Our Milestones: Accessible, Scalable, Replicable and Sustainable Projects
Samarthyam is celebrating 33 years of our efforts to make #India #accessible and #inclusive! Thanks to all our partners in change for their continued patronage!!
In this Decade for Action, we aim at the following:
- Address issues of inequality and promote the social inclusion of youth, persons with disabilities, older persons and other vulnerable social groups;
- Promote gender equality and women’s empowerment; and
- Strengthen social protection and health systems.
Our efforts to achieve the above are seen in our activities, in every year, as follows:
Max Mueller Bhawan, New Delhi,
Center For Development Of Advanced Computing, Bangalore- Supercomputers developers
GE, Corporate offices, Noida, UP
Airport Terminals, Navi Mumbai, Mumbai
Uber, HQ, Bangalore
Member, Committee on review of UGC Guidelines, University Grants Commission, Government of NCT, Delhi
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has set an example of being the most accessible public transportation system in India. Based on the accessibility standards recommended by Samarthyam, similar design standards are being replicated in other parts of the country. Samarthyam is advisor to all the Metro Rail Corporation projects in India such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi, Agra, Kanpur, and Jaipur.
2004-2024, Indian Railways
Samarthyam is working on Accessible Railway Coaches with toilets and transit/ boarding devices to bridge the gap between rail coach and platform. Partnership with Research Design Standards Organization (RDSO), Rail Coach Factory (RCF) and Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Ministry of Railways, Government of India is helping to conduct R&D projects to make Indian Railways accessible.
2003- 2024, Pedestrian Infrastructure
To provide seamless journey and last mile connectivity between the transit facilities, and to other services, Samarthyam revised the pedestrian guidelines and codes of the Indian Roads Congress with inclusive design standards for pedestrians and commuters. Connaught Place, CommonWealth Games streetscape (New Delhi), Badshahpur eco-corridor (Gurgaon), Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation roads and streetscape (Hyderabad), Eco-world 5kms corridor (Bangalore), Chennai, Ahmedabad, etc. are some of our prime projects on inclusive pedestrian facilities.
1993-2024, access audits of buildings, corporate offices, theme parks, Tech offices, etc. have been undertaken that include our partners-in-change.
2023
Major Accessibility Audits undertaken:
New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)25 prime buildings and offices in Delhi
Panjab University, Panjab
2 Pilgrimage sites access audit under PRASAD scheme of PMO, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India
Tech Parks, Malls and Resorts, Factories & Manufacturing Units, Corporate Offices, etc.
Airports for ALL
Three major airports are access audited and plans of new /upcoming airports are vetted to ensure Mobility for All. These include:
Delhi International Airports- Terminal 2 and 3
Bangalore International Airport- Terminal 1 and 2
Mumbai International Airport- Terminal 1, 2 and 3
Navi Mumbai International Airport- Terminal 1
Schools for All
Samarthyam with the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a Special Accessibility Audit for Children with Disabilities in 33 Government Schools in NCT Delhi. Outcome: The intervention has resulted in making all the government schools in Delhi NCR accessible and inclusive for children and teachers with disabilities and opening up avenues for further replication in other states of India.
2021-23
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
With the aim of improving the standard of living for persons with disabilities in India’s Rajasthan State, ESCAP and Samarthyam have designed a project to strengthen the capacities of persons with disabilities, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), mainstream community networks and government agencies.
Protecting and empowering persons with disabilities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021-22
Towards the Incheon Strategy to Ensure the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific (Phase II), 2022-23
2022
2012-2022, With UNICEF, Samarthyam has been associated since 2012 and has partnered in 5 states to ensure education and inclusion for all children with disabilities.
