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Govt says over 50,000 buses, 1,800 buildings made accessible under Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan
 
What is Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan?
 
Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, also known as the Accessible India Campaign, is a flagship nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, on December 3, 2015, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. 
 
Aim -  Its aim is to create a universally accessible environment for persons with disabilities (PwDs) across India.
 
The campaign focuses on three critical domains for universal accessibility:
 

• Built environment accessibility: Removing barriers in physical environments like government buildings, schools, hospitals, public spaces, and workplaces by making them inclusive and accessible with features such as ramps, accessible toilets, proper signage, and more. Audits are regularly conducted to ensure adherence to accessibility standards, aligned with international norms like ISO 21542:2011.
• Transportation system accessibility: Making railways, buses, airports, taxis, and other transport modes accessible for PwDs so they can travel independently and with dignity. The campaign has ensured accessibility features in over 1,600 government buildings, 709 major railway stations, and tens of thousands of buses.
• Information and communication technology (ICT) ecosystem accessibility: Ensuring access to information through accessible government websites, public TV programs with sign language and captioning, and an increase in trained sign language interpreters. Efforts include making websites comply with WCAG 2.0 standards and enhancing digital accessibility.

 
The initiative promotes inclusive growth under the vision "Accessible India. Empowered India." It also encourages public and private organizations to contribute via CSR funds to develop accessible infrastructure. The Sugamya Bharat App was launched to address grievances, provide information, and monitor accessibility outcomes.
 
Since its launch, the campaign has marked significant achievements:
 
Key milestones achieved by Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) since its launch in 2015 include:
 
Built Environment Accessibility:

• Audited 1,671 government buildings for accessibility.
• Retrofitted 1,748 government buildings, including 1,100 central government and 648 state/UT buildings.
• Allocated ₹562 crore for renovation and retrofitting of 1,314 buildings to incorporate accessibility features.

 
Transportation Accessibility:

• Made all 35 international airports and 55 out of 69 domestic airports accessible with features like ramps, accessible toilets, help desks, lifts with Braille and auditory systems.
• Made 709 railway stations accessible, with nearly 500 stations adapted by Indian Railways through installation of lifts, escalators, and other facilities.
• Thousands of buses have been upgraded to be accessible for persons with disabilities.

 
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Accessibility:

• Made 95 Central Government and 676 State government websites compliant with accessibility standards.
• Developed training programs for 10,000 web developers on accessibility standards compliance (e.g., WCAG 2.0).
• Expanded the availability of sign language interpreters and accessible TV programming including daily captioning and sign language interpretation.

 
Education and Language Accessibility:

• Trained over 1,000 individuals in Indian Sign Language through the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC).

 
Media Accessibility:

• Enhanced accessibility in public broadcast media with features like sign language interpretation and captioning.

 
Other Initiatives:

• Launch of the Sugamya Bharat App, a crowdsourcing platform that empowers users to report accessibility issues in infrastructure, transport, and information systems.

• Initiatives to make 75 pilgrimage sites accessible.

• Sector-specific accessibility guidelines developed and being implemented in various government ministries.

• Ongoing training workshops for access auditors and public works officers to sustain and expand accessibility efforts.

• Significant financial commitment with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities’ budget increasing over the decade, signaling strong government support.

 
How are the campaign's objectives integrated into national disability policies after 2015?
 
Incorporation into RPwD Act Implementation:

• The RPwD Act, enacted in 2016 and operationalized from 2017, serves as the primary legal framework for disability rights in India, expanding protections and recognizing 21 types of disabilities.
• It includes enforceable provisions for accessibility in built environments, transportation, information and communication technologies, and public facilities—directly reflecting the goals of Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan.
• Thus, the campaign’s mission of universal accessibility is embedded within the Act’s rights-based approach to disability.

 
Scheme for Implementation of RPwD Act (SIPDA):

• SIPDA, revised and expanded since January 2016, functions as an umbrella scheme providing financial assistance and coordination for activities under the RPwD Act, including the creation of barrier-free environments as modeled by Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan.
• This scheme supports central and state governments, autonomous bodies, and universities in implementing accessibility infrastructure, accessible websites, and awareness generation.
• By absorbing the campaign’s initiatives into SIPDA, India ensures continuity and multi-sectoral collaboration across ministries and states to advance accessibility.

 
Continued Accessibility Targets within National Frameworks:

• Although Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan was initially planned to conclude by March 2024, its objectives have been mainstreamed and sustained through the Creation of Barrier-Free Environment Scheme under SIPDA.
• This transition enshrines the campaign’s milestones—such as retrofitting public buildings, accessible transport, and web accessibility—into ongoing national disability development plans, reinforcing the campaign as part of a long-term policy commitment.

 
Alignment with International Commitments:

• As part of India’s commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the campaign’s integration into the RPwD Act and SIPDA supports India’s international obligations for providing equal access and non-discrimination rights for persons with disabilities.

 

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