Progress of DEPwD Schemes and Initiatives

Context

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) has been working tirelessly to ensure the empowerment and inclusivity of persons with disabilities in India. The department has launched several schemes and initiatives to achieve this goal, and it is essential to review their progress to ensure that they are effective and making a positive impact on the lives of persons with disabilities.

Schemes and Initiatives

• Accessible India Campaign: Making public spaces and buildings accessible for persons with disabilities.
• Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme: Providing financial assistance to NGOs for rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.
• National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities: Providing scholarships to students with disabilities.

Accessible India Campaign

The Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) is a campaign to make India accessible for PwD initiated by DEPwD for universal accessibility. The campaign has three key verticals: the constructions and spaces over and around the earth, mobility systems, and the information and communication streams. In particular, the government seeks to ensure that all government offices, airports, railway stations, and public transport are accessible to any person with a disability.

Development – The Built Environment

In the built environment, the campaign has been quite effective in achieving its objectives. Over 25000 government buildings have got department accessibility audits of them and made them fully accessible buildings. Moreover, remaining immensely strategic, the department has made a further affirmation that 100 percent of government buildings within the national capital and state capitals are now made fully accessible.

Progress in Transportation

It has also recorded some relative improvement within the sphere of transportation. The department has also performed accessibility studies for all the international airports and has worked towards transforming them into accessible airports. Also, the department has also seen that all important railway stations of the country are at least fifty per cent barrier-free.

Development and growth of Information and communication system

The campaign has also played a substantial role in the transformation of the younger population’s information and communication ecosystem. This department has come up with the PM DAKSH DEPwD portal, which has numerous links for those with disabilities seeking training and job placements. A one-stop solution, the registration process is simple using UDID, training in skills based on the location, employment listings featuring companies across the nation, and simple bureaucratic procedures.

Compendium of Schemes

The department has also developed the Compendium of Schemes to provide an informational reference guide that contains all the current schemes and plans of DEPwD. This is helpful because it gives an overview of the goals, sub-goals, and the methods of calculating the BPI of each scheme in detail and in a structured manner which makes it easier for one to read through and understand.

Five Pioneering Initiatives

The department has also launched five pioneering initiatives aimed at fostering inclusivity and empowering persons with disabilities. These initiatives include the PM DAKSH DEPwD portal, the UDID portal, the aggregated data of Unique Disability Identity Cards, the Scheme for Implementation of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (SIPDA), and the Accessible India Campaign.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the DEPwD has made significant progress in implementing its schemes and initiatives aimed at empowering and inclusivity of persons with disabilities. The department has conducted accessibility audits of government buildings, airports, and railway stations, and has launched several digital platforms and initiatives to support persons with disabilities. The department’s efforts have been recognized globally, and it continues to be a leader in promoting inclusivity and accessibility in India.

Source: PIB

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. Discuss the progress and impact of the schemes and initiatives undertaken by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) in India. What are the challenges in achieving comprehensive disability empowerment, and how can these challenges be overcome? (250 words)

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