Jan 26 sign language coverage on all channels sought

All Doordarshan channels must have sign language interpreters for the Republic Day Parade telecast, two groups working for the rights of the disabled demanded Thursday.

The information and broadcasting ministry decided to have sign language interpreters on only three TV channels, following which an indefinite protest was launched Thursday by the Disabled Rights Group (DRG) and National Association of the Deaf, said a statement.

Hundreds of people with disabilities, especially the hearing impaired, gathered outside the Shastri Bhavan protesting the ministry's decision to have a sign language interpreter only on DD Bharti, DD News and DD Urdu channels. The ministry is housed at the Shastri Bhavan in the New Delhi area, the seat of the central government.

DRG convenor Javed Abidi said they also protested Jan 20 against the ministry's decision on sign language interpretation on only the three DD channels.

Abidi said their only demand was for making the telecast of the Republic Day Parade intelligible via sign language interpretation on all channels of Doordarshan, especially DD National.

"We are desperately hoping that the ministry will change its mind. The issue is not technical nor the lack of resources or time. It is simply the lack of will on the part of the 'babus' of the ministry," he said in the statement.

An official earlier told the group that a report on the pros and cons of making all channels accessible was submitted to the Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari. But Abidi said they are yet to hear anything about it.

The group says there are more than 18 million deaf people in India and it was their fundamental right to be treated equally and enjoy the same rights as other citizens.