The Sangyan - द संज्ञान

17/04/2026

Ill-Designed Urban Planning: Built Environment and Urban Heat-Island Effect

Namma Bengaluru did not become hotter due to climate change alone, but due to land-use change and the built environment.

Abstract — ನಮ್ಮ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು (Namma/Our Bengaluru), once celebrated as India’s “Garden City” for its abundant parks, trees, and lakes, historically enjoyed a pleasant and moderate climate. Situated at an elevation of about 900 meters on the Deccan Plateau, the city’s geography created a tropical savanna climate with relatively mild temperatures throughout the year.

This climatic advantage, however, has been steadily eroded during Bengaluru’s transformation into the Silicon Valley of India. Rapid and poorly planned urban expansion led to a significant shift in land use — from vegetation and water bodies to dense built-up surfaces. The degradation and encroachment of Rajakaluves, the city’s traditional stormwater drainage network, further disrupted its natural hydrological systems.

These changes have not only altered the city’s landscape but have also intensified its vulnerability to disasters and extreme weather events. Heatwaves are becoming more severe due to the urban heat-island effect, groundwater levels are depleting as natural recharge zones disappear, and urban flooding has become more frequent as drainage pathways are blocked.

Bengaluru’s experience demonstrates how planning decisions can transform a naturally climate-resilient city into one that amplifies heat and climate risks. It underscores how unsustainable urban development — marked by the replacement of ecological infrastructure with concrete — directly undermines environmental stability and urban livability.

Text in the Poster — Namma Bengaluru, called the "Garden City" for its parks and greenery, is historically characterised by a pleasant, moderate environment, owing to its high elevation on the Deccan Plateau, which creates a tropical savanna climate with mild, comfortable temperatures year-round. However, this has drastically changed over its journey to becoming the Silicon Valley of India. Ill-designed urban planning has resulted in land use grossly shifting from green cover to built-up areas and in the destruction of Rajakaluves (traditional stormwater drainage network). As natural cooling and drainage systems declined, Bengaluru has become increasingly vulnerable to disasters and extreme weather events, including heatwaves, groundwater crises, and urban flooding. Bengaluru’s decades-long transformation shows how unsustainable urban design and planning can erode inherent climate resilience and turn environmental advantages into growing risks.

Complete Blog — https://sangyan.medium.com/vatavaran-vaad-ill-designed-urban-planning-built-environment-and-urban-heat-island-effect-c0fce9332f93?postPublishedType=repub

About the Author — Adv. Abhishek Kumar, Founder and Curator of The Sangyan | द संज्ञान, Prakalp Drishtant | Project Drishtant | प्रकल्प दृष्टान्त, Project Sarlikaran | प्रकल्प सरलीकरण, and the ‘Build Forward Better’ Campaign

Sources and References —

1. Bangalore Urban Information System (BUiS) https://wgbis.ces.iisc.ac.in/sdss/BUiS/ #

2. Bangalore’s green spaces under peril: urgent need for urban reforestation. Available at:
https://evoscien.com/blog/bangalores-green-spaces-under-peril-urgent-need-for-urban-reforestation/

3. Bengaluru's green cover has fallen from 78% to 6%, its natural cooling systems are gone, and the city is baking. Available at: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/green-cover-gone-bengaluru-baking-now-it-is-your-problem-to-fix-3968036

4. Satellite images show green cover of Bangalore reducing alarmingly fast. Available at: https://researchmatters.in/article/satellite-images-show-green-cover-bangalore-reducing-alarmingly-fast

5. Bengaluru Weather Swelters as IMD Warns Heatwave with Orange, Yellow Alerts Across Karnataka. Available at: https://www.oneindia.com/bengaluru/bengaluru-weather-swelters-as-imd-warns-heatwave-with-orange-yellow-alerts-across-karnataka-8059829.html

6. Bengaluru Weather Better Than Mumbai's? Internet Mocks Garden City Dwellers Amid Intense Heat Wave. Available at:
https://www.news18.com/viral/bengaluru-weather-better-than-mumbais-internet-mocks-garden-city-dwellers-amid-intense-heat-wave-8843593.html

