NCPEDP Organizes National Consultation on Census 2027, Calls for Inclusive and Accessible Enumeration of Persons with Disabilities
New Delhi: NCPEDP, organised a national consultation on the Census of India 2027 at Vishwa Yuva Kendra, bringing together around 1000 individuals (In-Person and Virtual) from the National Disability Network, disability organisations, parents and caregiver groups, scholars and researchers to discuss concerns around the enumeration of persons with disabilities and advocate for an inclusive and accessible Census. Census 2027 will be the first decennial Census since the RPwD Act 2016 recognising 21 kinds of disabilities, and has been delayed by six years, making it imperative for persons with disabilities to be accurately counted.
The way persons with disabilities are identified and counted has significant implications for their visibility, representation, policymaking and access to public resources. Accurate and disaggregated disability data is essential to understand the diverse needs of persons with disabilities and ensure that government policies and programmes are inclusive and responsive.
Phase II of Census 2027 approaches in February 2027, and is already taking place in snow bound areas, along with Goa, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh due to elections. This consultation was convened due to concerns around the lack of publicly available information on the enumeration process, especially shared by NDN state partner Ram Goel, based in Uttar Pradesh. Persons with disabilities continue to live in uncertainty and fear, worried that they may once again be left out of being counted. Without accurate enumeration, their needs and lived realities risk remaining invisible in government policies and development priorities.
NCPEDP as a national cross-disability organisation, has been receiving repeated queries from people with diverse disabilities, organisations working on neurodiversity and intellectual disabilities, caregivers and more. There must be clarity on these 5 states regarding this before the enumuration begins. ORGI and state census offices in states like Uttar Pradesh. In response, the organisation convened this national consultation to bring people together, hear their concerns and collectively explore ways to support the Government in ensuring that no person with a disability is left behind.
The Gazette of India Notification No. 4325, dated 14 August 2026, lists disability as Item No. 13 among the Census questions. Existing information suggests that disability will be recorded under nine broad categories comprehensively covering 21 kinds of disabilities. However, there is still no clarity on digital self-enumeration for persons with disabilities, the specific enumeration process, the availability of accessible digital self-enumeration facilities or the awareness initiatives planned to ensure that persons with disabilities can participate. Concerns also remain about how Census enumerators will be trained and sensitised to engage effectively with households having family members with disabilities.
Participants shared experiences from 30 states expressed willingness to support census operations in their states with the government highlighting limited awareness of self-enumeration among persons with disabilities and gaps in enumerator sensitisation. Particular attention was drawn to persons with high support needs, persons affected by leprosy living in isolated colonies, and people living in remote and underserved communities, who may face additional barriers to being counted. The consultation emphasised that ensuring inclusive enumeration requires coordinated efforts by government authorities, OPDs, civil society organisations, community-based organisations and persons with disabilities themselves. Such data is critical to identifying barriers, planning appropriate interventions and ensuring that different disability groups receive the attention and support they need.
NCPEDP shared its history of working on disability inclusion in the Census since 2001, working closely with ORGI and training of enumerators. Arman Ali, executive director – NCPEDP went through the Census pre-test manual and appreciated the definition and attention given to sensitivity and awareness among enumerators. reiterated that its objective is to collaborate with the Government and support the RGI and State Census Directorates in making Census 2027 accessible, transparent and inclusive. The organisation stressed the need for clear public communication, accessible enumeration mechanisms, appropriate training for Census officials and meaningful engagement with organisations of persons with disabilities.
The consultation concluded with a call for the nationwide “Missing Millions Campaign,” aimed at ensuring mass awareness about census among people with disabilities, families and stakeholders to strengthen advocacy through collaboration with media, for the accurate enumeration of persons with disabilities.
“Data is critical. Census data is what the country will work with for the next decade and will go a long way in ensuring persons with disabilities are counted and not an afterthought.”
