As the Narendra Modi Government completes nine years in office, Akashvani News is bringing a series of special stories on the initiatives taken by the government. Today, we take a look at Accessible India Campaign or Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan. Health and Wellness have been a key focus area for the Narendra Modi government in the last 9 years. Various projects were envisaged with the aim of ensuring affordable and accessible Health care for all in the country. ‘Accessible India Campaign or Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan had been one of the major project aimed at achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities, the Divyangjans.<br />”<br />”A report:<br />”<br />”The Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) is a nation-wide Campaign for achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities, Divyangjans, being implemented by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice &amp; Empowerment. It has three important verticals of implementation, the Build Environment, the Transportation Sector and the ICT Ecosystem.<br />”<br />”The vision of the Campaign is to create a barrier free environment for independent, safe and dignified living of Persons with Disabilities. The Vision statement declares: &quot;Accessible India. Empowered India.&quot; The Accessible India Campaign or Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan was launched on 3 rd December 2015 on the occasion of International Day of Disabilities, drawing inspiration from united Nations Convention on Rights for Persons with Disabilities ,to which India is a signatory. To provide full legislative cover to the Campaign and Right to accessibility, the Government enacted the Rights for Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 which came into force from April 2017.<br />”<br />”Accessibility became a Right for the Divyangjan unlike previously, when it was being seen merely as a welfare measure. Non-compliance of the provisions of the Act or Rules there under has been made punishable by fines and imprisonment.<br />”<br />”Thus, the Accessible India Campaign became an instrument to actualize the provisions of the Act. An accessible physical environment benefits everyone, not just persons with disabilities. Measures are to be undertaken to eliminate obstacles and barriers to indoor and outdoor facilities including schools, medical facilities, and workplaces. Further these would include all public spaces such as roads, footpaths, parks and gardens etc.<br />