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    Accessible India Campaign – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    1. What is Accessible India Campaign?

    Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) as a nation-wide Campaign for achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) being implemented by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. It has three important verticals of implementation, namely the
    Build Environment, the Transportation Sector and the ICT Ecosystem.

    2. What is the vision of the Accessible India Campaign?

    The vision of Accessible India Campaign is to create a barrier free environment for independent, safe and dignified living of Persons with Disabilities. The Vision statement declares: “Accessible India. Empowered India.

    3. When was the Accessible India Campaign launched?

    The Accessible India Campaign was launched on 3 rd December 2015 on the occasion of International Day of Disabilities.

    4. What lead to the inception of the Accessible India Campaign?

    The Accessible India Campaign drew inspiration from united Nations Convention on Rights for Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD; 2007) to which India is a signatory. 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”.

    5. How does the Rights for Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 relate to the Accessible India Campaign?

    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. Accessibility became a Right for the Divyangjan unlike previously, when it was being seen merely as a welfare measure. Non-compliance of the provisions of the Act or Rules thereunder has been made punishable by fines and imprisonment. Thus, the Accessible India Campaign became an instrument to actualize the provisions of the Act.

    6. Does the Rights for Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 talk about Accessibility?

    The RPwD Act, 106 through Sections 40-46 mandates accessibility to be ensured in all public centric buildings, transportation systems, Information & Communication Technology (ICT) services, consumer products and all other services being provided by Government or other service providers in a time bound manner. The Act also provides for formulation of Accessibility Standards/Guidelines for incorporation across various sectors.

    7. What is Built Environment Accessibility?

    An accessible built or physical environment benefits everyone, not just persons with disabilities. Measures should be undertaken to eliminate obstacles and barriers to indoor and outdoor facilities including schools, medical facilities, and workplaces. Further, these would include all public spaces such as roads, footpaths, parks and gardens etc. Built Environment Accessibility, as described in NBC, 2016 includes ease of independent approach, entry, evacuation and/or use of a building and its services and facilities, by all of the building’s potential users with an assurance of individual health, safety and welfare during the course of those activities.

    8. Which are the buildings that need to be made accessible?

    All public centric buildings, i.e. buildings which are extensively used by public need to be made accessible. The Rights for Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 Section 2(w) defines ‘Public Buildings’ as Government or private buildings, used or accessed by the public at large, including a building used for educational or vocational purposes, workplace, commercial activities, public utilities, religious, cultural, leisure or recreational activities, medical or health services, law enforcement agencies, reformatories or judicial foras, railway stations or platforms, roadways bus stands or terminus, airports or waterways, etc.

    9. Does the entire building need to be made accessible?

    Yes, it is important that the entire building is made accessible so that all users of the building including officials, staff, residents irrespective of age, gender or disability can access the premises and are benefitted from an accessible building.

    10. What does ‘Reasonable Accommodation’ mean?

    The RPwD Act, 2016 defines “Reasonable Accommodation” as the necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments, without imposing a disproportionate or undue burden in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise of rights equally with others.

    11. What is meant by public facilities and services?

    The RPwD Act 2016 defines public facilities and services under Section 2(x) as including all forms of delivery of services to the public at large, including housing, educational and vocational trainings, employment and career advancement, shopping or marketing, religious, cultural, leisure or recreational, medical, health and rehabilitation, banking, finance and insurance, communication, postal and information, access to justice, public utilities, transportation.

    12. Who is responsible for making all buildings and services accessible?

    The RPwD Act, 2016 mandates that the onus of making a building or service accessible lies on the owner of the building or service (under Section 45). Accessibility is however will have to be provided as per the Notified Rules of Accessibility Standards/Guidelines which will be formulated by the concerned Central Government.

    13. Are there any Accessibility Standards/Guidelines available?

    1. Harmonized Guidelines and Space Standard for Universal Accessibility in India-2021
    2. Accessibility for the ICT products and services (Part I and II)
    3. Culture sector specific harmonized accessibility standards
    4. Guidelines on accessible sports complex and residential facilities for sports persons with disabilities
    5. The accessibility standards and guidelines for Civil Aviation 2022
    6. Accessibility standards for Health Care
    7. Rural sector specific harmonized accessibility standards/guidelines
    8. Guidelines on accessible and inclusive piped water supply for persons with disabilities and for other population groups with access challenges
    9. Accessibility standards for Community Toilets in Rural areas
    10. Accessibility Standards in Port Sector by Ministry of Port Shipping and Waterways
    11. Guidelines on accessibility of Indian Railways stations and facilities at stations for differently abled persons and passengers with reduced mobility
    12. Accessibility Standards and Guidelines for MHA Specific Built Infrastructures & Associated Services for Police Stations, Prisons & Disaster Mitigation Centres
    13. Accessibility Code for Educational Institutions.

    14. Is there any reference document or easy reckoner available for understanding the concepts of accessibility for public buildings?

    The Department has come out with an easy reckoner which is a summary of the 10 key features of accessibility to be provided in buildings, which have been derived
    from the Harmonized Guidelines. Link –click here 

    Also available is the series of handbooks titled, ACCESS – The Photo Digest (Volume 1) on public centric buildings. It is a photographic compilation of the good practices from across the country, to serve as a guide for professionals. Link – Click Here

    15. What is role of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) in implementing the Accessible India Campaign?

    DEPwD, being the Nodal Ministry for Disability Affairs looks into the overall supervision and monitoring of the Accessible India Campaign. It takes measures to provides practical support and for capacity building in the sector of accessibility.Furthermore, DEPwD also extend financial support for conversion of selected State/UT Government Buildings and Websites into accessible infrastructure and services.