An ancient Hindu text, the Manusmriti states that people with disability are suffering punishment for the crimes they allegedly committed in their previous lives. It also goes on to point out that these said individuals are to be excluded from religious activities as they can contaminate them by their presence. Furthermore, it advised the other participants to avoid contact with the disabled in order to maintain their own purity.

Although written in the 2nd century BCE, many emerging from the rural establishments of Indian subcontinent, extend their beliefs to include the negative karma of the parents of the disabled as a contributing factor. As a result of this association, the disabled are often locked indoors as their presence affects the family's societal position.

The charitable model of disability is popular amongst the educated class. Although still bearing a belief in Karma, they have now begun to accumulate positive actions such as charity toward the disabled, in order to improve their own pre-existing karma. It is considered, in this class, a dharmic duty for all able-bodied people to care for the disabled.

Unfortunately, some people still believe in the guidelines offered by Manusmriti which reference a form of Karma called Runanabandha, which is transported from one individual to another by contact. Hence, to avoid a disabled's karma from being imprinted upon a person, charity is often provided indirectly or for a short periods of time in order to prevent any transference.