Make India's cities accessible to all

India’s para athletes scripted history by winning 111 medals at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games that concluded last week. This is the best-ever performance by Indian para athletes since the Games’ inception in 2010. The country had sent its largest contingent this year, consisting of 303 athletes, and out of the 111 medals, female athletes have won the highest number of medals. India’s rich haul at the games underlines the need for the country to be more disabled-friendly, especially when it comes to public spaces.

India has around 80 million people with disabilities. In 2015, GoI launched the Accessible India Campaign (AIC) to make public spaces, including government buildings, transportation and ICT, more accessible to people with disabilities. Activists allege that states are not showing much interest in either implementing the AIC charter or spending funds on the accessibility of public or private buildings. This is unfortunate and needs to change.

In besting the Asian Games tally, the Indian contingent demonstrated disability need not be a barrier. The best way to show respect to the athletes would be to make it possible for many more disabled people to contribute to all walks of life. An enabling environment is needed to allow them the same opportunities to enjoy cultural, economic and social life as non-disabled persons. Creating an inclusive and accessible India will require behavioural changes, capacity building, investments in accessible infrastructure and inclusive and accessible innovations.