Implement the UNCRPD, say activists
India has ratified the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, but done very little to protect the rights of the disabled in accordance with it. Freny Manecksha reports.
08 February 2010 - The proposal by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to introduce 101 amendments to the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act in the budget session has come under criticism. Several groups of disabled people, with whom the government has been holding consultations, have demanded instead a totally new law that is aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which India ratified in 2007.
They say the proposed amendments are inadequate, and one must have a new law for the 70 million people with disabilities in India (figures according to civil society organizations) that contains everything in consonance with the Convention.
Prasanna Pincha, who works as an independent disability rights activist, explains why the UNCRPD is so crucial and how in the 21st century it has brought about a paradigm shift in perspective. "UNCRPD adopts a human rights approach instead of the earlier medical approach to disability. This is a shift from viewing people with disabilities (PWD) as objects needing social protection and medical care to seeing them as subjects having human rights, fundamental freedoms," he explains.
Impairments, not disabilities
Currently in India there are four different laws pertaining to the disabled. These are: The Mental Health Act, 1987, the Rehabilitation Council of India Act, (meant to provide minimum standards in training and qualification for rehabilitation professionals) the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999 and lastly the Persons with Disabilities Act. Much of this legislation is medical oriented and adopts a welfare attitude. It looks at the physical impairments of people and labels these as disabilities.
Present legislation does not include as many as 20 provisions of the UNCRPD, especially those pertaining to civil and political rights. (Above: A poster from a campaign for inclusive education by the NGO Arushi, based in Bhopal.)
• The ability debates
The UNCRPD, on the other hand, defines disability as an evolving concept, says Pincha. The Convention believes disability results from interaction of impairments with various barriers which hinders full and active participation in society on an equal basis with others. Pincha, who is himself visually impaired, illustrates this concept drawing on his own experiences. "If I arrive in a city and check into a hotel where the instructions on how to dial the operator and other information given to the sighted are also available in Braille, if the elevator has Braille signs, if the menu too is in Braille, then my blindness is only an impairment. It is not a disability," he says.
The medical approach, which was the norm for centuries, sought corrections for the individual. The rights-based approach adopted by UNCRPD seeks a society that is designed and structured to help all categories and sections to access facilities and opportunities. This accessibility is not just confined to building roads or constructing buildings that have ramps for wheel-chairs, but it means ensuring that the disabled can access public transportation systems, pedestrian signs (Braille and audio), public facilities like schools, sports auditoriums, clinics, hospitals, malls and so on. Even, perhaps, adding special fitting rooms in department stores for those on wheel-chairs.
A rights-based approach
Whilst the PWD Act has in place a set of concessions and policies for the disabled it does not included the notion of non negotiable rights, says Pincha. The disabled cannot claim accessibility features as a matter of right. Their availability is subject to either formulation of schemes by the government or as per the ''economic capacity and development" of the State. A new law is necessary, says Pincha, because India has ratified the UNCRPD, whereupon it is mandatory for the government to adopt the human rights approach which would necessitate bringing about changes in all other laws like the recent right to education, employment and so on. The changes required would be so numerous and of such substantial, fundamental nature that it is better to draft a new law, he adds.
Saptarshi Mandal, of the Lawyers Collective points out how current legislation is not in tune with human rights obligations or with the advances in medicine and technology. For example, with technical advances available today, it should be possible for the visually impaired to access banks through ATMs and so on, but there is no enabling legislation to ensure the adoption of these technologies to serve the disabled. Likewise, there are laws on the books that have been framed during Colonial days, and have not been updated to reflect current knowledge or sensibilities. The Railway Act, for instance, says that people with leprosy cannot board trains even though it is now known that leprosy is not contagious and that a person with leprosy becomes non-infective within 24 hours of starting treatment.
Rajive Raturi, National Director, Disability Rights Initiative of the Human Rights Law Network, says that present legislation does not include as many as 20 provisions of the UNCRPD especially those pertaining to civil and political rights, such as freedom from cruel and inhuman treatment, freedom of expression and access to information, right to marry and have a family and freedom to participate in political and public life.
For example, according to current provisions of Indian law, those with mental illnesses cannot enter into contracts and have no property rights. The UNCRPD has made it clear that even the most severely affected people and the mentally retarded have rights and that the state must provide support networks to enable them to exercise these rights.
