PIB Summaries 03 December 2024

Content:

1. Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign)
2. Adoption Rate Of Ethanol Blended Fuel

Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign)

Relevance : GS 2(Social Justice )

Introduction

• Launch Date: 3rd December 2015.
• Vision: Rooted in“Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas,” aimed to create universal accessibility in:
  • Built Infrastructure
  • Transport Systems
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

• Legal Framework:
  • India is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
  • The earlier Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 lacked enforceable timelines and focus on accessibility.

Campaign Objectives

1. Promote universal access for persons with disabilities (PwDs).
2. Conduct accessibility audits and retrofit public infrastructure.
3. Increase awareness and compliance with accessibility standards.
4. Integrated under the Scheme for Implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (SIPDA).

Key Achievements

Accessible Infrastructure

• Accessibility audits: 1,671 government buildings.
  • Retrofitting: ₹562 crore allocated for 1,314 buildings.
  • Accessibility incorporated in 1,748 government buildings (648 state/UT, 1,100 central).

Transportation

• Airports:
  • 35 international and 55 out of 69 domestic airports accessible.
  • Railways:
    • 709 stations fully accessible.
    • 4,068 stations partially accessible.
  • Buses:
    • 8,695 (5.96%) fully accessible; 42,348 (29.05%) partially accessible.
  • Bus stations: 3,120 out of 3,533 accessible across 24 states/UTs.

Digital Accessibility

• Websites: 95 central government and 676 state government websites made accessible.

Education & Language Accessibility

• ISLRTC (Indian Sign Language Research & Training Centre):
  • Over 1,013 individuals trained in Indian Sign Language (ISL).
  • 183 students completed Diploma in Indian Sign Language Interpretation (DISLI).

Sugamya Bharat App

1. Allows users to report accessibility issues.
   1. Features font adjustments, color contrast, and screen readers.

Accessible Pilgrimage Sites

1. Initiative to make 75 pilgrimage sites accessible.

Financial Allocations

• Budget increased from ₹560 crore (2013-14) to ₹1,225.15 crore (2023-24).
  • ₹1,143.89 crore spent in 2023-24, highest in a decade

Adoption Rate Of Ethanol Blended Fuel

Relevance : GS 3(Environment )

Context: EBP programme under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas aims for energy security and sustainability while reducing burden on imported crude oil.

Objectives:

1. Energy Diversification: Reduce dependency on imported crude oil.
2. Environmental Sustainability: Reduced carbon emissions.
3. Agricultural Support: Provide a market for ethanol feedstock like sugarcane and surplus grains.

Key Achievements:

1. Ethanol Blending:
   1. Increased from 5% (2018-19) to 14.6% (2023-24).
   1. Ethanol supplied grew from 188.6 crore litres (2018-19) to 700+ crore litres (2023-24).

• Economic Benefits:
  • Foreign exchange savings from ₹5,500 crore (2018-19) to ₹28,400 crore (2023-24).
  • Crude oil substitution: 110 lakh metric tonnes (2018-2024).

• Environmental Gains:
  • CO2 reduction by 332 lakh metric tonnes (net) from 2018 to 2024.

• Agrarian Impacts:
  • Ease payments to farmers totalling ₹57,552 crore (2018-2024).

• Retail Network Expansion:
  • Availability of ethanol-blended petrol expanded from 43,168 outlets (2019) to nationwide in 2024.

Challenges:

1. Supply-Demand Gap: Limited production capacity may hinder meeting higher blending targets (e.g., 20% – E20).

• Water-Intensive Crops: Dependence on sugarcane raises concerns about water sustainability.

• Infrastructure Bottlenecks: Need for significant investment in ethanol storage, transportation, and blending.

• Price Volatility: Ensuring price stability for farmers and industries.