**Executive Summary**
On March 25, 2026, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of People with Disability (APD) to crowdsource accessibility audits. This partnership introduces a structured framework to turn citizens into "Accessibility Auditors" using a digital platform to assess public infrastructure. The initiative aims to create a real-time repository of accessibility data to inform national policy and planning under the Accessible India Campaign.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Partnership and Framework**
* The MoU represents a renewed non-financial collaboration between DEPwD and APD to redefine accessibility assessments across India.
* The agreement establishes a scalable framework for conducting systematic accessibility audits of public infrastructure and popular destinations.
* **Technological Integration**
* The initiative is centered on the "Yes to Access" App, a digital platform designed for crowdsourced assessments.
* A standardized digital interface will be used to ensure consistent data capture, reliability, and comparability of findings.
* **Crowdsourcing and Community Engagement**
* The program envisions mobilizing a nationwide network of trained volunteers and field functionaries to act as auditors.
* The process democratizes evaluation by ensuring that the "lived experiences" of community members inform government policy.
* **Governance and Monitoring**
* The collaboration shifts toward participatory governance, where citizens contribute directly to shaping inclusive environments.
* An integrated monitoring mechanism will provide continuous oversight, enabling evidence-based decision-making and timely interventions.
**Impact Analysis**
**DEPwD (Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities)**
**Impact:** Receives a dynamic, real-time repository of accessibility data to support the Accessible India Campaign and evidence-based policy interventions.
**Action Required:** Oversee the implementation of the framework and utilize the collected data for national planning and infrastructure improvements.
**APD (Association of People with Disability)**
**Impact:** Provides the technological foundation and expertise through their "Yes to Access" App to facilitate nationwide accessibility assessments.
**Action Required:** Collaborate with DEPwD to manage the platform and support the capacitating of volunteers for systematic audits.
**Citizens and Volunteers**
**Impact:** Transformed from passive beneficiaries into active "Accessibility Auditors" and contributors to participatory governance.
**Action Required:** Utilize the "Yes to Access" App to capture data on accessibility parameters in commonly used public spaces.
**Divyangjan (Persons with Disabilities)**
**Impact:** Benefit from the reduction of infrastructural and attitudinal barriers, allowing for increased dignity, independence, and equal opportunity in public spaces.
**Action Required:** No direct action required, though the initiative is designed to ensure their lived experiences inform the national accessibility narrative.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD): The nodal department under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment responsible for leading the initiative to crowdsource accessibility audits.
Accessible India Campaign: The national flagship program aimed at creating a barrier-free environment, which this collaboration seeks to accelerate.
Association of People with Disability (APD): A civil society organization that partnered with DEPwD to provide the technological framework and volunteers for accessibility assessments.
“Yes to Access” App: A technology-driven platform designed by APD to facilitate crowdsourced accessibility audits of public infrastructure by citizens.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Crowd sourcing Accessibility: DEPwD and APD
Join Hands to Turn Every Citizen into an
Accessibility Auditor
Posted On: 25 MAR 2026 5:08PM by PIB Delhi
In a significant step towards transforming India’s accessibility landscape through technology and
community participation, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), under
the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, has extended its collaboration
with the Association of People with Disability (APD) by signing a fresh Memorandum of Understanding
in the national capital today.
The MoU was signed on 25 th of March, 2026 in between Shri Pradeep A. Director, DEPwD and Dr.
Bhumika Modh Head of APD in presence of Ms Manmeet kaur Nanda, Addl. Secretary, DEPwD, Shri
R.C. Meena, US and other officers of DEPwD. The renewed partnership seeks to redefine how
accessibility is assessed and improved across the country by harnessing the power of citizen engagement
and real-time digital tools.
Building upon their earlier association, the MoU introduces a more structured and scalable framework for
conducting accessibility audits of public infrastructure and popular destinations. At the heart of this
initiative lies APD’s “Yes to Access” App, a technology-driven platform designed to facilitate
crowdsourced accessibility assessments. Through this, DEPwD aims to create a dynamic, real-time
repository of accessibility data, generated by trained volunteers and community members, thereby
democratizing the process of evaluation and ensuring that lived experiences inform policy and planning.The initiative envisions mobilizing and capacitating a nationwide network of volunteers and field
functionaries who will undertake systematic audits of commonly used public spaces. By leveraging a
standardized digital interface, the programme will enable consistent data capture on accessibility
parameters, ensuring both reliability and comparability of findings. The integrated monitoring mechanism
embedded within the framework will further support continuous oversight, enabling timely interventions
and evidence-based decision-making.
This collaboration marks a shift towards participatory governance, where citizens are not merely
beneficiaries but active contributors in shaping an inclusive environment. By combining technological
innovation with grassroots engagement, the initiative aims to strengthen the accessibility ecosystem in a
holistic manner, addressing both infrastructural and attitudinal barriers faced by persons with disabilities.
Importantly, the MoU is a non-financial agreement, underscoring a shared vision and commitment rather
than a transactional partnership. It reflects the Government’s continued emphasis on fostering meaningful
collaborations with civil society organizations to accelerate progress under the Accessible India
Campaign. The renewed engagement with APD is expected to further amplify efforts towards creating
barrier-free spaces and ensuring that accessibility becomes an integral part of India’s development
narrative.
Through this forward-looking initiative, DEPwD reinforces its commitment to building an inclusive
society where Divyangjan can navigate public spaces with dignity, independence, and equal opportunity,
while also inviting citizens to become partners in this transformative journey.
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