Ashutosh Singhal

Alumni of Hindu College and passionate for Accessibility for all including Persons With Disabilities.

[Ashutosh Singhal @Sugamyata]

My Ch20's G20 address on Accessibility issue. Please give your valuable feedback and kindly try to resolve the issue at lease repost and like it for highlight. https://t.co/Rzt2Z6KNwU @PrakashWKamatPK @SakshamTrust @ShashiTharoor @nabdelhionline @XRCVC @PMOIndia @rajeshaggarwal

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Understanding Disability :

📢 **5th Edition | Workshop-Seminar**

♿ **Imagining & Reimagining Disability: Past, Present & Future**

**Conversations that are changing how communities understand disability, health & accessibility.**

How has society understood disability across history? How have we moved from charity and welfare-based approaches towards rights, inclusion and accessibility? And what does the future of disability look like?

Join us for an **interactive workshop-seminar** that brings together history, health, accessibility, research and lived experiences to explore how we have *imagined* disability — and how we can begin to *reimagine* it.

The session will include **interactive activities, discussions, historical perspectives and real-world examples**, exploring:

🔹 Disability through history
🔹 From welfare to rights and inclusion
🔹 Why disability is a community issue
🔹 How accessibility benefits everyone
🔹 Disability, health & research
🔹 Rethinking the way we talk about and understand disability
🔹 Imagining the future of inclusion and accessibility

📅 **7 October 2026 | Wednesday**
⏰ **2:00 PM – 4:00 PM**
📍 **Room No. 6, Satyakam Bhawan, University of Delhi – 110007**

**Organised by:**
Enabling Unit, Department of History
Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Delhi @UnivofDelhi

**In collaboration with:**
🤝 RAHII – Rehabilitation and Health Inclusion Initiative
🤝 Ghumakkadi Foundation

Come with your questions, experiences and assumptions — and let's **reimagine disability together.**

✨ **Everyone is welcome!**
@sugamyata @ambashtapp @nabdelhi @rahul400 @armanaly @risingflame

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

For the persons with visual impairement, a ICT accessibility related help coming from Mission Accessibility,NGO.

Here are the names of OTT titles that have come this week which have no AD and SLC. If you want to get this fixed, please write on the following email ID: [email protected]
Prime Video:
1.Drishyam 2.
2.Tumse Na Ho Payega
https://t.co/eIguHfGy7s
4.LURK
5.Maremma
Netflix:
1.Epic
2.Least Eligible Bachelor
3.Mandaadi
4.Pradhama Drishtiya Kuttakkar
Sony Liv:
1.Anbudan Amma
2.Gargi
3.Pushpa Impossible
4.Undekhi: The Final Battle (Season 4)
5.

Here is a draft email from Mission Accessibility to make it easy for you:

"Dear MIB(Ministry of Information & Broadcasting )Team:

I am a visually/hearing impaired [select as applicable] viewer of OTT content. I would like to bring to your notice that the following titles released this week have no audio description or same language captions. Kindly direct the OTT platforms to resolve these accessibility issues as soon as possible. Thank you.”

@MIB_India
@PIB_India
@Amarpawar29
@Sugamyata
@tukaramgaonkar @nabdelhionline
@mdsawant7nabgoa

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

You just move to a totally new premises spending lakhs of rupees,may be crores at Caranzalem Goa @HDFC_Bank @HDFCBank_Cares and you can't spend Rs.15000 to make a comfortable ramp to make the new premises accessible?
You have customers in this branch like Santan Rebello (below in a file video👇) who can walk only on crutches or has to take a wheelchair. How you expect him to visit your new branch. Or you don't care about disabled customers? Is this your sensitivity @HDFC_Bank. Don't you have officers in this branch who are sensitised to inclusive banking. Shame to you at HDFC Bank.
The Lead Bank of Goa-GSLBC- @TheOfficialSBI please respond to this.
--Prakash Kamat,Member of the Goa State Advisory Board on Disability. 9422443093.
@rbisays @nsitharamanoffc
@discommgoa @grpawaskar
@nagvekarvishant @drpramodsawant @gopalvasco @LloydFernandes1 @abhimurugkar
@babushofficial
@RohitMonserrate @S_Phal_Dessai @thegoanonline @oheraldo @s_g_ray @bhaangarbhui @sagarjawdekar @goahemophilia @kavthankara @santoshvani

