1,314 government buildings in States and U.T.s made accessible for differently-abled persons: Union Minister

A total of 1,314 Government-owned public buildings in States and Union Territories identified during access audits have been made accessible for Divyangjans under the Accessible India Campaign, according to Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment B.L. In addition, all the 709 A 1, A and B categories of railway stations have been provided with many short-term facilities, like ramps, toilets, lifts, helpdesk, parking, non-slippery walkways and drinking water facilities. Mr. Verma said the Indian Railways had also notified the guidelines on accessibility of Indian Railway stations and facilities at stations for differently-abled persons, which includes provisions, such as entrance ramps, accessible parking, low height ticket counter/help booths, toilets, drinking water booths, sub-ways/foot-over bridges with ramps/lifts, standard signages, including braille signages and tactile pathways. To another question by Mr. Ravikumar, Mr. Verma said that a third-party evaluation of the implementation of the Accessible India Campaign revealed a positive attitudinal change amongst government functionaries and general public towards the right of persons with disabilities to safe and easy access to public places.