Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Amendment) draft Rules, 2022

## Report on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Amendment Rules, 2022 **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Amendment Rules, 2022, as detailed in the provided government notification. This amendment modifies the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017, specifically concerning standards for public buildings. The core purpose of the amendment is to update and align accessibility standards for public buildings with the Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021, issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The key finding is the replacement of the existing standard with a reference to the 2021 Harmonised Guidelines, ensuring that the latest accessibility standards are adopted for public buildings. This amendment affects building owners, construction companies, and persons with disabilities who utilize public buildings. **2. Introduction:** This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Amendment Rules, 2022, based solely on the information provided in the official government notification. The report will detail the amendment's objectives, key changes, affected stakeholders, and potential impacts. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Original Policy:** Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017. * **Core Objective(s):** As inferred from the provided text, the amendment aims to ensure accessibility standards in public buildings are up-to-date and aligned with the latest guidelines issued by the Government of India. **4. Background and Rationale:** This amendment addresses the need to update the accessibility standards referenced in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017. The amendment replaces the previous standard with a reference to the Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021. This suggests that the previous standards were either outdated or deemed insufficient, necessitating alignment with the newer, potentially more comprehensive, guidelines. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This section focuses on the specific changes introduced by the provided amendment text. * **Specific Part of Original Policy Being Changed:** Rule 15, subrule 1, clause a of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017. * **New Rule/Provision:** The clause specifying the standard for public buildings is substituted with the following: "Standard for public buildings as specified in the Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021, issued by the Government of India, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs vide letter no. 28012092019W3, dated the27th December, 2021, as amended from time to time and made available on https:drive.google.comfiled1d4dedBt2cwJEvyqqSodQ9ENfOyNfefview;". * **Difference/Effect of this Change:** The amendment replaces the previous (unspecified in this document) accessibility standard with a direct reference to the Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021. This ensures that all public buildings adhere to the most current and comprehensive accessibility standards established by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The added "as amended from time to time" means the guidelines will be updated with future changes without having to go through another amendment. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the provided text, the following are directly affected by this amendment: * **Owners and managers of public buildings:** They are now required to adhere to the Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021. * **Construction companies and architects:** They must incorporate the updated accessibility standards into the design and construction of new and renovated public buildings. * **Persons with disabilities:** They are the ultimate beneficiaries, as the amendment aims to improve the accessibility and usability of public buildings. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, specifically the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, is responsible for implementing and overseeing the enforcement of the amended rules. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, as the issuer of the Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021, also plays a role. * **Timelines or Procedures:** The amendment came into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette (June 21, 2022). The text also includes a notice period of thirty days for receiving objections and suggestions from the public regarding the draft rules. * **Amendment Implementation:** The implementation will primarily involve ensuring that new construction and renovations of public buildings adhere to the 2021 Harmonised Guidelines. Existing buildings may need to be retrofitted to comply with the new standards, although the text does not specify a timeline or requirements for such retrofitting. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of these changes is to improve the accessibility of public buildings for persons with disabilities. By adopting the Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021, the amendment aims to create a more inclusive and accessible environment in public spaces. The potential impact includes increased independence, participation, and overall quality of life for persons with disabilities. **9. Conclusion:** The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Amendment Rules, 2022, represent a significant step towards ensuring accessibility in public buildings. By updating the referenced standards to align with the Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021, the amendment aims to create a more inclusive and accessible environment for persons with disabilities. This amendment is significant for the construction industry, building owners, and, most importantly, the disabled community.

Key Entities Referenced