39. Awareness
campaigns. - (1) The
appropriate Government, in consultation with the Chief Commissioner or the
State Commissioner, as the case may be, shall conduct, encourage, support or
promote awareness campaigns and sensitization programmes to ensure that the
rights of the persons with disabilities provided under this Act are protected.
48. Social audit. - The appropriate Government shall undertake social audit of all
general schemes and programmes involving the persons with disabilities to
ensure that the scheme and programmes do not have an adverse impact upon the
persons with disabilities and need the requirements and concerns of persons
with disabilities.
(2) The programmes
and campaigns specified under sub-section (1) shall also,-
(a) promote values of inclusion, tolerance, empathy and
respect for diversity;
(b) advance recognition of the skills, merits and abilities
of persons with disabilities and of their contributions to the workforce,
labour market and professional fee;
(c) foster respect for the decisions made by persons with
disabilities on all matters related to family life, relationships, bearing and
raising children;
(d) provide orientation and sensitization at the school,
college, University and professional training level on the human condition of
disability and the rights of persons with disabilities;
(e) provide orientation and sensitization on disabling
conditions and rights of persons with disabilities to employers, administrators
and co-workers;
(f) ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities are
included in the curriculum in Universities, colleges and schools.
40. Accessibility. - The Central Government shall, in
consultation with the Chief Commissioner, formulate rules for persons with
disabilities laying down the standards of accessibility for the physical
environment, transportation, information and communications, including
appropriate technologies and systems, and other facilities and services
provided to the public in urban and rural areas.
(a) facilities for persons with disabilities at bus stops,
railway stations and airports conforming to the accessibility standards
relating to parking spaces, toilets, ticketing counters and ticketing machines;
(b) access to all modes of transport that conform the design
standards, including retrofitting old modes of transport, wherever technically
feasible and safe for persons with disabilities, economically viable and
without entailing major structural changes in design;
(c) accessible roads to address mobility necessary for
persons with disabilities.
(2) The appropriate
Government shall develop schemes programmes to promote the personal mobility of
persons with disabilities at affordable cost to provide for,-
(a) incentives and concessions;
(b) retrofitting of vehicles; and
(c) personal mobility assistance.
42. Access to
information and communication technology. - The appropriate Government shall take measures to
ensure that,-
(i) all contents available in audio, print and electronic
media are in accessible format;
(ii) persons with disabilities have access to electronic
media by providing audio description, sign language interpretation and close
captioning;
(iii) electronic goods and equipment which are meant for
every day use are available in universal design.
43. Consumer goods. - The appropriate Government shall
take measures to promote development, production and distribution of
universally designed consumer products and accessories for general use for
persons with disabilities.
44. Mandatory
observance of accessibility norms. - (1) No establishment shall be granted permission to
build any structure if the building plan does not adhere to the rules
formulated by the Central Government under section 40.
(2) No
establishment shall be issued a certificate of completion or allowed to take
occupation of a building unless it has adhered to the rules formulated by the
Central Government.
45. Time limit for
making existing infrastructure and premises accessible and action for that
purpose. - (1) All
existing public buildings shall be made accessible in accordance with the rules
formulated by the Central Government within a period not exceeding five years
from the date of notification of such rules:
Provided that the
Central Government may grant extension of time to the States on a case to case
basis for adherence to this provision depending on their state of preparedness
and other related parameters.
(2) The appropriate
Government and the local authorities shall formulate and publish an action plan
based on prioritization, for providing accessibility in all their buildings and
spaces providing essential services such as all primary health centres, civil
hospitals, schools, railway stations and bus stops.
46. Time limit for
accessibility by service providers. - The service providers whether Government or private
shall provide services in accordance with the rules on accessibility formulated
by the Central Government under section 40 within a period of two years from
the date of notification of such rules:
Provided that the
Central Government in consultation with the Chief Commissioner may grant
extension of time for providing certain category of services in accordance with
the said rules.
47. Human resource
development. - (1) Without
prejudice to any function and power of Rehabilitation Council of India
constituted under the Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992, the
appropriate Government shall endeavor to develop human resource for the
purposes of this Act and to that end shall,-
(a) mandate training on disability rights in all courses for
the training of Panchayati Raj Members, legislators, administrators, police
officials, judges and lawyers;
(b) induct disability as a component for all education
courses for schools, colleges and University teachers, doctors, nurses,
para-medical personnel, social welfare officers, rural development officers,
asha workers, anganwadi workers, engineers, architects, other professionals and
community workers;
(c) initiate capacity building programmes including training
in independent living and community relationships for families, members of
community and other stakeholders and care providers on care giving and support;
(d) ensure independence training for persons with
disabilities to build community relationships on mutual contribution and
respect;
(e) conduct training programmes for sports teachers with
focus on sports, games, adventure activities;
(f) any other capacity development measures as may be
required.
(2) All
Universities shall promote teaching and research in disability studies
including establishment of study centres for such studies.
(3) In order to
fulfill the obligation stated in sub-section (1), the appropriate Government
shall in every five years undertake a need based analysis and formulate plans
for the recruitment, induction, sensitization, orientation and training of
suitable personnel to undertake the various responsibilities under this Act.