Proposal Made to Include Disability Studies as Optional Subject in UPSC

Including Disability Studies as a course in India has been a topic of discussion for quite some time now. It has still not made a place for itself among the courses offered but is included as a way of knowledge creation in the areas of disability history, legislation, policy, ethics, etc.

Gajendra Narayan Karna, a researcher in the Human Rights and Disability Studies Programmes at the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, gave his views on this matter. He said that specialisation at the master’s or doctoral level majorly focusses on the phenomena of disability via a perspective that is rights-based. The emphasis is laid on empowerment and on increasing the access of disabled people to civil rights. Ultimately, this has led to a paradigm shift from the medical perspective with which Disability Studies was earlier viewed.

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The Deputy Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), Sanjay Kant, said that it is the need of the hour to get recognition for Disability Studies as an independent faculty or discipline by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Efforts need to be put in to teach it as one of the major subjects at the undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Karna further said that despite many programmes on Disability Studies being taught in institutes like Panjab University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati University, MG University (Kottayam), Alagappa University (Tamil Nadu) etc., the UGC still has to constitute a model curriculum development committee in this field so as to prevent it from being imbibed in a haphazard way. Efforts are in progress at JNU to introduce the Leadership Development programme in Disabilities Studies.

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Karna also said that Disabilities Studies should be included as an optional subject in the UPSC as well for careers in the administrative services. Postgraduates or students at the doctorate level can seek faculty positions in the departments and centres of Disability Studies. Freshers in the course can start their career as assistant professors. Students can also join NGOs and international agencies that cater to this field.