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text] — Infographic series (on a blue-white background) — “Vatavaran Vaad | वातावरण वाद” with the title “|| Ill-Designed Urban Planning: Built Environment and Urban Heat-Island Effect ||”. Beneath that is a daytime picture of Bengaluru city’s skyline titled “Namma Bengaluru”. Within that image is a graph depicting the City Landscape Dynamics (Source: https://wgbis.ces.iisc.ac.in/sdss/BUiS/ #), highlighting the transformation of land use (Built up, Water, Vegetation, and Others) from vegetation-dominated (1973) to built-up-dominated (2025). Below the infographic is textual content — “Namma Bengaluru, called the “Garden City” for its parks and greenery, is historically characterised by a pleasant, moderate environment, owing to its high elevation on the Deccan Plateau, which creates a tropical savanna climate with mild, comfortable temperatures year-round. However, this has drastically changed over its journey to becoming the Silicon Valley of India. Ill-designed urban planning has resulted in land use grossly shifting from green cover to built-up areas and in the destruction of Rajakaluves (traditional stormwater drainage network). As natural cooling and drainage systems declined, Bengaluru has become increasingly vulnerable to disasters and extreme weather events, including heatwaves, groundwater crises, and urban flooding. Bengaluru’s decades-long transformation shows how unsustainable urban design and planning can erode inherent climate resilience and turn environmental advantages into growing risks.” At the top are logos of the ‘Build Forward Better’ campaign, the SDG infinity emblem (Build Forward Better, where We All Belong), the ‘Infinity Loop’ (Inclusion and Sustainability: For the Common Concerns of Humankind), The Sangyan, and Project Sarlikaran. At the bottom are , , and .

17/04/2026

The Unfinished Decolonization: A Power the State Was Never Given

[His Holiness Jainacharya Yugbhushan Suriji | LawBeat | 7th April 2026]

"The Sovereign Within the Sovereign: The Supreme Court’s Sabarimala review revives debate on whether the State can regulate internal religious affairs and define essential practices."

The Sovereign Within the Sovereign.

15/04/2026

Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI)

"Geospatial artificial intelligence (geoAI) is an emerging scientific discipline that combines innovations in spatial science, artificial intelligence methods in machine learning (e.g., deep learning), data mining, and high-performance computing to extract knowledge from spatial big data." [National Library of Medicine]

"Geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) is the application of artificial intelligence (AI) fused with geospatial data, science, and technology to accelerate real-world understanding of business opportunities, environmental impacts, and operational risks. Organizations are modernizing operations to run at scale through automated data generation and approachable spatial tools and algorithms. GeoAI is transforming the speed at which we extract meaning from complex datasets, thereby aiding us in addressing the earth’s most pressing challenges. It reveals and helps us perceive intricate patterns and relationships in a variety of data that continues to grow exponentially. Organizations leveraging GeoAI are revolutionizing how they turn data into information, with models that adapt even as data evolves." [Environmental Systems Research Institute]

"GeoAI leverages artificial intelligence to convert complex and heterogeneous collections of geospatial data into valuable insights. This accelerates sustainable development across various sectors, including urban planning, food security, ecosystem health, and disaster response. Geospatial information provides the spatial and temporal context that enables AI to generate location-aware insights for real-world applications. GeoAI enables accurate spatial analyses, predictive modelling, and a more responsible use of AI supported by transdisciplinary collaborations. These elements generate impactful, location-based insights for global challenges, including disaster management, urban planning, food security, and environmental monitoring." [University of Twente]

"The world faces urgent challenges such as urban planning, food security, ecosystem degradation, and disaster response as a result of changing weather patterns and continued population growth. Transforming raw data into accessible and actionable information is essential to accelerate sustainable development and provide effective solutions. With the power of GeoAI, it is possible to rapidly combine and process geospatial insights from remote sensing imagery, crowd-sourced local knowledge, maps, and other sources at scale into such actionable information." [University of Twente]

