Persons with special needs pitch for concessions at IFFI

A group of differently abled people have petitioned International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to reserve three per cent of theatre seats for them, in the spirit of the organisers' desire to ensure maximum participation of those with special needs.
In a letter sent to IFFI, about to begin within a month, Vishant Nagvekar, representative of the group, said that besides reservation other concessions such as separate queues, easy access for parking etc should be made available.
"The much talked about full participation and opportunities for persons with disabilities is not being considered while organising the IFFI, thereby preventing both local as well as international delegates with special needs from witnessing the event," Nagvenkar said in his letter.

The list of demands include special queue on ticket booking counters, easy access and reserved parking including for the opening and closing ceremonies and three per cent reservation within screening theatres for those with disabilities as well as a waiver in delegate fee.
"All these facilities are available (but) only on paper. Its implementation is ignored mainly on account of the ignorance of officials," he said.
Mrunal Walke, General Manager of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) which co-hosts the IFFI along with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF), confirmed that they are in receipt of the letter but are yet to decide on it.

"We have just received the letter. No decision has been taken as yet. We will be considering all this in the run up to the festival," Walke said.
Delegate registration for the 46th IFFI began on October 3 and closes on November 5. The festival is slated to be held between November 20 and November 30.
The 10-day festival will showcase a panorama of Indian and world cinema in different sections like Indian Panorama, international section, Indian and foreign retrospectives, tributes and special focus.