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2024

Accessibility audits of prestigious public buildings and corporate offices:

• 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

New Memberships:

• Member, Committee on review of UGC Guidelines, University Grants Commission, Government of NCT, Delhi

2018-2024, Samarthyam with European Union and Sightsavers is leading the process to define need, build OPD capacity, advocate for accountability in SDG implementation in systematic & institutionalized manner. Samarthyam is focusing on disability inclusion in education, health, employment, livable habitat, smart cities, in the spirit to implement UNCRPD and making cities more inclusive in the context of the UN SDGs #11, the UN Habitat III New Urban Agenda.

2004-24, Access Audits of Delhi Metro Infrastructure

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.

2024-2021

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.

1. Protecting and empowering persons with disabilities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021-22

2. Towards the Incheon Strategy to Ensure the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific (Phase II), 2022-23

2023

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

2022

• 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

  • BIT MESRA, Ranchi

2021

2020- 2011

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

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

2010 - 2020

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

2019

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.

2017 - 2018

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

2016

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

2015

Key transport terminuses and Mass Raid System access audits include:

• Ahmedabad Bus Rapid Transit System with CEPT, 2014

• Hyderabad MetroRapid Transit System

• Chennai MetroRapid Transit System

• Bangalore MetroRapid Transit System: BMRC-Namma

• Delhi International Airport, GMR Delhi T3 airport

2014

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.

2013 - 2011

2010 - 2001

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.

2010

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

2009

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

2008

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.

2007

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.

2006

Access audits undertaken are as follows:

• India Habitat Centre

• India International Centre

• Indian Institute of Public Administration

• VSO, India office

2005

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 Bangko, Thailand.

2004

Access audits undertaken are as follows:

• New Delhi Railway Station

• Kirti Nagar Reservation Centre

• Nizamuddin Railway Station

• Sarai Kale Khan Station

2003

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.

2002

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.

2001

2000 - 1991

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.

2000

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 forCPWD.

1999 - 1998

• 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.

1997 - 1993

• 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.

1992

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.

1991

The Journey Started!!