"Geospatial AI is a cutting-edge technology that integrates spatial intelligence and machine knowledge to analyze geospatial data and provide predictions. By merging GIS – having capabilities like geocoding, distance measurement, map display, and spatial analysis – with AI’s ability to learn, reason, problem-solve, perceive, and understand language, GeoAI enables smart applications that have a huge impact in various important fields. GeoAI applications can evaluate massive amounts of geospatial data to identify patterns, trends, and predictions that would take humans an enormous amount of time to do manually. It is heavily used in remote sensing technologies, location-based services, transportation, natural resources management, public safety, public health, agriculture, and many more sectors." [Atlas]

"Geospatial AI, also commonly known as GeoAI, is the combination of geographical information systems (GIS) and artificial intelligence (AI). It's a multidimensional field that applies AI techniques to geographically referenced data. Such data, often denoted as geospatial data or geographic information, refer to data that are associated with a physical location. The integration of GIS and AI, through machine learning (ML) and deep learning, allows for the capturing, organization, manipulation, and display of geographically-referenced information, providing more efficient and accurate analysis of large and complex geospatial datasets." [Atlas]

Sources and References:

1. GeoAI, Environmental Systems Research Institute, Available at https://www.esri.com/en-us/capabilities/geoai/overview
2. Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI), University of Twente, Available at https://www.itc.nl/global-impact/geospatial-artificial-intelligence-geoai/
3. Geospatial AI, Atlas, Available at https://atlas.co/glossary/geospatial-ai/
4. Emerging trends in geospatial artificial intelligence (geoAI): potential applications for environmental epidemiology, Environmental Health (2018), Available at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5905121/ #:~:text=Geospatial%20artificial%20intelligence%20(geoAI)%20is,exposures%20across%20different%20geographic%20areas.

Alt Text [Visual/Image Description]: The image is a digital artwork designed to resemble an ancient parchment scroll, evoking a sense of heritage and timeless wisdom. It is part of the “ – A Lexicon Series by The Sangyan.” At the top, this title is inscribed in a calligraphic, stylised font, suggesting the educational nature of the series. The focal text in the centre reads “Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI)” (idea/concept in focus) in bold, black Gothic-style letters, emphasising the importance and gravitas of the concept. To the left of the main text is an abstract hourglass illustration rendered in a minimalist continuous line style, symbolising time, Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) / Bhāratīya Jñāna Paramparā, Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, and the intergenerational transmission of wisdom. At the bottom of the scroll, three hashtags — , , and — frame the messaging in a modern, action-oriented context, linking the ancient knowledge system to contemporary environmental and developmental challenges. On the top left is The Sangyan's circular logo featuring the 'Thirsty Crow' story with the motto in Sanskrit (।। कालाति क्रमात् काल एव फलम् पिबति ।।), and on the right is the logo of the 'Build Forward Better' campaign, with its motto of "सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः। प्रकृति रक्षति रक्षिता।" and "For the Common Concerns of Humankind". The overall visual design bridges traditional Indian knowledge with modern, innovative approaches.

06/04/2026

Heat and Livability: Rethinking Outdoor Life on a Warming Planet (The Shrinking Window for Safe Living: How Rising Heat Threatens India’s Livability)

Abstract — Heat stress due to anthropogenic global warming and climate change is increasingly being recognised as a major global health challenge and one that disproportionately affects the poor and most vulnerable. A 2026 study measures ‘livability’ based on climatic conditions and physiological parameters such as age and sweat limits, and maps regions where dangerous heat limits activity for people. We have reached a “new baseline.”Anthropogenic warming is now sufficiently intense to bypass physiological thresholds on its own, regardless of cyclical climate patterns. We are no longer waiting for “extreme years”; the extreme has become the standard.

The 2026 study published in Environmental Research: Health shows that rising heat and humidity are already limiting how safely people can move, work, and carry out routine activities outdoors. Using a human heat-balance model (HEAT-Lim) and 75 years of climate data, the researchers mapped where temperatures now force people to restrict activity to avoid dangerous rises in core body temperature.

