Making Disability Count: On Why NFHS Will Yield More Robust Data On The Disability Sector

3 Jul 2023

Context:

Recently, the Union government dropped the disability-specific question from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-6.

Why has the Government taken this Decision?

Unchangeable Data: As per the Department of Health and Family Welfare (Statistics Division), such data is unlikely to change fast and so there is no need to collect it.
Unable to Record Accurately: The primary focus of the survey is to collect data on maternal and child health, and in its current form won’t be able to record data on disability accurately.
Differences in Data: There are differences in data collected by the NFHS and the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) on disability and it is not possible to capture the all-India extent of disability through NFHS.
Already Recorded Specific Data: The Ministry of Health and Family said that questions about disability were already asked as part of the Sample Registration Survey (SRS) 76th round, which was aimed at getting specific data on the subject.
Smooth Functioning: It was said that questions were included in the NFHS-6 based on recommendations by the Technical Advisory Committee and other higher-level committees constituted for smooth functioning of the survey.

When was the question on disability included?

It was included for the first time in the fifth round of NFHS [NFHS-5] which was carried out during 2019-21.
On the basis of the NFHS-5 report, it was observed that disability prevalence was only 1% for rural areas and 0.9% for urban areas while NSSO estimates for the year 2018 showed 2.3% for rural areas and 2% for urban areas.

Issues with the dropping of disability-specific question from the NFHS-6:

The deletion and reluctance to map the minutiae seems, the government is not serious about its commitment to the disabled in the country, whose number, as per the 2011 Census, is about 2.68 crore.

Initiatives taken for Disabled in India:

Unique ID for Persons with Disabilities project: It is being implemented with a view of creating a National Database for Persons with Disabilities, and to issue a Unique Disability Identity Card to each person with disabilities.
Accessible India Campaign: A nation-wide flagship campaign for achieving universal accessibility which enables persons with disabilities to gain access for equal opportunity and live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life in an inclusive society.
DeenDayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme: Financial assistance is provided to NGOs for providing various services to Persons with Disabilities.
Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP):
- It aims at helping the disabled persons by bringing suitable, durable, scientifically-manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances within their reach.
- National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities: It aims to increase opportunities for students with disabilities to pursue higher education.
National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled: It is the world’s largest positive & solutions based content driven impact platform.
- An umbrella organization where all kinds of people with disabilities can join and work towards a common goal to usher in disabled-friendly India.

Related Global Initiatives:

Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific:
- To enhance access to the physical environment, public transportation, knowledge, information and communication for persons with disabilities to fulfill their rights in an inclusive society.
United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disability:
- Its purpose is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.
International Day of Disabled Persons ( 03 December):
- The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3, with an aim to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
UN Principles for People with Disabilities:
- It deals with the respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and independence of persons.

Way Forward:

Comprehensive Representation: The NFHS provides more comprehensive questions on various aspects including health, nutrition, access to healthcare, family planning, domestic violence, household amenities, and lifestyle indicators.
- This broader scope ensures better and more robust data on the disability sector compared to the SRS.
Training: Need to provide proper training for field staff who ask the questions.

Additional Information:

The National Family Health Survey (NFHS):

A large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in a representative sample of households throughout India, with an objective to collect reliable and up-to-date information.
It is conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
- MoHFW designated the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, as the nodal agency for the surveys.
It was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with supplementary support from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Topics of Data Collection by the NFHS:

The Sample Registration Survey (SRS):

It is a large-scale survey conducted in India to collect data on events like births, deaths, and infant deaths, which is carried out by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, which is a part of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The main purpose of the SRS is to gather information about population dynamics, demographic indicators, and vital events occurring in the country.
The survey uses a sample-based approach, meaning that data is collected from a representative sample of households across different states and districts.

Important Provisions:

Article 41 of the Indian Constitution:
- It states that the State shall make effective provisions for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disability.
The 2030 Agenda for Persons with Disabilities:
- The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes persons with disabilities and has thus opened doors for their participation and recognition as active contributing members of society.