New Delhi, Nov 6 (PTI) More than 500 participants joined a national online dialogue organised by the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) and Sense International India to strengthen disability inclusion in Census 2027.
The dialogue, held on November 5 under the Missing Millions Campaign, brought together persons with disabilities, disability organisations, caregivers and community representatives to discuss the enumeration process, identify potential barriers and explore ways to support participation.
A walkthrough of Digital Self-Enumeration was also conducted ahead of its scheduled rollout from November 16 to 30 in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa and the non-snow-bound areas of Uttarakhand.
"Every person with a disability must be counted and counted accurately. At Sense International India, we work with persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities, who are often the least visible and the most easily left out. Census 2027 is an important opportunity to change that.
"We are glad to stand with NCPEDP and with the more than 500 participants who joined this national dialogue to make the Census accessible and inclusive. Without reliable data, policies and services cannot reach those who need them most," said Uttam Kumar, chief executive officer of Sense International India.
"Census 2027 presents a tremendous opportunity for persons with disabilities to be counted and represented. With the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 expanding recognised disabilities from 7 to 21, it is crucial that the Census captures the realities of the entire disability community.
"Digital Self-Enumeration is a significant step forward: technology now enables us to become enumerators of our own households. We must seize this opportunity and ensure that no person with a disability is left uncounted," said Arman Ali, executive director of NCPEDP.
The Gazette of India notification dated August 14, 2026, lists disability as Question No 13 in the Population Enumeration Questionnaire. The 21 recognised disabilities are grouped under nine categories, with provision to record up to three disabilities per individual.
Participants raised questions about the inclusion of temporary disabilities, identification of learning disabilities and neurodivergence, and difficulties in obtaining disability certification.
They also sought clarity on alternatives in cases where biometric failures prevent Aadhaar enrolment, whether Unique Disability ID or other documents could be used, and arrangements for households without mobile phone access.
Follow-up procedures for locked, absent or missed households were also discussed. Participants stressed that lack of documentation should not exclude anyone from the Census.
The dialogue concluded with a commitment to expand the Missing Millions Campaign through disability organisations, state networks and community groups, with priorities including accessible information in local languages, outreach to communities at risk of exclusion, documenting barriers with consent and engagement with Census authorities.
NCPEDP is a cross-disability, non-profit organisation working to promote the rights, inclusion and equal opportunities of persons with disabilities, particularly in employment, accessibility and policy advocacy, while Sense International India works for the rights and inclusion of persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities.
