Opinion If Fatehpur Sikri can be made wheelchair accessible, why not our public spaces?

Fortunately, I not only had the opportunity to savour the intricate beauty of the red sandstone city built by the third Mughal emperor, Akbar, but did so safely. The ramps, constructed with the correct ratio, ensured a secure and accessible experience. If a city built in 1569 AD can be made nearly 95 per cent wheelchair accessible, so can all public accommodations and roads. As a World Heritage site, Fatehpur Sikri is obligated to conform to international standards of accessibility for all. Learning from this experience, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) should extend such facilities to all the significant monuments in their charge.

Moreover, now that six years have passed since the enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD), there is a pressing need to prioritise and elevate the cause of accessibility and inclusion in all public buildings. This especially applies to educational institutions, hospitals, workplaces, and government buildings, warranting the need to classify this cause as a national priority — perhaps under the label of a dedicated “mission”. Only by accomplishing this can we realise the full potential of our citizenry, empowering them to actively contribute their professional expertise and diverse skills for the optimal development of the country. This will also help India inch closer to its commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which calls for promoting the rights, well-being, and perspectives of persons with disabilities.

For full participation, we must also give equal priority to two other important pillars of accessibility: Public transport and information and communications technology (ICT). This article focuses on the first pillar: The built environment.

Having personally witnessed a tangible example of the potential of inclusion at Fatehpur Sikri, I can’t help but question why India’s effort to become accessible to all its citizens, including women with infants in strollers, persons with disabilities, those with injuries, and the elderly, remains largely invisible. The vulnerability of these groups increases exponentially when the built environment is inaccessible. UN-Habitat notes that an inclusive environment allows people to participate in activities equally, independently, with choice, and with dignity. In contrast, in India, most daily living necessities like ATMs, banks, markets, standalone shops, pavements, and many restaurants, are not inclusive. They are all off-limits due to the absence of a universal design or even a simple ramp. It is no wonder that accessibility is seen as a cross-cutting principle for realising the other rights outlined in the Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) to which India is a signatory.

Constructing ramps is a straightforward and cost-effective investment in enhancing accessibility in public accommodations and roads for individuals with physical limitations. The absence of ramps is just one example of why the disabled citizenry often finds it challenging to fully participate in civic and socio-economic life, potentially resulting in diminished self-esteem. In turn, persons with disabilities may choose to remain indoors to avoid an unwelcome environment, perpetuating the vicious cycle of social stigma that others them. In my experience as a wheelchair user, I can attest to the rarity of encountering fellow wheelchair users during my various outings in the National Capital Region (NCT) of Delhi and my visits to other parts of the country. My ability to travel to inaccessible locations is a result of a fortunate socio-economic background and a supportive family — privileges, unfortunately, experienced by a rare few.

It’s discouraging to recognise that successes, such as the accessibility of a 16th-century monument, are possibly overshadowed by a different issue extending beyond our heritage sites’ ancient walls. The reliability of India’s official disability data raises critical questions about the true nature of our country’s inclusivity. Accurate data is required for developing targeted policies, formulating effective programmes, and strategic planning to address outstanding issues. However, the accuracy of current disability data in India is questionable. According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 1.3 billion people, or 16 per cent of the global population experience a significant disability. Yet, as per the last Census in 2011, only 2.2 per cent of the Indian population is reported to have a disability. Given that India constitutes approximately 17.5 per cent of the world population, these statistics imply that Indians are exempt from accidents, and injuries, and have even won the lottery of birth.

It is evident that our country has miles to go before genuine inclusivity can be celebrated. The heterogeneity of disability poses a significant challenge. Still, rather than wishing the issue away, it would be advisable to begin by focusing on a single pillar of accessibility at a time, if addressing all simultaneously is too overwhelming. In pursuing true accessibility of any of the three pillars, involving multiple end-users — those stakeholders benefiting from the accommodation — would go a long way in determining its success. After all, irrespective of one’s socioeconomic status or ability, every Indian deserves the freedom to experience our country’s rich history and heritage along with the rights accorded to all citizens.

Mohan, a writer and a development professional, is a wheelchair user