Association with Archaelogical 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.

Dilli Haat 2002-06

Conducted access audit of Dilli Haat (a popular Tourist spot in Delhi) to make it Accessible to All in 2002. Delhi Tourism & Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC), Government of Delhi; implemented the recommendations forwarded. The changes include- leveling of front plaza flooring, demarcated pathway, lowering of ticket counter, merging of level differences, 27 small and big ramps with handrails and unisex accessible toilet (first accessible toilet in a tourist place). Please see attached Case Study.

Dilli Haat received National Award (President's Award) for Promotion of Barrier Free Environment (BFE) on 3rd December 2005, International World Disability Day.

Samarthyam is an advisor for upcoming Haats in the country.

Awareness & Capacity Building Excursion Tours 1996-2006:

Samarthya has organized more than 60 tours for persons with severe disabilities to places of historical, cultural, religious and tourist interests promoting the concept of Barrier-Free Tourism.

Some of the places visited include Agra, Mathura, Bharatpur, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mt. Abu, Ahmedabad, Vadodra, Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Dalhousie, Chamba, Amritsar, Shimla, Kurushetra, Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Nainital, Lucknow, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mysore, Chennai, Tirupati, Goa, Port Blair, Bangalore, Gauhauti and Shillong etc.