Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This article examines how disability experiences and neoliberal policies in India differ substantially from Global North contexts, challenging universal conceptualisations of both phenomena. Through analysis of post-independence socioeconomic policies, it illustrates how India’s distinct integration of disability reflects complex intersections of local traditions, colonial legacies, and market reforms. The study develops into three key sections: a mapping of India’s evolving disability policy landscape; an examination of its distinctive adoption of neoliberalism; and an analysis of how these forces shape contemporary disability experiences. By demonstrating how ableism manifests uniquely in Indian contexts while remaining connected to global patterns, this research calls for theoretical frameworks that can accommodate both universal and locally specific aspects of disability experience. The findings highlight how effective disability policy must engage with India’s particular social, economic, and cultural dynamics rather than adopting unchanged Global North approaches.
Authors: Samriddhi Singh, Aniket Ojha
Institution: Banaras Hindu University
Language: English
Subfield: Safety Research
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7105086843