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POLICY REVIEW
number of elderly persons will access to social services, constitution that enshrines
be residing in India by 2050 collective cohesiveness among the principles of equality
constituting about 20% of the the community, local area and forbids discrimination
population (United Nations). governance, crime & safety, on the grounds of religion,
About 50% of the population economic diversification to race, caste, sex, or place of
consists of women, who have support the socio-cultural birth, respectively. The articles
transitional accessibility needs and demographic diversity. under the Directive Principles
during different phases of life. of State Policy emphasized
Besides, independent living A strong sense of sensitivity the right to education,
and individualistic culture existed among ancient employment (Article 41), and
is becoming popular, and societies for all marginalized free compulsory education
including
demographics
is increasing the challenges for all children under 14 years
of urban living for these PwDs. India has the proud old (Article 45). Public welfare
history of great musicians,
vulnerable demographics, and holistic development of
especially with intersectional leaders, and philosophers society and economy have
with disabilities. It is also
identities. It is, therefore, interesting that individuals’ been the guiding principles
imperative to empower all, impairments were considered of Indian constitution and
irrespective of their age, an opportunity to employ subsequently, governed
gender, or disability, and them in specific jobs. For Indian policy formulation
provide a facilitating urban example, persons with process.
environment to ensure active hearing and/or speech The United Nations
engagement in economic impairment were employed
activities. Declaration of Human
by the kings in medieval Rights in 1946 greatly
INCLUSION & BUILT India to copy confidential benefitted from the lessons
INFRASTRUCTURE government documents. In learnt from decades of the
IN HISTORIC INDIAN ancient India, customized freedom struggle and the
education was imparted to
CITIES PwDs in the communities promulgation of the Indian
constitution. Some of the
Inclusion is not something in which they lived, in notable contributions include
new to Indian architecture or the mainstream schools - Women’s rights (India
urban design. Traditionally, in alongside the non-disabled insisted on the word ‘men’
terms of their environmental, peers in a gurukul setting. be replaced with ‘human
economic and social planning Although during the colonial beings’), Non-discrimination
paradigms, old Indian cities period, special schools were (India added the words
were inherently sustainable established, mostly in urban ‘colour’ and ‘political
and inclusive, while ensuring areas, they were expensive opinion’ as criteria for non-
the compactness of the built and covered only 2% of the discrimination); Freedom of
and density of dwelling. population who needed movement (India added the
Other important aspects special education. article calling for freedom
included a diverse land use LAWS & DIRECTIVES of movement within a
mix, compact development, country); the right to work
dwelling density, internal ON INCLUSION (India added the principle
and external connectivity, The values and principles of of ‘just and favorable
sequential open spaces, inclusivity can also be traced conditions of work’);
walkable neighbourhoods, in Article 14 and 15 of our Secularism, multiculturalism,
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