Lack of empathy and poor sharing of information are holding back universal accessibility in India, experts said at the Kerala for All–Tourism Without Barriers conclave on Saturday. Priyanjali Prabhakaran, principal investigator at Barrier Free Consultancy Cell and professor at College of Engineering Trivandrum, and architect Kavita Murugkar spoke at the session titled 'Accessibility First: Designing Tourism without Barriers.' They said architects often don’t know building designs must follow accessibility rules. "Only a small percentage of architects are aware that their building designs must incorporate accessibility standards," said Ms. Murugkar. Ms. Prabhakaran highlighted that while accessibility standards exist, they are often not followed because of lack of empathy. She noted that even road construction by National Highways Authority and PWD prioritises vehicles over people, with sidewalks and drains being added only when space allows. "We have designated agencies who are custodians of these public spaces. But they too may be affected by a paucity of funds and manpower," she explained. Both experts pointed to missing training and continuous education for architects as a major problem. Missing accessibility education in design schools means architects graduate without the skills to make buildings accessible. Those who check accessibility during construction also lack proper knowledge. Coordination between departments is another big issue. Ms. Murugkar suggested a Special Purpose Vehicle to lead accessibility efforts exclusively. The session was moderated by S. Anandan, Resident Editor, Kerala, The Hindu. The conclave was jointly organised by Kerala Tourism and The Hindu.