As India strives to achieve $ 1 trillion digital economy by 2028, digital citizenship has become indispensable to reach e-governance services and basic rights. At this critical point, where India emphasizes the need for “digital inclusion”, it is mandatory to evaluate the effectiveness of the government’s strategies, which is on the scale of digital access, adoption and impact in the final miles.
One such weak community that we have often ignored in the digital field from ‘Last Mile’ are PWDs. These are particularly given to the draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025, which were issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in January. The purpose of these rules is to implement an important provision within the main law: obtaining ‘verificationable consent’ from the ‘legitimate guardian’ of disabled persons. The author of this article highlights important challenges and unique weaknesses faced by PWD in the first digital age and then digital policies, such as Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 and Rules for fundamentally about the rules. They argue on the requirement of. Protecting the interests of all citizens, to adequately address the specific requirements and rights of the PWD.
A pan-India study on challenges
A PAN-India study by Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), Broadband India Forum (BIF) and Center for Development Policy and Practice (CDPP), titled “ICT for Emoving Accessibility/Inquipment: The Impact of the Lights” By PWDs in digital ecosystems Demonstrates various challenges. Which includes limited access to education, health care, employment and other essential services, which leads to adverse socio -economic results and serious social boycott.
The study found that information and communication technologies (ICT) provide significant potential for PWD, including information, social welfare schemes, employment opportunities and increase in community engagement. However, a ‘digital inclusive vision’ is not only about the existence of technology and infrastructure. It is also about access to the same.
For example, the study found that out of 112 PWDs were surveyed, 36.61% saw digital service providers weekly, indicated regular use, while they faced difficulties in reaching services to suit their diverse requirements. . These services include essential tasks such as photocopy and printing documents, assisting in government scheme applications, and providing training on digital skills, safety and security, as well as use of ICT equipment and government schemes.
The socio -economic and demographic diversity between the types of PWD and the disabled is often ignored in policy discussions around the digital discourse. The census data plays an important role in accounting for the PWD population and its diversity, to create effective policies for a disabled-surrendered digital design-especially for those affected by digital and social division.
IS standard, issue of autonomy
An important legislative step taken by India ensures web accessibility through adopting ICT accessibility standard, which is 17802 (Indian Standard for Information and Communication Technology), which is tailored assistant technologies and assistant technologies for meaningful digital adoption between PWD ICT integrates accessibility with accessibility features. Adopting access standards between public and private service providers will ensure meaningful access to the Internet. In addition, the role of service providers here is important to take advantage of innovation ecosystem and deploy subsidized and low -cost digital infrastructure that enhances digital access and adoption between PWD.
Another important aspect of policy making required to adopt wide ICT between PWDs is the development of relevant and targeted approaches that enabling distance access to the services of physical digital service centers and enabling remote access to local digital ecosystems Addresses the needs. Digital solutions for hyperlokal settings, including literacy programs, are required to take advantage of skill training and capacity-making education and livelihood opportunities.
Research studies associated with 300-Plaus PWD Digital Changemakers demonstrated the transforming ability of digital technologies in empowering and enabling PWD to live life with dignity and respect. However, digital integration, efficiency and adopting measurement, perfectly determined by the number of ICT users, has proved inadequate, which has been indicated to the extent of deep digital division in the country. Therefore, it is necessary to depart from the binary framework of Havs and not for meaningful digital inclusion.
Another major aspect of the study recommends Meity about the re -examination of certain provisions within the DPDP Act. The DPDP Act was implemented in August 2023, and the draft rules were issued for public consultation on 3 January 2025. Authors argue that the DPDP Act accepts PWD as a separate category, and the rules have defined ‘Guardian’ and ‘PWDs. ‘, There are some concerns about the effectiveness of the Act in empowering the community.
To explain this further, Section 9 (1) of the DPDP Act can reduce the autonomy and personality of PWDs by authorizing legal parents to give consent on their behalf without any specific circumstances. This approach contradicts the rights of persons with disabilities (UnCRPD) at the United Nations Conference, which emphasizes autonomy, independent life and right to self -determination.
Second, in the same provision, infecting PWDs with children, Section 9 (1) infects PWDs and reduces the role of legal parents in decision making. It also enhances concerns about the ability of parents to misuse power, while PWD has a thorough lack of any legal safety measures to protect sensitive personal data.
Third, while many technologies and services exist to support PWDs, the government’s important responsibility lies in ensuring that these technologies are accessible and viable to all members of the society. Currently, many digital services are limited to physical places, which obstruct flexibility of PWD to services, training and remotely support. The government should focus on conducting a comprehensive list of solutions available earlier and tailoring PWD in India to tailor them.
In addition, increasing internet connectivity in remote areas is important to ensure similar access to online resources for PWD in marginalized communities. In addition, associates associated with government, private sector, civil society and technical-technical sector are required to equip digital service providers with essential accessories and access facilities.
On ‘meaningful’ connectivity
Many pieces of law in India, including the DPDP Act and Telecom Act, accept the importance of “digital by-design” approach to “Digital by-Dezine” approach, accepting the importance of digital access. However, the study emphasizes the government’s need to seriously investigate these regulatory structures to enable meaningful connectivity to all communities in India. For example, it has been suggested that any digital-by-design framework should be made on a civil-centered instead of a consumer-centric model-a lower model of policy advocacy that relevant, evidence-based and specific digital It addresses various communities in India. The term ‘meaningful’ is important for bridge graded digital inequalities here and to create digital equity for all.
Finally, a multi-dimensional approach is required to empower the PWD in the digital age. By working collaboratively with PWDs, civil society and technical fields, the government can actually create an inclusive digital landscape, where everyone can fully participate and thrive, regardless of their abilities, regardless of their abilities.
Arpita Kanjilal is the head, research and advocacy Division, Digital Empowerment Foundation. Meera Swaminathan Broadband India Forum has director-policy advocacy and communication
Published – February 25, 2025 05:02 pm IST