Centre Pushes Whole-of-Government Mandate for Sugamya Bharat
- Focus: Universal design across public infrastructure
- Who is affected: Persons with disabilities, public agencies
- Framework: Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan next phase
- Lead agency: Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
Accessibility in public spaces and services cannot remain an afterthought or fall solely on a single department. Speaking at the Sugamyata Ka Sankalp national consultation in New Delhi, Additional Secretary Manmeet Kaur Nanda urged all central ministries and state administrations to adopt a unified, whole-of-government approach to inclusion. She stressed that transport, education, digital systems, and healthcare infrastructure must embed barrier-free features from the planning phase rather than relying on costly retrofits.
The consultation, organized by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities alongside The Association of People with Disability and Ipsos, brought together officials from road transport, aviation, education, and health ministries. Discussions centered on assessing the trajectory of the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan since its 2015 launch and tackling persistent physical and digital compliance gaps under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Delegates from state governments including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha participated in formulating next-phase priorities.
A primary focus of the deliberations was developing a credible, data-driven framework to measure accessibility benchmarks across different sectors. Roundtable participants highlighted that reliable compliance data remains essential to track progress, monitor public infrastructure audits, and hold implementing agencies accountable. As the Centre prepares the next roadmap for the Accessible India campaign, inter-ministerial coordination and enforceable standards will serve as the core metrics for execution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary objective of the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan?
Launched in 2015, the nationwide campaign aims to achieve universal accessibility across the built environment, public transport systems, and information and communication technology.
Why is DEPwD advocating a whole-of-government approach?
Accessibility spans multiple sectors including transit, healthcare, and education, requiring all ministries to embed universal design during early project planning rather than retrofitting.
Which law governs accessibility standards in India?
Accessibility requirements across public infrastructure, services, and digital platforms are mandated under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
Source
PIB Press Release PRID 2321517, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (Release ID: 2321517) · 2026-10-09
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