Bhubaneswar, Jan. 18: A state-level workshop to create awareness regarding inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Census 2011 was held today at the Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD).

Over 100 participants, comprising people with disabilities, students of city-based colleges, members of NGOs and community-based organisations, representatives of development organisations and state government, were present at the workshop.

After a gap of four decades, the census conducted in 1981, which coincided with the International Year for Disabled Persons, revealed that PWDs constituted 0.2 per cent of the country’s population.

“A large chunk of the population, which was partially disabled were left out of the picture as the questionnaire had three categories of disabilities — totally crippled, totally blind and hundred per cent speech impaired. From next census onwards, the question was eliminated,” said social activist Sruti Mohapatra.

She added although the question on disability was included in Census 2001, it was reported at most places that enumerators had not asked the question.

The 2.7 million primary schoolteachers collecting data did not have enough knowledge on disability and the different categories were also not clear to them.

“Consequently, the figures turned out to be 2. 13 per cent and 2.78 per cent in India and Orissa, respectively, which was way off the mark. Around 50 to 60 million people remained invisible and lost out on benefits as all government policies are based on statistics,” said Mohapatra.

Director of Census Operations in the state, Bishnupada Sethi, said priority would be given to PWDs in this year’s census, which is going to be conducted from February 9 to 28.

“This time, the question on disability, which earlier was listed at No. 15 has moved up to No. 9, and is now placed before the question on mother tongue. The possibility of this being asked becomes greater now.

“We are trying to generate awareness, not just among enumerators, but also among PWDs so that they can get themselves counted,” said Sethi. Besides reaching out to every household, homeless PWDs will also be included in the census. Moreover, apart from overt forms of physical and mental disabilities, other forms of disability such as autism, dyslexia, epileptic seizures, thalassemia, haemophilia and cerebral palsy will also be reflected in this year’s census.

For this reason, 90 national trainers, 725 master trainers (at state capital level), 25,000 master trainer facilitators (at district level) and 24,00,000 enumerators throughout the country will be roped in to collect relevant information.

This workshop will be followed by similar events at the district and block levels down to the village level.

Students of Classes VI, VII and VIII in 60 schools from every district will be provided with an awareness kit for the purpose.