Lok Sabha Question No. 5246 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-24
Subject: Equal Rights for Differently Abled Persons
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri N K Premachandran

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 5246

TO BE ANSWERED ON -24/03/2026

## EQUAL RIGHTS FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLED PERSONS

## 5246. SHRI N K PREMACHANDRAN:

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

(a) whether the Government initiate action to empower the society to resolve the issues caused due to deep rooted misconception about disability, if so, the details of action taken thereon;

(b) whether the Government has initiated action to empower the teachers, students and parents so as  to  ensure  equal  rights  to  differently  abled  persons  and  elimination  of  discrimination  in schools, if so, the details of action taken thereon;

(c) whether the Government has initiated action to make the public infrastructure such as roads, buildings, transport system etc. fully accessible to the differently abled persons, if so, the details thereof;

(d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  make  the  digital  platform  and  Government  services disabled persons friendly, if so, the details of action taken thereon; and

(e)  whether  the  Government  initiated  action  to  remove  the  educational  barriers  of  differently abled persons, if so, the details of action taken thereon, if so, the details of action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE& EMPOWERMENT

## (SHRI B L VERMA)

(a): The RPwD Act, 2016 recognises the entitlement of the persons with disabilities to participate in the society with dignity, through the provisions non-discrimination, accessibility, reasonable accommodation,  access  to  education,  employment,  reservation,  effective  grievance  redressal system etc.  The  Government  has  devised  Awareness  Generation  and  Publicity  (AGP)  scheme under DEPwD to create public awareness of PwDs' rights and achievements, so as to change the mindset about disabilities.

(b):  The  RPwD  Act,  2016  defines  inclusive  education  as  a  system  where  children  with  and without disabilities learn together. Under the National Education Policy, 2020 teacher education explicitly  focuses  on  meaningful  participation  by  all  children,  including  children  with  special needs, using Universal Design for Learning.

(c)  to  (d):  RPwD  Act,  2016  makes  accessibility  of  physical  infrastructure  and  the  digital ecosystem a legal right of persons with disabilities. The Act requires enforcement of accessibility standards  for  buildings,  public  facilities  etc.,  and  creating  barrier-free  infrastructure.  It  further mandates  that  information  and  communication  system  to  be  accessible.  The  Accessible  India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan), now subsumed under the 'Scheme for Creation of Barrier Free Environment (CBFE)', is the flagship initiative of the Government for creating barrier-free environments. It undertakes accessibility audits and retrofitting to ensure universal accessibility.

(e):  The RPwD Act, 2016 provides for free education for children with benchmark disabilities (age 6-18) in neighborhood or special schools of their choice. It, inter alia, mandates appropriate governments and local authorities to ensure barrier-free access, special educators, availability of learning materials in accessible formats, examination related relaxations.

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