Why are Indian cities still inaccessible to people with disabilities? | In Focus Podcast

Indian cities have undergone rapid urbanisation over the past few decades. Yet, accessibility continues to evade the design and planning priorities.Despite the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, mandating accessibility in public buildings across the country, Indian cities need to go a long way when it comes to inclusive public spaces, transport and other infrastructure.Several pertinent questions remain – how many barriers must a person with physical or intellectual disability navigate to get from point A to point B? Have the efforts towards inclusivity been centred around a narrow understanding of disability? How do we make cities in India answerable for accessibility?Guests: Nivedita Krishna, founder of Pacta, a law firm and think tank focusing exclusively on the legal needs of social sector, and Bhumika Modh, who heads the Yes to Access initiative of the Association of People with disability, share their insights.Host: Elizabeth Shilpa AbrahamProducer: Shiksha JuralVideo: Ravichandran NListen to more In Focus podcasts: Published - October 20, 2026 06:13 pm IST