Smart Cities Mission adopts a unique approach to urbanization, adding that at its core, the Mission promotes the access to infrastructure for all citizens and this becomes a platform to provide social justice. People with disabilities are among the most marginalised – not because of their disability but because of an environment that is hostile insensitive and inaccessible so smart cities concept need to be made inclusive.

Need for inclusive planning with respect to disabilities:-

• In India, the population with disabilities is around 26.8 million, constituting 2.21% of India’s total population, if one goes by the 2011 population census data. 
• According to the United Nations, a mere 1% additional cost is incurred for incorporating universal design and accessibility in the design and planning stage itself.
• In conjunction with the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), the Smart Cities Mission seeks to ensure that the most vulnerable sections of our society enjoy ‘Ease of Living’ in Indian cities
• Tourism-based cities are likely to face an opportunity loss of an estimated 15-20% of the global market share if they exclude tourists with disabilities. 
• Leaving people with disabilities out of economic opportunities leads to a loss of 3-7%of GDP annually.
• Disability-inclusive technology is good design for all including the elderly or those who prefer choices in communication and interaction, and can serve to make cities more accessible and easier to navigatewith a range of interface and communication choices
• While the entire smart cities (project) is data- driven project, there is no data on accessibility. Since there is no data, there is very less likelihood of including it into the indicators. Accessibility is actually still not on the agenda of smart cities, that’s what we have seen in our experience

What more needs to be done?

• Protection granted by RpWD act need to be implemented effectively:-
  1. The Act brought in provisions by which no person can be discriminated against on the grounds of their disability thereby providing an equal opportunity. No employee can be discriminated against in cases of career growth, promotions, transfers, etc.
  2. Compliance of Accessibility is the key provisionof the act. It states that no company will be provided a certificate of completion unless it provides ramps, elevators, transport, communication, adheres to minimum width of walkways, etc. Thus making the company an inclusive environment.
  3. Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 also mandates making all buildings, services and products accessible giving definite timelines for implementation and retrofitting.
• NCPEDP worked closely with BIS to update the National Building Code 2016 to ensure that accessibility cuts across all chapters and section.
• With a growing digital interface, technology must be made accessible too municipal apps, bus shelters, kiosks, red light junctions, ATMs, all need to be made accessible for people with disabilities.
• Signage captioning is important for the deaf and hearing-impaired. Products that people use must be accessible- e.g. low floor buses, lifts and elevators that announce the floor reached for people with visual disabilities, etc.
• For the  SMART City to be a success, it is important that there is mapping of how persons with disabilities access utilities, public spaces and government  interventions in the planning stage itself on creating awareness at the political level to ensure sufficient budgetary support for the initiative and on identifying officers who can be dedicated for the project.
  1. Smart city should provide more inclusive environment for the disabled people to participate in the smart environment. 
  2. For example, a wheelchair user going to the shopping, public places, railway stations and airports should be able to identify the ideal route to the particular area. The open spaces are designed in such a manner that they can be used by everyone.
  3. This approach to the smart city planning process will benefit the disabled persons. At least 2-5 per cent of the residential buildings in the city should be made accessible to persons with disabilities by providing disabled-friendly lifts, toilets as well as signage.
  4. In order to meet the need of particularly disabled people in housing, the house should be as barrier-free as possible. Before building any apartment house for the handicapped, it is advisable to note street conditions and access to transportation.
  5. Besides, small-scale modifications within the housing complexes like provision of ramps for wheel chair may be required to get in and out of their homes.
  6. For the convenience of wheelchair-bound persons the authority should provide lifts and widen the doorway for them as far as practicable.
• Disabled persons encounter many obstacles that prevent them from moving about freely and safely. Therefore, while designing the built environment, adequate space should be allocated for persons using mobility devices, e.g. wheelchairs, crutches and walkers, as well as those walking with the assistance of other persons. 
• Design requirements include, use of guiding blocks for persons with impaired vision to guide them within the buildings and outside the building, installation of information board in Braille, installation of audible signage (announcements) and sufficient walking space for safe walking are required.