The government will set up three state-of-the-art centres in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh to provide special training and support to sportsmen who are differently-abled. They want to adopt the best practices and parameters adopted abroad. Detailed project report will be prepared and by April or May they will initiate the construction of the buildings. The centres will be set up in Zirakpur in Punjab, Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

Gehlot also said that his Ministry has moved the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 to the Cabinet. Under the new draft Bill, the number of disabilities has been raised from 7 to 19, while the percentage of reservation has been raised from 3 to 5. As a part of Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) launched on December 3 on International Day of Persons with Disability, the Minister said 48 cities (A and B) have been selected where 100 “most important government buildings” will be converted into fully accessible buildings by July 2016.

Also, an accessibility audit of all international airports will be conducted and they will be made accessible for disabled people by July 2016. This covers built environment-steps, ramps, corridors, entry ways, emergency, exists, parking as well as indoor and outdoor facilities, including lighting, signage, alarm systems and toilets.