Lok Sabha Question No. 4576 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: Accessible India Campaign
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4576 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2023

## Accessible India Campaign

## 4576. SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:

Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether targets set under the Accessible India Campaign have been revised again;
- (b) if so, the details of the original targets and revised targets along with the reasons for revision;
- (c) the status of the railway stations and the Government buildings proposed to be made accessible, State-wise;
- (d) the steps taken to expedite the works undertaken under the scheme; and
- (e) the time by which the targets likely to be done in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SUSHRI PRATIMA BHOUMIK)

(a)  to  (e)  The  Government  is  working  with  all  the  States/UTs  to  promote  accessibility  and exclusivity  of  Persons  with  Disabilities  (PwDs).  The  government  has  launched  a  nation-wide flagship  campaign,  Accessible  India  Campaign,  for  achieving  universal  accessibility  which focuses  on  enhancing  the  accessibility  of  Built-up  Environment,  Transportation  System  and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ecosystem to make the life of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) more convenient. Under Accessible India Campaign, the Ministry provides grant in aid to State/UT governments  for  selected identified government  buildings for retrofitting. To promote accessibility and generate awareness, the Ministry conducts online/offline meetings/workshops, issues letters/reminders from time to time.

Further,  the  Department  of  Empowerment  of  Persons  with  Disabilities  has  been implementing a central sector umbrella Scheme, viz., Scheme for Implementation of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (SIPDA).  Under the 'Creation of Barrier Free Environment', a component of the SIPDA Scheme, financial assistance is provided to State/UT Governments including  autonomous  organizations/  National  Institutions/  Universities  run  by  central/state Governments for making existing Government buildings accessible.

As per the Rights for Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, Sections 45-46, public buildings shall  be  made  accessible  in  accordance  with  the 'Harmonized  Guidelines  and  Space Standards for Barrier Free Built Environment for Persons with Disability and Elderly Persons, 2016' as notified under RPwD Rules.

The  RPwD  Rule  15(1)  framed  under  the  provisions  of  Rights  of  the  Persons  with Disabilities  Act,  2016  mentions  that  every  establishment  shall  comply  with  the  following standards  relating  to  physical  environment,  transport  and  information  and  communication technology namely  Harmonised  Guidelines  and  Space  Standards  for  Barrier Free Built environment for Persons with Disabilities and Elderly persons as issued by the Government of India, Ministry of Urban Development in March 2016.

Rule 15(2) framed under the provisions of Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016  mentions  that  the  respective  ministries  and  Departments  shall  ensure  compliance  of  the standards of accessibility specified under the Rule through the concerned domain regulators or otherwise.

The targets set under the Accessible India Campaign are annexed at Annexure A.

Indian  Railways  is  committed  to  make  its  railway  stations  and  trains  accessible  for Persons  with  Disabilities  (Divyangjans)  as  part  of  'Sugamya  Bharat  Mission'  or  Accessible India  Campaign of  Government  of  India.  Provisions  of  facilities  for  Persons  with  Disabilities (Divyangjans) are to be made at all stations over Indian Raiway based on the needs of travelling public and availability of funds as per the guidelines for accessibility of Indian Railway stations issued in November, 2022.

Indian Railways endeavor to provide comprehensive facilities and services to Divyangjan, which inter-alia include an easy use of information system, accessible infrastructure, various concession to passengers travelling on Divyangjan concession Tickets,  Human Assistance, Wheel Chairs, Signages etc. at railway stations on Indian Railways.

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|   Sl No | Target                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|---------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Target of enhancing the proportion of Accessible Government Buildings: Target 1.1 : Completing accessibility audit of at least 25-50 most important government buildings in 50 cities and making them fully accessible; Target 1.2 : Making 50% of all the government buildings of the National Capital and all the State Capitals fully accessible; Target 1.3 : Completing accessibility audit of 50% of government buildings and making them fully accessible in 10 most important cities/towns of states not covered in targets 1.1 and 1.2; |
|       2 | Target of enhancing the proportion of Accessible Airports Target 2.1 and 2.2 - Airports: All international airports and domestic airports to be made fully accessible;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|       3 | Target of enhancing the proportion of Accessible Railway Stations Target 3.1 and 3.2 - Railways: A1, A & B categories of railway stations to be made fully accessible; 50% of all railway stations to be made fully accessible;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|       4 | Target of enhancing the proportion of Accessible Public Transport Target 4.1 - Buses: 10% of Government owned public transport carriers are to be made fully accessible;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|       5 | Target of Enhancing proportion of accessible and usable public documents and websites Target 5.1 and 5.2 - Websites: At least 50% of Central and State Government websites are to meet accessibility standards; 50% of all public documents issued by the Central and State Governments meet accessibility standards;                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|       6 | Target 6.1 - Sign Language Interpreters Training and Developing 200 additional sign language interpreters:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|       7 | Target 7.1 and 7.2 - T.V Viewing: (a) Public television news - National standards on captioning and sign language interpretation are to be created and adopted; (b) At least 25% of public television programmes on government channels are to comply with the set standards                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |

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