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POLICY REVIEW

ENVISIONING AN INCLUSIVE INDIA BY 2047

HITESH VAIDYA This paper presents a vision Antyodaya, implying the
for an inclusive India by 2047.
welfare of all through the
UTSAV CHOUDHURY It analyses inclusivity at weakest of the society”: a
KANIKA BANSAL various levels, and the policies, philosophy perfected through
programmes and legislative the history of independent
support mechanism for an India, which has always
“It is evident that inclusion inclusive and barrier free been at the frontier of global
and universal access are the environment, ensuring access commitments and efforts
towards non-discrimination
non-negotiable aspects to for all, including the persons and inclusion.
with disabilities. The paper
achieve the key objectives of highlights that inclusion and
the New India – excellence, universal access are the non- From being the signatory to the
and efficiency above all. negotiable aspects to achieve the United Nations Convention
With India taking up the G20 key objectives of the New India. on Rights of Persons with
presidency, now is the most Disabilities (UNCRPD), to
opportune time to build the INTRODUCTION enactment of the Rights of
Persons with disabilities Act
‘Setu of Solidarity’, where Over the past 75 years, since (RPwD) in 2016, India has
inclusion, sustainability and its independence, India has come a long way in achieving
resilience will bring together made significant progress the vision of empowering
an increasingly fragmented across all social and economic persons with disabilities
world and steer it towards sectors. India’s growth story (PwDs) and enabling their
‘One Earth, One Family and has been impressive and active contribution in socio-
One Future’.” innovative, and holds great economic activities of the
promise for the future. The country. India is home to over
Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav has 20 million PwDs, of which
been showcasing India’s 31% resides in urban areas.
Key Words: Inclusivity, built infrastructure, accomplishments since 1947 Although, with a threefold
disabilities, PwDs. and illustrating ‘unity in increase in types of disabilities,

Mr. Hitesh Vaidya (hvaidya@niua.org ) is diversity’ among the Indian the number of PwDs are
Director, National Institute of Urban Affairs population, presenting expected to significantly
(NIUA), New Delhi. India’s development and increase in the upcoming
Mr. Utsav Choudhury (uchoudhury@niua. belief of ‘Ek Bharat - Shreshtha population census. By 2047,
org) currently leads the Building Accessible
Safe Inclusive Indian Cities programme at the Bharat’.Today’s India is an Indian cities are expected
NIUA. AtmaNirbhar Bharat (Self to see a surge in aging and
Ms. Kanika Bansal(kbansal@niua.org) is Reliant India), with a firm ailing populations along with
Senior Programme Associate-Building belief in the Gandhian concept general demographic growth.
Accessible Safe Inclusive Indian Cities, NIUA. of “Sarvodaya through It is estimated that the largest

April, 2023, Volume 24. No.1 - SHELTER 37