Accessibility audit in schools and Anganwadis, development of module and capacity building on home based education of children with severe and multiple disabilities
2022, Capacity building and supportive supervision on accessibility audit of schools & anganwadis and home based education, UP
Accessibility audit in schools and Anganwadis, development of module and capacity building on home based education of children with severe and multiple disabilities, UP
Barrier Free and Accessible Built Environment in Schools of Gujarat
Capacity Building Workshops for Making Schools Accessible, Rayagada, Odisha
Capacity Building Workshops for Making Schools Accessible, Odisha, Assam, UP, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu
Capacity Building Workshop for Making Schools Accessible, Pan Odisha
Development of Guidelines on Barrier Free and Accessible Built Environment in Schools
2005-2022, Access audits of Educational Institutions
Access audits of prime Universities of India:
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) campus, New Delhi
University of Delhi
University of Punjab
University of Rajasthan
University of Garhwal at Tehri, Pauri, Garhwal and Srinagar, Uttrakhand
University of Hyderabad, EFLU
SLIET, Engineering University Punjab
Bharathiar university, Coimbatore
Other prime access audits include:
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Complete Tiger Reserve access audited along with tree houses
Ayodhya Station- Accessibility and Mobility Audit as per the RPWD ACT
Bangalore International Airport - domestic and international airport
2021
Access audits of more than 1400 schools in 22 states of India with funding support of UNICEF, Government of India, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (Odisha and West Bengal, VSO and DFID) and CBM
Access audits of Centre of Excellence, which led to evidence based advocacy on making IITs and IIMs accessible for persons with disabilities. The institutes access audited are as follows:
Indian Institute of Technology, Jammu
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmadabad
Indian Institute of Management, Jammu
BITS MESRA, Ranchi
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2020- 2011
2020
Much needed partnership with developers and corporate organizations were established in this year with access audits as follows:
DLF 30 Commercial buildings and Retail outlets in Delhi NCR and Gurgaon
Public Works Department, Rewari- 5 buildings and Mini Secretariat transport terminus and roads
Central Public Works Department buildings in Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Jaipur, Kolkata, Chennai
- 45 prime & high visibility government buildings
2010-2020
Samarthyam has been proactively engaged in access auditing the sports and games complexes in the country to ensure stadiums and sports complexes are universally accessible for all.
With Delhi Development Authority (DDA), 18 stadiums and golf courses were access audited by Samarthyam which are retrofitted by DDA to have accessibility elements to include para sports persons.
With Sports Authority of India, Govt. of India, 13 stadiums and sports complexes are audited by Samarthyam, while implementation is undertaken by CPWD on fast track.
During the Commonwealth Games, 2010 in Delhi, as Advisor to the CWG Organizing Committee on accessibility for para-athletes, Samarthyam access audited all stadium complexes and residential apartments to ensure that these are fully accessible for all.
Other prominent built-up environment access audits include:
Bhikaji Cama Place- walkability audit of roads and streetscape
Mass Rapid Transit Systems, UPMRCL- Kanpur and Agra stations
23 public buildings in Trivandrum, Department of Social Justice, Kerala
2019
Under the Accessible India Campaign with ASI in Delhi, 19 heritage monument e.g. Red Fort, Purana Quila (Old Fort), Safdarjung Tomb, Jantar Mantar, Qutub Minar and Humayun’s Tomb, etc. were access audited by Samarthyam. All these ticketed monuments have been made accessible for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility (senior citizens, pregnant women, families with young children and persons with temporary ailments).
2006- 2019, Inclusive Design in Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS)
Samarthyam provides planning, design and implementation of BRT systems to emphasize the need for platform-bus interface for level boarding; BQS with ramps, tactile paving, Braille route and information signage. Samarthyam’s collaboration with BRT designers and service providers have resulted in state of art accessible and safe pedestrian infrastructure and bus stations in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Indore, New Raipur (Atal Nagar) and many other cities.
Other access audits and training include partnering with the following:
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation- 53 metro stations
Mumbai International Airport Limited
Prime Minister’s Office and Rashtrapati Bhawan
Central Public Works Department- 18 buildings in Bhubaneswar
Delhi Department Authority -18 Stadiums and Golf Course and Nehru Place- walkability audit of roads and streetscape
2017-2018
Samarthyam has been partnering with the Indian Railways- RDSO and ICF wings – to make the railway coaches accessible for all. Design of prototype accessible railways coaches were provided by Samarthyam in consultation with IR engineers and currently all coaches have “Coach for the Disabled” with internal access for wheelchair users also.