The findings show that these “livability limitations” are most severe in South and Southwest Asia. Due to the overlap of high population and intense heat stress (severity of livability reduction), India records the highest total people-hours of limitation in the world — about 100 billion hours each year for younger adults (18–40) and over 1 trillion hours for older adults (65+). This exacerbates inequality, as poorer populations and vulnerable communities are less able to adapt. The Indo-Gangetic Plain and eastern lowlands in India are among the most affected regions, while cooler foothills show relatively lower severity.

The 2026 study highlights a widening vulnerability gap: older adults, whose bodies cool less efficiently, experience far more hours each year when even light activity such as walking or sitting outdoors becomes unsafe. With just over 1°C of historical global warming, these limits have already expanded significantly since the 1950s, with notable spikes in recent years.

The message is clear: extreme heat is no longer only a health emergency during heatwaves. It is becoming a persistent constraint on daily life, especially for outdoor workers, the elderly, and those without access to cooling and climate-resilient infrastructure. Adapting our built infrastructures, public spaces, and work practices is increasingly essential to maintain a safe and functional living in a warming world.

Ergo, to address this ‘Common Concern of Humankind’, it’s imperative that together we ‘Build Forward Better’ (just, resilient, and sustainable), where ‘We All Belong’ (equitable, inclusive, and universally accessible), to achieve intergenerational equity and ecological justice.

Complete Blog: Heat and Livability: Rethinking Outdoor Life on a Warming Planet (The Shrinking Window for Safe Living: How Rising Heat Threatens India’s Livability) https://sangyan.medium.com/heat-and-livability-rethinking-outdoor-life-on-a-warming-planet-2cf567b99a12?postPublishedType=repub

About the Author — Adv. Abhishek Kumar, Founder and Curator of The Sangyan | द संज्ञान, Prakalp Drishtant | Project Drishtant | प्रकल्प दृष्टान्त, Project Sarlikaran | प्रकल्प सरलीकरण, and the ‘Build Forward Better’ Campaign

References —

1. Intensifying global heat threatens livability for younger and older adults
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2752-5309/ae3c3a

2. Extreme heat severely limits daily activity for more people in India than anywhere else: Study
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/health/extreme-heat-severely-limits-daily-activity-for-more-people-in-india-than-anywhere-else-study

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text] — Infographic series (on a blue-white background) — “Vatavaran Vaad | वातावरण वाद” with the title “|| Heat and Livability: Rethinking Outdoor Life on a Warming Planet ||”. Beneath that is an infographic titled “The Shrinking Window for Safe Living: How Rising Heat Threatens India’s Livability,” designed on a red–orange heat gradient to depict rising temperatures and their impact on daily life in India. The layout is divided into three main vertical sections: The left panel, titled “The Vulnerability Gap: Age & Adaptive Capacity,” shows a large thermometer marked at 1°C of global warming. Three illustrated icons depict levels of activity affected by heat: a manual labourer working outdoors, an older person walking with a cane, and a seated person sweating from heat. Text explains that extreme heat widens inequality because wealthier people can rely on cooling while outdoor workers face uncompensable heat stress. A statistic notes that 78% of the global population lives in areas limiting elderly activity. A note at the bottom defines “unlivable conditions” as heat stress that is unbearable even at rest, though not necessarily lethal. The centre panel features a glowing orange map of India labelled “1.1 trillion people-hours of limitation in India,” stating that India faces higher total heat-related activity restrictions than any other country. A callout identifies high-risk zones in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and eastern lowlands, compared to the cooler Himalayan foothills. The right panel shows a small chart of historical spikes in livability limitations, highlighting El Niño years and a sharp rise in 2024. An “Age Group Comparison” box shows 100 billion hours of limitation for younger adults (18–40) and over 1 trillion hours for older adults (65+), illustrated with flame graphics. Below the infographic is textual content — “Heat exposure presents a growing threat to human health and well-being, particularly for vulnerable populations such as persons with disabilities. A 2026 research study titled “Intensifying global heat threatens livability for younger and older adults,” published in Environmental Research: Health, highlights that India faces severe limitations on daily activities due to extreme heat, affecting both younger and older adults. The findings show that the Indo-Gangetic Plain and eastern lowlands are particularly impacted. India records around 100 billion people-hours of limitation for younger adults and over 1 trillion people-hours of limitation for older adults, exacerbating inequality, as poorer populations are less able to adapt. The study underscores the collision of two inevitable global trends: a rapidly ageing population and a warming climate. As we move toward a future in which nearly a third of the year may become physiologically “unsafe” for outdoor activity in major global regions, we must stop viewing heat as a temporary emergency and begin recognising it as a persistent threat to our biological and built infrastructure. The need for targeted adaptation — redesigning our architecture, labour practices, and public spaces — is no longer an optional “good-to-have.” It is a “need-to-have” prerequisite for a functioning society, economy, and the very civilisation operating within the limitations of ‘planetary boundaries’.” At the top are logos of the ‘Build Forward Better’ campaign, the SDG infinity emblem (Build Forward Better, where We All Belong), the ‘Infinity Loop’ (Inclusion and Sustainability: For the Common Concerns of Humankind), The Sangyan, and Project Sarlikaran. At the bottom are , , and . Overall, the infographic visually communicates that rising heat and humidity are shrinking the safe window for outdoor activity in India, with disproportionate impacts on older adults, vulnerable populations, and those without access to cooling.

