Catalysts of Inclusion: The Contribution of CBID-Trained Workers to Disability Inclusion in Rural Karnataka

सार

Community-based inclusive development (CBID) is the rights-based strategy for persons with disabilities (PWDs) to promote inclusion and empowerment at the local level. The University of Melbourne and the Rehabilitation Council of India collaborated to design this curriculum. Notably, several people in India are persons with disabilities, particularly those living in rural regions, and face several obstacles and challenges. In rural Karnataka, the CBID program trains field-level staff, namely Village, Urban, and Municipality Rehabilitation Workers, to enhance inclusive practices in various fields like livelihood, health, and education. 

This study will evaluate the contribution of CBID workers advancing disability inclusion in rural Karnataka. The study used quantitative questionnaires to gather data on CBID workers’ knowledge of the practical implementation of training efficiently, implementation strategies, encountering barriers, and tracking improvements. The study used a quantitative approach, a non-probability purposive sampling technique, and a descriptive Research design. 100 CBID workers from the rural part of Karnataka participated in this research.

The result revealed that CBID workers have a solid understanding of disabilities, awareness, and promote community mobilisation and access. However, intersectoral coordination, accessibility, and ongoing community participation are still lacking.

The study emphasizes that CBID implementations are potentially as well as difficult. Additionally, it ends with suggestions for improving infrastructure, expanding training support, and advancing monitoring mechanisms to strengthen the CBID interventions.