Lok Sabha Question No. 1406 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-09
Subject: Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Mahendra Singh Solanky, Shri Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal, Shri Khagen Murmu, Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh, Smt. Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Shri Manoj Tiwari

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1406

TO BE ANSWERED ON - 09/12/2025

## SUGAMYA BHARAT ABHIYAN

1406. Shri  Pradeep Kumar Singh:

Smt. Kamaljeet Sehrawat:

Shri Mahendra Singh Solanky:

Shri KhagenMurmu:

Shri Manoj Tiwari:

Shri Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal:

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

- (a)  the  current  status  of  accessibility  assessments  undertaken  under  the  Sugamya  Bharat Abhiyan,  particularly  with  respect  to  public  buildings,  transportation  systems  and  digital services;
- (b)  the  percentage  of  Central,  State,  and  district-level  Government  buildings  that  currently comply with barrier-free standards;
- (c) whether any gaps have been identified in the accessibility features of the Central, State and district-level Government buildings; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  of  steps  being  taken  by  the  Ministry  to  support  States/UTs  in  upgrading remaining public infrastructure to meet accessibility norms, including timelines and performance indicators ?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## (SHRI B L VERMA)

(a) to (d)  Since 'Works, lands and buildings vested in or in the possession of the State' is a State subject, and as per Sections 41, 44 and 45 of The Rights Of Person with Disabilities Act, 2016, the appropriate government is responsible to take steps to ensure accessible built infrastructure, transport systems and accessible ICT  for PwDs and is also responsible to conduct regular social audits to ensure that different schemes meet accessibility requirements and these details are not being  maintained  centrally.  To  facilitate  States/UTs,  the  Department  of  Empowerment  of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) implements an Umbrella SchemeScheme for Implementation of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SIPDA) Act, 2016 with a sub-component - 'Scheme for Creation of Barrier Free Environment' (CBFE Scheme) through which financial assistance is provided to State/UT Governments only on demand basis for creation of barrier free environment  in  existing  government  buildings  and  establishments  as  per  receipt  of  compliant proposals.

In a view  to facilitate Governments  and  other  service  providers in undertaking accessibility  audits,  DEPwD  has  also  empanelled  some  accessibility  auditors  in  both  built environment  and  web/digital  domains.  As  on  date,  DEPwD  has  empanelled  sixty  (60) accessibility  auditors  for  built  environment  and  sixteen  (16)  accessibility  auditors  for  web accessibility. The services of these empanelled accessibility auditors can be  directly availed by any  one  on  mutually  agreed  terms  and  conditions,  for  conducting  accessibility  audits  of  both public and private infrastructures as per requirements.

*****