30/03/2026

Event Recap — Advancing Disability-inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Action at the Mangaluru Design Summit 2026

We at Poornamidam | पूर्णमिदम | పూర్ణమిదం and The Sangyan - द संज्ञान are elated to share that we had an incredible opportunity to showcase our collaborative research, advocacy, and campaign work on “Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Action” at the YI Mangaluru stall during the Mangaluru Design Summit 2026.

The summit was held on the 7th and 8th of March 2026 at St. Aloysius (Deemed to be University) in Mangaluru, Karnataka (India) and brought together architects, designers, innovators, researchers, and policymakers around the theme “Designing Futures, Honouring Heritage.” Over two days, the conversations explored sustainability, cultural heritage, and urban growth with a focus on building resilient, liveable, and inclusive futures, especially for coastal cities.

We are grateful to Young Indians (Yi) Mangaluru Accessibility Vertical, especially Ms Anjali Rao, and the Chapter Leadership, for inviting us and providing us with the platform to share our work and spark some meaningful conversations on the convergence and intersectionality of inclusion and sustainability. We are also thankful to the diverse participants, especially the youth and students, who engaged with our resources and resonated with our mission.

At the stall of the Young Indians (Yi) Mangaluru — Accessibility, we showcased and presented our research, advocacy, and campaign materials (including awareness posters, creatives, infographics, and interactive memes) to create awareness, disseminate information, and sensitise people around how climate change and its induced disasters and extreme weather events disproportionately impact every aspect of the lives of persons with disabilities, among other vulnerable communities, and how inclusive, sustainable, and universally accessible designs can change that reality.

We thank all the involved stakeholders, and we look forward to building on these conversations through continued collaborations and partnerships that strengthen disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction and climate action, moving us closer to intergenerational equity and climate justice.

We remain hopeful that our collective efforts will translate into meaningful consequences by catalysing, nudging, and triggering inclusive, equitable, and sustainable changes, mindset shifts, and solutions. We are optimistic that the spirit of Mangaluru Design Summit 2026 will translate into tangible change through inclusive and sustainable designs, thoughtful planning, and collective action that enable and empower persons with disabilities, their families and caregivers, and the wider community, reflecting the ‘Curb Cut Effect’ in practice.

At the end, we would like to reiterate that together, let’s reaffirm our commitment to address the “Common Concerns of Humankind” (planetary crisis, polycrisis, and threat multipliers) by collectively ‘Building Forward Better' (climate-resilient, just, and sustainable), where ‘We All Belong' (inclusive, equitable, and universally accessible).

