Lok Sabha Question No. 2587 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-02
Subject: Accessibilty for PwDs
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi, Diya Kumari

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2587 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2022

## ACCESSIBILTY FOR PwDs

## 2587.  SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C.UDASI: MS. DIYA KUMARI:

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

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  working  with  the  States  to  promote  accessibility  and exclusivity of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has/proposes to make all the Government and private buildings, transport, and Universities disabled friendly and if so, the details thereof particularly for the States of Karnataka and Rajasthan; and

(c)  whether  the  State  of  Karnataka  and  Rajasthan  have  complied  with  and/or  met  the objectives  set  out  under  the  Rights  of  Persons  with  Disabilities  Act,  2016  to  make  the existing infrastructure accessible and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a):Yes, Sir. 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.

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.

To  promote  accessibility  and  generate  awareness,  the  Ministry  conducts  online/offline meetings/workshops, issues letters/reminders from time to time.

(b): Section 40-46 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016provides provision for accessibility and casts obligations on concerned Central/State/UT Governments for providing accessibility.

Under Accessible India Campaign, States of Karnataka and Rajasthan  have been provided financial  assistance  for  making  47and  88  buildings  accessible  respectively.  Rajasthan  has reported completion of retrofitting in 78 buildings.

(c): States of Karnataka and Rajasthan have not yet reported to have fully met the objectives set out under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 to make the existing infrastructure  accessible  so  far  and  they  have  to  strive  continuously  to  obtain  better accessibility to PwDs in the spirit of the RPwD Act, 2016.

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