Why are Indian cities still inaccessible to people with disabilities?
In Focus by The Hindu

Why are Indian cities still inaccessible to people with disabilities?

B2Upper-intermediateOctober 20, 202650 min
  • Interview
  • Society

Indian cities have undergone rapid urbanisation over the past few decades. Yet, accessibility continues to evade the design and planning priorities. Despite the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, mandating accessibility in public buildings across the country, Indian cities need to go a long way when it comes to inclusive public spaces, transport and other infrastructure. Several pertinent questions remain – how many barriers must a person with physical or intellectual disability navigate to get from point A to point B? Have the efforts towards inclusivity been centred around a narrow understanding of disability? How do we make cities in In...

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around a narrow understanding of disability? How do we make cities in India answerable for

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of PACTA, a law firm and think tank focusing exclusively on the legal needs of social sector

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0:00

This is In Focus, the Hindu's current affairs podcast. buildings across the country. Nevertheless, Indian cities need to go a long way when it comes to inclusive public spaces, transport and other infrastructure. Several pertinent questions remain. How many barriers must a person with physical or intellectual disability

0:46

navigate to get from point A to point B? Have the efforts towards inclusivity been centred around a narrow understanding of disability? How do we make cities in India answerable for accessibility. To share their insights on these, today we have with us Nivedita Krishna, founder of PACTA, a law firm and think tank focusing exclusively on the legal needs of social sector

1:11

and Bumika Maud, who heads the Yes to Access initiative of the Association of People with Disability. Welcome to the show. Thank you. So Bumika, I wanted to ask you first, India has accessibility laws, technical standards and a national campaign. But how accessible are Indian cities in practice? Can a person with physical and intellectual disability leave

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