Ruchi prepares for another day at school.
Firoze Khan is a college student who has a childhood dream. "Since childhood I've wanted to see the Bhimbetka caves but I can't," he says. Firoze contracted polio when he was three, leaving his disabled and his childhood wish unfulfilled.
The prehistoric caves on the outskirts of Bhopal are famous for their cave paintings that date back to Mesolithic era. But the world heritage site is not accessible to everyone. It has no ramps or access points for the differently-abled.
It's not just tourist spots. Most public places like railway stations, hospitals and schools across India are largely inaccessible to the differently-abled, making every day of their lives a challenge.
Ruchi Vishwakarma, 11, is a class 5 student. She needs her mother's help to get ready for school every morning. She is visually challenged. With some difficulty her parents managed to get her admitted to the Central school. But, getting admission was not the only problem she faced.
"My father drops me to school every day but inside the school I am dependent on my friends to move around. Even to go to the washroom I have to take help of a friend. Which, I do not like," Ruchi told NDTV.
The government launched Accessible India campaign today - a resolve to work towards making public places accessible to the differently abled, in the next five years. Sachin Deolia of Aarushi, an organisation working towards making public places accessible to the differently-abled, says, "Until we understand their problems the success of the campaign will be difficult. But this campaign aims at changing the people's mind set. So, I am hopeful that it will be successful."