SociologyIndian Society: Patterns of Social Inequality and Exclusion

The social construction of disability has yet another dimension. Ther…

The social construction of disability has yet another dimension. There is a close relationship between disability and which of the following?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → Poverty

Option (1) Illiteracy — Incorrect. Illiteracy is not the link drawn here. Education comes up only through the separate streams kept for disabled students, which is a different point.

Option (2) Poverty — Correct. Malnutrition, weak mothers, poor immunisation and accidents in overcrowded homes raise disability among the poor. In turn, disability deepens poverty through isolation and economic strain.

Option (3) Urbanisation — Incorrect. Urban growth is not tied to disability. Overcrowded homes appear only as one cause of accidents among poor people.

Option (4) Old age — Incorrect. Ageing can bring impairment, but the dimension discussed is economic. Poor people face more disability, and disability makes them poorer.

NCERT (2026-27): “5.4 The Struggles of the Disabled …
The social construction of disability has yet another dimension. There is a close relationship between disability and poverty. Malnutrition, mothers weakened by frequent childbirth, inadequate immunisation programmes, accidents in overcrowded homes, all contribute to an incidence of disability among poor people that is higher than among people living in easier circumstances. Furthermore, disability creates and exacerbates poverty by increasing isolation and economic strain, not just for the individual but for the family; there is little doubt that disabled people are among the poorest in poor countries.”