Page 28 - NIS English 01-15 December,2022

Flagship Accessible India Campaign

STEPS TAKEN FOR THE WELFARE ACCESSIBILITY IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS IS
OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES GUARANTEED THROUGH THE RULES

Section 44 of the RPWD Act, 2016 clearly states
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities that no establishment shall be issued a completion
(RPWD) Act, 2016, with effect from 19th certificate or permission to acquire a building unless
April 2017 is monitored through the it does not meet the standard of public buildings as
State Commissioner for Persons with specified in Rule 15 of the RPWD Rules, 2016.
Disabilities and the Chief Commissioner
for Persons with Disabilities.
Section 34 of the Rights of Persons with EASE OF TRANSPORTATION
Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016 provides Accessibility work has been completed in 55 out of
for 4% reservation in government jobs for all 35 international airports and 69 domestic airports.
persons with 40% or more disability. Aerobridges have been set up at all international airports.
National Action Plan for Skill Development ACCESSIBILITY OF RAILWAY STATIONS
for Persons with Disabilities (15 to
59 years) to increase the scope of All 709 A1, A, and B category railway stations have been
employment in the public and private made accessible. Apart from this, 4068 railway stations
sectors. have been made partially accessible.
Financial assistance up to Rs 50 lakh at INCREASING THE SHARE OF ACCESSIBLE
concessional rates for income-generating PUBLIC TRANSPORT
activity, higher education or skill training, 10% of state-owned public vehicles to be fully accessible.
and purchase of assistive devices from The figures as of July 2022 show that 29% of the buses
the National Handicapped Finance are partially accessible, and about 6% are fully accessible.
and Development Corporation under As per information from 24 states, 3120 out of 3533 bus
Divyangjan Swavalamban Yojana. stands have been made accessible.
Launching a job portal http://www. ACCESSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
disabilityjobs.gov.in/. In this, Divyangjan Out of 1108 Central Government buildings, the retrofitting
can apply for jobs, skill training, education, work of 1030 has been completed. At the same time, an
or self-employment loan. accessibility audit of 1671 buildings has been done in 48
6 types of scholarships are given by cities across the country. Retro fitment of 1314 buildings is
the Government of India for disabled to be done in which retrofitting work has been completed
students. in 595 buildings as per the information from 21 states and
The Government of India has launched the union territories.
Unique Disability Identity Card portal www. EASE OF COMMUNICATION
swavlambancard.gov.in for a national
database of persons with disabilities 95 websites of Central Government Departments and
on a real-time basis. More than 77 lakh Ministries and 611 websites of State Governments have
Disability Certificates (UDIDs) have been been made accessible. There are 24 private news channels
generated in the country till July 20, 2022, broadcasting partially 'Sugamya' news bulletins across the
which includes 26.09 lakh, women. country.

the Accessible India Campaign was launched on 3rd in the country before 2015 even though India had
December 2015. Union Home Minister Amit Shah committed to enhance barrier-free environment
said in a program, “Where people used to look at the and accessibility under the United Nations
disabled with pity now they look at them with respect. Convention on Rights for Persons with Disabilities
India is the only country in the world whose currency (UNCRPD) 2007. Yet, neither robust legislation was
is also written in Braille script. implemented with timeliness, nor was there a drive
Issues related to accessibility were not addressed to ensure accessibility.

26 New India Samachar December 1-15, 2022