Jammu, Feb 07: Thousands of men, women and children Friday joined Sugamya Yatra 2025 with an aim to advocate for inclusive accessibility in Jammu and Kashmir.
An official spokesperson said the Sugamya Yatra 2025 was a landmark initiative to promote accessibility and inclusion for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) across all districts of JK.
The Yatra was organised by Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Social Welfare Department, J&K, in collaboration with all District Level Committees on Disability, headed by respective Deputy Commissioners (DCs), and actively supported by the District Social Welfare Units.
Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Iqbal Lone, while speaking on the occasion, said the primary objective of Sugamya Yatra 2025 was to raise mass awareness about accessibility challenges faced by Persons with Disabilities and to sensitize stakeholders about their responsibilities under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
He said the Yatra focused on Sensitizing public and authorities about accessibility rights and obligations.
The Yatra focused on sensitising the public and authorities about accessibility rights and obligations, visiting key public places, including government offices, educational institutions, healthcare centers and tourist spots to assess accessibility, encouraging use of digital tools like the Yes to Access mobile app for real-time data collection and promoting a constructive and collaborative approach towards improving accessibility.
The event was conducted in a peaceful and inclusive manner, ensuring constructive engagement with local authorities and stakeholders. The participants were encouraged to provide feedback to concerned officials to foster improvements in accessibility across public infrastructure.
Lone said the Deputy Commissioners across all districts played a crucial role in coordinating the Yatra, ensuring its smooth execution and mobilising stakeholders, including representatives from the disability sector, civil society organisations and accessibility auditors.
Commissioner further stated that the successful execution of Sugamya Yatra 2025 marks a significant step towards realizing the vision of an inclusive and accessible Jammu & Kashmir, in alignment with national and international commitments on disability rights.
