Task Force to help Establish NCUDBE

The Indian Government in October 2010 constituted a Task Force to frame the details for establishment of the proposed National Centre for Universal Design and Barrier-free Environment (NCUDBE). The provision for setting up of NCUDBE was mentioned in the Eleventh Five Year Plan. The NCUDBE was seen as a national body to facilitate and support the development of universal design and barrier-free environment. The Task Force was set up by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. Prof. Samir K. Brahmachari, Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research will head the Task Force. The Task Force will also include members from NID, Ahmadabad and School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi and the force will have one nominee each from the Central Government’s Departments of Telecommunication and Information Technology. The Task Force is expected to examine in detail the need for setting up of NCUDBE, its structure, its role and functions, its scope in the R&D in the area of assistive technology, implementation modalities and its manpower and financial requirement etc.