75% of over 1,400 complaints filed in Sugamya Bharat app resolved: Data

More than 1,400 complaints related to accessibility have been lodged through government's flagship Sugamya Bharat mobile application since its launch in 2021, with approximately 75 per cent of those resolved, according to official data.

Sugamya Bharat app, designed to assist people with disabilities and elderly, allows users to report accessibility issues in public infrastructure, transportation and buildings by uploing photos.

Information revealed following a Right to Information (RTI) request filed by PTI showed that 1,441 complaints were received on app between 2021 and 2024. Of se, 1,081 were dressed after being forwarded to authorities concerned.

RTI response revealed that 647 complaints were received in 2021-22 period, of which 567 were resolved. following year, 530 complaints were lodged and 391 resolved. app recorded 264 complaints in 2023-24 while 123 were dressed.

To furr improve app's functionality, government plans to redesign platform, incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) features.

A senior Department of Disability Affairs official said upgred Sugamya Bharat app would become a comprehensive platform for people with disabilities, offering an AI-powered chatbot, a multilingual interface, and tools for complaint registration and feedback.

redesign is part of government's broer efforts to enhance accessibility across India's built environment, transportation and ICT (Information and Communication Techlogy) ecosystems.

A partnership has been established with NGO Mission Accessibility and research institute I-STEM to develop AI-enabled app.

With more than two per cent of India's population living with disabilities, experts believe that making disabled-friendly construction compliance mandatory during building plan approvals would significantly dress challenges of accessibility.

official said government was collaborating with IIT -Kharagpur to develop a specialised course on designing accessible buildings. This course will be introduced in 27 institutions, including or IITs.

Since app's launch, complaint resolution process has faced logistical challenges, particularly at state level, but system has w been streamlined, official said.

Disability rights activist Dr Satendra Singh ted that earlier versions of app h technical limitations, particularly for visually-impaired users.

"That was a gap but y are dressing it," he said.