In the 76th year of India’s independence, we must work collectively to create an enabling and accessible environment so that the Divyangjan can have freedom of access and mobility. Ahead of the 13th Edition of Mphasis-NCPEDP Universal Design Award, experts urged all stakeholders to come together to scale up awareness about the need for accessible designs. Media, they said, has a vital role to play in this.
The Awards recognize those who work in the areas of Built Environment, Transport, Information and Communication Technology, Services, Aids and Appliances, and Public Policy & Advocacy.
National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) Executive Director Arman Ali said that the Award, one of the first-of-its-kind on promoting accessible designs for the disabled, has been instituted to recognize innovative efforts that create an impact in the area of accessibility and thus ensuring a life of equality and dignity for people with disabilities.
A concept intrinsic to any kind of access is ‘Universal Design’, which means a design usable to the greatest extent possible by everyone, regardless of age, ability, or situation.
“The Disabled population is more than 2% in the country but our presence is completely missing when it comes to planning, social inclusion and a dignified life,” said Ali, a wheelchair user himself. By ensuring universal access through enabling designs, we can ensure equal opportunity for all, he added.
“As India celebrates 75 years of her independence, it’s time to step up efforts to ensure absolute freedom for the disabled. The Universal Design Awards is an attempt to celebrate ideas and innovations that promote accessibility and universal design - be it in physical infrastructure, transport, ICT, products or services. It is being given to 14 individuals and organisations who are doing exemplary work to create a level playing field for people with disabilities to access the same opportunities and rights as all other citizens of India,” added Ali.
To spread awareness about Universal Design and to popularise this concept, NCPEDP, in association with Mphasis, instituted The NCPEDP – Mphasis Universal Design Awards in 2010.
“Awareness of Universal Design is close to none and there have been very few attempts to educate stakeholders about this.