Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan | 17 Nov 2022

For Prelims: Accessible India Campaign, Government’s Initiatives for Person with Disabilities

For Mains: Performance of Accessible Indian Campaign, Related Initiatives

Why in News?

The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) is going to complete 7 years in December 2022.

The aim of the Campaign is to make a barrier-free and conducive environment for Divyangjans (Persons with Disabilities - PwDs) all over the country.

What is the Accessible India Campaign?

About:
- It was launched by the Prime Minister of India on International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3^rd December 2015.
Implementing Agency:
- AIC is the nationwide flagship campaign of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Background:
- Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 categorically provided for non-discrimination in transport and in the built environment.
  - It needs to be noted that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 replaced the PwD Act, 1995 to comply with United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) .
- UNCRPD, to which India is a signatory, under Article 9 casts obligations on the Governments for ensuring to PwDs accessibility to:
  - Information
  - Transportation
  - Physical Environment
  - Communication Technology
  - Accessibility to Services as well as emergency services.
Components of AIC:
- Built Environment Accessibility
- Transportation System Accessibility
- Information and Communication Eco-System Accessibility

How has the Accessible India Campaign Performed?

Built-Up Environment:
- Access Audit of 1671 buildings completed.
- 1,630 Government buildings, including 1030 Central Government buildings have been provided with features of accessibility.
Transportation Sector:
- Airports:
  - 35 International Airports and 55 Domestic Airports have been provided with features of accessibility.
  - Ambulifts are available at 12 airports.
- Railways:
  - All 709 A1, A & B category railway stations have been provided with seven Short Term Facilities.
  - 603 railway stations have been provided with 2 Long Term Facilities.
- Roadways:
  - 1,45,747 (29.05%) buses have been made partially accessible and 8,695 (5.73%) made fully accessible
ICT Ecosystem (Websites):
- Nearly 627 Central and State/UT government websites have been made accessible.
Accessibility in TV viewing:
- 19 private news channels are telecasting partially accessible news bulletins.
- 2,447 news bulletins have been telecast with subtitling/sign-language interoperation.
- 9 general entertainment channels have telecast 3686 scheduled programs/movies using subtitling
Education:
- Out of 11,68,292 government and government aided schools, 8,33,703 schools (71%) have been made barrier free with the provision of ramps, handrails and accessible toilets
Monitoring:
- Activities under the Accessible India Campaign are being monitored through a Management Information System (MIS) portal.
Sugamya Bharat App:
- Helping in crowdsourcing grievances of accessibility being faced on ground in infrastructure and services and forwarding for redressal.
- Helpful in creating sensitization and awareness generation about importance of accessibility.
- COVID-19 related complaints which are meant only for Divyangjans are being given top priorities.

What are the Recent Initiatives to Empowerment of Disables?

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q. Does the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 ensure effective mechanism for empowerment and inclusion of the intended beneficiaries in the society? Discuss. (2017)

Source: PIB