Published on: July 28, 2025

On July 15, 2025, the India International Centre, Delhi, hosted a landmark event focused on disability-inclusive disaster response. The gathering marked the launch of two monographs detailing community-based strategies developed during the COVID-19 humanitarian crisis.

Pratik Aggarwal, Executive Director of ASTHA, highlighted the organization’s efforts to promote accessibility and inclusion during the pandemic.

Radhika Alkazi presented findings showing that despite diverse contexts, organizations employing community-based approaches shared core principles of local engagement, trust-building, and sustained support.

Community-Based Approaches: Foundations for Inclusion

Speakers emphasized the indispensable role of community-led models in ensuring the inclusion of persons with disabilities during emergencies.

The Findings: 

The findings in the launch were highlights that noted the critical importance of community-based approaches in ensuring disability-inclusive disaster response. It emphasizes that inclusion must be planned and rooted in the community well in advance, rather than being an afterthought during crises. Key findings from the study reveal significant gaps in access to entitlements for persons with disabilities, with only 37% having a disability certificate and just 26% receiving disability pensions. Their study stresses the need for localized, inclusive planning that begins at the community level, leveraging trust and familiarity built over time. It also underscores the role of community caregivers and the importance of integrating mental health care into primary healthcare services. Ultimately, the Monographs calls for a multi-pronged approach that acknowledges the continuum and links of long-term illness and disability in policy and rehabilitation services.

Mental Health and Disasters: Integrating Care

A panel discussion explored the intersection of mental health and disaster response, underscoring the need to embed mental health services within primary healthcare systems. Experts stressed the importance of dignity, autonomy, and community participation in mental health care delivery during crises.

Disability and Chronic Illness: Planning for Inclusion

Another panel addressed the compounded impact of disasters on persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Key recommendations included ensuring universally accessible information, leveraging real-time data, and allocating dedicated budgets for inclusive disaster planning.

Call to Action

The event concluded with a strong call for collaboration among policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to build resilient, inclusive systems. The monographs launched offer actionable insights for effectively embedding disability inclusion into disaster preparedness and response frameworks.

Highlights from the Event
  • Community-based strategies are essential for inclusive disaster response.
  • Mental health services must be integrated into disaster healthcare systems.
  • Accessible communication and real-time data are vital for inclusive planning.
  • Dedicated funding and cross-sector partnerships are critical to implementation.

This convening marked a significant step toward institutionalizing and strengthening disability-inclusive disaster response in India.

Dr. Preeti Chauhan, Head of National Policy, attended the event, representing Pallium India. Her image is from the same event. The National Policy division works to enhance access to pain relief and palliative care, promoting policy changes and capacity building to support patients with life-limiting illnesses.

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