Further, the UNCRPD specifically addresses issues pertaining to women with disabilities and the rights of children with disabilities - something that current Indian legislation lacks. Worse still, certain sections of law are abused in ways that hurt the rights of disabled persons. The Center for Advocacy in Mental Health of the Bapu Trust in Pune has highlighted how Section 19 of the Mental Health Act - dealing with 'admissions to institutions under special circumstances' is often abused by families to dump women in institutions.
Litigation against discrimination
Both Raturi and Pincha have been active in using the law as a tool of social change and have filed Public Interest Litigation Pleas to address the existing discrimination. Raturi, along with others, challenged the government's postal life insurance scheme whereby disabled persons got lesser coverage and had to pay increased premiums. A writ petition was filed before the Delhi High Court citing UNCRPD and equality principles that the Constitution of India guarantees to all its citizens - including the disabled. The Court directed the Solicitor General (SG) to appear in person and respond to the discrimination.
Appearing on behalf of the government, Gopal Subramanium (the SG) assured the court that the government will hold broad consultations with experts and also take advice from the insurance regulators to draft a fresh policy which will have no discriminatory clauses against the disabled. Subsequently the government has notified that the coverage under the scheme will be uniform but orders have yet to be passed.
Raturi has also taken up the cause of deaf persons who are permitted to get driving licenses in many countries, but not in India.
Pincha has challenged banking norms whereby restrictions were placed on blind persons for opening accounts and for issuing cheques. Admitting his writ petition related to access, use and enjoyment of banking services and facilities by blind people on an equal basis the Guwahati High Court passed an interim order directing the concerned bank authorities to open his account in accordance with the normal procedures, giving him cheque facilities and without insisting on any special undertaking as sought by the bank. Subsequently the banking sector has revised its guidelines and become more progressive.
Pincha has also successfully taken up with the Chief Commissioner of Disability the issue of discriminatory treatment of disabled, air passengers who are forcibly seated at the rear end of the plane without consideration of their own preferences. The Director General of Civil Aviation, in consultation with various airlines, has consequently sought more progressive guidelines.
For Pincha these PILs are part of an ongoing crusade against the culture of discrimination and politics of exclusion that disabled persons routinely experience. Activists for the disabled say that rights based efforts to create an enabling environment for the disabled are ultimately all about demonstrating the main premise of the UNCRPD - namely that disability is a part of human diversity, and that the rights of disabled must therefore be at par with those of others.
Reference : http://www.indiatogether.org/2010/feb/hlt-uncrpd.htm
Showing posts with label Disability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disability. Show all posts
Monday, February 15, 2010
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Abortion law's grey zone: retarded mothers -Kamayani Bali Mahabal
Abortion law's grey zone: retarded mothers
The SC recently ruled that a 19-year-old Chandigarh-based mentally retarded girl must be allowed to carry on her pregnancy that was caused by sexual assault. The verdict throws open more questions than it answers, writes Kamayani Bali Mahabal.
14 August 2009 - Mumbai (WFS) - In India, a disabled girl-child is usually at the receiving end of a lot of contempt and neglect. Women with disabilities have been consistently denied their rights. In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court (SC) of India recently allowed a 19-year-old mentally challenged orphan girl to carry on with a pregnancy resulting from a sexual assault. The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling had earlier ordered medical termination of pregnancy (MTP).
Giving the facts of the case, Advocate Colin Gonsalves who had argued for abortion in this case, said that the girl, who was kept at Nari Niketan, Chandigarh, a government institution for destitute women, was raped some time in March 2009 on the premises by the security guards. In May 2009, the pregnancy was detected. The media widely reported the rape but no institution or individual came forward in the woman's support.
"The SC judgment has focused more on pro-life arguments and the rights of the child," states Bhargavi Davar, who heads the Bapu Trust in Pune.
In the same month the Director of the Government Medical College and Hospital constituted a three-member board comprising a psychiatrist, a clinical psychologist and a special educator to evaluate the woman's mental status. Their report did not suggest anything out of the ordinary except that "she also cries almost daily". The board found her mental age to be nine years and placed her in the category of mild mental retardation.
A few days later, a four-doctor Multi Disciplinary Medical Board was constituted, which included a psychiatrist. It recommended an MTP. The Punjab and Haryana High Court ultimately went on the basis of these reports. The second one concluded that: "the continuation of pregnancy in this case can be associated with certain complications considering her age, mental status and previous surgery. There are increased chances of abortion... pre-maturity... foetal distress and more chances of operative delivery including anaesthetic complications."
