Dear all, Request you to endorse the sector's letter to India's health minister to restore the disability questions in National Family Health Survey 6 by filling the simple endorsement form given in the link by *11 am tomorrow - 5th June 2023 before we send the representation *(though the form will remain open for a while thereafter). Please spare 2 mins of your time for this endorsement.
http://bit.ly/disability-in-nfhs [Text of the letter, also included in the endorsement form] 5th June 2023 To Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Honorable Minister Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India [email protected], [email protected] Sir, Sub: Urgent action required for inclusion of disability related questions in National Family Health Survey 6 (NFHS-6: due to commence from July 2023) We are writing this letter to bring to your attention that the disability question has been dropped <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/govt-drops-disability-related-questions-from-national-family-health-survey/articleshow/100526666.cms> in the upcoming National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 6 and to seek your support in reinstating the question. Disability is an inherent aspect of human diversity. Furthermore, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD - Article 31), of which India is a signatory, emphasize the crucial need for data collection and disaggregated data on disability. The decision to remove disability related questions from its survey is contradicting the principle of “leave no one behind”. Whilst NFHS-5 (2019-21) had disability related questions and collected data on disabilities, information from International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) & Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPWD) confirm that NFHS-6 has dropped questions on disability from its survey questionnaire. Going forward, whilst NFHS needed to sharpen its questionnaire on the disability front and make it more relevant by consulting people with disabilities, it has reversed the process by removing disability related questions altogether. Considering the focus of socio economic development aspects, categorised into gender, households and bio marker subthemes and an addition of around 50 new questions to NFHS-6, dropping the 2 questions on disability from the household subtheme is a discriminatory approach against persons with disabilities and the development of health policies and programs related to them. With the NFHS 6 survey scheduled to commence in just a month's time, it is imperative that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare acts swiftly and prioritize the inclusion of the disability question in NFHS-6, facilitate disaggregated data and formulation of development programs of 26.8 million persons with disabilities in the country. We hereby urge your esteemed office to intervene and take necessary action to reinstate the disability question in NFHS 6 within the next ten days, failing which the disability sector will be left with no option but to seek relief in other appropriate forums. Looking forward to your immediate response and proactive action in this regard ensuring the rights of 26.8 million citizens with disabilities in India. Sincerely, WE, the People of India -- Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAN7%2Bzvr%3DzgrLWNDceJZyxNKL59W-knjP181_g%3DTjYSmpN8WqYA%40mail.gmail.com.
