Samarth Conclave drives India’s accessible future

DELHI: India is shifting gears on inclusion, and this time it is making sure no one is left waiting at the kerb. At the Samarth India Conclave and Expo 2025 in Delhi, Hyundai Motor India Limited and Times Network steered a lively national conversation on accessibility, technology and equal opportunity for persons with disabilities.

Held under the ‘Samarth by Hyundai’ initiative, the conclave brought together ministers, policymakers, technologists and advocates to explore how inclusive design and assistive innovation can unlock the full potential of millions. The highlight was the launch of the Samarth Accessibility Metric, created by Times Network and Samarthyam Centre for Universal Accessibility, which provides India’s first structured rating system for accessible public and private mobility spaces.

The Expo added a hands-on dimension, with startups and innovators displaying adaptive mobility devices, AI-led navigation aids and accessible digital tools. Organisations including NCPEDP, ALIMCO, the National Association for the Blind and XL Cinemas presented solutions tailored to diverse disability needs.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju underscored the government’s commitment to dignity and equal access, noting the shift in social attitudes since the adoption of the term Divyang. He highlighted parity in support for Olympic and Paralympic athletes and called assistive technology essential to a disability-neutral India.

Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasised that accessibility must define India’s rise. He said inclusive tourism is a national priority, citing AI-enabled travel guidance, screen-reader-friendly platforms, sign-language tours and sensory-inclusive events as examples of progress. He added that India is no longer following global standards but setting them across airports, museums, smart cities and heritage projects.

Hyundai Motor India’s managing director Unsoo Kim said the company sees mobility as momentum for change, noting that Samarth by Hyundai represents its commitment to human-centred mobility. COO Tarun Garg added that accessibility is a fundamental right, and the conclave aims to accelerate transformative solutions that deliver measurable impact for people with disabilities.

Times Network stated that the initiative aligns with the Group’s decades-long role in shaping national conversations, and that amplifying Hyundai’s accessibility mission reflects its own ethos.

Now in its second year, Samarth by Hyundai continues to champion empowerment through action. With support for para-athletes, inclusive sporting events, accessible infrastructure, student outreach and the pledge for inclusivity movement, the initiative reinforces a simple truth, when capability is enabled, ambition becomes unstoppable.