The integration comes at a crucial time when accessibility efforts in India require more than physical infrastructure improvements. Experts have increasingly emphasized the need for collaborative monitoring, stronger accountability mechanisms, and active participation from governments, civil society organizations, and citizens to ensure meaningful and sustainable progress.
India is estimated to have 2.68 crore citizens living with disabilities. Despite the enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act a decade ago, many public spaces, including parks, offices, educational institutions, and restaurants, continue to lack essential accessibility features such as ramps and wheelchair-accessible toilets. The Sugamya Bharat App enables citizens to report accessibility barriers and supports the objectives of the Accessible India Campaign. Meanwhile, Yes to Access allows citizens to assess and report the accessibility of public spaces on a large scale, creating a comprehensive map that assists persons with disabilities, caregivers, families, and allies in identifying accessible locations.
Through this integration, both platforms aim to strengthen citizen-led accessibility monitoring while creating more responsive systems for identifying and addressing barriers faced by persons with disabilities.
The announcement was made during Circle of Collaborations, a gathering designed to demonstrate the power of partnerships in advancing accessibility and inclusion. The event brought together government representatives, disability rights advocates, civil society organizations, accessibility practitioners, designers, and development sector leaders to review achievements and discuss future pathways for enhanced collaboration.
The event was inaugurated by Manmeet Kaur Nanda, IAS, Additional Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. The inaugural panel featured Dr. S. Govindaraj, Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities; Anand Shekhar, Chief Executive Officer, WaterAid India; and Puja Anand, President, Association of Designers of India. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Bhumika Modh, Head of Public Policy and Collaborations at APD, and was preceded by a welcome address from Jacob Kurian, Honorary Secretary of APD.
The inaugural discussion focused on the evolving accessibility landscape in India. Speakers highlighted the importance of data-driven inclusion, public-private collaboration, community-led systems change, and the growing need for stronger standards and capacity-building efforts in digital accessibility.
An interactive exhibition formed a key attraction of the event, showcasing the journey, impact, and future vision of the Yes to Access initiative. Major exhibits included the Yes to Access Journey Timeline, which traced significant milestones and learnings; the Wall of Collaborations, recognizing organizations and individuals contributing to the accessibility movement; and the Data and Impact Zone, featuring a live dashboard that allowed visitors to engage with accessibility-related insights and outcomes.
The exhibition also featured Way Forward, a dedicated space exploring future opportunities for collaboration and participation, along with Postcards to the Future, an interactive installation where attendees shared their aspirations and commitments toward building a more accessible and inclusive India.
Addressing the gathering, Manmeet Kaur Nanda said accessibility cannot be achieved by any single institution and requires governments, civil society organizations, industry stakeholders, and communities to work collectively toward a shared objective. She stated that platforms such as Yes to Access and its integration with Sugamya Bharat demonstrate how collaboration and technology can accelerate the nation’s journey toward inclusion.
Dr. Bhumika Modh described the integration as a significant milestone in strengthening citizen-led accessibility monitoring and action. She said the Circle of Collaborations initiative was designed to showcase the transformative power of partnerships while encouraging more stakeholders to contribute toward creating a future where accessibility is embedded by design.
Ahead of the event, Jacob Kurian emphasized that the exhibition highlighted the collective effort driving progress in accessibility. He noted that partnerships, innovation, and community participation play a crucial role in building inclusive environments and stressed that accessibility must remain central to India’s ongoing digital transformation.
Circle of Collaborations was conceived as both a celebration of collective achievements and a call for deeper cooperation in creating accessible futures that are equitable, participatory, and inclusive by design.
Following the New Delhi edition, the initiative will continue in Bengaluru on June 13, 2026, at Saanchi Gallery, Bangalore International Centre. The event is expected to bring together an even wider network of partners, practitioners, institutions, and advocates committed to advancing accessibility and inclusion across the country.
The Association of People with Disability is a Bengaluru-based non-profit organization dedicated to empowering persons with disabilities through inclusive education, livelihoods, skill development, community-based rehabilitation, policy advocacy, and accessibility initiatives. Through collaborative programs and partnerships, the organization continues to work toward building equitable and inclusive systems that enable persons with disabilities to participate fully in society. The integration of Yes to Access with the Sugamya Bharat App marks a significant advancement in that mission, reinforcing the role of technology, collaboration, and citizen participation in shaping a more accessible India.
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