Webinar on Reservation Realities: Perspectives on the Burden for Persons with Disabilities

This webinar took place on Sunday, 31st of March, 2024, 8pm onwards and was held on google meet, effectively making it accessible to a wider audience, especially people with disabilities.

OUR PANELLISTS

•Mr. Ritesh Kumar, Researcher and Educator

•Ms. Hiranya Chiti Bhargavi, Student, Social Advocate and Writer

•Mrs. Reena Saxena, Retd Senior section officer accounts, railway.

MODERATOR- Ms Aarushi Gambhir

Objective- 

Raise Awareness: To provide a platform to discuss the challenges and opportunities related to the reservation of Persons with Disabilities (PwD) in various sectors.

Educate: To inform participants about existing reservation policies for PwD and their implications.

Advocate: To highlight the importance of inclusive policies and practices in reducing the burden on PwD.

Engage: To facilitate a discussion between policymakers, practitioners, and PwD about improving reservation policies and their implementation.

Target Audience

• Persons with Disabilities

• Policymakers and government officials

• Educators and academic researchers

• Non-profit organizations and advocacy groups

• General public interested in disability rights

Mrs. Reena Saxena, emphasized that reservation policies alone are insufficient. She stressed the need for inclusive awareness initiatives in educational institutions, starting from villages to towns. She underscored the importance of making accessibility a priority at all levels, including legislative bodies like the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. She highlighted that without comprehensive accessibility and awareness, reservation policies would fall short in making a significant impact.

Ms. Hiranya Chiti Bhargavi, a student with a disability, echoed the need for greater awareness. She pointed out that while reservation policies are crucial, they must be complemented by accessible infrastructure. She called for a focus on making physical and digital spaces more accessible to people with disabilities, ensuring that they can fully participate in educational and professional settings.

Mr. Ritesh Kumar, a professor who is himself a person with disability, raised concerns about the low turnout rate for PwD seats. He noted that many reserved seats remain vacant due to lack of applicants, which he attributed to barriers such as inadequate accessibility and awareness. He suggested that increasing awareness and providing better support systems could encourage more students with disabilities to utilize these opportunities.

Both Mrs. Saxena and Ms. Bhargavi responded to Mr. Kumar's point by reiterating that reservation alone is not the solution. They emphasized that inclusive facilities and infrastructure are essential, from cities to villages, to ensure that children with disabilities have the support they need from an early age.

Interactive Q&A Session

Participants engaged with the panellists, asking questions about the practical implementation of inclusive policies and how to address existing gaps in accessibility and awareness.

Closing Remarks

The session concluded with a summary of key points discussed and a call to action for participants to advocate for improved and inclusive policies for students with disabilities.

Conclusion

The webinar on provided a comprehensive platform to discuss the multifaceted challenges faced by PwD and the role of reservation policies in addressing these issues. The discussions highlighted the need for a holistic approach that includes policy reform, awareness, and infrastructural improvements to create an inclusive environment for PwD. The insights from experts underscored the importance of starting from the grassroots level to ensure that inclusive policies are effectively implemented across all sectors of society.