Mumbai, May 26 -- Union Minister Manohar Lal has announced a four per cent reservation in central government housing allocations for persons with disabilities, marking a key step toward inclusive public infrastructure. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs confirmed the decision on Thursday, stating it aligns with the objectives of the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
The Directorate of Estates has issued an official memorandum to implement this reservation, aiming to ensure fair and equitable access to government residential accommodation for differently-abled individuals.
"This initiative underscores the government's commitment to equal opportunities and reflects its broader goal of creating an inclusive and accessible India," said the ministry in a release.
The move follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling that affirmed digital access as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. The judgement, delivered by Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, addressed the challenges faced by acid attack survivors and persons with visual impairments in completing eKYC processes.
In response, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been directed to revise its guidelines to ensure alternative, inclusive methods for verifying "liveness" during digital KYC, moving beyond standard prompts like eye-blinking. The apex court also instructed the RBI to clarify that video-based customer onboarding (V-CIP) must not mandate eye-blinking, enabling a more accessible process.
Furthermore, banks and financial institutions have been asked to redesign KYC templates and customer forms to include information on the nature and extent of disabilities. This will help institutions offer reasonable accommodations and inclusive services.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.