Society must join govt to provide accessibility, inclusion to disabled: Official

IANS May 15, 2025 182 views

Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary of DEPwD, highlighted the shared responsibility of society and government in ensuring accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities. He made these remarks at the Inclusive India Summit, aligning with Global Accessibility Awareness Day. The event witnessed the signing of key MoUs aiming to boost accessibility and discrimination-free education for the disabled. Aggarwal emphasized harnessing technology and commended corporate efforts in supporting disabled individuals through employment opportunities.

"Every Divyangjan has the right to live a life of dignity." - Rajesh Aggarwal
New Delhi, May 15: Ensuring accessibility and inclusion in the lives of persons with disabilities is not just the responsibility of the government but a collective duty of society as a whole, said Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), on Thursday.

Key Points

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Rajesh Aggarwal urges society's role in accessibility

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Inclusive India Summit coincides with Global Accessibility Awareness Day

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DEPwD signs MoUs for enhancing accessibility

Addressing the Inclusive India Summit, organised on the occasion of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), Aggarwal stated that every Divyangjan has the right to live a life of dignity.

He underlined the transformative role of technology in easing their daily lives and called for making it even more accessible.

The Secretary emphasised that education is the right of every child, and we must develop an inclusive infrastructure that enables divyangjan

children to access mainstream education without discrimination. While special schools are important, the relevance of inclusive schools is even more significant today.

Speaking on livelihood, Aggarwal stressed the importance of making 'divyangjans' self-reliant. Many young men and women with disabilities are setting examples of success in various fields.

He urged parents of divyang children to believe in them and give them opportunities. He also appreciated the corporate sector for its contribution to building an inclusive society by providing employment to skilled youth with disabilities.

During the event, DEPwD signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with different organisations, including I for Humanity Foundation.

This MoU aims to develop an accessible built environment and transportation system.

It also includes the creation of a checklist, toolkit, and an 'Accessibility Index' for auditing and certifying compliance in public buildings.

The MoU with Nipman Foundation and Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC) focuses on promoting innovation and awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities. Under this partnership, hackathons, national competitions, and Equal Opportunity Awards will be organised to recognise inclusive practices.

The understanding with Ramp my city Foundation is centered around building barrier-free public infrastructure, including healthcare centres, tourist destinations, and government buildings.

Reader Comments

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Priya K.
This is such an important initiative! đź‘Ź In Mumbai, I've seen how difficult it is for wheelchair users to access public transport. The Accessibility Index is a great idea - hope it gets implemented properly across all states. Corporates should also be given tax benefits for making their offices accessible.
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Rahul S.
While I appreciate the government's efforts, implementation is always the challenge. My cousin who is visually impaired still struggles to find accessible ATMs in Delhi. MoUs are good but we need strict enforcement with penalties for non-compliance.
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Ananya M.
Inclusion starts at home! As a teacher, I've seen parents hesitate to send their divyang children to regular schools. We need more awareness campaigns to change mindsets. The hackathon idea is brilliant - Indian youth can create amazing accessibility solutions if given the chance!
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Vikram J.
Good steps but what about rural areas? Most discussions focus on cities. In villages, divyangjans face double discrimination - due to disability and lack of facilities. The government should make panchayats accountable for implementing accessibility measures with proper budgets.
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Sunita P.
I run a small business and we recently hired two hearing-impaired employees. Best decision ever! Their dedication is inspiring. More companies should realize that divyangjans are an asset, not a liability. The government should create better job portals specifically for PwDs.
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Karan D.
The focus on tourism spots is much needed. India loses so much potential tourism because foreign visitors with disabilities find our heritage sites inaccessible. Simple ramps and tactile paths can make a huge difference. This is good for both inclusion and economy!

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Tags:
Accessibility Rajesh Aggarwal Divyangjan Global Accessibility Awareness Day Inclusive Society Disability Rights