India Launches Revamped Accessibility App at Purple Fest to Empower Persons with Disabilities
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities
Institutions: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
At Purple Fest 2025 in Goa, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) launched the revamped Sugamya Bharat App, marking a step in Indiaβs digital inclusion efforts. Led by Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal, in partnership with SBI Foundation, NAB Delhi, ISTEM, and Mission Accessibility, the app has been redesigned as a one-stop accessibility platform under the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan).
The Sugamya Bharat App was first launched on 2 March 2021 to help persons with disabilities map, rate, and report accessibility of public infrastructure, promoting inclusion through participatory technology.
The upgraded app features screen-reader and voice-navigation support, multi-language access, and a grievance-redressal system that allows users to report inaccessible public places. Its accessibility-mapping tool enables citizens to locate and rate buildings on accessibility parameters, while a directory of schemes, scholarships, and job listings connects users with opportunities in both government and private sectors. Optimised for Android and iOS, the app positions accessibility as a data-driven, citizen-led movement for inclusion.
The revamped app converts accessibility into a digital public good, turning persons with disabilities from passive recipients into active co-designers of inclusive spaces. By linking assistive technology with grievance redressal, the initiative builds accountability and visibility into accessibility governance. Embedded within Purple Fest, it symbolises how digital tools, public participation, and partnerships can jointly advance Indiaβs commitments under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016) and the Accessible India Campaign.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can accessibility data from the Sugamya Bharat App be systematically integrated into urban planning, transport design, and e-governance systems across states?
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