Union Budget 2025: Disability Sector Gets New Schools, But Job Demands Unmet

The Union Budget for 2025-26, presented by Finance Minister Marie Wilson on Wednesday, has drawn a mixed response from the disability sector. While the announcement of five new schools for persons with intellectual disabilities has been welcomed, activists expressed disappointment over the absence of key demands, including employment opportunities and enhanced monthly assistance.

In her Budget speech, the Finance Minister announced the establishment of five schools across the State for persons with intellectual disabilities. The schools are intended to impart life help skills and vocational training. Additionally, the government has proposed an assistance of up to ₹30,000 for the purchase of assistive devices.

Disability rights activists, however, said the Budget failed to address several long-standing demands of the community. C. Govindakrishnan, alias Gopi, founder of Nethrodaya, pointed out that the demand for increasing the monthly assistance for persons with disabilities was not considered. “We have been demanding that the monthly assistance be enhanced. There have been many protests regarding it, and the TVK had promised it in their manifesto. The increase is essential for persons with disabilities who rely on it for survival,” he said.

The announcement regarding special schools has been received positively by several organisations working in the field. M. Ravichandran, State general secretary of the Confederation of Associations for Persons with Mental Disabilities, welcomed the move. “The Confederation is happy that in these five decades, this is the first time the State government is establishing special schools to impart life help skills and vocational training,” he said.

However, Meenakshi Balasubramanian, a member of the Disability Rights Alliance, expressed concern that the Budget speech did not reflect a social justice approach to disability issues. “The government has maintained the status quo in terms of schemes and programmes. Representatives from the disability movement were not invited for a pre-Budget consultation. One key demand was a social protection framework across the life cycle for persons with disabilities, encompassing cash transfers, assistive devices, health care, rehabilitation measures and concessions. Nothing has been considered,” she said.

The disability sector had submitted a list of demands ahead of the Budget, including a comprehensive social protection framework, increased monthly assistance, reservation in government jobs, and accessible infrastructure. The Budget’s focus on schools and assistive devices, while useful, falls short of the broader expectations of the community.

Observers note that the provision of assistive devices is a positive step, but the lack of a holistic approach raises concerns about the government’s commitment to inclusive development. The issue of employment remains particularly critical, as many persons with disabilities continue to face barriers in both public and private sectors.

The Budget also did not clarify whether the monthly assistance scheme would be revised, leaving many families in uncertainty. Activists have reiterated that without a clear roadmap for social protection, the vulnerable sections of the disability community will remain at risk.

As the government moves forward with its plans, stakeholders hope that future policy interventions will be more inclusive and responsive to the needs of all persons with disabilities. The coming months will reveal whether the government will engage in meaningful consultations and address the systemic issues that the community has been raising for years.