Three verticals of a barrier-free India: buildings, transport and information technology

Background

The Accessible India Campaign was launched on World Disability Day, December 3, 2015. As per the Census 2011 there are 2.68 crore persons with disabilities in India, and the campaign was framed to create barrier-free environments and accessible ecosystems for them. It envisages accessibility features in three verticals: the built-up environment, the transportation sector, and the information and communication technology ecosystem. The campaign drew inspiration from the UNCRPD, and its action plan and targets have been derived from Goal 3 of the Incheon Strategy, which endeavours to "Make the Right Real". To provide full legislative cover to the campaign and a right to accessibility, the Government enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which came into force from April 2017; accessibility thereby became a right rather than a welfare measure. Section 40 provides for rules laying down standards of accessibility in all three components in urban and rural areas, Sections 41 to 43 provide for access to transport, information technology and universally designed consumer products, Section 44 makes observance of the standards mandatory, and Sections 45 and 46 set the time limit for making existing infrastructure and services accessible - Buildings (5 years) and Services (2 years). Non-compliance with the provisions of the Act or Rules has been made punishable by fines and imprisonment.