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

The Disability sector in the country is deeply concerned that MEITY @GoI_MeitY
is repeatedly taking the argument/stand that digital accessibility is not in its domain. The law needs to be clarified on this front.
@mib_india @msjegoi @socialpwds
@AmbasthaPP @armanaly @nagvekarvishant
@Office_of_CCPD
@ScpdDelhi @PRADIP_KAMTHE
@discommgoa @goadisability
@sugamyata
@rahul400

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

The issue of effective implementation of the Provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2016 as regards efficacy of institution of Central and State Commissions for Persons with Disability is already before the Supreme Court @indSupremeCourt in a public interest litigation:
In that context, a ex-State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD), xxxxxxx,relates his experience in a Disability Action Group:
I have adjudicated and disposed of numerous cases by issuing reasoned directives to the concerned authorities, with a stipulated compliance period of three months. However, a significant number of authorities have failed to implement these directives even after the lapse of more than one year, thereby undermining the effectiveness of the statutory mechanism established under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
In view of these persistent instances of non-compliance, I respectfully propose that the RPwD Act, 2016 be amended by incorporating additional provisions conferring stronger statutory enforcement powers upon both the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) and the State Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities (SCPDs). While Sections 90 and 91 of the Act presently confer certain powers, these provisions do not provide an effective mechanism to ensure mandatory compliance with the directives issued by the Commissioners. Consequently, there is an urgent need to strengthen the Act by empowering the CCPD and SCPDs with enforceable authority, including appropriate legal consequences for willful or prolonged non-compliance by the concerned authorities.
@rahul400 @Sugamyata @MahaChiefSec @rajeshaggarwal
@ppambastha @discommgoa @disabilitycomm @Amarpawar29
@nagvekarvishant @goadisability @armanaly @sardesairajdeep @yashatwork @office_of_ccpd

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Rahul Kunkolienkar, a Indian Sign Language resource person at the Sensitisation session for persons with disability for Panchayat Secretaries and Social Welfare Field workers in Margao today lamented that in the ongoing Census enumeration Indian Sign Language(ISL) is not taken on the record as language of communication.
'We the deaf persons use this language in the family for communication besides outside in various fields of our public life', he said and opined that it should be acknowledged in the Census as an independent language.
@discommgoa @nagvekarvishant @vsheshco @office_of_ccpd @goadisability @Sugamyata @rajeshaggarwal @mdsawant7nabgoa @abhijeet_dipke @MIB_India @MSJEGOI @ScpdDelhi @Cockroachisback @isl

[Ashutosh Singhal @Sugamyata]

@PrakashWKamatPK Indeed a very good news, sir.

[Ashutosh Singhal @Sugamyata]

@PrakashWKamatPK Indeed a very good news, sir.

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

International Deafblind Awareness Month is observed in June.
This year is particularly significant for the global deafblind community. The United Nations General Assembly officially adopted and proclaimed 27 June as the International Day of Deafblindness through Resolution A/RES/79/294. This historic milestone recognizes deafblindness as a distinct disability and calls upon governments, organizations, and stakeholders worldwide to promote the rights, inclusion, empowerment, accessibility, and visibility of deafblind persons.
@Sugamyata
@MSJEGOI
@discommgoa @Office_of_CCPD @ScpdDelhi @nabdelhionline @mdsawant7nabgoa @TukaramGaonkar4 @Trinayani_ngo

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Visually Impaired Bank Employees welfare Association (VIBEWA).
📢 Important Appeal to Blind Officers Of SBI,

Despite recent judicial pronouncements supporting equal opportunities and career progression for employees with disabilities, concerns continue to be raised regarding the denial of promotion opportunities to blind officers for Scale III and Scale IV positions in SBI. Such practices raise serious questions about equality, inclusion, and compliance with the rights guaranteed to persons with disabilities.

To address this issue and chart a collective course of action, VIBEWA is organizing a webinar on:

Date: 14 June 2026 (Sunday)
Time: 11:00 AM

All blind employees of SBI who are currently in Scale III and Scale IV, as well as blind employees from other banks facing similar challenges in promotions and career advancement, are strongly encouraged to participate.

