Latest news with #DEPwD
Hans India
6 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Four AI missions launched for differently-abled to ensure ease of services
Bengaluru: The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on Friday launched four major digital and technology missions to aid persons with disabilities in receiving government and societal services in the areas of education, healthcare, livelihood, and everyday life. It is being implemented in collaboration with the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), according to an official statement. The four missions -- Mission AI Accessibility, Implementation of AI in Assistive Technology and Tools for Empowering People with Disabilities, National Disability Support AI Chat Bot, and Unified Benefits Interface (UBI), modelled on the widespread and popular UPI financial technological tool, were launched here by Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, DEPwD at the national conference on AI for Empowering Persons with Disabilities. 'India now has one billion digital Aadhaar IDs. The digi-locker, which can have all physical documents in digital form in just one device, and the UPI (Unified Payments Interface), which has made financial transactions easy. According to him, differently-abled students will receive scholarships in their accounts in 24 hours from now on and people with health problems can interact with a chatbot to clarify and seek medical and health advisory services from home itself.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- The Hindu
Four major initiatives on AI launched
Four major initiatives focused on Artificial intelligence (AI) and accessibility which aim to harness AI for the creation of inclusive digital ecosystems and offer scalable solutions in assistive technology were launched on Friday. At a national conference on AI for Empowering Persons with Disabilities, held in Bengaluru, the four missions [Mission AI accessibility; Mission AI: Implementation of AI in Assistive Technologies and Tools for Empowering People with Disabilities; National Disability Support AI Chatbot, and United Benefits Interface (UBI)] were launched. Rajesh Aggarwal, secretary, Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, said: 'A new era of inclusion has been ushered in by Artificial Intelligence.' His keynote presentation covered advancements in deep learning, robotics, and computer vision, emphasising their potential in improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. The conference also showcased how AI can be a force multiplier in creating a more inclusive and accessible India. It also brought together leading experts, government officials, technologists, and advocates to showcase how AI is enhancing accessibility and opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Hans India
7 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
Centre launches four AI Missions, including, National UBI and Chatbot AI digital technologies for the disabled
Bengaluru: The Government of India's Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, in collaboration with Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) here on Friday at The National Conference on AI for Empowering Persons with Disabilities launched four major digital and technology missions to aid persons with disabilities in receiving government and societal services in the areas of education, healthcare, livelihood, and everyday life. The four missions, Mission AI Accessibility, Implementation of AI in Assistive Technology and Tools for Empowering People with Disabilities, National Disability Support AI Chat Bot, and Unified Benefits Interface (UBI), modelled on the widespread and popular UPI financial technological tool, were launched by Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, DEPwD in the presence of a government officials, technology experts from IITs and AIIMS, Technology Entrepreneurs and citizens. The Secretary, DEPwD, unveiling the National AI Missions for Persons with Disabilities, Rajesh Aggarwal said, 'India now has one billion digital Aadhaar IDs, the digi-locker which can have all physical documents in digital form in just one device, and the UPI (Unified Payments Interface) which has made financial transactions easy. We are extending this digital footprint for persons with disabilities by digitalising and automating a series of government benefits, schemes and policies, to reach beneficiaries within 24 hours in the areas of education, health, livelihood and finance. Disabled students will receive scholarships in their accounts in 24 hours from now on and people with health problems can interact with a chatbot to clarify and seek medical and health advisory services from home itself and the UBI will ensure digital and technological interaction between disabled people and the government to ensure services are delivered without bureaucratic delays and hindrances. The interaction will be direct, easy and seamless, made possible by AI.' The Member of the Steering Committee of NITI Aayog instituted to design the National Strategic Framework of Assistive Technology (AT) in India with the objective of making India a Global Hub of Assistive Technology, and Co-Founder and CEO of AssisTech Foundation (ATF), which has changed the lives of a million disabled people, Prateek Madhav said, 'We are working with the Government to ensure that persons with disabilities, particularly learners, are equipped with the right Assistive Technologies (AT) - screen readers, Braille displays, sign language plugins, speech recognition tools, and adaptive input devices – to ensure an hindrance-free everyday life as well as seamless and easy interaction and practical working in the fields of education, health, and livelihood to enable persons with disabilities have a hurdle-free reception of benefits. We concur with Aggarwal's UBI initiative modelled on UPI as this will ease implementation of benefits for persons with disabilities. With over 14.96 billion transactions per day and a total transaction value of ₹23.25 trillion, UPI has revolutionized how Indians