National Human Rights Commission Ms. S.

Manjula Information & Public Relations Officer Faridkot House Copernicus Marg, New Delhi http://nhrc.nic.in/ | http://nhrc.nic.in/rti2005.htm Questions for National Human Rights Commission under the Right to Information Act, 2005 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. 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. Accessibility in public spaces also includes museums (government, state, special), heritage spaces, art galleries, archival centers and archaeological sites of public interest. Would the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment please provide information in soft copy of the following for the time period between 1991 - 2011: Proposal, guidelines and recommendations at the state government level (for all Indian states) pertaining specifically to 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 government committee that is in-charge of proposing guidelines and recommendations for physical and web accessibility initiatives and exhibits, in museums and cultural places for persons with disabilities. Minutes of Meetings held by the various departments and offices of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on discussing policy reforms, implementation and recommendations on physical and web accessibility in museums for persons with disabilities. Transcripts of meetings, conversations, interviews held between the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment with other Ministries (Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Science and Technology, National Human Rights Commission) to incorporate physical and we accessibility in museums and cultural spaces for persons with disabilities Details of conferences organized by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in the various states of India to address physical and web accessibility in Indias cultural spaces: museums, art galleries, heritage sites, ASI sites Details of the physical and web accessibility features incorporated in museums across India. E.g. Braille signage for blind visitors in the National Museum Institute, New Delhi. How was this accessibility feature proposed and developed? Details of agreements signed between the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment with private sector organizations and companies that manufacture accessible products, digital devices and adaptive technology devices for persons with disabilities. Please furnish the list

of these companies and where these devices are being used in cultural institutions: museums across India Details of personnel and Ministry employees (names, designations) who have attended workshops and conferences that educate attendees about accessibility in museums. Please provide details of these conferences name of conference, place, date/ duration. Is there a mandatory digital accessibility policy drafted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for museums and cultural spaces Can you give us information on all the web accessibility initiatives, awareness drives and implementation of policy directives at the state level undertaken by the Ministry of Culture in museums and cultural spaces? Digital Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities involves incorporating technology, interactive exhibits, sign language tours, audio and video tours and other accessible features for the blind and deaf museum visitors. Does the Ministry conduct surveys, research, study or other campaigns to gather latest information on these? Information about the number of disabled visitors visiting Indian museums in the time frame 2000 to 2011. Do we have information about the types of disabilities of disabled visitors? Does the Ministry have provisions where such data can be collected for the purpose of statistics, census and research? Information and reports of official complaints, recommendations and notices forwarded to the Ministry by Indian NGOs who work for web and physical accessibility in cultural spaces for persons with disabilities. What is the recommendation of NGOs on how to improve accessibility in cultural spaces for persons with disabilities, very specifically in museums, art galleries, libraries and heritage spaces (including ASI, India sites)? Do State Museums in India have a special / exclusive department that handles issues of accessibility and technology for visitors? Do State Museums in India have a budget for incorporating physical and web accessibility provisions? Do State Museums in India receive funds from Ministry of Social Justice to incorporate accessibility in the premises of the museum for persons with disabilities? Does the Ministry pass its recommendations on digital accessibility to State Museums? Are any of the accessibility directives in the National Disability Policy applicable to Museums in India? How do museums enforce the National Disability Policy Guidelines for providing physical and web access to PWD? Does the Ministry publish information pertaining to web accessibility in the public domain to raise awareness among the public? Does the Ministry public pamphlets, brochures, notices and newspaper articles regarding physical accessibility in the public domain to raise awareness in the public? Can we have access to these materials for the period between 1993 and 2012? Is the printed information in accessible formats Braille, DAISY?