Disability Rights and the Power of the Identity Card in Nepal
When we talk about progress, the conversation often centers on roads, technology, or economic growth. But true progress is not measured only in infrastructure, it is measured by how well accommodating the society is for all the people living and visiting. Inclusion is not about sympathy but dignity, rights, and equal opportunity.
Nepal’s Constitution and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2017) guarantee these rights. One of the most practical tools to bring this vision to life is the disability identity card.
Understanding Disability in Nepal
Disability is defined not just as a medical condition, but as a long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairment which, when combined with societal barriers, limits a person’s ability to fully participate in society.
This approach moves away from viewing disability as something inherent to the person and instead focuses on the environment’s role in creating obstacles. In other words, people are not just disabled by their conditions but by a lack of supportive systems such as ramps, accessible communication tools, or inclusive policies.
This definition corresponds with the World Health Organization’s three components of disability:
- Impairment: physical or mental conditions;
- Activity limitations: difficulties in performing tasks;
- Participation restrictions: challenges in engaging with everyday roles like work or social interaction.
Categories of Disability as per Nepalese Law
To ensure tailored support, Nepal legally categorizes disabilities under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2074 (2017). These categories include:
- Physical Disability: Mobility challenges due to issues with muscles, nerves, bones, or joints. This also includes individuals with significantly short stature past the age of 16.
- Visual Disability: Ranges from partial vision loss to total blindness. It includes those who cannot read the fourth row of the Snellen chart with correction or cannot distinguish light from dark.
- Hearing and Speech Disabilities: Encompasses deafness, hearing impairments, and speech difficulties such as unclear or repetitive speech. People needing hearing aids or sign language fall under this group.
- Deaf-Blindness: A combination of both visual and hearing impairments.
- Neurodevelopmental and Intellectual Disabilities (NDDs): Includes conditions like:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- ADHD
- Down Syndrome
- Intellectual Disability (characterized by challenges in reasoning, problem-solving, and adaptive behavior)
- Mental or Psychosocial Disabilities: Mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, often stigmatized and invisible.
- Disability due to Haemophilia: A genetic condition affecting blood clotting, considered a physical disability.
- Multiple Disabilities: When an individual has two or more significant disabilities from the categories mentioned above. For example, someone with cerebral palsy and a visual impairment.
How to Get a Disability Card in Nepal
The process to obtain a disability ID card involves applying through the local government office (municipality or rural municipality) with a recommendation from the relevant ward office, while we cannot apply online for the card.
Steps include:
- Collect the application form from the local ward office.
- Attach necessary documents (e.g., citizenship certificate, medical report).
- Undergo evaluation by a certified medical board to assess the level and type of disability.
- If there’s uncertainty in classification, the case is escalated to a local coordination committee.
- The approved card is issued by the local authority.
Disability Identity Card: A Key to Accessing Rights
Nepal’s disability ID card system is a critical mechanism that helps individuals access their legal entitlements. The card functions as a lifeline, connecting people with disabilities to healthcare, education, employment, and social security.
The cards are color-coded to indicate the level of disability:
| Card Color | Severity of Disability |
| 🔴 Red | Profound = Requires constant support for daily activities. |
| 🔵 Blue | Severe = Needs continuous help to carry out personal and social tasks. |
| 🟡 Yellow | Moderate = Can participate in daily life if physical/environmental support is provided. |
| ⚪ White | Mild = Can function independently as long as barriers are removed. |
Benefits and Rights Linked to the Disability Card
Having a disability card unlocks access to various government-provided benefits and protections:
Healthcare & Social Security
- Free or discounted medical care, therapy, and medications.
- The government must work towards preventing and treating avoidable disabilities.
- Hospitals with over 25 beds (public or private) must reserve at least two beds for persons with disabilities.
- Eligible individuals receive monthly social security allowances.
- People with disability cards colored Red and Blue are also provided ‘Disability Allowance’. Red card holders are provided NPR 4000 per month whereas, blue card holders are provided NPR 2500 per month.
Education
- Scholarships and financial support.
- Free higher education in government or grant-supported institutions.
- Inclusive learning materials (e.g., Braille, sign language).
- Mandatory construction of accessible educational facilities.
Employment & Livelihood
- Job reservation in public sector roles.
- Access to skill development and vocational training.
- Loans at reduced interest rates for small businesses or self-employment.
- Legal protection against job discrimination based on disability.
Transport & Accessibility
- 50% fare discount on public transport.
- Access to assistive devices and tax exemptions for disability-friendly equipment or vehicles.
- Reserved seating for persons with disabilities on public transport.
Challenges For People With Disabilities
Even with strong laws and policies, many people with disabilities in Nepal still encounter major obstacles:
- Stigma and Misconceptions: Disabilities are often seen through a lens of pity rather than as a human rights issue, particularly in cases involving mental health.
- Accessibility Gaps: Public infrastructure often remains inaccessible despite legal requirements.
- Lack of Awareness: Many families, especially in remote areas, are unaware of the disability card or the rights it unlocks.
- Administrative Hurdles: The application process can be slow, inconsistent, and confusing across different regions.
- Limited Resources: Specialized services, especially for individuals with complex or multiple disabilities, are scarce outside urban centers.
The Road Ahead
To fulfill Nepal’s constitutional promise of equality, action is needed across all sectors:
- Government: Speed up card distribution, increase awareness, and enforce accessibility standards.
- Employers: Embrace inclusive hiring practices and provide necessary accommodations.
- Educational Institutions: Train staff in inclusive education and ensure physical accessibility.
- Society: Move beyond sympathy and embrace persons with disabilities as equals with rights and potential.
The disability card is a gateway to dignity and inclusion. But for real change, every part of society must move from policy to practice. Disability should be recognized not as a defect, but as a natural part of human diversity that enriches our communities.