ASSOCIATION WITH ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA (ASI)

ASI had issued an order in 2001, that all historical monuments be made accessible to PWDs.  Boosted by the Dilli Haat initiative, Samarthyam conducted an access audit of Safdarjung Tomb, which also houses the office of the Superintendent Archaeologist (Delhi Circle) in May 2001. 

The Superintendent Archaeologist admitted that ASI did not fully realize the problems faced by people with disability and also pointed out that nobody had approached them with suggestions on how accessibility should be improved. He welcomed Samarthyam's suggestion of disabled friendly toilets.  Braille information plates describing the history of the monument, facilitated by National Federation of the Blind, were mounted in December 2001. It also prompted a realization in Samarthyam that Government could not be expected to do everything on its own. 

There should be partnership, a shared responsibility, with individuals and NGOs, in ensuring that Government and relevant agencies are made aware of their specific needs and requirements. In December 2003, ASI has offered to work hand in hand with Samarthyam to make other popular historical monuments barrier free.

In this regard, on 25th January 2004, Samarthyam was invited to provide inputs in making Janter Manter (heritage monument) barrier free. All these efforts have received a great deal of positive media coverage with regular articles in all of India's daily national newspapers. The result is an overall increased awareness of the issue of accessibility within the community, the commercial sector and with in Government.

Braille Plates being mounted
at Safdarjung Tomb,
New Delhi.

In 2008, Samarthyam was invited to vet the plan of Qutub Minar and provide recommendations for universal accessibility. Currently Samarthyam is working to promote accessibility in world heritage sites and ticketed monuments of East and South India.