Study Guides/Social Science/Locomotor Disability — Definition, Types and Rights in India
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What is Locomotor Disability?

Locomotor disability refers to a disability that affects the bones, joints, or muscles of a person, resulting in limited movement, restricted range of motion, or lack of limb function. It is one of the recognised categories of disability under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 in India.

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What is locomotor disability?

Answer

Locomotor disability is a condition that affects a person's ability to move their body or limbs due to problems in the bones, joints, muscles, or nervous system. It includes conditions like paraplegia, quadriplegia, polio-affected limbs, muscular dystrophy, amputation, and cerebral palsy affecting movement. In India, it is a recognised category under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.

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Key Facts

Locomotor disability: affects bones, joints, or muscles; limits movement or limb function.

Causes: polio, accidents, spinal injury, muscular dystrophy, amputation, cerebral palsy.

Types: paraplegia, quadriplegia, hemiplegia, polio-affected limbs, amputation.

RPwD Act 2016 recognises 21 types of disabilities; replaced PwD Act 1995.

4% reservation in government jobs for persons with disabilities (RPwD Act 2016).

Chief Commissioner for PwD: national authority for disability rights.

Article 41 (DPSP): State shall make provision for persons with disabilities.

Locomotor Disability — Definition and Types

Definition (as per RPwD Act, 2016): Locomotor disability means a person's inability to execute distinctive activities associated with movement of self and objects, resulting from affliction of musculoskeletal or nervous system.

Simple Definition: Locomotor disability = a condition that limits a person's ability to move their body or limbs due to problems in bones, joints, muscles, or nerves.

Causes of Locomotor Disability:

  1. Congenital (present from birth): limb deficiency, cerebral palsy affecting movement
  2. Accidents/Trauma: road accidents, falls causing fractures or spinal injuries
  3. Disease: polio (poliomyelitis), arthritis, muscular dystrophy, leprosy (causing limb damage)
  4. Spinal cord injuries: paralysis (paraplegia, quadriplegia)
  5. Amputation: loss of limb due to accident or medical condition

Types of Locomotor Disability: • Paraplegia: paralysis of lower half of the body (both legs) • Quadriplegia: paralysis of all four limbs • Hemiplegia: paralysis of one side of the body • Cerebral Palsy (locomotor aspects): affects movement due to brain damage at birth • Muscular Dystrophy: progressive muscle weakness • Polio-affected limbs: weakening of one or both legs • Dwarfism (with movement limitation) • Amputation: missing limb(s)

RPwD Act, 2016 — Rights of Persons with Disabilities: • Full name: Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 • Replaced the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 • Recognises 21 types of disabilities (earlier only 7) • Locomotor disability is one of the 21 categories • Reservation: 4% of seats reserved for PwD in government jobs (earlier 3%) • 5% reservation in higher educational institutions • Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities is the national-level authority • State Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities at state level

Facilities for Persons with Locomotor Disability: • Wheelchair ramps, accessible transport, lifts in public buildings • Assistive devices (prosthetics, crutches, wheelchairs) provided by government • Accessible polling booths during elections • Priority boarding in railways and airlines • Tax exemptions on assistive devices • Schemes: Assistance to Disabled Persons (ADIP) scheme by Ministry of Social Justice

IMPORTANT Article: • Article 41 of the Constitution (Directive Principles): 'The State shall make effective provision for securing the right to work, education and public assistance in cases of disablement.'

Questions and Answers

What is locomotor disability?+

Locomotor disability is a condition that affects a person's ability to move their body or limbs due to problems in the bones, joints, muscles, or nervous system. It includes conditions like paraplegia, quadriplegia, polio-affected limbs, muscular dystrophy, amputation, and cerebral palsy affecting movement. In India, it is a recognised category under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.

What does the RPwD Act 2016 say about locomotor disability?+

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act 2016 recognises locomotor disability as one of 21 types of disabilities. Under the Act, persons with disabilities get 4% reservation in government jobs and 5% in higher education institutions. The Act replaced the older Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, which only recognised 7 types.

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