'Need to include Disability Studies as an optional in UPSC'

UGC must constitute a model curriculum development committee on Disability Studies and recognise it as an independent discipline, claim experts
Despite the widespread discussion, Disability Studies is not a course per se in India, but a way of knowledge creation in the area of disability history, policy, legislation, ethics etc. "Specialisation at the master's/doctoral level focusses on the phenomena of disability through a rights-based perspective - where the emphasis is on empowerment and increasing the access of disabled individuals to civil rights.This has led to a paradigm shift from the earlier medical perspective with which Disability Studies was viewed," says Gajendra Narayan Karna, researcher at Jawaharlal Nehru University's (JNU's) Human Rights & Disability Studies Programmes, School of International Studies. "Recognising Disability Studies as an independent discipline/faculty by the UGC is the need of the hour with efforts required to teach it as a major subject at the UG and PG level," says Sanjay Kant Prasad, deputy chief commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, GOI. "Presently, the education sector is focussing on rehabilitation of PwDs without much effort to create a conducive environment for them," Prasad says.
Lack of model curriculum
"While there is a flurry of programmes on Disability Studies across institutes such as TISS, Panjab University, MG University (Kottayam), Guwahati University, Alagappa University (Tamilnadu), to name a few, UGC is yet to constitute a model curriculum development committee in the field to prevent the haphazard way in which it is imbibed," Karna says.
"At JNU, efforts are underway to launch the Leadership Development programme in Disability Studies soon. Over 25 scholars have pursued MPhil and PhD programmes on different aspects of disability through the University's various centres and schools," says Karna.
Interdisciplinary approach
Across institutes, Disability Studies may be studied at the MA/MSc, MPhil and PhD level as a minor/optional subject in disciplines such as the Social Sciences, Inclusive Education, Anthropology, Social Medicine and Community Health etc. Since disability has to be looked at from various perspectives, it cannot be studied in isolation.
Job prospects
Karna calls for the need to include Disability Studies as an optional subject in the UPSC for careers in the administrative services. Post graduates or PhDs working in the field can opt for faculty positions in the Disability Studies centres/departments as also in the interdisciplinary clusters of universities. As freshers, they can start out as assistant professors and work their up to become professors. Students may also join NGOs or international development agencies including the WHO and UNICEF in researcher, management and analyst positions.