Sign language at PM's swearing-in ceremony

Around 18 million deaf Indian citizens will be able to follow all details of Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony Monday with sign language interpretation facilities at the installation of a new prime minister for the first time in India.

Three sign language interpreters would be at duty to ensure that the oath-taking and other ceremonies of prime minister-designate Modi are made available to deaf citizens of India, the Disabled Rights Group (DRG) said in a statement Saturday.

"This is a historic first. It has been a long-standing demand on the part of the Indian disability movement that at all important public events, sign language interpretation should be made available so that deaf people are not left out and that the event is made accessible for them as well," said DRG convenor Javed Abidi.

Anuj Jain of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) said a delegation Saturday called upon Bharatiya Janata Party chief Rajnath Singh and expressed the wish, which was immediately acceded.

"Doordarshan confirmed to us that the sign language interpreters would be available not only at the ceremony but that the telecast itself would also be featuring the facility for deaf viewers across the country and even across the world," Jain said.