Sugamya Bharat App:
More than 1,400 complaints related to accessibility have been lodged through the Sugamya Bharat mobile application since its launch in 2021, with approximately 75 percent of those resolved, according to official data.
- Sugamya Bharat App is an initiative of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- Designed to aid people with disabilities and the elderly, the Sugamya Bharat app allows users to report accessibility problems in public infrastructure, transportation and buildings.
- Identification of issues/complaints from the public related to accessibility at public places (Need to capture location of the place through Google Maps).
- Uploading geotagged pictures: To understand and identify which type of public place is having issues related to accessibility for disabled people.
- Any person facing difficulty or issue related to accessibility in India can raise their concerns/grievances on the App.
- Only accessibility-related issues pertaining to Buildings, Transportation Systems and ICT (websites and TV viewing) can be registered at the App.
- Complaints are filed by uploading photos, which are then forwarded to relevant authorities.
- To enhance the app’s features, the government plans to redesign it with AI capabilities.
- The upgraded version will include an AI-powered chatbot and multilingual interface, improving its overall functionality.
- A partnership has been established with the NGO Mission Accessibility and the research institute I-STEM to develop the AI-enabled app.
