Five DEPwD Initiatives Transform the Disability Rights Landscape, Promoting Innovation
A transformational journey has been started by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) in India. DEPwD has developed substantial alliances and executed cutting-edge initiatives to bring about long-lasting change in its unrelenting quest of a more inclusive society. From the signing of a ground-breaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council of Architecture to the release of anonymous data through the Unique Disability ID (UDID) portal for research purposes and the debut of the PM Daksh Portal, which aims to empower people with disabilities in their pursuit of skill development and employment opportunities. The article also examines the creation of a cutting-edge online case monitoring platform by the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities and throws light on the consolidation of significant disability rights rulings by Indian courts into a comprehensive booklet. The five DEPwD initiatives listed below will be introduced at DAIC by the honourable Minister of State, Kumari Pratima Bhoumik, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. These programmes together demonstrate DEPwD's dedication to promoting inclusivity, improving the rights of people with disabilities, and utilising technology to enhance the lives of people with disabilities in India.
DEPwD's five initiatives encompass a range of groundbreaking actions:
1. MOU with Council of Architecture: The department collaborates with the Council of Architecture (COA) to mandate universal accessibility courses in Bachelor of Architecture programs. This partnership extends to developing a certified course for architects and civil engineers to conduct accessibility audits in built environments, ensuring compliance with accessibility standards.
2. Releasing of Anonymous Data of UDID: DEPwD's release of anonymous data through the UDID portal for research purposes facilitates data-driven decision-making in the disability sector, offering insights at various levels to enhance understanding and inform targeted interventions.
3. PM Daksh Portal: The department introduces the PM Daksh Portal as a comprehensive digital platform for Persons with Disabilities seeking training and employment opportunities, offering seamless registration, skill training options, job listings, and streamlined administrative processes.
4. Pathways to Access: Courts on Disability Rights: Notable judgments from India's Supreme Court and High Courts on disability rights have been compiled into a booklet, providing a reference guide for persons with disabilities and stakeholders in the disability sector.
5. Online Case Monitoring Portal by CCPD: The Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities adopts a cutting-edge application for handling grievances filed by persons with disabilities, making the entire process paperless and efficient, featuring seamless online complaint filing, automated reminders, and simplified hearing scheduling.