Achievements to Make Incredible India- Accessible India

2023, Access audits of two pilgrimage sites in Andhra Pradesh was conducted under the Prasad scheme of Government of India in partnership with Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, MSJE, Govt. of India.

2004-06, Dilli Haat (INA, Pritampura & Janakpuri) , New Delhi Samarthyam showcased the famous Dilli Haat project as replicable and sustainable project which was easily retrofitted and made accessible in partnership with government and architecture firm. A vibrant urban space in the heart of Delhi provides a rich cultural and interactive tourist experience for people of all ages was made fully accessible by including ramps, railings, even flooring, tactile cues and accessible toilets.

Following the success of Dilli Haat, INA with the addition of accessible elements post-occupancy, the Delhi government 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.

2018 and 2019, Partnership with Archeological Survey of India (ASI), Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Govt. of India: ASI and Samarthyam signed a MoU to make all ticketed monuments in Delhi accessible and inclusive. Under the Accessible India Campaign, this was the city wise initiative to make World heritage Sites and other monuments accessible for tourist and staff with disabilities and reduced mobility (senior citizens, pregnant women, families with young children and persons with temporary ailments). Samarthyam access audited Qutub Minar, the Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, Safdarjung Tomb, Purana Qila (Old Fort of Delhi), etc.

2017, Samarthyam has access audited the Sun Temple at Konark, a World Heritage Site and 10 key temples in Odisha. The Sun Temple at Konark currently is fairly accessible for tourists and is a remarkable example for public private partnership and Samarthyam technical expertise on universal accessibility.

2016, Samarthyam has partnered with UNESCO and ASI to make the World Heritage Monuments accessible for all. With Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment’s support, Samarthyam access audited Humayun’s Tomb. UNESCO and ASI is working to make the site barrier free and improving access for people with disabilities and reduced mobility.

2015, Samarthyam in partnership with UNESCO and India Railways undertook heritage management study of Bandra station, Mumbai. Samarthyam technical team facilitated accessibility and safety audit for passengers and employees with disabilities, girls and women including those with disabilities and elderly persons. This is a unique project where in the Bandra station is access audited as a model project and will be replicated in other stations of Mumbai to promote and implement universal accessible and safety design standards.

2008, Samarthyam was invited to vet the plan of Qutub Minar by Delhi, Circle ASI and provide recommendations for universal accessibility. Currently, Samarthyam is working to promote accessibility in world heritage sites and ticketed monuments of East and South India.

2006, Accessible Plazas at Emporia Complex, Connaught Place, New Delhi

Pradeep Sachdeva Design Associates (PSDA) was commissioned to design the space in front of the Emporium Complex buildings near Connaught Place by the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC). Samarthyam conducted access audit of the Emporia complex and provided recommendations to make the site universally accessible.

2004, Samarthyam was invited to conduct access audit of Janter Manter (heritage monument). All these efforts have received a great deal of positive media coverage with regular articles in all of India’s daily national newspapers. The result is an overall increased awareness of the issue of accessibility within the community, the commercial sector and within Government.

2003, ASI has offered to work hand in hand with Samarthyam to make other popular historical monuments barrier free. Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb and Puranan Quila were selected and Samarthyam team provided technical expertise to ensure that all ASI monuments are accessible to all.

2001, ASI had issued an order and took Samarthyam as technical expert to make all historical monuments accessible for persons with disabilities. Access audits of Safdarjung Tomb, which also houses the office of the Superintendent Archaeologist (Delhi Circle); Janter Manter and other frequently visited monuments were conducted. The Superintendent Archaeologist welcomed Samarthyam’s suggestion of disabled friendly toilets. Braille information plates describing the history of the monument were mounted in December 2001 as the first step towards ‘inclusion and accessible tourism’.

1991-2024 and counting….

Awareness and Excursion Tours

Samarthyam has organized more than 108 tours for persons with severe disabilities to places of historical, cultural, religious and tourist interests’, promoting the concept of Accessible Tourism.