Page 29 - NIS English 01-15 December,2022

Accessible India Campaign Flagship

Under Prime Minister Narendra
Modi's Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,
Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas
vision now accessibility has been
made a right for Divyangjan. In
order to give full legal strength to
the Accessible India campaign and
the right to accessibility, the present
government has implemented the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities
(RPWD) Act, 2016 with effect from
April 2017. With the enactment of
this law, accessibility has become a
right for Divyangjan, whereas earlier
it was only a welfare measure. On
non-compliance with the Act or its
rules, a provision has been made for
Today, special attention is being paid to provide fine and imprisonment.
opportunities and accessibility to persons with Accessibility should not be understood
disabilities. It is our endeavor that every person only for persons with disabilities. It
in the country should be empowered, an inclusive is essential for everyone at different
society should be created, a sense of equality should stages of life- be it childhood, old age,
pregnancy, or illness. Accessibility
be created and with cooperation, harmony in the of infrastructure and services in the
society should increase and everyone should move country also requires a change in
forward together. the mindset and sensitivity of the
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi common man, which was started by
ENCOURAGING ACCESSIBILITY WARRIORS WITH Prime Minister Narendra Modi with
E-COMIC the use of the word 'Divyang'. Let's
Under the campaign, an accessible and interactive e-comic book make accessibility a part of life for
ourselves and our loved ones.
has been prepared to create awareness and sensitivity among
children about accessibility and its importance. This comic
strip tells the story of a young girl who learns the importance of ACCESSIBLE INDIA APP
accessibility and vows to become an accessibility warrior. NCERT A Crowd Sourcing Mobile Application
and state boards have included the subject of accessibility in the has been launched in March 2021
courses from class 1st to class 12th and B.Ed. to promote accessibility. The three
PROMOTING COMMUNICATION THROUGH SIGN broad pillars of the Accessible India
LANGUAGE campaign include registration of
Due to the campaign that was started seven-eight years ago for complaints of lack of accessibility,
'One Nation-One Sign Language', today there is a 10,000-word feedback on exemplary behavior for
dictionary of Indian Sign Language. Lakhs of Divyangs and their public participation, and guidelines
families are now getting the benefit of this campaign. Prime and circulars on accessibility. You
Minister Narendra Modi has given this information in his Mann Ki can use the app by entering your
Baat program- “Told the story of Pooja living in Haryana. Pooja is name, mobile number, and e-mail id.
very happy with Indian Sign Language. Earlier she was not able to This app is also Divyangjan friendly
communicate with her son but after taking sign language training and is in 10 regional languages.
in 2018 life has become easier for both mother and son.”

New India Samachar December 1-15, 2022 27