India assistive tech to hit Rs 95,000 cr by 2023: Experts

India has an addressable market of Rs 75,000-95,000 crore for assistive technologies for persons with disabilities by 2030 with the right policy framework, and needs a National Assistive Technology Policy to address gaps in access and service delivery, experts said on Wednesday.

The remarks were made at the launch of a White Paper titled “Assistive Technology in India: A Systems and Investment Approach for Inclusion, Independence, and Economic Participation of Persons with Disabilities”, prepared by the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) in partnership with Mphasis.

A robust assistive technology ecosystem can not only improve inclusion and independence for millions of Indians but also emerge as a major driver of innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation, the experts said.

They noted that the need for assistive technology extends far beyond persons with disabilities, with their estimated number likely to be 5-8 crore, according to NCPEDP, a cross-disability advocacy group.

“Millions of elderly people and those living with long-term health conditions such as diabetes, dementia, vision impairment and hearing loss also rely on products and services such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, spectacles, white canes and speech recognition software to live independently and participate fully in society,” the NCPEDP said in a statement.