Stakeholders Call for Stronger Political Inclusion and Representation of Persons with Disabilities in Nepal

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Stakeholders Call for Stronger Political Inclusion and Representation of Persons with Disabilities in Nepal

Stakeholders Call for Stronger Political Inclusion and Representation of Persons with Disabilities in Nepal

Ganesh Khatiwada 2026-05-18 10:39:00

Kathmandu - Stakeholders have emphasized the need to strengthen legal and policy provisions to ensure the political rights, representation, and inclusion of persons with disabilities within political parties.
The concerns were raised during an interaction program on “Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Their Inclusion in Political Parties,” organized in Kathmandu on Thursday by the Dalit with Disability Association Nepal (DDAN). Participating lawmakers, Constituent Assembly members, rights activists, and other stakeholders stressed that disability issues should be treated as a shared political and social agenda rather than being limited only to persons with disabilities.
Speaking at the program, Chairperson of the National Dalit Commission Devraj Bishwakarma said that the commission has been conducting a joint study with DDAN to identify the challenges faced by persons with disabilities. He stated that the findings would be taken forward through the commission and raised in coordination meetings with other constitutional bodies.
Chief Whip of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Prakash Chandra Pariyar, said disability is not an issue to be raised only by lawmakers with disabilities but a shared responsibility of all political parties and parliamentarians. He described the recent introduction of sign language interpretation in Parliament as a positive step toward making the legislature more disability-friendly.
Pariyar also highlighted that individuals who face overlapping identities related to disability, gender, and Dalit background often experience multidimensional discrimination and therefore require special policy attention.
RSP lawmaker Ganga Chhantyal informed that the five lawmakers with disabilities currently serving in the House of Representatives have been collectively advocating for disability rights. She called for at least two percent of every ministry’s budget, as well as the national budget, to be allocated for persons with disabilities.
Nepali Congress lawmaker Madan Krishna Shrestha stated that representation of persons with disabilities has become possible after the Election Commission made such representation mandatory in both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly.
CPN-UML lawmaker Yasuda Baral said she joined the Women and Social Affairs Committee primarily to work on disability-related issues. She reiterated the need for a separate Disability Commission and expressed concern that even institutions described as inclusive still lack disability-friendly infrastructure.
CPN lawmaker Prem Bayak pointed out that the state still lacks reliable data and an effective identification system for persons with disabilities. He stressed that political participation alone is insufficient without meaningful involvement in policy-making processes.
Former Constituent Assembly member Indramaya Gurung said the current level of inclusive representation is the outcome of struggles carried out during the constitution-drafting process. She also stressed the importance of making political party structures more inclusive.
General Secretary of the Nepal Disabled Women Association, Devkumari Parajuli, recalled that representation of persons with disabilities in parliamentary elections was ensured only after a court order.
Researcher J.B. Bishwakarma argued that genuine inclusion would not be possible unless laws related to political parties make representation of persons with disabilities mandatory.
Chairperson of the National Federation of Disabled Women Nepal, Nirmala Dhital, criticized political parties for failing to adequately consult related organizations while selecting candidates and preparing proportional representation lists. She called for constitutional amendments to ensure representation of women with disabilities.
Former Constituent Assembly member Kamala Bishwakarma stressed the importance of raising disability issues strongly through media and social media platforms, while another former Constituent Assembly member, Pemba Lama, said continuous advocacy is necessary to prevent disability issues from being overlooked during lawmaking processes.
Former Constituent Assembly member Binod Pahadi also emphasized the need for representation of persons with disabilities at leadership and executive levels within political parties. The program was chaired by DDAN President Pampha Purkoti.
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