Lok Sabha Question No. 3901 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-22
Subject: Accessible India Campaign
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, SHOBHA KARANDLAJE, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, SUDHEER GUPTA, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, PRATHAP SIMHA, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3901 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2015

Accessible India Campaign

3901. DR, HEENA VIJA YKUMAR GAVIT:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR;

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

DR J JAYAVARDHAN:

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

- (a) whether the Governmnent has launched a flagship carpaign, Accessible India Campaign" for achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and if s0, the details and objectives thereof;
- (6) whether cent of all the Goverrment buildings, Railway  Stations and are proposed to be converted into fully accessible buildings for differently abled by July, 2016 and if the details and the present status thereof; SO ,
- whether the Government/Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities is in the process of framing   accessibility standards for   buildings   and   making  all Government Websites accessible to the differently-abled, if so, the details and the present status thereof;
- (d) whether the Government would initiate an audit of Government buildings all over the country to gauge how they can be retrofitted and made accessible to the differently-abled and if SO, the details thereof; and
- whether the Government proposes to create an Accessibility index to measure the level of disabled friendliness of a system, if the details thereof kund the time by which it is likely to be created? SO,

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)

- (a) Yes, Madam. The Govt: has launched the Accessible India Campaiz (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) to successfully operationalize and create   accessible, barrier free environment nation-wide ship campaign for   achieving universal accessibility for persons with disabilities. gn" flag
- b) The Campaign focuses o conducting accessibility audit of 25-50 important government buildings of 50 cities   including all States   Capitals, international   airports & Al, A and B categories of railway stations in the country and making them accessible by July, 2016. For conducting  accessibility audits, experienced access  auditors have been empaneled by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Institute for the Physically Handicapped, New Delhi an organization under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
- (c) (d): Central Public Works   Department   (CPWD), under the   Ministry of Urban Development has issued  guidelines and space:   standards  for disabled and elderly persons in 1998.

The National Policy on Universal Accessibility was notified on October; 2013. The policy recognizes the need to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disabilities and to facilitate equal and unhindered access  of Electronics and ICTS products and services by differently-abled persons. 25th

- (e) The Accessible India Campaign also covers preparation of Accessibility Index to measure accessibility of   physical and virtual infrastructure and   processes of' various