Govt extended deadline of Accessible India Campaign to March 2020

On December 13, 2019 the ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment(MoSJE) has announced to extend the deadline of Accessible India Campaign to March 2020 due to its slowed progress. The decision in this regard was taken by the Central Advisory Board(CAB) chaired by social justice and empowerment minister Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot.  Accessible India Campaign is a program that aims to make public spaces friendly for persons with disabilities.Previous targets set:

• By December 2019: Completing accessibility audit of 50% of government buildings and making them fully accessible in 10 most important cities/towns of States by December 2019.
• By May 2018: At least 50% government buildings to be made disabled friendly under the campaign in each of the state capital and central capital till end of May 2018.
  • The original deadlines under the Accessible India campaign were July 2016 for conducting an accessibility audit of 25-50 of the most important government buildings in 50 cities and making them completely accessible and March 2018.
•  By Mid 2017: 25% of the public transport vehicles under government to be made as disabled friendly till mid-2017.
• By July 2016: All international airports and railway stations the country coming under A1, A and B categories to be made fully disabled-friendly by July 2016.

Targets accomplished:

• 211 CPWD (Central Public Works Department) buildings had been made accessible for the disabled.
• A total of Rs. 354.45 crores had been released for making 1,058 public buildings accessible around the country.
• State-wise details of the facilities for the disabled at railway stations were not maintained, but the Indian Railways(IR) was committed to making its stations accessible. Short-term facilities like standard ramps, non-slippery walkways, signages, disabled-friendly toilets and help desks have been included in the plan.
• Under the Rights of PwD (Person With Disability) Act, 2016, all existing and new public buildings have to follow the accessibility standards notified on June 15, 2017. The existing buildings were given five years to comply to the standards set.

About Accessible India campaign:
Fact- It is also known as Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan and was launched to serve the differently-able community of the country.
Launch- 3 December 2015 (coinciding international day of persons with disability).