Providing accessible infrastructure, employment opportunities, and education to people with disabilities is crucial for ensuring their full participation and inclusion in society, Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice, and Empowerment, said, stressing on diversity rather than disability with the nature of humanity.
He was speaking at the ASSOCHAM’s 6th Conference on Empowering Persons with Disabilities through Accessible & Assistive Technology here on Tuesday, Aggarwal also emphasised the gathering to not help people PWD with charity purposes but include them with designated job profiles and not quota.
For enhancing education, he gave examples of use of devices such as braille displays, speech-to-text software, and adapted learning tools to facilitate learning. Providing necessary workplace accommodations such as ergonomic chairs, specialized keyboards, and software solutions to support productivity, he added.
Focused on the theme ‘Innovation and Sustainable Solutions for Equal Opportunities,’ the conference aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat, aspiring to position India as a Global AT Hub. Driven by competitive manufacturing costs, supporting government policies like Make in India , India can position itself as a key player in the global market, said the experts.A joint knowledge report ‘’Accessibility for all: embracing digital transformation with universal design’’ prepared by ASSOCHAM and EY was also released at the event.
Anil Rajput, Chairperson of the ASSOCHAM National CSR Council said “
According to the WHO, 16 per cent of the world’s population, which is over a billion people, have some form of disability, and 80 per cent of these live in the developing countries. With mobility being a critical factor in the lives of PwDs, he urged automobile manufacturers to bring in the latest technologies in vehicles for disabled people that are being used in different parts of the world.
Amit Singh, Partner, EY stressed on collaboration among government and private sector to create sustainable solutions for civil society and reducing barriers to participation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the field of emerging technologies by augmenting assistive devices’ capabilities, personalizing experiences, and boosting accessibility. The country has a significant portion of its population that have disabilities that require immediate attention and solutions, he added.
Dr. Sara Varughese of CBM India addressed the pressing need for socially inclusive infrastructure, while Dipendra Manocha of DAISY Forum of India advocated for government policies to support mass production of assistive devices, aiming to lower costs and broaden availability.
