State Disability Commissioner Diethono Nakhro inspecting a government school in Jotsoma village for construction of ramps and other accessible facilities on March 8, 2019. (Photo Courtesy:scpd.nagaland.gov.in)
Moa Jamir
Dimapur | August 11
Most public buildings constructed by Nagaland Public Works (NPWD) were not conforming with relevant provisions for enabling barrier-free access for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has observed.
The CAG made the observation after examining the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of 119 building projects sanctioned during 2014-2019 period to 16 Engineering divisions of the NPWD.
The ‘Performance Audit on Construction and Maintenance of Government buildings by PWD (Housing)’ conducted from June- September 2019 was part of the CAG’s Report on ‘General, Economic and Revenue Sectors for the year ended 31 March 2019 (Report No.2 of 2020), Government of Nagaland” tabled in the State Assembly on August 5.
Relevant provisions on accessibility
As per the CAG, Section 46 of the PWDs Act 1995 stipulated that the “appropriate Government and the local authorities shall, within the limit of their economic capacity and development, provide for ramps in public buildings, hospitals, Primary Health Centres etc.”
Sec 45 of the Right of PWDs Act, 2016 further stated that all the “existing buildings shall be made accessible in accordance with rules formulated by the Central Government within a period not exceeding five years from the date of notification of such rules.”
In addition, the Government of India, on December 3, 2015, also launched the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) for achieving universal accessibility for PwDs.
In this regard, the Chief Engineer (H), NPWD itself had notified on February 5, 2019 that all public/Government buildings in the State should be made accessible to PwDs and to create a barrier-free environment in all the buildings.
Ramp facility only in 8 projects; lift in 10
In its examinations, the CAG observed most Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of the 199 projects failed to incorporate the aforesaid provisions for PwDs in the projects.
The implementation of Accessible India Campaign remained poor as provision of lifts and ramps were made only in a small number of important projects, it said,
“Out of 119 selected projects, there were 69 major projects like offices, schools, hospitals, market complex, multi-parking, emporiums etc.,” the CAG noted.
Examination of records revealed that out of the 69 major projects, provision of lift was provided only in 10 projects, it said.
In the case of ramp, only 8 DPRs out of 69 projects had such provision, the CAG pointed out.
Accordingly, the CAG commented: “The State needs to improve upon the implementation of Accessible India Campaign to create a barrier free environment in all the buildings.”
Department vows changes
Meanwhile, the Department, according the CAG, has assured to make amends.
Accepting the audit observation in December 2019, the Department stated that it would consolidate compliance as interpreted in PwDs Act, 1995, Right of PwDs Act, 2016, and Accessible India Campaign, the CAG informed.
Consequently, the Department said that it would issue afresh mandatory guidelines on “Qualification norm for technical endorsement” and DPRs without compliance “would not be entertained.”
“It further stated that the Department has also come up with guidelines for providing ramps and toilets for the Differently-abled person,” the CAG added.
