Times of India | 2 months ago | 10-09-2022 | 02:40 am
Panaji: The state commission for persons with disabilities (PWD) has requested the directorate of film festival of India (DFF) to make the 53rd International Film Festival of India (Iffi) accessible to disabled persons to ensure their inclusion.The commission has asked the DFF to insist on closed captions (text version of spoken part of movies) for hearing impaired and audio description text for the visually impaired, for all movies to be screened at Iffi.The concept of audio description and closed captioning was introduced at Iffi in 2016 and continued in 2017 and 2018. The commission said it was well received by the audience.Regarding physical infrastructure, the commission has asked the DFF to ensure proper access for wheelchairs and lifts wherever required at all screening venues. It has also called for appropriate inclusive and accessible reading material such as large print copy, Braille and soft copy.“Iffi is one of the biggest events in the country which screens and displays activities pertaining to film industries from around the world. Making this festival accessible to persons with disabilities will give this festival a broad phase and the country will get another major opportunity to showcase the concept of inclusive India,” commissioner Guruprasad Pawaskar said in a letter to DFF.The commission highlighted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 and the fact that India is one of the first countries to ratify the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2007 on the basis of which the new act was notified in 2016.The letter has also been sent to chief minister Pramod Sawant, the minister, secretary and director of the social welfare department, office of chief commissioner for persons with disabilities, ministry of social justice and empowerment and Saksham Trust, New Delhi.
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