No.3/2021-2022

Aizawl, 1st April 2021 : Aizawl D.C. Dr. Lalhriatzuali Ralte, IAS, called for a meeting in her office chamber yesterday to brief and discuss about the ‘Sugamya Bharat App’, which was recently launched on 2nd March, 2021 by the Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment. The new app was developed to enable Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) as well as the general public to register grievances/issues related to accessibility and upload photographs of places, where features of accessibility were not provided appropriately as per standards.

In her opening remarks, Aizawl D.C. Dr. Lalhriatzuali Ralte said that catering to the needs and affording greater accessibilty to all manners of PwDs remained priorities for the government and the launch of the new app, which would make it easier for them to voice their grievances, was very welcomed. She also added that even during elections, special facilities have always been provided to the PwDs and senior citizens, who were never made to stand in queue with other electors, but were escorted or given wheelchairs, as needed. Dr. Lalhriatzuali Ralte also requested the nodal department - Social Welfare & Tribal Affairs - to organise workshop/training and to utilise various media to spread wider awareness about the app among the public.

The ‘Sugamya Bharat App’ is an initiative of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), GoI, under its ‘Accessible India Campaign’ or ‘Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan’ campaign and it can be dowloaded from Playstore or IoS. In order to facilitate the resolution of complaints, a Project Management Unit (PMU) has been set up, and nodal officers have been appointed at both Central and State levels. The District Magistrate / Deputy Commissioner is made the nodal officer and will be forwarded issues relating to Govt. owned buildings in the district by the PMU. Considering the current COVID pandemic, the Department has also made a provision in the ‘Sugamya Bharat App’ for registering Covid related issues - such as accessibility of health institutes, caregivers, supplies, medical issues, etc.