handle money. But beyond the numbers lies a deeper impact—ease of access for people with physical disabilities. No longer do they have to travel to banks, wait in long queues, or manage cheque books. UPI allows users to send or receive any amount—from 10 paise to ₹10 lakh—right from their homes. For the disabled, this saves not just time and energy, but also the physical and emotional strain of navigating public spaces. When paired with Assistive Technologies like voice commands, screen readers, and simplified interfaces, digital payments become even more inclusive. Digital payment system is more than a mere advancement—it is a powerful equalizer.' Prateek has co-founded the Global Alliance on Assistive Technology Innovations and Investments, known as the Inclusive Innovation Network (+N), along with AT pioneers and partners from Australia, Canada, and Kenya to bring in their innovations into India to aid persons with disabilities. He is establishing the largest AT innovation ecosystem in India and under his leadership, ATF has developed a network of over 450+ AT startups, impacted the lives of 1 million individuals with disabilities. Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MEITY, and DG, NIC said, 'We are working with state governments to adopt AI models and missions we will be taking all these technologies to tier-2 and tier-3 cities in India to help the underserved and disabled.' A highlight of the conference was the high-impact panel session on 'Assistive Technology Leveraging AI', moderated by Prateek, which featured a distinguished panel of experts. Sandeep Alur, CTO, Microsoft Innovation Hub, said, AI can see, hear, speak, reason, memorize and think. This means that the future is AI adapting to individual requirements, especially for the disabled.' Shekar Naik, Padma Shri Awardee and Former Captain, Indian Blind Cricket Team, who is training hundreds of blind cricketers said, 'AI on the laptop helps us now to place players on the cricket field in minutes. It would take hours or half a day earlier. I can now book my tickets, write on my own or type on my own. AI has ended dependency of the blind permanently.' Amitabh Nag, CEO, Bhashini Project, which is transforming the language translation scenario in India, said, 'We are developing speech to text and text to speech, voice technologies, websites in Indian languages, addressing translation of dialects beyond the 22 official languages to help the disabled.' Chandrika Jain, CMO, Lenovo India said, 'Design of AI technologies should be undertaken with the disabled, not for them. The disabled have to be part of the tech design, not as an afterthought.' Prateek, who steered the insightful and thought-provoking discussion, concluded stating that ATF's hope and vision is to build the world's first Unicorn (start-up) that would reach a billion disabled people by developing technologies that would help the disabled. 'A Unicorn is a billion-dollar start-up, but for us, Unicorn is not about money, it's about a billion people. There is hope because we have moved from 400 start-ups 10 years ago to 1.7 lakh start-ups in 2025.' The panel collectively underscored the importance of collaboration between government, private sector, and social innovation ecosystems to build an AI-powered accessible future. The conference served as a pivotal platform to explore the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Assistive Technology (AT), with the goal of harnessing cutting-edge innovations to enhance accessibility, inclusion, and empowerment for persons with disabilities.
Business Standard
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
American India Foundation and GOI Honor Corporate Leaders in Disability Inclusion at First-Ever DI-verse Certification Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan
BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], May 2: The American India Foundation (AIF), catalyzing social and economic change in India for the past two decades, co-sponsored the 'Purple Fest' at the official residence of the President of India--Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. The illustrious event was organized by the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. Bringing together over 23,500, including Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), industry leaders, policymakers, and civil society organizations, Purple Fest 2025 showcased India's commitment to breaking employment barriers and fostering a truly inclusive economy. The presence of the Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, along with Shri. B.L Verma, from DEPwD, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, further emphasized the government's commitment to fostering an inclusive and accessible society. At the heart of this year's fest was the DI-verse Certification Felicitation Ceremony--a landmark initiative recognizing corporate pioneers in disability inclusion. The DI-verse Certification--the nation's First and Only Disability Inclusion Certification for Organizations--was awarded to nine industry leaders for their commitment to building accessible, equitable workplaces. Infosys Limited, Wipro Limited, Compass India Food Services Pvt. Ltd, Future Generali India Insurance Company Limited, Godrej Properties Limited, Vindhya E-Infomedia Pvt. Ltd, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited, and Randstad India Private Limited were honored for their exemplary efforts in inclusive hiring, workplace accessibility, and policy transformation. Additionally, a growing number of corporations are actively progressing through the certification process, signaling the momentum toward inclusive workplaces across industries. Further emphasizing its leadership in disability inclusion, AIF was honored with a Letter of Appreciation from the Hon'ble Minister of DEPwD at Purple Fest 2025. This distinguished recognition celebrates AIF's longstanding efforts in building an inclusive workforce through systemic interventions. AIF's network of 1,900+ inclusive employers, disability inclusion initiatives such as DI-verse certification, corporate