Accessible India Campaign

As a key partner and officially empanelled auditor for the Government of India’s flagship national mission, we are at the forefront of creating a barrier-free India.

Our Foundational Role

Our involvement in the Accessible India Campaign is foundational. We authored the Harmonised Guidelines (2016), the first national accessibility standards that now serve as the core technical manual for the entire campaign and architectural practices nationwide.

Samarthyam is Empaneled Access Auditor with Government of India under Accessible India Campaign to promote its objective & targets: Office Memorandum No. B-16007/3/2023-SIPDA dated 24 Feb 2024 for a period of five years (Valid from 24 February 2024 to 23 February 2029). Since 2015, we have also supported the Government of India to develop the Strategy Paper of the campaign with indicators & timeline.

Our Nationwide Impact in Numbers

Under the campaign, Samarthyam has conducted access audits in 23 cities of India covering 12360 buildings and transport terminuses. Technical capacity building training for Central Public Works Department, State Public Works Department, engineers, architects and developers & contractors, etc. are also being organized to ensure that there is in-house technical expertise to audit and assess the built environment.

Buildings & transport hubs audited
Cities covered under the campaign

Our Core Activities

Samarthyam aims at universal access and inclusive mobility implementation with replicable, scalable and sustainable models. We undertake implementation strategies to provide user friendly and safe environment for persons with disabilities, including those with severe disabilities.

Comprehensive Audits

Our teams conduct large-scale, on-the-ground access audits of built environments and public transportation systems, providing government agencies and partners with a clear roadmap for compliance and retrofitting.

Capacity Building & Training

We organize technical capacity-building training for engineers, architects, and contractors from bodies like the Central and State Public Works Departments to build in-house expertise and ensure the sustainable implementation of accessibility standards.

Our Contributions to National Codes & Guidelines

Standards/Guidelines notified under the Rights for Persons with Disabilities Rules 2017:

Samarthyam has authored the first National Accessibility Standards-Harmonised Guidelines and Space standards for Barrier Free Environment for Persons with Disabilities, 2016 which are referred to in space standards guidelines, codes and architectural manuals to make ‘Accessible & Empowered India’.

Other publications from Samarthyam are:

  • Co-authored, Part 3, National Building Code 2016, Bureau of India Standards, 2016
  • Design Guidelines for Safer Commute to Schools, Indian Roads Congress, 2022
  • Accessibility Code for Educational Institutions, Ministry of Education, Government of India, 2021
  • Accessibility Guidelines for Sports Complex and Residential Facilities for Sports Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs, Government of India, 2021
  • Access for All Guidelines, Concise Version of National Building Code 2016 with American Indian Foundation, 2019
  • Guide Book on Making Schools Accessible for Children with Disabilities, UNICEF India, 2018
  • IRC: SP:117-2018, Manual on Universal Accessibility for Urban Roads & Streets, Indian Roads Congress, 2018
  • Urban Roads Manual, Indian Roads Congress, 2018
  • Guidelines on Health Services and Facilities for Women with Disabilities, USAID, 2016
  • Accessibility standards for persons with disabilities in Bus Body Code.
  • Accessibility standards for persons with disabilities in Indian Railways.
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