Govt’s ‘Digital India’ push fails to help disabled

Despite guidelines, all major govt websites lack electronic accessibility

Even as Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s pitch for “digital India” grows louder, top government websites lack accessibility for persons with disabilities. The government had in 2009 formulated a national policy for electronic accessibility; however, the websites could never become “user friendly” for all, irrespective of their ability.

Javed Abidi, director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), says for “Sugamya Bharat” to become a reality, there is a need to focus not just on accessibility of the built environment for people with physical disabilities but also on information accessibility for persons with visual and hearing disabilities.

“We, in India, have confused our understanding of accessibility limiting it only to the built environment. What about websites, apps, documents, television broadcasts, and the various other communication mediums and devices being used by us on a daily basis? Everyday there are several websites being developed, products being churned out, software and applications being designed, information being disseminated, services being provided but, all completely inaccessible barring only a few! Moving towards a digital economy with flagship programmes like ‘Digital India’, shouldn’t making ICTs accessible be one of our major concerns?” he asked.

Formulated in 2009, the guidelines, experts say, have not been implemented in their letter and spirit. “The guidelines have to first be implemented completely, only then will it can make an impact. The government has to go beyond intent and work towards ensuring its implementation. Today, the government claims that there are few websites that are accessible but the irony is even the ministry’s website is not user friendly for disabled,” said Shilpi Kapoor, CEO, barrier break, a social enterprise that provides accessibility solutions and helped government in formulation of guidelines in 2009.

Ms Kapoor says that even after eights years of coming up with the guidelines, things haven’t changed on the ground.

“In our audit of accessible websites, we found huge gaps,” she said.

The Indian government, though, appears to be finally waking up to solve the problems of disabled with the ministry for social justice and empowerment reworking on the guidelines again.