We are happy to officially invite you to the Purple Fest Session on Towards Inclusive Data: Strengthening Disability Counting in Census 2027″. The session is being jointly hosted by the United Nations India, the United Nations Population Fund, ASTHA, the Politics and Disability Forum, and CIVIS.
About the Session
India stands at a pivotal moment. After a 16-years break, the upcoming Census 2025 is not merely a data-gathering exercise but a critical constitutional moment that will shape how people are counted, represented, and resourced. For persons with disabilities (PwDs), this is a landmark opportunity to ensure visibility within national data systems, political representation through electoral processes, and equitable financial allocation under frameworks such as the Finance Commission.
This session recognises that civil society and OPDs have a decisive role in bridging this trust gap
For the first time, the Census will enumerate the expanded list of disabilities introduced under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Yet, experience from earlier rounds reminds us that accurate disability enumeration depends less on technical questionnaires and more on the sensitivity and trust-building of enumerators. With the Government introducing a self-enumeration option in 2027, there is both promise and risk: while accessibility may improve, the potential for undercounting grows if individuals do not feel safe disclosing their disability.
This session recognises that civil society and OPDs have a decisive role in bridging this trust gap. By equipping organisations with tools, strategies, and awareness campaigns, we can ensure communities understand why disclosure matters and how data translates into rights, representation, and resources. The conversation will also draw linkages between the Census and two other looming exercises: the lifting of the delimitation freeze in 2026, which will redraw electoral boundaries, and the 16th Finance Commission, which will set revenue-sharing formulas. Both processes will rely on Census data, making disability inclusion within enumeration an urgent and non-negotiable priority.
Purple Fest session creates a unique platform to shape the disability sector’s collective strategy.
By convening OPDs, advocacy networks, UN agencies, and civic-tech partners, this Purple Fest session creates a unique platform to shape the disability sector’s collective strategy. It is not simply about numbers, but about ensuring that persons with disabilities are fully recognised in India’s next phase of democracy and development.
Please register for the session using the registration form or QR Code below.
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