Dimension of Disability in India

This paper aims to assess Dimension of Disability in India. It also investigates whether this is declining with time or not. For this purpose data are taken from base line of Annual Health Survey (AHS) conducted by ORGI in 2010-11. The indicators of Disability considered in this study are: mental, Visual, Hearing, speech and locomotors. An index is prepared for each indicator and states are ranked on the basis of this index. Results of the study show that Disability has declined in some of the states. For example, at the national level, difference in the proportion of male and female declined. In rural India, the prevalence of disability was much higher as compared to that in its urban counterpart. Among males, the prevalence of disability was significantly higher than that among females. The prevalence rate among SC population was marginally higher as compared to the general population; while among ST population, it was noticeably lower.