GOI has rolled out “Accessible India Campaign” on the occasion of The International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The campaign is aimed at making 50 major cities more accessible to the specially abled. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi was slated to roll out the campaign since he was away to rain-battered Tamil Nadu, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley stepped in on his behalf.

Sharing PM’s thoughts, Jaitley said that he is for making smart cities fully accessible for persons with disabilities and wants the Centre and states to combine their efforts to make “Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan” successful. One of PM’s suggestions was to consider replacing the word ‘Viklang’ with ‘divayang”. The Union minister also conferred 52 National Awards on outstanding persons with disabilities; individuals and organizations that are working for empowerment of persons with disabilities.

Targets of Accessible India campaign

• At least 50% of all government buildings in the national capital and all state capitals are to be made fully accessible for persons with disabilities by July 2018.
• All international airports in the country and major railway stations are to be made fully accessible for them by July 2016.
• At least 10% of government owned public transport carriers in the country are to be converted into fully accessible carriers by March 2018.
• At least 50% of all public documents issued by the Centre and state governments are to meet accessibility standards for persons with disabilities by March 2018.