NEW DELHI: Yogesh Soni and his wife Shalini, both having locomotor disability and using motorised wheelchairs, along with many other persons with disabilities (PwDs), braved the heavy downpour for the launch of the ‘NAMO (National Accessibility Movement) Sugamya Delhi Yatra’ flagged off from Kartavya Path on Wednesday.With accessible public spaces continuing to be a huge challenge, PwDs at the event had just one message: “Make accessibility a reality, a way of life.” Both Yogesh and his wife Shalini, who are para-athletes and activists, said that sensitivity is crucial for planning and delivering accessibility. “The approach should be holistic, covering everything from education to employment opportunities; just creating ramps or accessible walkways won’t solve the problem,” Yogesh Soni said.Organised under the Sugamya Delhi Abhiyan (Accessible Delhi Campaign), the Yatra launched by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will travel across various parts of Delhi over nine days till Sept 25, conducting sensitisation programmes, showcasing assistive devices, and mobilising citizen pledges.A key highlight of the yatra is a bus that has been converted into a “Sugamya Rath” that can be accessed through a ramp and inside which one can see the various elements of what encompasses accessibility, ranging from tactile paving tiles to assistive devices.Speaking at the launch, the Delhi CM said, “I strongly believe and agree that Delhi should be accessible and inclusive.”“Today, from this historic spot at India Gate, we announce that every nook and corner of the National Capital will not only be made accessible by 2047 but it will also be ensured that all requirements necessary for enabling persons with disabilities are fulfilled. I also assure you that all your demands and suggestions will be looked into and addressed,” Gupta said.The Union secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Rajesh Aggarwal, who also holds charge as the chief commissioner for persons with disabilities (CCPD), and deputy chief commissioner in the office of CCPD Vikas Trivedi were also present at the launch of the Yatra.The Yatra is being organised by the office of CCPD in collaboration with Inclusive Divyangjan Entrepreneur Association IDEA — a voluntary organisation for persons with disabilities, which is coordinating the outreach and awareness campaign on the ground.According to officials of the office of the CCPD, the aim is to not only spread awareness through the Yatra but also collect information about inaccessible spaces and use it like a spot audit for seeking corrective measures, in keeping with the guidelines of the Accessible India Campaign. This nine-day yatra will be setting the tone for a larger on- ground accessibility audit exercise in the Capital in collaboration with Delhi govt, an official said.Mallikarjuna Iytha, founder & CEO, (IDEA), emphasised that the Rath will act as a moving symbol of awareness, inspiring citizen participation in building an inclusive city.