This webinar will provide a platform to discuss the issue, understand the legal position, share experiences, and deliberate on the next steps to ensure equal promotional opportunities for all.

Your participation is important. Together, we can work towards a more inclusive and equitable banking sector.

Please attend and spread the message among eligible colleagues.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://t.co/C75sER7UWA ID: 832 9222 1505
Passcode: 010712

Regards,
Vibewa Working Team.
@TheOfficialSBI @RBI
@RBIsays @TukaramGaonkar4
@nabdelhionline @Sugamyata @Rahul400 @_sabanaqvi @the_hindu @sardesairajdeep @bhupendrachaube @ashutosh83B @goadisability @discommgoa @tahahaaziq

[Ashutosh Singhal @Sugamyata]

@PrakashWKamatPK @Trinayani_ngo The Sugamya Bharat App session recording is available: https://t.co/qlo07s4pKB @vsheshco @nagvekarvishant @Vidhi_India @vjayakumar @povmumbai @goadisability @jsocialactivist @nabdelhionline @PurpleTVBharat @SakshamTrust @socialpwds @Office_of_CCPD @MSJE_AIC @DisabilityIndia

[Ashutosh Singhal @Sugamyata]

@PrakashWKamatPK @Trinayani_ngo The Sugamya Bharat App session recording is available: https://t.co/qlo07s4pKB @vsheshco @nagvekarvishant @Vidhi_India @vjayakumar @povmumbai @goadisability @jsocialactivist @nabdelhionline @PurpleTVBharat @SakshamTrust @socialpwds @Office_of_CCPD @MSJE_AIC @DisabilityIndia

[Trinayani @Trinayani_ngo]

Ashutosh Singhal, Disability Rights Activist & a person with visual impairment, will join us for Building Back Better session to discuss the #SugamyaBharatApp on May 2, 10:30 - 11:30 AM IST on Zoom, join Trinayani’s WhatsApp Group for the meeting link: https://t.co/82XQ3xB2ZY

[Disability Rights Association of Goa @goadisability]

Shameful isn't it @RBI @nsitharamanoffc @nsitharaman @FinMinIndia @PMOIndia @rashtrapatibhvn @SEBI_India that financial inclusion of persons with disability in only on paper ever after 10 years of Disability Act 2016 @PrakashWKamatPK @TukaramGaonkar4 @armanaly @Sugamyata

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

What is the use of Accessibility and inclusive banking policies of there is nobody to oversee the implementation @RBI @RBIsays ..it is only to show to the world that we have the universal policies in this country?
@Office_of_CCPD @discommgoa @abhijeet_dipke @Cockroach4India @nagvekarvishant @TheOfficialSBI @abhimurugkar @ashutosh83B @ashrosarioingo1 @bainjal @dhanyarajendran @sardesairajdeep

[Ashutosh Singhal @Sugamyata]

@PrakashWKamatPK @DFS_India As a person with visual impairment (blind) I agree. @RBI @RBIsays Policies, guidelines, and, circulars, which they made for People with Disabilities don't implement on the ground. @PMOIndia @nsitharaman @nsitharamanoffc @NITIAayog @IASassociation @narendramodi @socialpwds

[Ashutosh Singhal @Sugamyata]

@PrakashWKamatPK @DFS_India As a person with visual impairment (blind) I agree. @RBI @RBIsays Policies, guidelines, and, circulars, which they made for People with Disabilities don't implement on the ground. @PMOIndia @nsitharaman @nsitharamanoffc @NITIAayog @IASassociation @narendramodi @socialpwds

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

DFS reiterates its commitment towards promoting accessible and inclusive financial services for all citizens, including Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) :

On the occasion of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2026, the Department of Financial Services (DFS @DFS_India), Ministry of Finance, Government of India, reiterates its commitment towards promoting accessible and inclusive financial services for all citizens, including Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). DFS has issued Accessibility Standards and Guidelines for the Banking and Financial Services Sector which prescribed standards for equitable access of financial services by the PwDs through physical modes, digital platforms or phygital mode. 

