Major Projectsin progress:
Samarthyam has undertaken a major initiative with Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), Government of India, which is the nodal ministry for implementing the action plan, to make Central Government buildings in the country disabled-friendly in the next two years 2009-11. For this, Samarthyam has signed a MoA to access audit around 50 Central Government buildings in Delhi. These are the crème de la crème of public buildings such as Prime Minister Office (PMO), National Museum, Supreme Court, Vigyan Bhawan, National Gallery of Modern Art, National Museum as well as Administrative buildings such as Nirman Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, Sena Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan, Yojna Bhawan, Nirvachan Sadan, etc. The aim is to make not only these buildings accessible to all but also create replicable models and generate awareness and sensitization on Universal Design features through the initiative.
Samarthyam in association with MoUD is sensitizing Central Public Works Department (CPWD) engineers, architects and urban planners. As a result of the instructions issued to CPWD to provide BFE in all Federal Government buildings and the access audits conducted by Samarthyam, 35 buildings have so far have implemented the recommendations of the audit reports to promote universal accessibility. To begin with, the Prime Minister’s Office, Vigyan Bhawan and Nirman Bhawan have installed universal accessible facilities such as accessible parking, ramp with handrails, unisex accessible toilets and way finding signage. Samarthyam is reviewing and monitoring the implementation process in other public buildings. MoUD will integrate with existing mechanism for review of other programmes like Jawahar Lal Nehru urban Renewal Mission.
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Sakshar-Education for All: Samarthyam is promoting ‘Inclusive Education’ by improving accessibility to academic institutions. Samarthyam is undertaking access audits of schools, colleges, Universities and other academic institutions all over the country to improve accessibility, students and teachers with disabilities. Since 2008 till date, Samarthyam has conducted access audits of 71 Colleges, 70 Faculties & Departments and 3 external corridors of University of Delhi; University of Rajasthan, IIT Kanpur and SLIET Engineering University Punjab entire campus; Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) campus, New Delhi and University of Garhwal, Uttarakhand.
Samarthyam has organized access sensitization programmes in schools of Delhi, Port Blair and Rangat (Middle Andaman) and conducted several access audits to make schools universally accessible for children with disabilities. Samarthyam has initiated advocacy meetings and lobbying with Department of Education, GNCTD and Ministry of HRD on provision of Access standards in 600 Government run primary schools in New Delhi.
Accessible Delhi, 2007-2010: Samarthyam conducted access audits and provided report recommendations for access improvement in the upcoming infrastructure in New Delhi to Government of Delhi. Based on the recommendations of audit reports, all venues are made accessible for elite athletes with disabilities and spectators by Sports Authority of India and Organizing Committee, Commonwealth Games 2010.
Following venues are access audited:
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Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), 2002-till date: An access audit of the sample station was conducted in April and followed it till its completion in November 2002. Samarthyam is associated with DMRC to make the system user-friendly and all stations of Delhi Metro to have Universal Design features. The work is being followed with DMRC.
Samarthyam is working with Bangalore Metro to be made fully accessible to passengers with disability and reduced mobility.
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Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) & New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), 2006-till date: Samarthyam prepared a cost effective plan compatible with Low Floor Buses (based on the principle of Universal Design). Agreeing on Samarthyam’s design of accessible Bus-Q-Shelter, a prototype at the Hauz Khas Terminal was constructed by Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). In March 2006, Bus-Q-Shelter was inaugurated by Shri Haroon Yusuf, Minister for Transport, GNCTD. Over 400 BQS by DTC and 197 by NDMC have been constructed based on the plan. Based on the inputs by Samarthyam’s Resource team, Delhi Government has introduced 2000 Low Floor Buses in Delhi.
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Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), 2004-till date: Associated with Transportation Research & Injury Prevention Programme (TRIPP) Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi on accessible designs for low floor bus, bus shelters and corridors/dedicated lane for the under construction BRTS in Delhi. With NGOs in Gujarat, Janmarg- BRTS in Ahmedabad has been access audited and recommendations for making it more accessible are sent to concerned authorities.
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Indian Railways, 2005-till date: Samarthyam is working on Accessible Railway Coaches with toilets and transit/ boarding device with Research Design Standards Organization (RDSO), Rail Coach Factory (RCF) and Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Ministry of Railways, Government of India. The plans through mock ups and sensitization trainings have been worked out and all trains will have one “Compartment for Disabled” with accessible toilet and seat area to assist passengers with mobility aids to use the facilities of Indian Railways with comfort and dignity.
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Indian Railways for the first time has also introduced passenger ferry vehicle which is accessible for persons with reduced mobility. Currently Samarthyam is working with Indian Railways to design a lift for lifting wheelchair passengers from platform to coach.
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Advocacy and Capacity Building, 2005- till date: Disseminating effective models CBR (Community Based Rehabilitation) especially in developing countries to enable the potential of disabled people
Accessibility – Disseminating best practice in accessibility as a tool in achieving the same opportunities as others and avoiding the impacts of both natural and manmade disasters
