VIDHI: Report Launch On 'Beyond Reasonable Accommodation: Making Karnataka's Cities Accessible by Design to Persons with Disabilities.' [25th March, 2022]

Urban planning processes have often failed to account for the needs of marginalised groups, such as persons with disabilities, the elderly, and women among other vulnerable groups which makes cities inaccessible to them. Despite there existing multiple disability rights frameworks in India and the right to accessibility being guaranteed under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, there are significant challenges involved in implementing the same. Particularly, while disability rights are guaranteed under central laws, their implementation in regard to accessibility to urban space lies within the domain of the state and municipal laws, which vary across jurisdictions. Hence, there is need to engage with laws at the municipal and state level that govern city-planning and design.

'Beyond Reasonable Accommodation' is a white paper that tackles the question of accessibility to urban space for persons with disabilities in the context of existing legal and policy frameworks in India. This white paper questions the way cities are currently designed, planned, and built and critically analyses legislative frameworks that govern cities. It highlights the ways in which they remain inaccessible to persons with disabilities, especially those with invisible disabilities. This white paper advocates re-imagining urban planning as a people-centric, participatory process that adopts universal accessibility as a norm and a foundational step. We propose legal, regulatory and institutional changes which will make cities accessible by design for all, going beyond the principle of "reasonable accommodation".

Sowmya Reddy, Member of Legislative Assembly, Karnataka, will be the Chief Guest at the event.

SPEAKERS

• Dr. Gaurav Raheja, Head of Department, Architecture & Planning, IIT Roorkee
• Ziaa Lalkaka, Chief Executive Officer, HT Parekh Foundation
• V.S Basavaraju, Former State Commissioner for persons with disabilities, Government of Karnataka

Sneha Visakha, Research Fellow at Vidhi, Karnataka, will be moderating the event.

The event will take place in hybrid mode from the Bangalore International Centre. RSVP to join us online or at this address: 7, 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur, Bengaluru.

The event will also be broadcast live on Vidhi's YouTube channel.