For external access to the coaches, ‘portable whee-lift’ was tested at New Delhi railway station to be replicated and provided at all stations in the country.
2016
Under the Accessible India Campaign launch year, 5 cities access audits were undertaken:
Chennai- 25 Metro, suburban station and Chennai Central station
Raipur- 59 public buildings and Raipur station
Trivandrum- 51 public buildings and Trivandrum station
Pune- 49 public buildings and Pune station
Bhubaneswar- 49 public buildings and BBSR station
Alongside other access audits covered are as follows:
CPWD-35 public buildings, , Odisha- Bhubaneswar
Bus Rapid Transit System, Indore, 2016
2015
Anjlee Agarwal was invited as Country Representative at United Nations HQ, Geneva for training on CEDAW and advocacy with CEDAW Committee Members
Access audits undertaken are as follows:
UNESCO, Accessibility and Safety Audit of Bandra Station, Mumbai
UTTIPEC, Delhi NCR- walkability Audit of Connaught Place, Lodi Road, Sarai Kale Khan, ISBT terminus
2014
Key transport terminuses and Mass Raid System access audits include:
Ahmedabad Bus Rapid Transit System with CEPT, 2014
Hyderabad Metro Rapid Transit System
Chennai Metro Rapid Transit System
Bangalore Metro Rapid Transit System: BMRC-Namma
Delhi International Airport, GMR Delhi T3 airport
2013-2011
Access audits undertaken are as follows:
Public Works Department- Walkability Audit- 2.2 km roads to Delhi University, North Campus
H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar, Garhwal, Uttarakhand
More than 25 Capacity Building workshops for staff of IGNOU; Garhwal and other Universities; CPWD, PWD, Chief Secretaries, etc. were undertaken
Accessible Goa
In association with Chief Architect, PWD, Goa a one year project was taken up to ensure accessibility in the entire Panjim City and outskirts including the beaches, factores, open spaces, fardens, tourism spots and public buildings. Capacity building training and sensitization for mass awareness was undertaken.
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2010-2001
2010
50 prime buildings of Ministry of Urban Development
Further impetus from the UNCRPD has led to access audits and retrofits of 50 public buildings of CPWD in New Delhi in partnership with the Ministry of Urban Development (now known as Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs), Government of India. These 50 buildings and prime government buildings and campuses such as Prime Minister Office (PMO), President House (Rashtrapati Bhawan), Supreme Court, North and South Block, including museums like the National Museum, NGMA, National Archives, etc.
Connaught Place inner circle and 1 km radius in New Delhi was made accessible with NDMC before the Commonwealth Games. The project showcased that access audits implementation enables refurbishment with access features in external environments also. This is one example.
2009
Access audits undertaken are as follows:
Parliament of India
CWG Organizing Committee and Government of NCT Delhi
Walkability Audits- of CWG stadiums and roads infrastructure,
Nehru Memorial, Planetarium and Museum
Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering & Technology (SLIET), Longowal, Punjab
2008
Access audits undertaken are as follows:
World Health Organization, Regional Office for South- East Asia, New Delhi
IGNOU campus
North Delhi Power Limited, Corporate office
Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Corporate Office
Postal Staff College India and Hostel building, Ghaziabad
2007
Access audits undertaken are as follows:
University of Delhi- 147 colleges covering North and South Campus
Accessible Delhi Project in partnership with Rajiv Gandhi Foundation - 20 public buildings including transport sites
IIT, Kanpur Campus
Andaman Islands- Hadoo Jetty and Transport terminuses (Bus stands)
Accessible Plazas at Emporia Complex, Connaught Place, New Delhi: Pradeep Sachdeva Design Associates (PSDA) was commissioned to design the space in front of the Emporia Complex buildings near Connaught Place by the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC). Samarthyam conducted access audits of the Emporia complex and provided recommendations to make the site universally accessible.
