Government of India

Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
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The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) is a governmental body in India dedicated to promoting the rights and well-being of individuals with disabilities. Established under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, DEPwD plays a pivotal role in formulating policies, programs, and initiatives aimed at fostering inclusivity, accessibility, and empowerment for persons with disabilities (PWDs) across the nation.

Mandate & Scope

DEPwD’s mandate encompasses various aspects of disability empowerment, including education, employment, social security, accessibility, and rehabilitation. Through its initiatives, DEPwD strives to enhance opportunities for PWDs to participate actively in societal, economic, and cultural spheres, thereby ensuring their full integration and contribution to national development.

Key Initiatives

Key initiatives undertaken by DEPwD include the Accessible India Campaign, which aims to create barrier-free environments and promote accessibility in public infrastructure and transportation systems. Additionally, DEPwD oversees the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD Act), which provides a comprehensive legal framework for safeguarding the rights and entitlements of PWDs.

Approach & Collaboration

By advocating for inclusive policies, facilitating capacity-building programs, and collaborating with stakeholders at various levels, DEPwD plays a crucial role in fostering a more equitable and inclusive society where persons with disabilities can realize their full potential and lead dignified lives.

Brief History DEPwD

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities was carved out of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 12.05.2012 as the Department of Disability Affairs to ensure greater focus on policy matters to effectively address disability issues and to act as a nodal Department for greater coordination among different stakeholders, organizations, State/UT Governments and Central Ministries and Departments.

Thereafter, the Department was renamed as the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities to explicitly express the focus of the Department on overall empowerment of PwDs in December, 2014.

Subsequently, the name of the Department was further renamed as the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) [DEPwD(D)] vide notification dated 14.05.2016.

In Hindi, the name of the Department is Divyangjan Sashaktikaran Vibhag.