Association of People with Disability calls for National Spinal Cord Injury Social Registry

The Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month is being observed in September. | Image for representation | Photo Credit: CHESIIRECAT The leadership team of the Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation (SCIR) Programme of the Association of People with Disability (APD) called for support to evolve a National Spinal Cord Injury Social Registry that seeks to address the need for stronger data on this population and the realities they face beyond clinical care.“We believe there is a need for better data and stronger coordination across healthcare, rehabilitation, social protection and livelihoods — and a National Spinal Cord Injury Social Registry can be an important step towards understanding this population better and building more responsive systems of long-term support,” APD CEO Sukanto Aich said.The Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month is being observed in September. APD has supported more than 7,000People with Spinal Cord Injuries (PwSCIs)over the past 25 years.Pratima Murthy, former director, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, noted that rehabilitation is about enabling people to rebuild their lives with dignity, independence and the support of the systems around them.“SCIR’s 25-year journey reflects the importance of sustained, multidisciplinary care and listening to the lived experiences of persons with spinal cord injury. This milestone is an opportunity to recognise the progress made and strengthen the rehabilitation ecosystem for people with spinal cord injury and their families,” she said.The event brought together diverse perspectives through three panel discussions, exploring the evolution and future of SCI rehabilitation in India, the gaps between rights and access to social support for persons with SCI and the role of data, evidence and investment in shaping more responsive and sustainable rehabilitation systems. Published - September 18, 2026 08:55 pm IST