As soon as the nationwide lockdown was announced, Shameer Rishad, 22, convenor of the Javed Abidi Foundation (JAF) in Delhi — a rights-based organisation that was constituted to honour the legacy of his uncle and disability rights activist — started receiving calls from students with disabilities. They were frantic with worry since they were asked to leave their hostels and were concerned about where and how they will go, and what happens to their caregivers.

On April 3, the organisation decided to have a formal consultation with over 30 participants, given that the pandemic has caused issues across the socio-economic spectrum; while those on the lower end might have to figure out ration, those who can afford caregivers need to know how they can reach them now.