Central government asks Delhi government to provide information on accessibility of public buildings

The disability division of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has asked for data from various departments of the Delhi government and local bodies as to how many public buildings and places under their jurisdiction are disabled-friendly.

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) has also asked them to frame an action plan with a timeline for making all the public buildings under their jurisdiction accessible.

This needs to be completed by 5 December 2018, which is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 makes it mandatory for all private and government institutions and establishments to ensure barrier-free spaces and services for people with disabilities.

A sensitization meeting of all the stakeholders was also held to discuss how to make Delhi a model accessible city. The DEPwD has asked government departments and local bodies to come up with a roadmap and allocate funds towards this.

In Delhi, 23 buildings were identified for making them accessible to disabled people. The central government has released funds for 19 of these buildings.

The DEPwD has also suggested eight categories, covering over 250 public buildings and spaces. These include educational institutes, healthcare facilities, and office buildings.

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