Deafblind persons seek separate identification in Census 2027
The community requires specific data to help address unaddressed needs and create better policy decisions, according to The Hindu.
Persons with deafblindness in Chennai on Thursday requested the Union government to record their specific disability as a separate category in the 2027 Census.
According to The Hindu, Syed Ali Fathima, who is deafblind, told the media that separate counting would assist in making policy changes to benefit the community.
Fathima stated that various needs, starting with employment opportunities, currently remain unaddressed and that knowing the exact number of people with this disability is necessary.
Deafblindness involves having both hearing and vision impairments. The media briefing was held by Sense International India, an organisation that works for the uplift of deafblind individuals.
Spastics Society Coordinator Sanam Nair noted that during the disability certification process, individuals are categorised under three different disabilities rather than together.
Nair said this lack of combined classification is also reflected on their disability ID cards. She added that specifying multiple disabilities could help raise awareness and lead to job opportunities.