New Delhi [India], November 6 (ANI): Shombi Sharp, the United Nations Resident Coordinator for India, praised the Indian government’s efforts toward building a more accessible and inclusive society and highlighted the country’s potential to become a global hub for assistive technology.
Speaking on the sidelines of the National Summit on Accessibility in New Delhi, Sharp told ANI, “India can become an assistive technology hub and supplier of technology to the world. India has some of the most advanced digital public infrastructure in the world and is driving disability inclusion through digital public infrastructure and government initiatives.”
He noted that the United Nations is working with the Indian government to make festivals more inclusive for people with disabilities. Sharing an example, Sharp said, “A UNESCO-led program has made Durga Puja more accessible. We had 40 pilot pandals that are fully disability-inclusive, and hopefully, we’ll scale that up to 400. The idea now is to take that to all festivals of India.”
Calling India “a truly important leader—both as a voice for the Global South and a leader in South-South cooperation,” Sharp outlined key Indian initiatives that could benefit the world. “Digital inclusion, digital public infrastructure, and the India Stack are important elements to bring inclusion in today’s modern digital age,” he said.
Sharp emphasized that the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and Viksit Bharat 2047 are “two stepping stones on the same path to peace and prosperity—and disability inclusion is a fundamental cornerstone of both.” He added that the UN is investing in partnerships around disability inclusion across all areas of life.
Commending India’s progressive stance on disability rights, Sharp said, “India has one of the most progressive disability rights laws in the world. We are partnering with the government, civil society, and businesses to help apply that legislative framework and make it a lived reality for the hundreds of millions of people in India living with some form of disability.”
Highlighting the economic potential of inclusion, he said, “If we achieve disability inclusion, we can add up to 7% to GDP growth.”
Sharp praised the National Disability Summit, describing it as timely and essential for fostering dialogue on accessibility and inclusion.
The National Accessibility Summit 2025, held in New Delhi, brought together experts, policymakers, and advocates to discuss accessibility across sports, transportation, tourism, and the ICT sector. The event was organized by Svayam, India’s leading accessibility organization, founded by industrialist Sminu Jindal, Managing Director of Jindal SAW.
The Summit reflected Jindal’s vision that “like humanity, inclusion is universal,” calling for the redesign of environments to ensure accessibility and empower everyone to contribute to their fullest potential. (ANI)
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