This daily ordeal may end for Sharma and over 21 million differently-abled Indians, in the next three years, as the central government has drawn, for the first time, an action plan to provide a barrier-free environment in all major public buildings in the country. Disabled-friendly facilities like an access ramp, toilets, signage and Braille signage lift control will be provided in the Prime Minister Office at South Block by September this year. Similarly, other central government buildings like Nirman Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan, Indira Gandhi Museum and National Archives of India will also see these facilities come up this year.

The urban development ministry, which is the nodal ministry for implementation of this action plan, will cajole the states to make amendments to the building bylaws over the next two years to facilitate creation of provisions for the disabled in public buildings.

As a first, the ministry will undertake access audit of around 50 central buildings in Delhi, the work on which has already started. The access audit will identify barriers in the buildings for the disabled such as approach, main gates, parking, building entrance, public dealing areas, signage, lifts, staircase, ramp, toilets, lighting, exit and emergency evacuation facilities.

“To begin with, the ministry will undertake access audit of around 30 central buildings in Delhi. The idea is that a disabled person should also be able to participate fully in all aspects of society,” a ministry official told The Indian Express. After discussions within the ministry, the access audit report will be implemented by the Central Public Works Department and other agencies within two years in the national capital.

The implementation of the report will be monitored by the ministry every six months. “Further, random audit of access shall also be carried out in consultations with building owners. Such reviews shall also be integrated with the existing mechanism for review of programmes like Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission,” said the action plan document prepared by the ministry. To assist the state governments, the central government will prepare and disseminate common guidelines for barrier free environment, in consultation with experts from IIT, Roorkee and NGOs by March 2010.

So far, only 13 out of 35 states and union territories have amended their laws, while three others — Chandigarh, Goa and Mizoram — are in the process of doing so currently.

(* Name changed on request)