The Central Public Information Officer, Ministry of Culture, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi 110 001 Questions for

r Ministry of Culture under the Right to Information Act, 2005 This RTI application seeks information about policies, proposals, guidelines and official government and state-level recommendations in India that have resulted out of the National Disability Policy (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, 1993), where in, all public spaces, venues and state institutions and avenues are mandated to accommodate accessibility for persons with disabilities. Accessibility in public spaces also includes museums (government, state, special), heritage spaces, art galleries, archival centers and archaeological sites of public interest. Would the Ministry of Culture please provide information in soft copy of the following queries for the time frame 1991 - 2011: Proposal, guidelines and recommendations at the state government level (for all Indian states) pertaining specifically to accessibility in museums and cultural spaces (heritage structures, galleries, archaeological sites) for persons with disabilities? Name, contact addresses and details of members (designation) of the government committee that is in-charge of proposing guidelines and recommendations for accessibility in museums for persons with disabilities? Minutes of Meetings held by the various departments and offices of the Ministry of Culture on discussing policy reforms, implementation and recommendations on accessibility in museums for persons with disabilities. Departments include National Archives of India, New Delhi; Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi; Central Secretariat Library Transcripts of meetings, conversations, interviews held between the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on how to incorporate accessibility in museums for persons with disabilities Details of conferences organized by the Ministry of Culture in the various states of India to address accessibility in Indian Museums. Details of the accessibility features incorporated in museums across India. E.g. Braille signage for blind visitors in the National Museum Institute, New Delhi. How was this accessibility feature developed? Details of agreements signed between the Ministry of Culture and its Departments (including the National Museum Institute, ASI, National Archives, Central Library) with private sector organizations and companies that manufacture accessible products, gadgets and devices for persons with disabilities. Details of personnel and Ministry employees (names, designations) who have attended workshops and conferences that educate attendees about accessibility in museums. Please provide details of these conferences name of conference, place, date/ duration. Is there a digital accessibility in museums policy mandated or in draft stage by the government? Information on digital accessibility initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Culture in museums.

Digital Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities involves incorporating technology, interactive exhibits, sign language tours, audio and video tours and other accessible features for the blind and deaf museum visitors. Does the Ministry of Culture have details on policy recommendations for digital accessibility such as the above? Are there any government and department-level conferences, workshops or draft committee meetings planned to address digital accessibility in museums for persons with disabilities? Information about the total number of visitors to Indian museums in the time frame 2000 to 2011. The number of visitors / tourists. Information about the number of disabled visitors visiting Indian museums in the time frame 2000 to 2011. Do we have information about the types of disabilities of disabled visitors? Information and reports of official complaints, recommendations and notices forwarded to the Ministry of Culture by Indian NGOs who work for accessibility in public spaces for persons with disabilities. What is the recommendation of NGOs on how to improve accessibility in cultural spaces for persons with disabilities, very specifically in museums, art galleries, libraries and heritage spaces (including ASI, India sites)? Do State Museums in India have a special / exclusive department that handles issues of accessibility and technology for visitors? Do State Museums in India have a budget set aside for incorporating accessibility in the museum premises? Do State Museums in India receive funds from Ministry of Culture and other emoluments to incorporate accessibility in the premises of the museum for persons with disabilities? Does the Ministry of Culture pass on recommendations on digital accessibility to State Museums? Are any of the accessibility mandates in the National Disability Policy applicable to Museums in India? How do museum enforce the National Disability Policy Guidelines? Does the Ministry of Culture publish information in the public domain to raise awareness about accessibility in museums and cultural places for persons with disabilities? Is this information in the form of pamphlets, brochures, notices and newspaper articles or workshops? Are the printed information in accessible formats Braille, DAISY, soft copy? This is for the time frame from year 1993 to year 2011. Does the Ministry of Culture publish information in the public domain to raise awareness about accessibility in museums and cultural places (galleries, ASI sites, archive centers) for the General Public? Where does the information get disseminated in colleges, libraries or special conferences? Are there any booklets or publications available for the time frame of 1993 to 2011?

The Central Public Information Officer, Ministry of Culture, National Archives of India, Director General of Archives, Janpath, New Delhi 110 001.