Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 430/16

ACCESSIBLE INDIA CAMPAIGN

In view of the nationwide Accessible India Campaign, the CBM India Trust, Bangalore in collaboration with office of Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Government of Meghalaya and Bethany Society Shillong, organized a training programme on Accessibility and Access Audit at Monfort Centre for Education, Tura on 7th September, 2016. The aim of this programme is to create awareness as well as to sensitize stakeholders, government officers, and professionals such as engineers, architects, students and others about the campaign. It may be mentioned that CBM India Trust is an International Development organization working for people with disabilities worldwide. Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, C. Kharkongor, Assistant Director, Social Welfare, Karuna Lamar, Senior Programme Officer, CBM Trust Bangalore, Ms. Nagarathna, State Program Officer, SRC, Civil Hospital Shillong, S K Seal, officials from the department of Social Welfare, Public Works Department (Buildings), Public Health Engineering, students from Regional Institute of Science and Technology, Masters of Social Work were among others present at the programme. Addressing the inaugural function, C. Kharkongor stated that it is the vision of the Government to have an inclusive society in which equal opportunities and access is provided for the growth and development of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) to lead productive, safe and dignified lives. With this vision, a Nation-wide Awareness Campaign towards achieving universal accessibility for all citizens including PwDs was launched and in this direction, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has conceptualized the Accessible India Campaign or Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan as a nation-wide flagship campaign, she added. Further, she informed that the campaign targets at enhancing the accessibility of built environment, transport system and Information & communication eco-System. While stressing on the need to bridge the gap between normal person and PwDs she said that even though the society is aware of disabilities differences persist among the people which requires immediate attention to put an end to discrimination and enable them to gain access for equal opportunity and live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life in an inclusive society. In her keynote address Ms. Nagarathna briefly highlighted the objectives and functions of the CBM Trust Bangalore and also informed about the basics of accessibility for PwDs.

It may be mentioned that Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 under Sections 44, 45 and 46 categorically provides for non-discrimination in transport, on the road and in built environment respectively. United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), to which India is a signatory, under Article 9 casts obligations on the Governments for ensuring to PwDs accessibility to (a) Information, (b) Transportation, (c) Physical Environment, (d) Communication Technology and (e) Accessibility to Services as well as emergency services. The Department hosted the Second Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Working Group on Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities during 2-3 March, 2015 at New Delhi in association with the UNESCAP Secretariat. This Working Group has been constituted by UNESCAP Secretariat to monitor implementation of the Incheon Strategy “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities. Moreover, as per the guidelines of the Accessible India Campaign, Access Audit would also be conducted on selected buildings like Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Tura, Workshop Building No.11 of Industrial Training Institute Tura, Administrative Building of Basic Training Centre at Rongkhon, Tura Civil Hospital, Sub-Divisional Office (Civil) at Dadenggre and Deputy Commissioner Court Building at Williamnagar on 8th and 9th September, 2016 after which accessibility report would be submitted to the government for necessary ratification.