New Delhi

Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot has announced the launching of Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign), on Dec 3 next month by the Prime Minister. The minister was addressing a program on the launching of new / revised schemes of National Trust for the welfare of persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities here in New Delhi today. The Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan), as a nationwide flagship campaign for achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities and to create an enabling and barrier free environment, with a focus on three verticals: Built Environment; Public Transportation and Information & Communication Technologies.

He also announced that number of categories of disability will also be increased from 7 to 19, so that more number of disabled could be brought into the ambit of Government’s new initiatives.

On this occasion the following schemes were launched: DISHA (Early Intervention and School Readiness Scheme); VIKAAS (Day Care); SAMARTH (Respite Care); GHARAUNDA (Group Home for Adults); . NIRAMAYA (Health Insurance Scheme); SAHYOGI (Caregiver training scheme); GYAN PRABHA (Educational support); PRERNA (Marketing Assistance); SAMBHAV (Aids and Assisted Devices) and BADHTE KADAM (Awareness and Community Interaction)

The National Trust for the welfare of persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has been implementing a number of schemes and programmes in the last 15 years.

The minister also launched a new website for the National Trust which can be accessed as http://thenationaltrust.gov.in/content/ This new website is made disabled friendly, more interactive. Registration of NGOs and paying donations can be done in the website itself.

PIB