Page 42 - Shelter - April 2023

POLICY REVIEW
considering the growing
challenges and aspirations.
The social security schemes
have been completed by
many transformational
schemes introduced to ensure
360-degree empowerment
of PwDs and strengthen the
ecosystem to cater for their
needs and aspirations. For
instance, NIRAMAYA, one of
the latest schemes to ensure
Affordable Health Insurance
to PwDs, not only covers the
facility for OPD treatment
but also transportation
costs. The scheme Badhte
Kadam aims at community
awareness, sensitisation, REDEFINING
social integration and
mainstreaming of PwDs. The
aspects of care giving have
also been recognised in many
schemes including,VIKAAS, a
Day care scheme, primarily for
enhancing interpersonal and
vocational skills; SAHYOGI
(Care Associate Training
Scheme). Schemes such as
SAMARTH provides respite
care and GHARAUNDA
ensures an assured home
and minimum quality of care
services throughout the life of
the PwDs. At present, more
than 3000 special schools
for the disabled children are
functioning across the country,
a leap in number compared to
a mere 100 schools at the time
of independence.
While the progress is
commendable, we need to
keep aiming bigger and better.
As India is aspiring to be a
40 HUDCO-HSMI Publication
five trillion-dollar economy, it or lack thereof. Hence, the
would require each and every design of any space, physical
citizen to become an active or even virtual, must be easily
contributor in the economic and equitably approachable,
activities. As we pave the understandable and
way for a more progressive interactive with persons
future, it is imperative to having disabilities. According
focus on the welfare of all the to the United Nations,
sections of the society. Our accessibility is a bridging tool
current growth trajectory between the special needs
makes it an opportune time to of PwDs and a country’s
embrace progressive models social, cultural, and economic
that focus on empowering inclusion.
individuals to fulfil their
fundamental duties and INCLUSIVITY AS A
integrate inclusion as a cross PRIORITY IN PUBLIC
cutting component of urban PROJECTS
development.
The positive effect of the
shift to universal design as an
INCLUSION approach is most observable
in the public projects across
But the question to ask is: the country. In just the past
what is Inclusion? Is it limited few years, many progressive
to the representation of those projects and programmes
who are marginalized, or is have been implemented
it something more? One way in India. Ranging from
to describe inclusion, from the Multi-Sensory Park and
a structural standpoint, is Museum of Possibilities in
that it can be categorized as Chennai, All Abilities Park in
equity in access to spatial, Visakhapatnam and many
social, economic and digital others. Cities like Varanasi
resources. The explanation have attributed tenets of
introduces a related concept accessibility and inclusion
of access or accessibility and in projects worth more than
safety of systems, structures, 200 crores. Bhubaneshwar
and services. The concept has brought in policy reforms
of accessibility generally ensuring not only PwDs
points towards universality; but also gender and age
of basic human rights. From inclusion. There is a welcome
the point of view of a built demonstration of a democratic
environment, accessibility is spirit in architecture and city
best defined as the provision planning.
of flexibility to accommodate
each user’s needs, preferences As the embodiment of the
and ease of movement “New India” vision, the
regardless of their abilities Central Vista project is a