'Sugamya Bharat': Arun Jaitley launches Modi government's Accessible India initiative

NEW DELHI: The BJP government on Thursday unveiled its next bigticket campaign, Accessible India, which aims to provide universal accessibility for all, including differently-abled persons. Finance minister Arun Jaitley inaugurated Accessible India initiative with the launch of a mobile-based app and a web portal, Sugamya Bharat (Accessible India), which would enable citizens to take photographs of inaccessible public places and help state governments and the Centre in making them accessible. The government has also introduced a reward system for proactive citizens.

Jaitley filled in for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had to skip the launch as he left to review the flood situation in Chennai. Accessible India is Modi government’s flagship programme after Swachh Bharat, launched in October 2014.


Jaitley read out the PM’s message to the audience, which comprised differently-abled national award winners. In his message, Modi expressed regret that he could not be present to give away the awards and launch the programme. “All of you are an inspiration in the true sense of the word. I feel that instead of the word viklang (disabled) we should use the word divyang (the divine body),” Modi said in his message drawing a round of enthusiastic applause from the audience.

The government has formulated a targetbased approach for the programme. It aims to make at least 2,500 government buildings accessible by July 2016 and make all state capitals universally accessible by 2018. Modi said in his message that the programme would be successful only if all the state governments and departments and NGOs participate in the initiative.