Objective

Launched on 3 December 2015, the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) operates under the mandate of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. It targets the creation of barrier-free environments across three verticals: built environment, transportation systems, and information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure.

Key Verticals

• Built Environment: Retrofitting of identified government buildings, hospitals, and public offices with ramps, tactile paths, accessible toilets, and lifts with Braille signage.
• Transportation: Making airports, railway stations, and bus terminals fully accessible through level boarding, audio-visual announcements, dedicated parking, and accessible ticket counters.
• ICT Ecosystem: Ensuring compliance of government websites and mobile applications with Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW) and WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, including screen reader compatibility and captioning services.

Implementation Mechanism

Accessibility audits are conducted by empanelled auditors. State Governments and Union Territories submit proposals for retrofitting identified buildings. The Department releases funds for approved retrofitting works. A dedicated mobile application and portal facilitate crowdsourcing of accessibility barriers and monitoring of compliance status.

1. Identification: Nodal Ministry/Department/State Government identifies buildings, transport nodes, or websites requiring accessibility intervention.
2. Audit Request: Submit accessibility audit request through the Sugamya Bharat Portal (sugamyabharat.gov.in) or engage an empanelled access auditor.
3. Audit & Report: Empanelled auditor conducts on-site/digital audit and submits detailed report with cost estimates for retrofitting.
4. Proposal Submission: Administrative Ministry/State submits Detailed Project Report (DPR) with audit findings to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) for financial assistance (if applicable under scheme components).
5. Sanction & Execution: Upon approval, funds are released; executing agency undertakes retrofitting works as per Harmonised Guidelines.
6. Compliance Certification: Post-completion, a completion certificate and accessibility compliance certificate are uploaded on the portal for verification.
7. Grievance Redressal: Citizens report accessibility barriers via the Sugamya Bharat Mobile App or portal; concerned authority is mandated for time-bound redressal.