Press Information Bureau

On the occasion of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) on May 15, 2025, the Inclusive India Summit was organized at the India International Centre, New Delhi. The event was conducted in a hybrid mode in collaboration with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, along with SBI Foundation and the National Association for the Blind (NAB), Delhi, and supported by the Association of People with Disability (APD) and Mission Accessibility (Dhananjay Sanjogta Foundation).

The Chief Guest, Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary (DEPwD), emphasized that ensuring accessibility and inclusion in the lives of persons with disabilities is not just the responsibility of the government but a collective duty of society as a whole. Highlighting the three key aspects of life—Life, Learning, and Livelihood, he stated that every Divyangjan has the right to live a life of dignity. He underlined the transformative role of technology in easing their daily lives and called for making it even more accessible. He emphasized that education is the right of every child, and we must develop an inclusive infrastructure that enables divyangjan children to access mainstream education without discrimination. While special schools are important, the relevance of inclusive schools is even more significant today.

Speaking on livelihood, Shri Aggarwal stressed the importance of making divyangjans self-reliant. Many young men and women with disabilities are setting examples of success in various fields. He urged parents of divyang children to believe in them and give them opportunities. He also appreciated the corporate sector for its contribution to building an inclusive society by providing employment to skilled youth with disabilities.

During the event, DEPwD signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with different organizations:

1.         I for Humanity Foundation – This MoU aims to develop an accessible built environment and transportation system. It also includes the creation of a checklist, toolkit, and an ‘Accessibility Index’ for auditing and certifying compliance in public buildings.

2.         Nipman Foundation and Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC) – This MoU focuses on promoting innovation and awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities. Under this partnership, hackathons, national competitions, and Equal Opportunity Awards will be organized to recognize inclusive practices.

3.         Ramp my city Foundation – This partnership is centered around building barrier-free public infrastructure, including healthcare centres, tourist destinations, and government buildings.

The summit also featured the demonstration of a voice and WhatsApp-based AI-enabled chatbot, currently under development in collaboration with Sarvam AI. The chatbot is designed to improve access to information about disability-related schemes and initiatives for divyangjan.

On this occasion, Ms. Manmeet Kaur Nanda, Additional Secretary (DEPwD), stated that accessibility is not a standalone effort but a collective initiative. She emphasized the need to develop an effective system that ensures better participation of the divyang community in an inclusive society. She said that accessibility is foundational to inclusivity and development for any PwDs.

Shri Sanjay Prakash, Managing Director of SBI Foundation, shared his views, stating that accessibility is not just about physical infrastructure but a medium to bring about a positive transformation in the entire lives of persons with disabilities.

This summit marked a significant step towards building an inclusive India, laying a strong foundation for an accessible and inclusive future through the joint efforts of government and society. Senior officials from DEPwD, representatives from NAB, APD, Mission Accessibility, SBI Foundation, and various non-governmental organizations were present at the event.

*****

VM