Ministry of Science & Technology Shri Devinder Nath Deputy Secretary Department of Science & Technology Room No 1 (Hall-A),

Technology Bhawan New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110016. Tel: 26519947 (O) / 26590349 (O) Fax: 26569908, 26515637 E-mail ID: cpio-dst@nic.in

1. This RTI application seeks information about policies, proposals, guidelines and official press releases and recommendation documents released by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India in the area of web, digital and physical accessibility in museums and cultural spaces for persons with disabilities in India. 2. With reference to: National Disability Policy (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, 1993), where in, all public spaces, venues and state institutions and avenues are mandated to accommodate accessibility for persons with disabilities. 3. Accessibility in public spaces also includes museums (government, state, special), heritage spaces, art galleries, archival centers and archaeological sites of public interest.

Questions for Ministry of Science and Technology under the Right to Information Act, 2005 Would the Ministry of Science and Technology, Department of Science and Technology please provide information in soft copy of the following for the time period between 1991 - 2011: One of the mandates of the Ministry is Socially oriented S&T interventions for rural & weaker sections. What are the interventions the Ministry has undertaken with regards to research and development for providing accessible technology for persons with disabilities in India? Does the Department of S&T concern itself with addressing problems of physical and digital accessibility for persons with disabilities in India? The Technology Development Board incorporates Engineering and Healthcare as one of its core components. How does this initiative specifically address the accessibility concerns of persons with disabilities at work, play, education and visits to museums in India? List the Ministry proposals, guidelines and recommendations at the all India level to address digital and physical accessibility in museums and cultural spaces (heritage structures, galleries, archaeological sites) for persons with disabilities. Name, contact addresses and details of members (designation) of the S&T Department who are concerned with research and development initiative for persons with disabilities and senior citizens. Is there a committee at the Department of S&T that coordinates with the countrys cultural institutions: National Museum of India, the National library and archive, the Central Public Library and Archaeological Survey of India, to address technological improvements in these places.

Minutes of Meetings held by the various departments and offices of the Ministry of Science and Technology to discuss policy reforms and interventions that will benefit persons with disabilities and their access to public spaces. Transcripts of meetings, conversations, interviews held between the Ministry of Science and Technology with other Ministries (Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Social Justice, Ministry of ICT, National Human Rights Commission) to talk about barriers to accessibility in India for persons with disabilities. Details of conferences organized by the Ministry in the various states of India to address physical and web accessibility issues for persons with disabilities Digital Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities involves use of adaptive technology. What role does the Department of Science and Technology play in spearheading research on new technologies for the disabled? Does the Department have any reports that propose changes to the physical infrastructure of buildings and the incorporation of digital devices to reduce barriers to access for persons with disabilities?