**Executive Summary**
This document is the response from the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment (Shri B L Verma) to Unstarred Question No. 603 regarding the accessibility of public offices and hearing assistive devices in Chandigarh, to be answered on February 3, 2026. It outlines the government's efforts to implement the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 through various schemes, including the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) and the ADIP Scheme, and details the mechanisms for grievance redressal and quality assurance for assistive devices.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Accessible Infrastructure and Audits:**
* The responsibility for ensuring accessible built infrastructure, transport systems, and ICT for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) rests with the appropriate government as per the Rights Of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
* Data regarding social audits/assessments of accessibility is not maintained centrally.
* The Central Government facilitates State/UT accessibility improvements through the "Scheme for Creation of Barrier Free Environment" (CBFE Scheme) by providing financial assistance for compliant proposals.
* **Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) Scheme:**
* Funds are released to implementing agencies for providing aids and assistive devices, including hearing aids and cochlear implants, to eligible Divyangjan across the country.
* Beneficiaries must possess a UDID card and a valid Disability Certificate (at least 40% disability).
* Financial assistance is provided based on monthly income: 100% subsidy for income up to ₹22,500, and 50% subsidy for income between ₹22,501 and ₹30,000.
* Financial assistance for cochlear implantation is provided up to ₹7.00 lakh per unit for children aged 1–5 years with pre-lingual hearing loss and up to ₹6.00 lakh per unit for children aged 5–18 years with acquired hearing loss.
* Hearing aids and other assistive devices costing up to ₹15,000 per unit are covered under the Scheme.
* In Chandigarh, 330 hearing aids were distributed and 2 cochlear implant surgeries were conducted under the ADIP Scheme in the last two years.
* Aids are provided on a first-come-first-serve basis.
* **Grievance Redressal:**
* The Sugamya Bharat App (SBA) is a crowdsourcing app for reporting accessibility barriers.
* ALIMCO has a CRM system and helpline for grievance redressal and after-sales service under the ADIP Scheme.
* Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendras (PMDK), including one in Chandigarh, serve as facilitation and grievance redressal points. The nearest Auxiliary Production Centre of ALIMCO, located at Mohali, also assists beneficiaries.
* Grievances are also addressed through the CPGRAMS portal.
* **Quality Assurance:**
* Under the ADIP Scheme, aids and assistive devices must have certification and a minimum one-year warranty.
* ALIMCO ensures quality standards and ISI-certified hearing aids.
* Timely repair and maintenance are provided through the PMDK in Chandigarh, with technical support from ALIMCO headquarters in Kanpur.
* Cochlear implants are covered under the manufacturer's warranty for repair or replacement.
**Impact Analysis**
**Central Government Departments/Ministries, States/UTs:**
*Impact:* Responsible for implementing the SIPDA Act, 2016 and the CBFE Scheme to create barrier-free environments.
*Action Required:* To develop and submit compliant proposals to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) to access financial assistance for barrier-free environment initiatives.
**Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) / Divyangjan:**
*Impact:* Access to assistive devices, financial assistance for cochlear implants and hearing aids, and grievance redressal mechanisms to address accessibility barriers.
*Action Required:*
* Obtain a UDID card and disability certificate to be eligible for ADIP scheme benefits.
* Utilize the Sugamya Bharat App (SBA) to report accessibility barriers.
* Contact ALIMCO's CRM or the Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendras (PMDK) for grievance redressal and after-sales service.
Key Entities Referenced
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: Specifies responsibilities for ensuring accessible infrastructure and services for persons with disabilities.
Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP): Scheme that provides funds for assistive devices, including hearing aids and cochlear implants, to eligible Divyangjan.
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD): Implements the Umbrella Scheme (SIPDA) to facilitate accessibility initiatives.
Chandigarh: Location where accessibility of public offices and provision of hearing assistive devices are being assessed.
Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign): Aimed at enhancing accessibility in public offices, as gauged by audits assessing features like ramps and accessible toilets.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
(DIVYANGJAN)
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 603
TO BE ANSWERED ON- 03/02/2026
ACCESSIBILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICES AND HEARING ASSISTIVE DEVICES IN
CHANDIGARH
603. SHRI MANISH TEWARI :
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the extent of coverage of the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) in
public offices in Chandigarh- number of offices audited, percentage found fully accessible
(ramps, accessible toilets, low counters, signage, digital accessibility) and dates of the latest
audits;
(b) the details of availability and provisioning mechanisms for implants and assistive hearing
devices (cochlear implants, bone-anchored devices, prescription hearing aids a artificial/assistive
hearing devices) in Chandigarh- number provided under central/state schemes, waiting lists and
financial assistance norms;
(c) the grievance redressal and monitoring mechanism for accessibility and device-supply
complaints, and corrective actions taken in Chandigarh during the last two years; and
(d) the steps being taken to ensure quality standards, local availability and timely
repair/maintenance of assistive hearing devices"
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI B L VERMA)
(a): Since ‘Works, lands and buildings vested in or in the possession of the State’ is a State
subject, and as per Sections 41, 44 and 45 of The Rights Of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016,
the appropriate government is responsible to take steps to ensure accessible built infrastructure,
transport systems and accessible ICT for PwDs and is also responsible to conduct regular social
audits/assessments and such data regarding the same is not maintained centrally
To facilitate the central government departments/ministries, States/UTs, Department of
Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) implements an Umbrella Scheme- Schemefor Implementation of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SIPDA) Act, 2016 having a sub-
component called- “Scheme for Creation of Barrier Free Environment” (CBFE Scheme) through
which financial assistance is provided to State/UT Governments on demand-basis for creation of
barrier free environment on receipt of compliant proposals.
(b): Under the Scheme of ‘Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids
and Appliances (ADIP)’ funds are released to various Implementing Agencies for providing
different types of aids & assistive devices including Hearing Aid and Cochlear Implant to the
eligible Divyangjan across the country.
Eligible beneficiaries must possess a UDID card (or enrollment number) along with a valid
Disability Certificate indicating at least 40% disability and should not have availed similar
assistance during the preceding three years; for children below 18 years, the minimum interval is
one year for customised devices. Under the Scheme, beneficiaries with a monthly income up to
₹22,500/- are eligible for 100% subsidy, while those with income between ₹22,501/- and
₹30,000/- are eligible for 50% subsidy. Financial assistance for cochlear implantation, including
surgery, therapy, mapping, travel and pre-implant assessment, is provided up to ₹7.00 lakh per
unit for children aged 1–5 years with pre-lingual hearing loss and up to ₹6.00 lakh per unit for
children aged 5–18 years with acquired hearing loss.
Hearing aids and other assistive devices costing up to ₹15,000/- per unit are covered under the
Scheme, subject to approved specifications and price ceilings
During the last two years, 330 Numbers of Hearing Aid distributed and 02 Cochlear Implant
Surgeries has been conducted under the ADIP Scheme in Chandigarh.
The aids and assistive devices, including cochlear implants, are provided under the ADIP
Scheme on first-come-first-serve basis subject to eligibility and availability of funds under the
Scheme.
(c): Sugamya Bharat App (SBA), is a crowd sourcing mobile application which serves as an
online platform across India for citizens to report any kind of accessibility barriers . It is
available on both iOS and android platforms.
ALIMCO has a dedicated Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, along with
helpline numbers to strengthen grievance redressal and after-sales service for addressing
complaints relating to assistive devices under the ADIP Scheme.
Further, ALIMCO has established several Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendras (PMDK) across the
country including one in Chandigarh to extend its services and to provide aids and assistive
devices under the ADIP Scheme of the Government of India. The PMDK also serves as a
facilitation and grievance redressal point for beneficiaries. In addition, the nearest Auxiliary
Production Centre of ALIMCO is located at Mohali, which also assists beneficiaries in resolving
issues related to the assistive devices provided to them.
Apart from the above, grievances are also addressed through the CPGRAMS portal.
(d): Under the ADIP Scheme, all aids and assistive devices are required to have due certification
and carry a minimum one-year warranty for repair or replacement. ALIMCO, the major
implementing agency, ensures quality standards, ISI-certified hearing aids, local availability, andtimely repair and maintenance through its Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendra (PMDK) in
Chandigarh, with centralized technical support from its headquarters at Kanpur. Cochlear
implants are covered under the manufacturer’s warranty for repair or replacement of defects,
ensuring continued functionality and beneficiary support.
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