DEPwD calls for a whole-of-government accessibility approach under Sugamya Bharat

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities used a 9 October consultation on Sugamya Bharat to call for a whole-of-government approach to accessibility. The central argument was that accessibility is a cross-cutting governance obligation rather than a specialised add-on handled only by the disability department.

The consultation identified education, healthcare, employment, transport, financial services and public infrastructure as linked domains. For a citizen with a disability, a service may still be inaccessible even if one element is improved—for example, an accessible building does not solve a digital form, transport or communication barrier.

A whole-of-government model requires common standards, accessibility audits, procurement rules, budget integration and accountability across levels of government. It also requires participation of persons with disabilities and civil society so compliance is tested against actual use rather than only technical checklists.

For civil-services preparation, the development connects the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, universal design and administrative coordination. The consultation is a policy-direction statement, not evidence that all public services have already become accessible. Implementation and measurable accessibility outcomes remain the key test.