Event Recap — Advancing Disability-inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Action at the Mangaluru Design Summit 2026
https://sangyan.medium.com/event-recap-advancing-disability-inclusive-disaster-risk-reduction-and-climate-action-at-the-1d042ce7a0b8

Alt Text (Visual/Image Description) — An event recap poster with logos at the top for The Sangyan, Build Forward Better campaign, Infinity Loop, SDG Infinity, and Poornamidam. The title reads “We Were At” alongside the Mangaluru Design Summit logo, followed by the theme “Designing Futures, Honouring Heritage.” The main text reads, "We at Poornamidam | पूर्णमिदम | పూర్ణమిదం and The Sangyan | द संज्ञान showcased our collaborative research, advocacy, & campaign work on 'Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Action' at the YI Mangaluru stall during the Mangaluru Design Summit 2026." Event details include dates (7–8 March), collaborators (Young Indians (Yi) Mangaluru – Accessibility), and location (St. Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, Karnataka, India). The poster features a photograph of the displayed creatives and infographics. The footer includes stylised, high-contrast illustrations of Mangaluru landmarks, including the Mangaluru Junction railway station.

30/03/2026

Event Recap — Advancing Disability-inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Action at the Mangaluru Design Summit 2026

We at Poornamidam | पूर्णमिदम | పూర్ణమిదం and The Sangyan - द संज्ञान are elated to share that we had an incredible opportunity to showcase our collaborative research, advocacy, and campaign work on “Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Action” at the YI Mangaluru stall during the Mangaluru Design Summit 2026.

The summit was held on the 7th and 8th of March 2026 at St. Aloysius (Deemed to be University) in Mangaluru, Karnataka (India) and brought together architects, designers, innovators, researchers, and policymakers around the theme “Designing Futures, Honouring Heritage.” Over two days, the conversations explored sustainability, cultural heritage, and urban growth with a focus on building resilient, liveable, and inclusive futures, especially for coastal cities.

We are grateful to Young Indians (Yi) Mangaluru Accessibility Vertical, especially Ms Anjali Rao, and the Chapter Leadership, for inviting us and providing us with the platform to share our work and spark some meaningful conversations on the convergence and intersectionality of inclusion and sustainability. We are also thankful to the diverse participants, especially the youth and students, who engaged with our resources and resonated with our mission.

At the stall of the Young Indians (Yi) Mangaluru — Accessibility, we showcased and presented our research, advocacy, and campaign materials (including awareness posters, creatives, infographics, and interactive memes) to create awareness, disseminate information, and sensitise people around how climate change and its induced disasters and extreme weather events disproportionately impact every aspect of the lives of persons with disabilities, among other vulnerable communities, and how inclusive, sustainable, and universally accessible designs can change that reality.

We thank all the involved stakeholders, and we look forward to building on these conversations through continued collaborations and partnerships that strengthen disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction and climate action, moving us closer to intergenerational equity and climate justice.

We remain hopeful that our collective efforts will translate into meaningful consequences by catalysing, nudging, and triggering inclusive, equitable, and sustainable changes, mindset shifts, and solutions. We are optimistic that the spirit of Mangaluru Design Summit 2026 will translate into tangible change through inclusive and sustainable designs, thoughtful planning, and collective action that enable and empower persons with disabilities, their families and caregivers, and the wider community, reflecting the ‘Curb Cut Effect’ in practice.

At the end, we would like to reiterate that together, let’s reaffirm our commitment to address the “Common Concerns of Humankind” (planetary crisis, polycrisis, and threat multipliers) by collectively ‘Building Forward Better' (climate-resilient, just, and sustainable), where ‘We All Belong' (inclusive, equitable, and universally accessible).

