How dignity by design will enable true inclusion of Persons with Disabilities

The central government’s Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas vision takes a new shape in the 2026–27 Union Budget by moving beyond basic welfare to focus on the economic and functional independence of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).  

In this context, it’s important to understand how targeted schemes like Divyangjan Kaushal and Divyang Sahara are positive steps to strengthen the foundation for the dignity and independence of citizens who have long been excluded from mainstream opportunities. 

These measures signify a pivotal transition from a welfare-focused mindset to a rights-based, capability-enhancing approach.

True dignity for any individual comes from having a job, a purpose, and the tools to live independently, and the two new schemes acknowledge this by moving from just "helping" people with disabilities to "hiring" them and providing them a much-needed platform to contribute to Viksit Bharat. 

Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana is a livelihood-focused scheme. Its design moves beyond traditional ‘handicraft’ vocational training and aligns the person’s skill sets with the modern digital and service economy. 

Training 20,000 persons with disabilities over five years, matching them with suitable industries and roles, and offering training based on specific disability needs will help PwDs find better jobs, earn stable incomes, and be part of the mainstream economy—rather than being limited to informal or low-pay work.

Divyang Sahara Yojana is accessibility-focused. It bridges the gap between skills and employment by ensuring PwDs have access to appropriate assistive technology. Mass-produced, AI-enabled high-quality devices will improve productivity, job retention, and affordability, reduce workplace barriers, and increase employer confidence. Aligning with the Sabka Vikas theme, the scheme promises the same high-quality assistive support to senior citizens with age-related mobility or sensory issues, too. 

As with every other new announcement, there are questions. What next? How will these be implemented and monitored? Who will be accountable? Will the connectivity be strong enough to make the system work? And in real terms, will a young person in a small village have the same access to these schemes as someone in a big city? 

There cannot be an easy or a guaranteed answer to any of the above, but the good part is that these initiatives are backed by a 31% increase in the department's budget and a clear Output-Outcome Monitoring Framework. 

This means there is serious thought behind the implementation. However, like any other scheme, these two also come with both optimism and scepticism. 

While some advocates may hail these schemes as a timely intervention, other groups may be concerned about the ‘accessibility trap’. Broken footpaths, inaccessible transport, and a lack of inclusive public infrastructure might not allow people with physical disabilities in rural areas to move out of their homes and access high-tech tools and job training. 

Redirection of funds within the same government-run manufacturing firm can emerge as another area of concern. Does this mean repackaging of the existing schemes with new labels? Measuring employer readiness and accessibility, too, remains unexplored. Many such questions and uncertainties may arise as the schemes get rolled out on the ground.  

For these schemes to deliver impact, the ‘last mile’ implementation gap needs strategic attention.

With 70% of PwDs living in rural India, for whom mobility is a challenge, the assistive technology mart idea can be expanded to a mobile mart one. 

Technology must reach persons with disabilities in rural areas, rather than expecting them to struggle to access the stationary marts in cities.

Incentivise the firms that hire and provide workplace modifications for PwDs from the training programmes offered under the Kaushal scheme. Make it financially attractive for employers to build accessible workplaces through tax benefits. 

Besides employment training, PwDs must be guided towards entrepreneurship. For graduates of the Kaushal scheme, the government can provide seed funding to help them start their own businesses and become job creators and employers with accessible workplace infrastructure. 

There will be many more such refinements and modifications needed as the finer details of the two schemes get rolled out and a continuous feedback mechanism is established. If these new and older schemes can tap into the daily lives of over 70 million people in India, our collective vision of Viksit Bharat may seem possible. 

(Reena Gupta is Senior Director, Office of Learning Support, Ashoka University.)

(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.)