2006
Access audits of 3 Govt. Hospitals, Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities
Following the success of Dilli Haat, INA with the addition of accessible elements post-occupancy, the Government of NCT Delhi got a much needed impetus to promote barrier free environments. In partnership with Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC) and Architect Mr. Pradeep Sachdeva, Samarthyam promoted inclusive design in the Garden of Five Senses and Plazas at Emporia Complex, Connaught Place in Delhi. Many Haats were built throughout the country to celebrate “Accessibility and Inclusive” marketplace.
“Mobility for All”: First Conference on Accessible Transportation
In academic collaboration with the Transportation Research & Injury Prevention Programme (TRIPP) Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, 17-19 March 2006. The very purpose of this Conference was to bring the Government, service providers, stakeholders and user groups on one platform and Draft Implementation Policies and Guidelines on “National Policy on Accessible Transportation” addressing the concerns of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and senior citizens. This National Conference was the first endeavor of its kind in the country, supported by the Union Tourism Ministry, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India and the Corporate Sector.
Policy Advocacy on Accessible Public Transport Systems
Samarthyam advocated for National Urban Transport Policy after the first National Conference on “Mobility for All”, held in New Delhi, thus resulting in the first transport policy in India with inclusive mobility sections. In 2014, the NUTP was amended again to comply with UNCRPD and the RPWD Act 2016 and stipulates universal design and universal accessibility in its preamble.
Bus-Queue-Shelters (BQS)
Samarthyam’s advocacy and sustained implementation strategies have resulted in universal accessibility in public transport infrastructure. Samarthyam provides universal design elements to make the buses and bus shelters accessible for people with disabilities, elderly, children and women. Our collaboration with State and Central (federal) Governments, State Transport Authorities, service providers, and public transit agencies have paved the way for implementation of accessible bus shelters and low floor buses in the country.
2005
Access audits undertaken are as follows:
India Habitat Centre
India International Centre
Indian Institute of Public Administration
VSO, India office
2004
2004-2019, Indian Railways- RDSO and ICF – Design of prototype accessible railways coaches
2004-2015, Dilli Haat (INA, Pitampura & Janakpuri) vibrant urban space in the heart of Delhi provides a rich cultural and interactive tourist experience for people of all ages. Accessible features including ramps, railings, even flooring and accessible toilets were added in 2004-06 that have made it inclusive for all visitors and artisans.
2004-2010, BRTS, Delhi with IIT Delhi and design of low floor buses.
Low Floor Buses
To create an accessible bus, Samarthyam in association with Transport Research & Injury Prevention Programme (TRIPP), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, worked with the bus manufacturer, TATA Motors. The design of the buses consisted of wide doors, transit ramps, designated wheelchair space, public information systems with audio & digital display, colour contrast handrails and stanchions, illuminated destination and route signs. LFB is now the in-demand public transportation system and Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and many other cities are having accessible LFB due to Samarthyam’s advocacy with State Transport Authorities.
A year which saw the light of the ‘Accessible & Inclusive India' through the formation of the first Indian Access Auditors Committee “Access for All” by the O/o the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Government of India. Two Samarthyam’s team members were nominated as the Empanelled Access Auditors for the built environment. Several training workshops of decision makers, service providers and audits were undertaken in this year followed by development of “India National Accessibility Standards”.
In Feb. 2004, two Samarthyam’s team members were also trained by JICA and APCD
Non Handicapping Workshop for National Trainers and Policy Makers facilitated by UN ESCAP at Bangkok, Thailand.
