Factsheet: Accessible India Campaign — India [May 2024]

The Divyang Empowerment — Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India, launched the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) as a nationwide Campaign for achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3rd of December 2015).

The campaign aims to provide equal opportunity for persons with disabilities to participate in all aspects of life and live independently. The Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) focuses on developing an accessible physical environment, transportation system and Information & communication ecosystem.

Factsheet 2024 brings the following key data points from the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan):

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text]: On a yellowish background, there are the following factual data of the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) Factsheet 2024: 1. Built Environment: States and UTs governments have reported completion of retrofitting work in 623 buildings out of 1314 funded buildings. Also, 1630 Government buildings, including 1030 Central Government buildings have been provided with features of accessibility.; 2. Budget: ₹562 crores have been released to States and UT governments under the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan). The total amount released for access audit in 1673 buildings is ₹ 4,11,41,955 (INR).; 3. Digital Accessibility: 95 Central government websites are made accessible under the Common Minimum Framework. Further 627 websites of states and UT governments are also made accessible under the Accessible India Campaign.; 4. Transportation — Airways: 35 International Airports and 55 Domestic Airports have been provided with features of accessibility. Ambulifts are available at 12 airports.; 5. Railways: All 709 A1, A & B category railway stations have been provided with seven Short Term Facilities. 603 railway stations have been provided with 2 Long Term Facilities.; and 6. Roadways: 1,45,747 (29.05 percent) buses have been made partially accessible and 8,695 (5.73 percent) made fully accessible. There’s a logo of the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) at the centre along with design elements depicting respective sectors pertaining to which data are. There are the logos of The Sangyan, Poornamidam and Infinity One — Inclusion X Sustainability (at the top) and hashtags: #UnitedInAction, #BuildForwardBetter, and #WeAllBelong (at the bottom).

Snapshot

1. Under the Accessible India Campaign, the states and UTs governments have reported completion of retrofitting work in 623 buildings out of 1314 funded buildings. Also, 1630 Government buildings, including 1030 Central Government buildings have been provided with features of accessibility.
2. Furthermore, Transportation Sector Efforts are being made to make the transportation sector accessible.
   a. Airports 35 International Airports and 55 Domestic Airports have been provided with features of accessibility. Ambulifts are available at 12 airports.
   b. Railways All 709 A1, A & B category railway stations have been provided with seven Short Term Facilities. 603 railway stations have been provided with 2 Long Term Facilities.
   c. Roadways 145747 (29.05 percent) buses have been made partially accessible and 8695 (5.73 percent) made fully accessible.
3. ₹ (Rs.) 562 crores have been released to States and UT governments under the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan). The total amount released for access audit in 1673 buildings is ₹ (Rs.) 4,11,41,955.
4. Following is the list of current empanelled auditors:
   1. Arushi Society, Bhopal
   2. Ekansh Trust, Pune
   3. Samarthayam, New Delhi
   4. Handicare Indian Association of Persons with Disabilities
   5. College of Engineering, Barrier Free Consultancy Cell, Thiruvanthapuram
   6. Centre for Accessibility in Built Environment Foundation (CABE)
   7. Svadhin Solution Pvt Ltd, Bangalore
   8. Svayam, New Delhi
   9. DEOC Accessibility Services Private Limited
   10. Association of Disabled People, Delhi
   11. Shishu Sarothi Centre for Rehabilitation & Training for Multiple Disability, Guwahati
   12. Viklang Sahara Samiti, Delhi
   13. Asha ka Jharna, Rajasthan
   14. Swabhiman State Disability Information and Resource Centre, Odisha
   15. Nature Nurture Architects and Planners, Mumbai
   16. CBM Trust India, Bangalore
   17. V-shesh Learning Services Private Limited, Tamil Nadu
5. All auditors were hired through IPH. Now, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities.
6. 95 Central government websites are made accessible under the Common Minimum Framework. Further 627 websites of states and UT governments are also made accessible under the Accessible India Campaign. Regarding public libraries, no such information is being maintained.

Source and Reference —

RTI Application Reply / Response

Public Authority: Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)

RTI Application Filing Date: 15/04/2024 [15th April 2024]

RTI Application Reply / Response Date: 10/05/2024 [10th May 2024]

Prepared and authored by —

Ar. Kavya Poornima Balajepalli, Founder and Curator — Poornamidam and IIH Warriors India and NCPEDP — Javed Abidi Fellow on Disability (2021–24)

Adv. Abhishek Kumar, Founder and Curator — The Sangyan and NCPEDP — Javed Abidi Fellow on Disability (2021–24)