DFS emphasizes that accessibility is not merely a compliance requirement, but an essential component of customer experience, digital inclusion, and equitable financial participation. By way of policy support and periodic trainings on the subject, Financial Institutions are encouraged to strengthen accessibility awareness to ensure accessibility integrated into every stage of service delivery and digital transformation. On this occasion, DFS appeals to all banks, financial institutions, and stakeholders to work collectively towards building a barrier-free and inclusive financial ecosystem where no customer is left behind.

*****
We know that DFS has issued Accessibility Standards and Guidelines for the Banking and Financial Services Sector which prescribed standards for equitable access of financial services by the PwDs through physical modes, digital platforms or phygital mode. RBI issues these guidelines to Banks and financial institutions. But who is accountable for the implementation of the guidelines? The most glaring example of inaction on this front is whenever new bank branches of Commercial banks we find inaccessible and approach the regional office of the RBI @RBI
@RBIsays
we get a dilly dallying response saying we don't have a mechanism to ensure that the new branches are complying accessibility. Then as an authority issuing new licenses for branches what is your role, what is your accountability? Who is to be approached for compliance?
@nsitharamanoffc
@MSJEGOI
@rahul400
@Sugamyata @abhimurugkar @amarjain2006 @Amarpawar29

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Vishant Nagvekar @nagvekarvishant, a person with Disability and a Member, Goa State Advisory Board on Disability has formally lodged a complaint to Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disability, New Delhi, @Office_of_CCPD, Maharashtra State Disability Commissioner @disabilitycomm and Goa State Disability Commissioner @discommgoa
complaining against openly discriminatory, illegal and unconstitutional restriction imposed upon Persons with Disabilities by “TAP Resto Bar”, Mumbai.

In his complaint Mr. Nagvekar has inter alia stayed that this case was a matter involving grave public safety concerns, unlawful discrimination, exclusionary practices and denial of equal access to persons with disabilities by a commercial establishment operating in Mumbai and therefore, he has brought to the attention of the concerned authorities for immediate intervention, investigation and strict legal action.

He further stated that it has come to notice that a public-facing signboard displayed at the establishment operating under the name “TAP Resto Bar” contains the following shocking, discriminatory and unlawful condition:

“PHYSICALLY DISABLED & INJURED PERSON NOT ALLOWED DUE TO SAFETY REASONS”

The aforesaid condition is not merely offensive and discriminatory, but constitutes an alarming public admission by the establishment itself that the premises are allegedly unsafe for a section of the public, namely persons with disabilities. Such a declaration by a licensed commercial establishment raises extremely serious concerns regarding public safety compliance, accessibility standards, emergency preparedness, evacuation capability and the legality of permissions granted for operation of the premises.

The issue involved herein is, therefore, not confined merely to discrimination against persons with disabilities, but extends to the larger and more serious question as to whether the establishment is structurally, operationally and legally safe for occupation by the general public itself.

If the premises are genuinely unsafe for persons with disabilities, injured individuals or persons with reduced mobility during emergency situations, evacuation requirements or public occupancy, then a serious and unavoidable question arises as to how the establishment has been permitted to commercially operate as a public venue at all.

A commercial establishment operating under public licenses and permissions cannot legally evade statutory accessibility and safety obligations by simply excluding persons with disabilities from entry. The law mandates inclusion, accessibility, reasonable accommodation and safe access — not exclusion under the guise of “safety reasons”, stated the complainant seeking immediate action against the commercial establishment.
@MSJEGOI
@MahaChiefSec @rajeshaggarwal
@sgr_ray
@goadisability @tahahaaziq @the_quantumjump @abhimurugkar @amarjain2006 @rahul400 @Sugamyata @drsitu @GaureeM_TOI @Shahinlambe86

[Ashutosh Singhal @Sugamyata]

@canarabank Kindly call me. I earlier provided you my contact number.

[Ashutosh Singhal @Sugamyata]

@nsitharaman @nsitharamanoffc @RBI @canarabank I am Blind. Canara Bank's Krishna Nagar Branch ATM Screen Reader doesn't work properly, Slip Roll and Guard are not available, Staff and Canara AI app are not Disabled Friendly. Kindly fix these issues. @PMOIndia @PrakashWKamatPK