sensitization training, and its dedicated inclusive job portal have positioned the organization at the forefront of India's disability inclusion movement. Launched in 2024, with the encouragement and support of Dr. Rajesh Agarwal, IAS, Secretary, DEPwD - DI-verse provides companies with a structured, results-driven roadmap to assess, implement, and sustain best-in-class disability inclusion practices. Through its three-tier certification system (A, AA, AAA), DI-verse evaluates organizations across six key pillars: leadership commitment, workforce representation, workplace accessibility, supplier and customer inclusion, community engagement, and inclusive branding--ensuring a structured, measurable approach to disability inclusion. Speaking at the event, Dr. Virendra Kumar, Honorable Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, stressed the significance of corporate participation in India's disability inclusion movement."Workplace inclusion is not an act of charity--it is an economic and social imperative. The DI-verse Certification creates an ecosystem where businesses recognize and leverage the immense contributions of Persons with Disabilities. By embedding inclusive hiring and accessibility practices, companies are not just improving their workplaces but strengthening India's workforce for the future. I encourage organizations across sectors to pursue this certification and actively contribute to India's mission of empowering PwDs." Reaffirming AIF's commitment to driving change, Mr. Mathew Joseph, Country Director, AIF, stated, "The DI-verse Certification is more than an award--it is a movement to reshape India's corporate landscape. By building an inclusive workforce, businesses are unlocking untapped talent, driving innovation, and fostering sustainable economic growth. With our goal of enabling 100,000 jobs for PwDs and certifying 1,000 organizations by 2030, we are turning inclusion from an idea into measurable progress." AIF's 15-year-long flagship Ability-Based Livelihood Empowerment (ABLE) program has been a driving force behind India's largest PwD employment campaign, accelerating the momentum for workplace disability inclusion. In the past year alone, AIF has organized 21 job fairs across 17 states, connecting 2,940 PwDs with 184 employers, achieving an impressive 80% placement rate for shortlisted candidates. Further amplifying these efforts, AIF's inclusive job portal, now integrated with the Divyangjan Rojgar Setu PM Daksh Portal, is expanding access to employment opportunities for millions of Unique Disability ID card holders across India. Beyond employment, AIF has also launched a 70-hour digital employability training program, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, to support young adults with disabilities. This fully accessible digital curriculum is tailored for individuals with visual, auditory, physical, and cognitive impairments, equipping them with long-term financial independence and workplace readiness. The first-ever DI-verse Certification Felicitation Ceremony at Purple Fest 2025 was more than a celebration--it was a turning point in India's disability inclusion movement. As businesses commit to fostering truly equitable workplaces, DI-verse is setting the gold standard for inclusive leadership, transforming intent into quantifiable action.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
In a first, state set for detailed survey on PwDs
Panaji: For the first time, state govt on Tuesday decided to undertake a comprehensive survey of persons with disabilities (PwDs), reports Murari Shetye . The aim is to collect precise, geo-tagged information that will facilitate the development of inclusive policies and enhance service provision. Through this survey, which will be conducted along the lines of a similar one in Maharashtra, govt wants to understand the problems faced by PwDs and frame policies to provide them with employment and prepare plans for their future. In line with the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, govt intends to conduct an across-the-board and time-bound survey covering all 21 disabilities. The director of the department for empowerment of persons with disabilities (DEPwD), Varsha Naik, told TOI that this is the first time that the department is conducting such a survey for PwDs. Naik said that earlier, the survey was conducted in 2011 by the directorate of planning statistics, but it was not limited to PwDs. 'We have data from the 2011 census. After that, more disabilities were added, and now we cover 21 disabilities,' Naik said. 'With this survey, we will come to know about their educational qualifications and where they are staying, among other things. Right now, we don't have any comprehensive data on PwDs.' Naik said, 'Once we have the data, we will have details of PwDs and their requirements. Today, PwDs may not know about govt initiatives.' She added, 'But once the data is ready, the department can reach out to PwDs with govt schemes.' The department invites bidders from reputed and experienced firms/organisations for the development and deployment of a robust software system. 'This system must enable real-time data collection, monitoring, and analysis, with features ensuring accessibility, multilingual support, and integration with govt databases,' the criteria say, 'The initiative aims to gather accurate, geo-tagged data to inform inclusive policymaking and service delivery.' The selected agency will also be responsible for training, deployment, and complete operational oversight of the survey. The benefit survey will help govt with accurate data collection to plan targeted welfare programmes, geographic mapping, monitoring, and help in fixing accountability and empowerment, among others, a senior govt officer said. Naik said a similar survey was conducted in Maharashtra, and on the same lines, a survey would be conducted in Goa. The newly created DEPwD, which became operational last year, is responsible for implementing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and ensuring the empowerment of individuals with disabilities.