Event Recap — Advancing Disability-inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Action at the Mangaluru Design Summit 2026
https://sangyan.medium.com/event-recap-advancing-disability-inclusive-disaster-risk-reduction-and-climate-action-at-the-1d042ce7a0b8

Alt Text (Visual/Image Description) — An event recap poster with logos at the top for The Sangyan, Build Forward Better campaign, Infinity Loop, SDG Infinity, and Poornamidam. The title reads “We Were At” alongside the Mangaluru Design Summit logo, followed by the theme “Designing Futures, Honouring Heritage.” The main text reads, "We at Poornamidam | पूर्णमिदम | పూర్ణమిదం and The Sangyan | द संज्ञान showcased our collaborative research, advocacy, & campaign work on 'Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Action' at the YI Mangaluru stall during the Mangaluru Design Summit 2026." Event details include dates (7–8 March), collaborators (Young Indians (Yi) Mangaluru – Accessibility), and location (St. Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, Karnataka, India). The poster features a photograph and a short video clip of the displayed creatives and infographics. The footer includes stylised, high-contrast illustrations of Mangaluru landmarks, including the Mangaluru Junction railway station.

28/03/2026

Stories of Change — National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (From Advocacy to the Floor of Parliament: Advancing a Constitutional Pathway for Disability Justice in India)

We at Poornamidam | पूर्णमिदम | పూర్ణమిదం and The Sangyan - द संज्ञान are elated to share a significant and encouraging development for the disability sector in India.

On the 13th of March 2026, during a Special Mention in the Rajya Sabha of the Sansad (Parliament of India), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Member of Parliament from Bihar, Dr Bhim Singh, called for the need to set up a 'National Commission for Persons with Disabilities,' as opposed to the commissionerate system that is currently in place to “effectively address” the issues of persons with disabilities and protect their rights in the country.

As reported by The Hindu, during a special mention in Rajya Sabha, MP Bhim Singh said that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, provided for the appointment of a Chief Commissioner for PwDs and two Associate Commissioners. “However, this system needs to be further strengthened,” he said, adding that this system alone was insufficient to address the wide-ranging challenges faced by persons with disabilities. Dr Bhim Singh went on to suggest that a full-time National Commission should be established, which could work with the States to “perform important functions such as policy formulation, monitoring effective implementation of schemes, making budgetary recommendations, and making necessary legislative suggestions”. The MP added that the architecture of such a proposed National Commission should be similar to other National Commissions, have “independent powers” and have regional offices to ensure accessibility. Dr Singh also appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in bringing “respect and empowerment” for PwDs across the country, but added, “The time has come to transform his work into a permanent institutional framework.” [Excerpts from The Hindu's News Article]

For us at Poornamidam | पूर्णमिदम | పూర్ణమిదం and The Sangyan | द संज्ञान, this development carries deep significance. On the 14th of February 2024, on the occasion of Basant Panchami (Saraswati Puja), Poornamidam | पूर्णमिदम | పూర్ణమిదం and The Sangyan | द संज्ञान together launched the ‘Charter of Demands: Call to Action for Disability Justice' [अधिकार मांग-पत्र: विकलांगता न्याय कार्य (कॉल-टू-एक्शन) के लिए आह्वान] (https://chng.it/7LXWGV9kKF) in the backdrop of the 2024 Lok Sabha General Election. One of the ten core demands in this Charter was precisely this: "Formation of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities under Article 340 of the Constitution of India. (भारत के संविधान के अनुच्छेद 340 के तहत/अंतर्गत विकलांग/दिव्यांग व्यक्तियों के लिए राष्ट्रीय आयोग का गठन।)." This demand was not merely institutional in nature; it was rooted in the need for a constitutional mechanism that recognises the historical marginalisation and structural exclusion faced by persons with disabilities.

Witnessing this demand now being raised on the floor of Parliament is a moment of immense happiness and cautious optimism. It signals that the concerns and aspirations of the disability community are gradually finding space in the national legislative discourse and reflects a growing recognition that disability justice requires stronger institutional architecture, not just administrative arrangements.

