Government to soon launch awareness campaign on disability issues

NEW DELHI: Centre is contemplating to launch a massive campaign to sensitise people on accessibility issues concerning persons with disabilities, besides creating an awareness on improving facilities for them.

'Sugamya Bharat' (Accessibility India), to be carried out by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, would highlight accessibility issues of differently-abled persons such as difficulty to access public transport and buildings.

"We would be using platforms like television and social media. We may even have a brand ambassador for the campaign," Awanish Kumar Awasthi, Joint Secretary, Department of Disability Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, told.

Schools and higher educational institutions would be the main focus of the campaign, he said, adding that campaigns would also be carried out at block and taluk levels.

Official sources said attention to minor details can prevent accidents causing disability, citing the difference in levels between train doors and platforms at railway stations which leads to accidents on quite a few occasions.

Also, accessible ramps and toilets are mandatory in schools for the benefit of the differently-abled students and schools should adhere to it. "But in some educational institutions ramps are not accessible-friendly for the Persons with Disabilities," the sources said.

Tactile paving - a system of textured ground surface indicators found on footpaths to assist visually impaired pedestrians - is not serving its purpose in several places, they said.

Against this backdrop, the sources said the ministry has conceived the campaign.