New Delhi, April 09: Svayam, in collaboration with KPMG, has released a comprehensive whitepaper titled “Does Accessibility Make Economic Sense?”, highlighting the significant economic potential of inclusive infrastructure and services across key sectors in India.
The report positions accessibility as a powerful economic driver, estimating that nearly USD 191 billion in value remains untapped across tourism, sports, transport, and information and communication technology (ICT). It underscores that up to 34 Percent of India’s population over 486 million people—experience reduced mobility, including not just persons with disabilities, but also the elderly, caregivers, and individuals facing temporary or situational limitations.
When viewed at the household level, the impact extends to nearly half of India’s population, reinforcing the urgency of integrating accessibility into mainstream planning and development.
Key Sector Insights
The whitepaper highlights significant economic opportunities across sectors:
- Tourism: Nearly 191.8 million people face barriers to travel, representing a potential USD 16.6 billion revenue opportunity if accessibility improves. Lack of standardised information and accessible infrastructure continues to deter travel.
- Sports: Enhanced accessibility could significantly boost participation, expanding the sector to USD 50.79 billion by 2030–31.
- Transport: Accessibility gaps limit mobility and workforce participation, with an estimated USD 125 billion annually recoverable through improved systems.
- Digital (ICT): Over 262 million Indians face digital accessibility challenges, with USD 37 billion in annual gains achievable through inclusive digital platforms.
The findings indicate that inaccessible systems restrict participation, reduce consumption, and limit productivity—while inclusive systems unlock direct economic value by enabling broader engagement across markets and services.
Accessibility as a Mainstream Imperative
The report emphasises that accessibility must evolve beyond a narrow, disability-focused lens to become a mainstream requirement addressing the needs of a diverse population across different life stages.
Sminu Jindal, Founder-Chairperson of Svayam, highlighted the importance of a holistic approach, stating that accessibility must be viewed as a seamless journey across infrastructure, transport, and digital systems to ensure independent and confident mobility.
Naveen Aggarwal, Partner at KPMG, described accessibility as a critical economic enabler, noting that inclusive systems can significantly enhance workforce participation, productivity, and demand, thereby shaping India’s growth trajectory.
Tina Mathur, Associate Partner at KPMG, added that investing in accessibility contributes to broader development goals by expanding livelihoods, improving returns on investment, and fostering inclusive and resilient growth.
Key Recommendations
The whitepaper outlines actionable recommendations, including:
- Integrating accessibility into infrastructure planning and design
- Strengthening implementation and monitoring frameworks
- Enhancing workforce sensitisation and training
- Embedding accessibility standards into digital systems
Driving Inclusive Growth
As India progresses toward its long-term development vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, the report positions accessibility as a strategic lever to expand participation, improve service delivery, and unlock large-scale economic value.
The Svayam–KPMG whitepaper makes a compelling case for shifting accessibility from a compliance requirement to a core pillar of economic and social development, enabling a more inclusive and productive future for all.