In our effort to ensure that these demands inform law and policymaking, we initiated a public petition (https://chng.it/7LXWGV9kKF) that received generous support from the disability community, civil society members, and allies across sectors. We also reached out to national and regional political parties, urging them to incorporate these demands into their election manifestos and policy commitments. Simultaneously, we engaged with the central government and relevant stakeholders across platforms, consistently advocating for structural reform.

We at Poornamidam | पूर्णमिदम | పూర్ణమిదం and The Sangyan | द संज्ञान express our sincere gratitude to everyone who endorsed and supported the Charter of Demands. We also acknowledge Dr Bhim Singh for lending his voice to a cause that holds the potential to reshape disability governance in India in a meaningful way.

However, this must be the beginning of a serious legislative and consultative process. The formation of a National Commission should be accompanied by clarity on its constitutional footing, powers, financial autonomy, regional presence, and accountability mechanisms. It must meaningfully represent diverse disabilities and work in close dialogue with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and grassroots communities. If carried forward with sincerity and institutional integrity, this step can transform disability governance in India. It can move us closer to a society where freedom, dignity, and equal opportunity are not aspirational promises but lived realities.

This moment gives renewed hope for an India that is universally accessible, equitable, resilient, sustainable, and inclusive. We remain hopeful, watchful, and committed to ensuring that disability affairs in India move from a limited administrative framework to a robust constitutional and institutional mechanism. Such steps are sine qua non if we are to move towards a Viksit Bharat that genuinely builds forward better, where we all belong.

References —

1. In Rajya Sabha, BJP MP proposes setting up National Commission for Persons with Disabilities - The Hindu (dated 13th March 2026) https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/in-rajya-sabha-bjp-mp-proposes-setting-up-national-commission-for-persons-with-disabilities/article70740050.ece

2. Dr Bhim Singh's (Member, Rajya Sabha, Parliament of India) X (Twitter) Post (dated 14th March 2026) regarding the formation of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities
https://x.com/dr_bhimsingh/status/2034062101363495223?s=20

3. Charter of Demands: Call to Action for Disability Justice' [अधिकार मांग-पत्र: विकलांगता न्याय कार्य (कॉल-टू-एक्शन) के लिए आह्वान] https://chng.it/7LXWGV9kKF

Alt Text for English Version [Visual/Image Description]: A poster with a beige background featuring the Ashoka Chakra (Dharma Chakra) at the centre. The logos of The Sangyan and Poornamidam are placed at the top on either side. The title, in brown text, reads: “Stories of Change – Formation of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities under Article 340 of the Constitution of India.” On the left, a screenshot highlights the “Charter of Demands: Call to Action for Disability Justice,” outlining ten key demands. On the right, a news article (dated 13th March 2026) screenshot from The Hindu features the headline: “In Rajya Sabha, BJP MP proposes setting up National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.” Towards the bottom, the hashtags “ ,” “ ,” and “ ” are displayed.

छवि विवरण हिंदी संस्करण के लिए [वैकल्पिक टेक्स्ट]: एक पोस्टर जिसमें हल्के बेज रंग की पृष्ठभूमि है और केंद्र में अशोक चक्र (धर्म चक्र) दर्शाया गया है। ऊपर दोनों ओर पूर्णमिदम और द संज्ञान के प्रतीक चिह्न लगाए गए हैं। शीर्षक भूरे रंग में लिखा है: “|| परिवर्तन के पन्ने || – भारत के संविधान के अनुच्छेद 340 के तहत/अंतर्गत विकलांग/दिव्यांग व्यक्तियों के लिए राष्ट्रीय आयोग का गठन।” बाईं ओर एक स्क्रीनशॉट में लिखा है: “अधिकार मांग-पत्र: विकलांगता न्याय कार्य के लिए आह्वान।” दाईं ओर हिंदी समाचार पत्र प्रभात का एक स्क्रीनशॉट है (दिनांक 14 मार्च 2026), जिसमें शीर्षक है: “दिव्यांगजनों के लिए सशक्त राष्ट्रीय आयोग का गठन हो : भीम सिंह।” नीचे की ओर हैशटैग “ ,” “ ,” और “ ” दिए गए हैं।