Impact of disaster on persons with disabilities (PwD) and women

Out of different sections of society, women and children are among the worst-hit when it comes to crimes and calamities. Due to various disasters that impacted India, women and PwD individuals were the most neglected. This was evident during the recent Tsunami in India wherein in Nagapattinam district, 1/3rd of the total dead were women. The total death count was 6065.

The primary reason for this situation is the gender disparities in our society. Women have little say in decision-making, particularly outside the household; they are comparatively less literate, have lesser mobility, and are dependent on menfolk in most matters. Furthermore, society does not represent women and people with disabilities in the matters of community and often their concerns are left ignored during the disasters.

Impact of Covid-19 on PwD and Women 

Covid-19 Pandemic has seen a huge toll on everybody across the globe however PwD and women had worse and was among the most affected group. Some of the visible impacts the pandemic had on this group were –

• Shortage of qualified caretakers for disabled individuals

• Delay in proper care in hospitals and clinics

• A rise in household crimes against women

• Unavailability of medicines and other essentials

• Loss of jobs and livelihood

2nd ARC recommendations

• Any vulnerability analysis should work out the women-specific vulnerabilities, which should be addressed in mitigation efforts. Women’s organizations should be consulted while making disaster mitigation plans

• Rescue and relief should focus on the most vulnerable groups like children, women, the elderly, and the physically challenged

• Relief measures should focus on the unique needs of children, women, and other vulnerable sections of the affected community. Particular focus needs to be given to their physical and mental well-being through health care and counselling

• Efforts in the recovery phase should focus on making women economically independent by offering them livelihood opportunities, skill development, forming self-help groups, providing microfinance, marketing facilities, etc

• The ownership of new assets created should be in the names of both husband and wife. Camp managing committees should have a sufficient number of women representatives

• Trauma counselling and psychological treatment should be made available to women, widows, and distressed persons

• All these activities should be made part of the disaster management plan. Orphaned children should be rehabilitated on a long-term basis

•  NGOs need to be encouraged to play a significant role in their rehabilitation

Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DIDRR)

• Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction has stated that “The key is to empower women and people with disabilities (PwD) to lead publicly, to promote gender-equitable, universally accessible response, recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction”

• Persons with Disabilities (PwD) may be at higher disaster risk because of physical or cognitive impairments. Such factors may limit the ability of a person with disabilities to access information and to act on that information

• A large population of disabled people: In India, of the 2.68 crores (about. 2.1% of the total population) persons with disabilities, men with disabilities constitute 56%, and women with disabilities make up the rest 44%

• Lack of readiness: Persons with disabilities are more likely to be left behind or abandoned during evacuation in disasters and conflicts due to a lack of preparation and planning, inaccessible facilities and services, and transportation systems

• Disproportionate impacts: Disruption to physical, social, economic, and environmental networks and support systems affect persons with disabilities much more than the general population

• Inaccessibility: Most shelters and refugee camps are not accessible, and people with disabilities are often even turned away from shelters and refugee camps due to a perception that they need “complex medical” services

• The high mortality rate of disabled people: disabled people have 2 to 4 times the mortality rate of the general population in acute onset of disasters, with that of women with disability being even higher

• Social discrimination: There is also a potential for discrimination based on disability when resources are scarce

National and International Framework

Section 8 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 ensures equal protection and safety for persons with disabilities in such situations.

• The Act also mandates Disaster Management Authorities at District/ State/National levels to include persons with disabilities in disaster management activities and keep them informed about these measures

• These authorities are required to involve the concerned State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities during disaster management

• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities pays particular attention to the obligation of States parties to undertake “all essential measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in high-risk situations, including armed conflict, humanitarian catastrophes, and natural disasters”

National Disaster Management Guidelines on the Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction

1. Principle of disability inclusion

2. Strengthen the implementation process on providing appropriate support to people with disabilities when responding to disasters

3. Empower persons with disabilities and their representative organisation to contribute to all aspects of DiDRR so that they are viewed not as passive actors but as decision-makers

4. Targets: These guidelines are intended primarily for the government officials/ administration working in DRR at the national, state, and local level, international NGO, a person with a disability, disabled people’s organisation

Guidelines

• The centre should conduct a census and survey of people with disabilities for data & resource mapping

• Inclusion of issues of persons with disability and their organisation in disaster risk reduction activities as stipulated in the Right of Person with Disability Act (RPWDA) 2016 has to be institutionalised

• Awareness of DRR planning and services among people with disabilities has to be universalized

• Adoption of universal design principle, facilitation of accessibility, and access to assistive technology

• Preparedness and mitigation strategies include national stockpiling of durable medical equipment, life-saving devices, etc

• Early warning system mechanism for informing people with an intellectual disability through repeated and alternative formats such as audio and sign languages

• The Centre should earmark specific budgetary allocation towards DIDRR, and the state should mobilise and utilise CSR funds and District Mineral Fund towards the implementation of inclusive actions

Conclusion

Women and People with Disabilities are an integral part of our society. Disasters and other calamities like Earthquakes, Covid-19 and others make this vulnerable group at risk. Government and Individuals should protect this section as a moral and a civil right and help them during unprecedented times.