2003
Access audits undertaken are as follows:
New Delhi Railway Station
Kirti Nagar Reservation Centre
Nizamuddin Railway Station
Sarai Kale Khan Station
2002
Graduation in Non-Handicapping Environment by United States
This year was a golden year for Samarthyam Team to be trained by UN ESCAP on “Training of Trainers Non-Handicapping Environment”. The Graduation Course aimed at training on access audits, national international accessibility codes and advocacy with the Government on promotion of accessible environments.
Advocacy with Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation, Government of NCT, Delhi and Delhi Metro Corporation Limited to make the Dilli Haat and Metro Stations accessible was carried out after the training.
2001
Samarthyam got registered under the Trust Act of India as not-for-profit (charitable) Trust
Samarthyam in partnership with the French Architects of Auroville worked for two years to make the entire Auroville accessible. The project aimed at access audits of Matri Mandir and other tourist places, solar kitchen, guest houses, auditoriums and external paths, etc. Team “Accessible Auroville'' also supported ‘sensitization and awareness raising’ workshops facilitated by Samarthyam team. An accessibility code was developed to ensure accessibility continuum in all new constructions.
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2000- 1991
2000
Accessible Tourism - Course and Training Workshop by UNESCAP + Bali Conference on Accessible Tourism
The first "Asia-Pacific Conference on Tourism for People with Disability" was held in September 2000. Samarthyam team, Anjlee Agarwal and Sanjeev Sachdeva presented the case study of Dilli Haat and Delhi Metro and highlighted common barriers faced by people with disabilities when traveling for tourism purposes in the Asia-Pacific region.
At the end of the Conference the delegates (over 250 from 15 countries) presented e with a draft "Bali Declaration" for consideration by the United Nations relating to the needs and rights of travelers with disabilities. This was a good example of advocacy making full use of opportunities whenever they arise. This Declaration, is a powerful tool in disability advocacy in the Asia-Pacific region including garnering better governmental support.
1999-1998
UNESCAP selected Delhi as one of the pilot projects (beside Bangkok and Beijing) for making 1 km radius accessible for all.
The New Delhi site consisted, primarily, of fourteen government buildings with large numbers of employees and visitors. Samarthyam advocacy and partnership with government and non-government organizations resulted in impact in both the on-going improvements in physical access to other government buildings and in terms of legislative developments (new guidelines, model by-laws, and strengthening of enforcement on access issues).
Samarthyam team was part of the access audits, training workshops and development of 1998, Space Standards for persons with disabilities and elderly for CPWD.
1997-1993
Access Audits of Gol Dak Khana, RML Hospital and several schools in Delhi were undertaken.
Awareness and Excursion Tours
Continuum of visiting tourism destinations and advocating for tourism packages, tourism sites,packages, transportation systems and hotels to be accessible continued for all these years. Some of the places visited include Agra, Mathura, Bharatpur, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mt. Abu, Ahmedabad, Vadodra, Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Dalhousie, Chamba, Amritsar, Shimla, Kurushetra, Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Nainital, Lucknow, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mysore, Chennai, Tirupati, Goa, Port Blair, Bangalore, Guwahati and Shillong etc.
1992
Advocacy on Accessibility Standards and Implementation with Government, Corporates and Service providers was the aim of Samarthyam to ensure that all people with and without disabilities get “accessibility as a human right”. The Taj Mahal and the Red Fort were visited to find out how heritage monuments can be made accessible for all. Teaming up with architects, planners and engineers was pursued for technical knowhow.
1991
The journey of thousand miles, begin with a single step:
Three people with disabilities (with Muscular Dystrophy) decided to form an Organization of Persons with Disabilities to make ‘the World Accessible’. SAMARTHYAM was born this year!!
Awareness and Excursion Tours
This year marked 11 awareness and excursion tours by road to tourism destinations of India. Since 1991- 2002, Samarthyam has organized more than 88 tours for persons with severe disabilities to places of historical, cultural, religious and tourist interests’, promoting the concept of Accessible Tourism.
Dr. Anjlee Agarwal
Universal Accessibility & Sustainable Mobility Specialist
Samarthyam, Centre for Accessible Environments
www.samarthyam.com
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