Disabled want sign language telecast on all DD channels

As three major Doordarshan channels telecast the Republic Day Parade running commentary via sign language for the hearing impaired in the country, NGOs Sunday demanded the facility on all major channels.

"It was a mixed feeling as for the first time Republic Day Parade was broadcast via sign language interpreter on TV channels. But we are not happy with information & broadcasting ministry's decision to broadcast it only on three channels," said Javed Abidi, convenor, disabled rights group.

The group demanded broadcast on all the six major Doordarshan channels, especially DD National and not just DD News, DD Bharati and DD Urdu.

"We are going to scale up our agitation against the I&B ministry to ensure that a comprehensive policy is made for the disabled of the country", Abidi added.

Saying that the ministry's move was spreading a message of discrimination, Abidi told IANS: "Though the government wants to make the development process inclusive, it forgets every time to include the 18 million members of the disabled community."