreme Court judgements in recent years affirm accessibility as a fundamental right under Articles 14, 15, and 21, while High Courts have directed functional assessments over outdated medical certificates for fair participation, such as in sports.
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act intersects here, yet implementation lags Budget 2025 pleas called for assistive devices in health insurance and universal PM-JAY coverage sans income caps.
Preceding incidents like the 2024 UNFPA alerts on violence and 2025 surveys on insurance gaps underscore slow progress; rural-urban divides persist, with urban males (0.82 crore) faring slightly better than females.
Government portals like data.gov.in track these disparities, urging data-driven reforms for sustainable development.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Empowering 11.8 million disabled women as leaders, creators, professionals, and changemakers demands urgent empathy, bold policy enforcement, and societal shifts towards kindness, breaking cycles of exclusion to weave harmony and coexistence into India’s fabric. The Logical Indian stands for dialogue that amplifies unheard voices, fostering inclusive opportunities where dignity trumps charity and every woman thrives.
