Union Government launched Accessible India Campaign for differently-abled

Union Minister of Finance, Arun Jaitley, and Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment, Thaawarchand Gehlot, on 3 December 2015 launched Accessible India Campaign or Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan.

Accessible India Campaign is a nationwide campaign that aims at enabling persons with disabilities to gain universal access, equal opportunity for development, independent living and participation in all aspects of life in an inclusive society.

Highlights of Accessible India Campaign

• The initiative is in line with the Article 9 of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) to which India is a signatory from 2007.

• By July 2018, at least 50 percent of all the government buildings of National Capital and all the State capitals will be made fully accessible for persons with disabilities.

• All the international airports in the country and railway stations of A1, A and B categories will be made fully accessible by July 2016.

• As per the campaign drafted by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, at least 10 percent of government owned public transport carriers in the country will be converted into fully accessible carriers for differently-abled by March 2018.

• It will also be ensured that at least 50 percent of all public documents issued by the Union Government and the State Governments meet accessibility standards for persons with disabilities by March 2018.

• The Union Government also decided to set up a special university for persons with disabilities with the cost of 1700 crore rupees.

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