News: Recently, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) launched the revamped ‘Sugamya Bharat App’ at the Purple Fest in Goa. The revamped version builds upon the original app launched under the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan).
About Sugamya Bharat App
- It is a means for sensitising and enhancing accessibility in the built environment, transportation sector and ICT ecosystem in India.
- Launched by: Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD)
- Purpose: To create a digitally inclusive India by making accessibility information and services easily available to persons with disabilities (PwDs).
- Vision: Serves as India’s digital accessibility hub under the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan).
- Developed by: The app has been developed with the support of the SBI Foundation and in technical partnership with NAB Delhi, ISTEM, and Mission Accessibility.
- Features:
- The Sugamya Bharat App has been redesigned with a user-first and accessibility-first approach to serve as India’s digital accessibility hub.
- It is available in 23 languages.
- It provides persons with disabilities easy access to information, government schemes, and services, thereby promoting digital inclusion and empowerment.
- The app also features curated job and education listings from both government and private sectors, specifically tailored for persons with disabilities.
- The app is screen reader compatible, supports voice navigation, and offers multi-language options to ensure accessibility for all users.
- It is fully compatible with assistive technologies and available for download on both Android and iOS platforms.
- The app includes an accessibility mapping feature that allows users to locate and rate public places based on accessibility standards, encouraging community-driven data collection.
- It offers a comprehensive directory of government schemes, scholarships, benefits, and employment opportunities, eliminating the need to visit multiple websites or portals.
- Through its grievance redressal module, users can directly report issues related to inaccessible public infrastructure or services, promoting accountability and improvement.
