Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan), Launch Date, Vision

The Accessible India Campaign is also known as Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan which was launched on 3rd December 2015 by the Prime Minister of India on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The Accessible India Campaign (AIC) aims to create a barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities (PwDs). This initiative was promoted by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment focusing on three critical areas: built infrastructure, transportation, and ICT ecosystems.

Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan Vision

The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan Vision is to create a society where PwDs can live independently, safely, and with dignity, free from any physical, social, or infrastructural barriers. The guiding statement is “Accessible India. Empowered India.”

Accessible India Campaign Features

1. Accessibility features provided to 1,630 government buildings, including 1,030 central government facilities. Access audits completed for 1,671 buildings.
2. 90 airports equipped with accessibility features; 12 have Ambulifts. measures introduced in 709 major railway stations. 29.05% of buses are partially and 5.73% fully accessible.
3. Television programs are increasingly accessible, with subtitled/sign-language broadcasts on private news and entertainment channels. 627 government websites made accessible.
4. 71% of government and aided schools (8.33 lakh) are equipped with ramps, handrails, and accessible toilets.
5. Development of guidebooks on accessibility, including “ACCESS – The Photo Digest” series for public buildings and airports. Sugamya Bharat App launched for accessibility-related grievances, awareness creation, and COVID-19-related support for Divyangjan.

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Accessible India Campaign Components

1. The campaign seeks to make physical environments accessible for all, particularly in indoor and outdoor spaces like schools, healthcare facilities, and workplaces which includes features like ramps, accessible entrances, emergency exits, signage, and proper parking.
2. The campaign focuses on accessibility across various modes of transportation such as air travel, buses, trains, and taxis. Key objectives include making airports, railway stations, and buses accessible for the disabled people to live with dignity and freedom.
3. Access to information is an integral part of this campaign which aims to remove barriers to accessing public documents making government documents, railway schedules, healthcare information, and digital content accessible to PwDs.