ACCESSIBLE INDIA CAMPAIGN

10, Feb 2020

Prelims level : Polity and governance–Rights issues Mains level : GS II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes.
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Why in News?

  • Social Justice and Empowerment minister has recently reviewed the number of buildings of Central PWD and websites of MeITY that has been made accessible under Accessible India Campaign.
  • The Campaign has been launched to make public offices, transport and websites accessible to Persons with Disabilities (PwD).

Accessible India Campaign:

  • AIC is the nationwide flagship campaign of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
  • The aim of the Campaign is to make a barrier free and conducive environment for “Divyangjans” all over the country.
  • The campaign has the vision to build an inclusive society in which equal opportunities are provided for the growth and development of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) so that they can lead productive, safe and dignified lives.

Background

  • Launched on International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3rd December) in 2015.
  • Later Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 replaced the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995.
  • 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
  • Information
  • Transportation,
  • Physical Environment
  • Communication Technology
  • Accessibility to Services as well as emergency services.

 

Three Components of AIC

1. Built Environment Accessibility

2. Transportation System Accessibility

3. Information and Communication Eco-System Accessibility

Targets originally entailed under the three components:

  • Making 50% of all the government buildings of National Capital and all the State capitals fully accessible by December 2018.
  • Completing accessibility audit of 50% of government buildings and making them fully accessible in 10 most important cities/towns of States by December 2019.
  • Ensuring that 50% of railway stations in the country are converted into fully accessible railway stations by March 2018.
  • Ensuring that 25% of Government owned public transport carriers in the country are converted into fully accessible carriers by March 2018.
  • Conducting accessibility audit of 50% of all government (both Central and State Governments) websites and converting them into fully accessible websites by March 2017.
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