Date: 28/10/2022

Relevance: GS-2: Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the population by the Centre and States

Key Phrases: Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Audio description, Subtitling, Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC), Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD).

Why in news?

• Going to the movies helps us de-stress. However, for people with vision or hearing impairments, accessing content is challenging.

Untapped potential

• Two important tools that help make entertainment content disabled-friendly are
  • audio description and
  • subtitling.
• Audio description:
  • It refers to the visual aspects of the content being spoken out for the benefit of those who cannot see.
• Subtitling:
  • It refers to the auditory components of the content being displayed in textual form for the benefit of those who cannot hear.
• In India, the potential of these two tools to make entertainment content disabled-friendly has largely remained untapped.

Provisions under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act:

• The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act provides guidance to remedy this issue.
• Section 29(h):
  • It requires the appropriate government to take measures to ensure that “persons with hearing impairment can have access to television programs with sign language interpretation or sub-titles.”
• Section 42(ii):
  • It requires the appropriate government to take measures to ensure that “persons with disabilities have access to electronic media by providing audio description, sign language interpretation and close captioning.”

Other efforts of the government:

• In October 2019, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B Ministry) issued a letter to the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) requesting the Board to motivate and persuade its associated members to make audio description part of the production and distribution of a film.
• The 50th International Film Festivals of India (IFFI) edition screened three films for those with special needs, under the ‘Accessible India-Accessible Films’ section. This is a joint collaboration between IFFI, Saksham Bharat, and UNESCO. The aim is to promote the creation of inclusive spaces for the differently-abled through Audio Deion.

Steps towards inclusivity:

• Need to understand the demand for inclusivity:
  • Film producers do not think there is a large demand for audio descriptions in India.
  • The voice of users with disabilities asking for audio descriptions is still muted.
  • Until a critical mass of users puts pressure on platforms to provide audio description and subtitling, this issue will get pushed down the priority list of the powers that be.
  • Even if production houses are inclusive in intent, their behaviour excludes the disabled in effect.
  • When it is time to release a movie, amidst all the responsibilities that film studios have to discharge, accessibility for the disabled takes a back seat.
  • Studios must realize that making disabled-friendly content is the right thing to do — morally, legally, and commercially.
• Need to sensitize filmmakers:
  • Production houses may lack the know-how, human resources, or adequate lead time before the launch of any new content to make it disabled-friendly.
  • User organizations must undertake targeted interventions to sensitize filmmakers and engage in capacity-building initiatives.
• Legal and Judicial Help:
  • Civil society groups must draw on the court system to translate written legal guarantees into improved real-world outcomes.
  • The principal authority for grievance redressal set up under the RPwD Act at the central level is the court of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD).
  • According to the recommendations issued by the CCPD in the last 12 months, there is not a single recommendation that relates to making entertainment content disabled-friendly.
  • Citizens with disabilities must demand accountability from the government, filmmakers, streaming platforms, and others in the entertainment ecosystem through the judicial process.
  • India needs legal precedents underscoring the proposition that not accounting for the disabled when making entertainment content is unacceptable.
• Role of the I&B Ministry:
  • The I&B Ministry has been dragging its feet on notifying the Accessibility Standards for Television Programmes for the Hearing Impaired for three years.
  • These must be notified promptly, and similar standards must be framed for the visually impaired.

Conclusion:

• Technological advancements such as smart televisions, new-age set-top boxes, and voice-controlled devices can make viewing accessible and inclusive in India as well.
• India must ensure that every disabled citizen is able to enjoy entertainment content on their platform of choice on equal terms as their able-bodied counterparts.

Source: The Hindu

Mains Question:

Q. What are the challenges faced by differently-abled citizens in accessing entertainment content on their platform of choice and what are the steps taken by the government to overcome these challenges? Discuss.