SUGAMYA BHARAT ABHIYAN:
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
(Divyangjan) Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment started Sugamya
Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign– AIC) on 3rd December, 2015.
Key Points on Accessible India Campaign:
✓ A new initiative for enhancing accessibility, creating
awareness and sensitization for creation a universal barrier free environment
was taken by the Central Government.
✓ Its 3 main pillars are in the process of becoming
accessible. These are:
- Built-Up Environment
- Transportation System
- Information & Communication (ICT) ecosystems.
The Achievements of AIC across sectors are:
Built-Up Environment –
- Access Audit of 1671
buildings completed. - 1630 Government buildings, including 1030 Central Government
building have been provided with features of accessibility.
Transportation Sector –
Efforts are being made to make the transportation sector
accessible.
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 8695 (5.73%) made fully accessible.
ICT Ecosystem (Websites) –
Nearly 627 Central and State/UT government websites have
been made accessible.
- Being ensured in a phased manner.
- 19 private news channels are telecasting partially
accessible news bulletins. - 2447 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.
Institutional Literacy Material –
- The Department has developed an Easy Reckoner of 10 basic
features of Accessibility for ease of understanding. - Volume 1 of the series of guidebooks for professionals
titled ACCESS- The Photo Digest on Public Centric Buildings was launched on 2nd
March 2021. - Volume 2 of the series of guidebooks for professionals
titled ACCESS- The Photo Digest on Airports was launched on 19.11.2021.
Monitoring –
Activities under the Accessible India Campaign are being
monitored through a Management Information System (MIS) portal.
Formulation of Sector Specific Standards of Accessibility –
- The task of formulation of Sector Specific
Standards/Guidelines of Accessibility is underway by respective
Ministries/Departments, including Civil Aviation, Roadways, Railways, School
and Higher Education, Culture, Tourism, MHA, Banking, Consumer Affairs and
Sports. Guidelines by MoHUA and MietY are notified. - Department is lending support through sensitization,
handholding and by recommending experts in field of accessibility.
Sugamya Bharat App –
- Helping in crowdsourcing grievances of accessibility being
faced on ground in infrastructure and services and forwarding for redressal. - Helpful also 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 now. To be cleared within 3 days.
About Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan:
Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) is the
nationwide campaign for achieving universal accessibility for all citizens
including Persons with Disabilities, to be able to gain access and live
independently.
Key components:
(i) Create Mass Awareness
(ii) Capacity Building
(iii) Interventions (Technology solutions, Legal framework,
Resource generation)
(iv) Leverage corporate sector efforts including CSR
resources.
(v) Leadership endorsements.
The Scheme for Implementation of Persons with Disabilities
Act, 1995 (SIPDA), Ministry provides Grants-in-aids to all States/UTs to
provide barrier free environment in important Government buildings for Persons
with Disabilities as per Section 46 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995
(PwD Act). This includes provision for ramps, rails, lifts, adaptation of
toilets for wheelchair users, brail signage and auditory signals, tactile
flooring, etc.
Also Read: Daily Current Affairs
Reference: PIB