Despite the introduction of Kerala’s Disability Rights Act in 2016—with a target for full accessibility across public systems within five years—the reality falls far short. As of now, only around 2,255 out of the hundreds of offices across 44 departments meet partial accessibility standards, and even those lack essential features like dedicated accessible restrooms, grievance officers, and rehabilitation facilities.

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Many offices remain inaccessible—95% of employment exchanges, for example, are not wheelchair-friendly, while ATMs and public transport frequently lack ramps or accessible counters. The Aswasakiranam pension scheme for differently abled inpatients has also been suspended for months, further limiting access to critical services.

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Officials acknowledge these shortfalls: though over 2,000 offices are now dubbed "disabled-friendly," this covers only about 60% of the target number. Funding limitations and the absence of mandated responsibility at the departmental level have stalled progress. A recommendation has been put forth under the Chief Secretary’s leadership to assign responsibility to each department and allocate necessary funds.

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Chandra Das Kesavapillai stressed that public facilities and transport must be made accessible, calling on both the government and the Disability Commission to proactively enforce disability-friendly measures across all sectors.