Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Accessible India Campaign
Posted On: 05 NOV 2021 18:10 PM
“Today special attention is being given to opportunity and accessibility for Divyangjan. It is our endeavour to ensure that every individual in the country is empowered, an inclusive society is created, spirit of equality and cooperation enhances harmony in the society, and everybody progresses together as one.”
- PM Shri Narendra Modi
Need For Accessible India Campaign:
- As per the Census 2011, there are 2.68 crore persons with disabilities in India. Thus, a need was felt for the creation of barrier-free environments and accessible ecosystems to help persons with disabilities by providing equality of opportunity and an enabling environment.
- Prior to 2015, focused attention was not given to issues related to accessibility. Neither was a strong legislation put in place with fixed timelines, nor was a dedicated campaign implemented for ensuring accessibility
- The then Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995 was predominantly welfare-oriented and its provisions related to accessibility were limited and not comprehensive.
Accessible India Campaign – Genesis
- In line with the motto of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’, the Government resolved to provide universal accessibility.
- Hon’ble Prime Minister himself gave the term ‘Divyangjan’ to the Persons with Disabilities and launched the Accessible India Campaign on World Disability Day on December 3, 2015.
Foundations of Accessible India Campaign
- Accessible India Campaign drew inspiration from UNCRPD, and the Action Plan and targets of the Accessible India Campaign have been derived from Goal 3 of the Incheon Strategy which endeavors to “Make the Right Real”.
- The campaign envisages providing features of accessibility in the three verticals of Built-up environment, Transportation sector and Information & Communication Technology ecosystem, for creation of a universal barrier-free environment.
- To provide full legislative cover to the Campaign and right to accessibility, the government enacted the Rights for Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 which came into force from April 2017.
- Unlike previously, when it was being seen merely as a welfare measure, Accessibility became a Right for the Divyangjan.
- Non-compliance of the provisions of the Act or Rules has been made punishable by fines and imprisonment.
- Thus, the Accessible India Campaign became an instrument to actualize the provisions of the Act.
Salient Features of The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
- Section 40: Formulation of rules laying down standards of accessibility in all 3 components, Built-up environment, Transportation sector and Information & Communication Technology ecosystem, in Urban and Rural areas.
- Section 41 to 43 provides facilities for access to transport, ICT, universally designed consumer products.
- Section 44 ensures mandatory observance of the Accessibility Law as per laid down standards (Section 40).
- Section 45 and 46 deals with time limit for making existing infrastructure/services accessible - Buildings (5 years) and Services (2 years).
Aims and Objectives of the Accessible India Campaign:
- The Campaign aims at formalizing the process of creating a barrier-free environment and provide the disabled a friendly access in public facilities and places.
- The main objective is to mainstream accessibility to make it inherent in our culture and ethos.
Coverage Of the Accessible India Campaign – Key Features, Achievements and Best Practices
Build-Up Environment:
- The objective is to increase accessibility in government buildings. Provision of features of accessibility such as staircases, ramps, double height handrails, tactile paths in corridors, wide entry gates, reserved parking and disabled friendly toilets, accessible elevators, etc. to be made. The main areas of focus are public-centric buildings like schools, hospitals, police stations, courts, tourist places, etc.
- 1524 buildings already made accessible by providing accessibility features such as ramps, lifts, toilets, parking, etc. These include – - 1030 Central Government buildings and 494 buildings in States/UTs
- Access audits of 1662 State/UT Government buildings completed
Transportation Sector:
- The focus is on providing accessibility in the infrastructure as well as services of the transportation sector as a whole.
- Airports, Railway Stations and Bus Terminals as well as Carriers (Railway coaches, Buses, etc.) and related services such as ticket booking, enquiries, booking status, booking of special assistance, etc. are being made disabled friendly.
- Airports – All 35 international and 55 out of 69 domestic airports have been provided with features of accessibility
- Railways – 1391 stations provided with features of accessibility, including 603 railways stations also provided with accessible interplatform transfer and markings on edges of platforms
- Public Transport – Out of 1,47,368 operational buses owned by 62 State Transport Undertakings - 42,169 (28.61%) buses made partially accessible and 10,175 (6.90%) made fully accessible.
- Information & Communication Technology Ecosystem:
- To promote accessibility in websites, public documents, media content on TV and training of sign language interpreters.
- Websites and Public Documents - 588 State/UT Government websites made accessible with features for screen reader, color contrast, translation, font size control, among others. 95 Central Government websites have already been made accessible.
- TV Viewing - Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has formulated the standards for accessible TV viewing for persons with hearing impairment which provides for closed captioning, subtitling and designing of special devices.
- Sign Language Interpreters - More than 1250 Sign Language Interpreters have been trained by Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center through long-term, short-term and professional courses.
Measures for increasing accessibility in social infrastructure:
- Accessibility In Education Sector:
- 8,33,703 government and government-aided schools, out of 11,68,292 (71%), made barrier-free with the provision of ramps, handrails, and accessible toilets.
- Content on accessibility has been integrated by NCERT in Classes 1 to 12 and B.Ed syllabi and by state boards.
- Under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, provision has been made for in-service training of teachers, and training for special educators.
- Accessibility In Tourism Sector:
- For approval of Hotels at Project Stage and Classification/ Reclassification of Operational Hotels, accessibility has been made mandatory.
- 1849 hotels have been developed to offer 109705 rooms specially designed for persons with disabilities.
- 28 approved projects are being implemented by Monument Mitras (private/public companies/individuals) under the ‘Adopt a Heritage Project’, where creation of barrier free monuments has been made mandatory.
- 76 Projects from all States/UTs approved under ‘Swadesh Darshan’ scheme for development of barrier free infrastructure in theme-based tourist circuits.
- 16 out of 36 projects of development of accessible facilities in identified pilgrimage cities completed under ‘PRASHAD’ scheme.
- Accessibility In Cross Disability Early Intervention Centers:
- 14 Early Intervention Centers (EICs) with a cross-disability focus have been established across India and launched on 17th June 2021 for providing rehabilitative services for children with different types of disabilities.
- These centers are equipped with accessible features like accessible parking, routes, ramps, accessible reception counters, accessible toilets and drinking water points, staircases and appropriate instructional and directional signage, among others.
- Accessible Means of Communication: Indian Sign Language (ISL)
- For helping persons with hearing impairment, Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center (ISLRTC) along with NCERT is converting the NCERT textbooks and other educational material into ISL digital format.
- Furthermore, the third edition of the ISL Dictionary with 10,000 words was launched on 17th February 2021.
Tracking and Monitoring of the Campaign:
- For the purpose of monitoring the Campaign, an MIS portal was launched in September 2019. Central Ministries/Departments and States/UTs upload data related to the implementation of the targets of the Accessible India Campaign on this portal.
- In line with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister to convert the campaign into a mass movement and for Jan-Bhagidhari, the Sugamya Bharat App - a ‘Anyone-Anywhere-Anytime’ application to raise issues related to accessibility, was launched on March 2, 2021.
Way Forward
- As a first step to accessibility, sector-wise accessibility standards are required to be prescribed and notified. So far, accessibility standards in respect of public buildings, passenger buses and government websites including documents placed on websites have been notified.
- Accordingly, under the Accessible India Campaign, Central Ministries/ Departments engaged in public services have been tasked to formulate standards/ guidelines within stipulated timeframes for their notification under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017.
Source: PIB e-booklet on Accessible India Campaign
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