Debabrata Chakravarti

Universal Design Specialist

Bio

Mr. Chakravarti is a Universal Design Specialist, Researcher, and Master Trainer for awareness-raising workshops on Inclusive & Universal Design organized for several national and international organizations. He is a subject expert on making pedestrian environments, transport infrastructure, and public buildings accessible for all. He has 19 years of experience working with centers of excellence and academic institutions such as Indian Institutes of Technology, National Institutes of Design, School of Planning & Architecture, etc. He is leading the Accessible India Campaign and Make The Right Real Campaigns to mainstream marginalized groups and women with disabilities.

Membership

NITI Aayog (NITI-CSO Standing Committee)

2017 - Ongoing

Bureau of Indian Standards, National Building Code

2016 - Ongoing

Indian Roads Congress

2010 - Ongoing

Education

Diploma in Graphic Design

NIIT

Diploma in Printing Technology

Jadavpur University

Bachelor of Commerce

University of Delhi

Access Audit Experience

• Conducted access audits for over 16,700 public buildings in the country since 2005.

• Lead Access Auditor for the Accessible India Campaign in cities like Pune, Chennai, Bhubaneswar, Trivandrum, Coimbatore, Karur, Kanyakumari, and Raipur.

Research

• 2020 - Ongoing: Co-researcher, Building Partnerships with Organizations for People with Disabilities (OPDs) in India and empowering OPDs women leaders on SDGs, Sightsavers and European Union.

• 2019: Co-researcher, Global Monitoring Report, UNESCO.

• 2017-2018: Schools for All, UNICEF and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Government of India.

• 2016: Urban Roads Manual, Indian Roads Congress.

• 2014: Universal Accessibility in Walkability, Non-Motorised Vehicles, and Public Transport Usage.

• 2012: Anthropometric Study of Mobility Aid Users: India Specific.

• 2010: Accessibility Research and Comparative Analysis of Building Standards & Regulations in various states of India.

• 2012: Research study on IRC: 103-1988 - Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities, Indian Roads Congress.

• 2010: Action-Oriented Research Project on Community Accessibility & Inclusion Audit.

• 2008: Research on Right of Way in Road & Street Infrastructure for Persons with Severe Disabilities.

• 2009: Research & Design for Braille Registration plates and Audio Meters in TSR Auto Rickshaws.

Publications

• 2024: Co-author, Flipbook, The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016: Make The Right Real, Sightsavers.

• 2020-2022: Co-author, Design Guidelines for Safer Commute to Schools, Indian Roads Congress.

• 2019: Authored, Access for All Guidelines, Concise Version of National Building Code 2016 with American Indian Foundation.

• 2018: Co-authored, IRC: SP:117-2018, Manual on Universal Accessibility for Urban Roads & Streets, Indian Roads Congress.

• 2018: Co-authored, Urban Roads Manual, Indian Roads Congress.

• 2016: Co-authored, Harmonized Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier-Free Built Environment for Persons with Disabilities and Elderly Persons, Ministry of Urban Development, GoI.

• 2015: Co-authored, Training Manual to Promote Universal Design - Training of Trainers on Access Audits, Third Edition, published by Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).

• 2015: Handbook Air Travel: Sensitization and Training, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India.

• 2015: Practitioner’s Manual on Inclusive WASH: Schools and Public Spaces, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India.

• 2014: School Audit Toolkit, UNICEF.

• 2014: Co-authored, Universal Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian, Non-motorised Vehicles, and Public Transportation.

• 2014: Co-authored, Universal Design Guidelines on Wayfinding and Signage, National Institute of Design, Samarthyam, and Unnati.

• 2014: Guidelines on Barrier-Free Environment in Schools for Children with Disabilities.

• 2014: Guidelines on Universal Design in Hospitals & Residential Facilities.

• 2013: Universal Design Toolkit on Public Transit Systems: Facilities & Services.

• 2012: Co-authored, IRC: 103 Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities for Indian Roads Congress.

• 2012: Co-authored, UTTIPEC Street Design Guidelines for Government of Delhi, India.

• 2012: Co-authored, Access Advocacy Toolkit for VSO India, DFID, and CBM.

• 2006-2015: Technical Brochures on “Access for All” and “Internal & External Design Considerations”, for Professionals, Administrators, and Planners, published by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, GoI; VSO, CBM, FICCI SEDF, and Handicap International.

Access Audit Workshop Coordinator

• 2021-2024: Training of Master Trainers for 26 states with UNICEF, UNESCAP, and INGOs (ongoing).
  2021: OPDs and Government Officers of Madhya Pradesh.

• 2019: Disabled Persons Organizations in 5 states of India – training on Gender Inclusion, Advocacy Tools, and Planning Strategies, Sightsavers India.

• 2018: Engineers, architects, and planners - Raipur Development Authority, Naya Raipur Development Authority, Public Works Department, Delhi, Odisha, Kerala, and Chhattisgarh.

• 2016-2018: UNICEF India, Training of Architects, Engineers, and Planners for Inclusive and Accessible Schools in India.

• 2016: Sightsaver (International NGO), Bhopal for civil engineers, architects, corporate, and collectors.

• 2014-2015: CBM (International NGO).

• 2012-2014: Universal Design Training Workshops in 10 states of India for civil engineers, architects.

• 2013: Sanitation for All, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, and Chennai.

• 2010-2012: Access for All workshops in 9 states of India covering 23 cities and districts, trained more than 6000 professionals, planners, and persons with disabilities.

• 2012: Unnati, Ahmedabad for 45 architects, interior designers, and persons with disabilities.

• 2011: Access for All workshop for IIT Bhubaneswar and BIT Mesra.

• 2010: Unnati at Ahmedabad for 27 architects and interior designers.

• 2009: National Trust, M/o SJE, and BITS Mesra service providers, stakeholders, and persons with disabilities.

• 2009: Dept of Social Welfare & O/o Commissioner for Persons w/ Disabilities NCTD at New Delhi for 20 officers from PWD, NDMC, Health, Education, NGOs.

• 2009: Voluntary Services Overseas (International NGO) at New Delhi for 30 persons from all over India working with NGOs and DPOs.

• 2009: CBM (International NGO) at Bangalore for 25 persons including PwDs from all over India and Sri Lanka.

• 2006: Mobility for All, 1st National Conference on Accessible Transportation & Tourism.

Access Coordinator for Training Workshops (Disability Awareness/Experiential Exercise)

• 2016-2024: Making Air Travel Accessible and Inclusive for Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airport Authority of India, Government of India.

• 2016-2024: Master Trainer, Accessible India Campaign, CPWD Training Academy, Ghaziabad.

• 2016-Ongoing: Government of Odisha, Jharkhand, Goa, West Bengal, Delhi, and Chhattisgarh.

• 2012: CPWD, Architects and Engineers, Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), GoI.

• 2011: CPWD, Architects and Engineers, MoUD.

• 2010: CPWD, Architects and Engineers, MoUD.

• 2010: Centre for Science & Environment - Government officers, Urban Planners, and Engineers.

• 2009: CPWD, Architects and Engineers, Ghaziabad.

• 2009: IGNOU, Delhi Non-teaching Staff and Security Guards.

• 2009: Voluntary Services Overseas, New Delhi.

• 2009: Christopher Blind Mission (CBM), Bangalore.

• 2009: Deepshikha NGO, BIT Mesra, service providers, Ranchi.

• 2009: School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi.

• 2008: New Delhi Municipal Council: Architects and Engineers, Delhi.

• 2008: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi: Transport Planners, Professors, and Researchers.

• 2008: Engineering Department, University of Delhi.

• 2008: CPWD, Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee.