**Executive Summary**
This document is a response from the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 232, concerning the accessibility of school campuses for persons with disabilities, as of December 2, 2025. While not all schools are fully accessible, the Central Government provides financial assistance through schemes like Samagra Shiksha and PM-SHRI to States/UTs for creating barrier-free access, and implements the SIPDA Act, 2016.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Accessibility Status:**
* Not all government and private school campuses are accessible for persons with disabilities as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
* As of 2024-25, out of 14.71 lakh schools, 11.64 lakh (79.12%) have ramps, 8.08 lakh (54.92%) have ramps with handrails, and 5.23 lakh (35.55%) have CwSN-friendly toilets.
* **Government Initiatives:**
* The Central Government supports accessibility through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme Samagra Shiksha and PM-SHRI.
* Financial assistance is provided to States/UTs for creating barrier-free access, including ramps, handrails, accessible toilets, and Inclusive Education (IE) interventions for Children with Special Needs (CwSN).
* The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities implements the Scheme for Implementation of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SIPDA) Act, 2016, including the Scheme for Creation of Barrier Free Environment (CBFE).
* Grants may be given on demand basis for creation of barrier free environment in existing government buildings, including government schools, Universities and colleges campuses as per specific proposals received from States/UTs.
* The Government has notified the "Accessibility Code for Educational Institutions" and "Accessibility Guidelines and Standards for Higher Education Institutions".
* **State Government Responsibility:**
* Education, including construction and maintenance of school buildings, is primarily the responsibility of respective State/UT Governments.
* Ensuring accessibility in school infrastructure rests with the appropriate Government in accordance with Sections 41, 44 and 45 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
* The Government supports States/UTs in the construction of CwSN-friendly infrastructure through Samagra Shiksha and PM-SHRI scheme, based on their proposals placed before the Project Approval Board (PAB).
**Impact Analysis**
**State/UT Governments**
* **Impact:** Primarily responsible for ensuring accessibility in school infrastructure.
* **Action Required:** Implement sections 41, 44, and 45 of the RPwD Act, 2016, ensure adherence to cross-disability standards for new infrastructure and provide cost-effective retrofitting solutions for existing campuses, and submit proposals to the Project Approval Board to receive Government support.
**Schools and Educational Institutions**
* **Impact:** Required to adhere to accessibility standards for new infrastructure and provide cost-effective retrofitting solutions for existing campuses.
* **Action Required:** Implementation of the "Accessibility Code for Educational Institutions" and "Accessibility Guidelines and Standards for Higher Education Institutions".
**Persons with Disabilities (Students)**
* **Impact:** Improved access to school campuses and educational facilities.
* **Action Required:** To benefit from the created accessible infrastructure.
Key Entities Referenced
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: The Act mandates accessibility standards for various establishments, including schools, for persons with disabilities.
Samagra Shiksha: A centrally sponsored scheme that provides financial assistance to States/UTs for creating barrier-free access and inclusive education interventions in schools.
PM-SHRI: A scheme that, along with Samagra Shiksha, supports the construction of CwSN-friendly infrastructure in schools.
Accessibility Code for Educational Institutions: A framework mandating adherence to cross-disability standards for new infrastructure and providing retrofitting solutions for existing educational campuses.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: The ministry responsible for addressing the accessibility of school campuses for persons with disabilities and answering the parliamentary question on the matter.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 232
TO BE ANSWERED ON- 02/12/2025
ACCESSIBILITY OF SCHOOL CAMPUSES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
232. Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to
state:
(a) whether all Government and private school campuses have been made accessible for persons
with disabilities in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016;
(b) if not, the number and percentage of schools yet to be made accessible;
(c) the roadmap for achieving total accessibility across schools and colleges; and
(d) whether any special funds have been allocated for this purpose and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI B L VERMA)
(a) & (b) No, Sir. Since Education, including construction and maintenance of school buildings,
is primarily the responsibility of respective State/UT Governments and “works, lands and
buildings” fall under the State List, ensuring accessibility in school infrastructure rests with the
appropriate Government in accordance with Sections 41, 44 and 45 of the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
The Central Government remains committed to supporting accessibility in all schools . Through
the Centrally Sponsored Scheme – Samagra Shiksha and PM-SHRI, financial assistance is
provided to States/UTs for creating barrier-free access, including ramps, handrails, accessible
toilets and other Inclusive Education (IE) interventions for Children with Special Needs (CwSN)
in line with the RPwD Act, 2016.
As per Ministry of Education’s Unified District Information System for Education Plus
(UDISE+) report , 2024-25, out of 14.71 lakh schools in the country, 11.64 lakh schools(79.12%) have ramps, 8.08 lakh schools (54.92%) have ramps with handrails and 5.23 lakh
schools (35.55%) have CwSN-friendly toilets.
(c) The Government has notified the "Accessibility Code for Educational Institutions" for
schools and the "Accessibility Guidelines and Standards for Higher Education Institutions" for
universities. These frameworks mandate strict adherence to cross-disability standards for new
infrastructure and provide cost-effective retrofitting solutions for existing campuses, ensuring
facilities like ramps, accessible restrooms, and assistive technologies are universally available.
(d) The Government supports States/UTs in the construction of CwSN-friendly infrastructure—
such as ramps, ramps with handrails, and barrier-free toilets—through Samagra Shiksha and
PM–SHRI scheme, based on their proposals placed before the Project Approval Board (PAB).
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities implements an Umbrella Scheme-
Scheme for Implementation of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SIPDA) Act, 2016 under
which, vide sub-scheme “Scheme for Creation of Barrier Free Environment” (CBFE Scheme)
grants may be given on demand basis for creation of barrier free environment in existing
government buildings including government schools, Universities and colleges campuses as per
specific proposals received from States/UTs.
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