Many PwDs grapple with financial hardship due to limited employment opportunities, higher healthcare costs, and additional expenses related to disability accommodations and assistive devices
Every human being, irrespective of gender, race or class, is born with certain strengths and weaknesses, so are the differently-abled people. What is important is to create the necessary infrastructure and facilities for them, so they can move around independently, find right opportunities for themselves and be treated like equals!
Many PwDs grapple with financial hardship due to limited employment opportunities, higher healthcare costs, and additional expenses related to disability accommodations and assistive devices. This economic insecurity further exacerbates social exclusion and marginalisation.
Negotiating inaccessible public transportation, public spaces, and office buildings, which often lack adequate accessibility features such as ramps, elevators, and tactile paving etc, calls for a relook at urban policy implementation. Despite the launch of the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) in 2015, which aimed to ensure universal accessibility for PwDs, effective implementation and enforcement remain a daunting task.
It is estimated that roughly 8 million persons with disabilities (PwD), or one- third population of PwDs in India are living in cities, a number that is expected to increase manifolds due to disaster and conflict situations, medical advancements leading to better screening, changing population trends, and rising chronic health conditions.
The confluence of these unique urban challenges and experiences that PwDs and other vulnerable and marginalised communities face, affect them disproportionately, resulting in barriers to their inclusion. More importantly, the amalgamation of spatial, economic, digital, and social exclusion perpetuates the vicious cycle of inequity and poverty, posing difficulties in reversing the repercussions of a growth-centric urbanization strategy.
A potential remedy to this predicament lies in leveraging Information & Communication Technology (ICT) and other technologies across urban planning and governance, infrastructure, and service delivery systems. Such initiatives aim to facilitate an inclusive urban transformation and enhance the quality of life of all citizens! By incorporating technology-driven solutions, cities worldwide have begun addressing urbanisation and sustainability challenges.
Notable examples include the electronic glasses, with high-resolution cameras and advanced image processing algorithms to enhance and optimise the vision; the Brain Computer Interface allows users to control wheelchairs, and operate household appliances through brainwave detection technology; advanced prosthetic limbs equipped with advanced sensors enable more natural movements and greater functionality for users; the smart hearing aids equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms adjust settings based on the user's environment and listening preferences; the global online map and app find and rate the wheelchair accessibility of places and accessible transport apps provide information about accessible public transit options and routes for individuals with disabilities.
However, the high cost of these technologies presents implementation hurdles, particularly in developing countries. Therefore, there is a need to address the issue of cost and make these technologies more accessible.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of cutting-edge advanced technologies, ICT-enabled infrastructures, and data-driven insights, fostering improved liveability and service delivery, thereby advancing the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Recognising the significance of digitalisation, the Indian government has emphasised the promotion of start-ups and technological advancements as pivotal to the nation's development strategy.
With the Indian start-up ecosystem valued at approximately $340 billion, the resounding call to action for an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ promotes and highlights the role of technological advancement to promote affordable and quality-assured novel home-grown solutions as the defining characteristics of India in 2047.
India’s commitment to ‘leave no one behind’ & ensure ‘Sarvodaya through Antyodaya’ is laudable, however much needs to be done on-ground to realize it. Unfortunately, innovations that promote inclusivity are often perceived as unprofitable by investors.
Here, the role of the states becomes critical in promoting an ecosystem for such transformative technologies especially where the return on investment may not be necessarily measured in direct economic value. Cities can spearhead inclusivity through home-grown solutions and innovations, facilitated by targeted public-private investments and partnerships.
It is significantly important to prioritise research and inclusive innovation, especially in areas like early identification and intervention for children with disabilities in schools, including aid in monitoring of learning progress (ref. Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020). This will support the designing of learning plans for students with disabilities, which will provide them with equal opportunities to contribute to the nation’s economic growth, leading to equitable outcomes that India is aiming for by the 100th year of its Independence.
In conclusion, fostering inclusivity in India necessitates capacity-building, the promotion of inclusive innovations, and a shift towards data-driven research. This approach informs policy formation and system development, steering the nation towards an equitable urban future, as envisioned for the Amrit Kaal, our shared vision for 2047, which provides an opportunity to strive for an inclusive, accessible, safe, resilient and sustainable India.