Lok Sabha Question No. 721 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Digital Governance Initiative for Differently Abled
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 721 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2023

## DIGITAL GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLED

## 721.SHRIMATI KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI:

Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT सामािजक ᭠याय और अिधकाᳯरता मंᮢी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the digital governance initiatives do not cater to the differently abled population of the country especially visual and cognitive disabilities, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has any existing policy to promote and enhance differently abled friendly tech and apps and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the Government apps and web portals that have been tested for differently abled persons friendliness;
- (d)  whether  the  Government has undertaken any  initiative or policy to  promote inclusive designing of commercial apps for differently abled persons; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

(SHRI A. NARAYANASWAMY)

(a)  to  (e)  The  Central  Government  has  enacted  the  Rights  of  Persons  with  Disabilities  (RPwD)  Act, 2016, which came into force on 19.04.2017. The said Act focuses on creating barrier free environment for  persons  with  disabilities  (PwDs)  including  persons  with  visual  and  other  disabilities  in  built-up infrastructure, transportation, information and communication technology (ICT) ecosystem etc. Section 42  of  the  said  Act  mandates  the  appropriate  Government  to  take  measure  to  ensure  that  all  contents available in audio, print  and electronic  media  are in accessible format. The Central Government also notified  the  standards  of  accessibilities  for  public  building,  passenger  bus  transport,  websites  and documents to be placed on Government websites under RPwD Rules, 2017 on 15.06.2017. As per these Rules  all  Government  website  are  required  to  comply  with  the  guidelines  for  Indian  Government websites, as adopted by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances which takes care of the accessibility needs of PwDs.

In addition, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has notified the accessibility standards for the ICT products  and  services  in  two  parts  on  24.12.2021  and  04.05.2022  respectively  to  address  the accessibility needs of PwDs on web platforms.

Further,  95  websites  of  Central  Government  Ministries/Departments  were  made  accessible  by Ministry  of  Electronics  and  Information  Technology  (MEITY)  under  the  Content  Management Framework, in 2017-18. The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) has also made  632  websites  of various States/UTs accessible. Further,  Government  has  launched a Crowdsourcing mobile  application  namely  Sugamya  Bharat  App.  This  user-friendly  and  accessible App enables anyone, anywhere, anytime to bring to notice accessibility-related issues being faced by them while using public centric infrastructure, facilities and services which require redressal.

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