Svayam, in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry and the India Business and Disability Network, convened a national roundtable in New Delhi to advance discussions on accessibility across tourism, hospitality, and sports sectors. The initiative coincided with efforts to institutionalise World Accessibility Day on March 27.
The roundtable brought together stakeholders from government, industry, multilateral organisations, NGOs, and the disability sector, reflecting a coordinated approach to strengthening inclusive systems. As part of the broader initiative, Svayam also led a global social media campaign in collaboration with Paralympic committees from 19 countries, reinforcing international commitment towards accessibility integration.
The discussion builds on earlier efforts, including India’s National Summit on Accessibility held in 2025, where a whitepaper developed with KPMG India highlighted the economic potential of accessibility in driving workforce participation, consumer engagement, and inclusive growth.
Sminu Jindal, Founder-Chairperson, Svayam, said, “As we celebrate World Accessibility Day, it is imperative to understand that accessibility must be viewed as a development priority that connects infrastructure, services, and economic participation rather than an afterthought. When tourism and hospitality ecosystems are designed to include persons with reduced mobility, senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with other temporary mobility impairments, it expands travel demand, supports employment, and strengthens local economies.”
The roundtable focused on strengthening infrastructure, transport networks, hospitality services, and digital platforms to improve accessibility. Participants emphasised the importance of integrating accessibility at the planning and design stage across both public and private sectors.
Ira Singhal, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Education, said, “It’s time to move beyond a charity mindset and embrace a rights-based, empowered approach to inclusion. Being proactive is key to building truly inclusive systems.”
Hima Bindu, Deputy Director at the Sports Authority of India, added, “Accessibility lies in the details—small things matter. We must scale our efforts, strengthen the ecosystem across tourism, sports, and healthcare, and collaborate with more partners to bridge existing gaps.”
Athlete Sangram Singh highlighted the role of awareness and sensitisation in driving inclusion across sectors.
Key outcomes from the session included the need for standardisation, capacity building, and improved awareness among service providers, alongside stronger industry participation. The discussions also underscored how accessible environments can expand the tourism market by catering to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and travellers with temporary mobility needs.
The roundtable concluded with a shared emphasis on sustained collaboration and policy alignment to embed accessibility into India’s development agenda and global positioning in inclusive tourism.
