By Ankit Pattnaik
Away from the glitz & glamour surrounding the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), leading accessibility organisation Svayam marked World Accessibility Day, 2025 on March 27 for third consecutive year with the launch of a sports accessibility handbook during the Khelo India Para Games (KIPG) closing ceremony at Indira Gandhi Arena, New Delhi.
As the official accessibility partner, Svayam, has successfully concluded its partnership with KIPG, that marks a crucial step toward advancing accessibility and inclusion initiatives. The collaboration implements barrier-free systems across venues, including structural upgrades, mobility assistance, and volunteer training.
The accessibility handbook was launched by union MoS, youth affairs and sports, Raksha Nikhil Kadse, founder-chairperson of Svayam Sminu Jindal, joint secretary ministry of sports and youth affairs, Shobit Jain and deputy director general of Sports Authority of India (SAI) Mayank Srivastav.
The handbook offers practical guidelines for designing, retrofitting, and implementing inclusive sports facilities. It draws key reference frameworks like Harmonised guidelines for Universal Accessibility (2021), guidelines from the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) for making airports accessible and guidelines for accessible sports complex and residential facilities for sports persons with disabilities.
The handbook launch was a key highlight of Accessibility Awareness Fortnight 3.0, held between March 12 and 27. During these 15 days, multiple initiatives across sectors viz campus engagements at SRCC and Hansraj College, across Delhi were organised. Svayam launched its sensitisation drive on March 18 in these premier educational organisations where students and faculty members participated in speech contests, street plays, and a human chain activity centered on the theme ‘Accessibility is a Human Right’. The campaigns were the first step in a larger nationwide outreach. This apart, a national seminar was also held with ICMR, which led its accessibility support during the World Para Athletics Grand Prix, and implementation of inclusive systems at the Para Games.
During the event, Sminu, said, “We are delighted to launch the accessible sports handbook at the KIPG, a celebration of ability, determination, and inclusive progress. This handbook is our contribution to building a sporting ecosystem where accessibility is not an afterthought, but a foundation. At Svayam, we listen, learn, and act guided by those who navigate barriers.”
Meanwhile, sports minister Kadse said, “A platform like the KIPG allows athletes from all over the country to compete at national level. It forms a base for identifying athletes who can represent India at international competitions like the Paralympics”
Earlier, on March 13, Svayam took the accessibility undertaking from over 350 para-athletes from 20 participating countries including hosts India, during the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium that concluded with grand Holi celebrations to further inclusivity; highlighting the significance of the ‘festival of colours’.
Svayam has an extensive history of advancing accessibility in sports collaborating with the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) during major events like Tokyo Paralympics 2021 and Paris Paralympics 2024. It has also contributed to the 5th Indian Open Para-Athletic International Championship & Regional Sports Training (2023) in Bengaluru and has also been an ally with the Disability Cricket Council of India (DCCI) since 2020. This apart, Svayam has played a significant role in the first KIPG 2023.