Question : Wheelchair-friendly Ramps in Government Buildings

(a) whether the Government has noticed that many of the Government Offices in the country are having no wheelchair-friendly ramps, if so, the steps taken by the Government to solve this unequal treatment of Divyangans;

(b) whether the Government will form and execute an inspection team nationwide to examine Government offices and educational institutions to ensure wheelchair ramps in their buildings;

(c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government will form a national policy regarding this, if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SUSHRI PRATIMA BHOUMIK)

(a) to (d): As per the information received from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), CPWD has retrofitted all 219 buildings belonging to MoHUA for making them accessible for persons with disabilities. In addition, CPWD has also retrofitted 889 buildings belonging to other Ministries/Departments.
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 mandates accessibility under Sections 40-46. Further, the Central Government has notified the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017 on 15.06.2017 which inter-alia contain accessibility standards for public building as specified in the Harmonized Guidelines and Space Standards on Barrier Free Built Environment for Persons with Disability and Elderly Persons. These accessibility standards inter-alia include standards for ramps, accessible toilets, etc.
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