SUGAMYA BHARAT

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Context:

The Sugamya Bharat app has resolved 75% of over 1,400 accessibility complaints.

Details

About Sugamya Bharat Mobile Application

• It was launched in 2021 by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
• It aims to empower people with disabilities and the elderly by allowing them to report accessibility issues in public infrastructure, transportation, and buildings.
• The app is available in 10 languages and allows users to upload photos with geotagging options.
• It allows anyone facing difficulties or issues related to accessibility to register their concerns or grievances.

About Sugamya Bharat

• The Accessible India Campaign, also known as Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan was launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
• Its objective is to improve accessibility for people with disabilities by improving public spaces, transport, and digital platforms.
• It aims to make ensure that:
  • • Government buildings are more accessible.
    • Government-operated public transport vehicles are more adaptable for disabled users.
    • Government websites and media content are more accessible through text-to-speech technology and sign language interpreters.
• The initiative is aligned with Article 9 of the (UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities), to which India has been a signatory since 2007.

Initiatives taken to support and empower persons with disabilities (PwDs)

• The People with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995 provides a legal foundation for PWDs' empowerment in areas such as education, employment, and accessibility.
• The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, replaced the 1995 legislation and introduced several changes including:
  • • Expanded disability categories from 7 to 21.
    • Increased reservation quotas for PwDs in government jobs from 3% to 4% and in higher education institutions from 3% to 5%.
• The government supports inclusive education through programs like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), which ensure quality education for children with disabilities.
• National scholarships are offered to students with disabilities to help them pursue higher education, covering various expenses, including tuition fees and books.
• The National Action Plan for Skill Training of Persons with Disabilities (2015) aims to boost the employability of PwDs through targeted skill development programs, including vocational training and collaborations with industries.
• Social security and welfare are provided by the Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP Scheme), which provides financial assistance to PwDs for purchasing necessary aids and appliances.
• The Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) supports voluntary organisations working in disability rehabilitation by offering grants for setting up and maintaining rehabilitation centres.

Must Read Articles:

Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 (RPWD Act)

Source:

Business Standard

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Wikipedia

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Consider the following statements in the context of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016: 1. It increased the total number of disabilities to 21. 2. It increased the reservation in government jobs for persons with disabilities from 3% to 5%. 3. It requires the establishment of a Commission for Persons with Disabilities at the national and state level. 4. The Act requires all public sector firms to have at least one disabled person on their board of directors. How many of the above statements are incorrect? A) Only one B) Only two C) Only three D) All four   Answer: B Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: ●The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 increased the recognised disability list from seven to twenty-one, covering physical, mental, and intellectual disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis. Statement 2 is incorrect: ●The Act increased the reservation in government jobs for people with disabilities from 3% to 4%. Statement 3 is correct: ●The Act requires the establishment of a National Commission for Persons with Disabilities at the national level and State Commissions for Persons with Disabilities at the state level, which are in charge of resolving grievances, monitoring Act implementation, and advising the government on disability policies. Statement 4 is incorrect:  ●The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016 does not include a provision requiring public sector enterprises to have a handicapped person on their boards of directors.