The committees concluded that the woman "has adequate physical capacity to bear and raise the child but that her mental health can be further affected by the stress of bearing and raising her child."
This case thus raised fundamental issues relating to consent and to the support required while assessing consent. Eventually most mentally challenged women will, if properly supported, be able to indicate whether they wish to abort the pregnancy or proceed with it, concludes Gonsalves.
Shampa Sengupta, Director of the Sruti Disability Centre in Kolkata, says that if the woman wants to keep the baby she should be allowed to do so. "We as civil society must take the responsibility of supporting her. How can we forget the UN Rights of Persons with Disabilities Convention?" she asks.
Sengupta, who has worked on disability for the last 10 years, adds, "How can we say her choice is not valid? Because the doctors say so? If you or I do not consider the doctor's word as final, why should this young girl? Also, why is it that no one is talking about the rapists and how Nirmala Niketan came to have male employees?"
According to Bhargavi Davar, whether a mentally challenged woman has the 'capacity' to take care of the child is a question riddled with prejudices and stereotypes. Pic: WFS.
"The SC judgment has focused more on pro-life arguments and the rights of the child," states Bhargavi Davar, who heads the Bapu Trust in Pune, an organisation devoted to challenging the mindset and practices of the Indian mental health establishment. She points out that several women's organisations have responded to this judgment by focusing on women's rights and the right to abortion.
But nowhere in this dialogue between the state and civil society has the issue of reproductive rights and sexuality in the context of psychosocial and mental disability been discussed.
Many state institutions for women living with a mental disabilities, with the co-operation of families, routinely sterilise, abort or give the child away for adoption without the consent of the mother. Many women's organisations and NGOs that provide care have an equally problematic custodial outlook towards such persons. Argues Davar, "In this case, we have not heard the woman's voice anywhere, while we have several third party arbitrations and advocacy. We do not know what the woman wants. Whether the mentally challenged woman has the 'capacity' to take care of the child is another question riddled with prejudices and stereotypes."
In the 1990s at Sirur, Maharashtra, 17 mentally challenged girls below 18 years were peremptorily hysterectomised. The state chose to control the girls' reproductive rights by deploying extreme measures. The professionals involved in that decision neither denied that hysterectomies were done, nor did they perceive them as a violation. They justified them as having been done in the best interests of the girls.
Dr Anant Phadke from Pune who filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the issue, says that case is still on. In January 2009, the state filed an affidavit stating "Mentally retarded adolescent girls or adult women have no sense of hygiene during menstruation." Shockingly, this is the prime reason given by the government for backing the controversial decision. Justifying its move, the government stated that, unlike stools or urine, menstrual flow is continuous and lasts up to at least 100 hours a month.
It added that caregivers find it difficult to deal with inmates who are uncooperative; and that poor hygiene can lead to infection and laceration on thighs and genitals and that increased flow can cause anaemia. Behavioural problems and psychotic symptoms also cause difficulties for care-givers.
All that is needed to perform the operation is the consent of the parent/guardian and certification from a psychiatrist and gynaecologist that hysterectomy is needed.
"We are challenging these guidelines," says advocate Anand Grover adding that the hysterectomies were performed for the convenience of the institute, to prevent pregnancy in case of sexual abuse and not for the woman's welfare. The government had no authority to conduct a hysterectomy on mentally disabled women and such a move violates the fundamental rights of such women and the provisions of the Mental Health Act.
Advocate Shruti Pandey, a Delhi-based human rights lawyer feels this case was not about abortion per se, it was about whether law recognises and protects the agency of woman. Pic: WFS.
Shruti Pandey, a human rights lawyer from Delhi, admits that this is a case that is "so grey". Says Pandey, "To my mind, this case was not about abortion per se, it was about whether the law of this country recognises and protects the agency of a woman to take decisions for her life and body, especially all its nuances when the woman is a person with mental retardation (MR) or any other disability."
Legally, this case showed - which the HC also noted in detail in its first order - that the Medical Termination Of Pregnancy (MTP) Act does not deal with access to abortion of women with MR, and that it wrongly distinguishes between women with mental retardation and mental illness, leaving the former out totally. Also that the Act does not understand that both these kinds of women are more likely than not to be destitute, in which case guardianship is not that simple.
Clarifies Pandey, "If the SC has said this woman wants to go ahead with the pregnancy, in principle I would support the decision. Every woman has a right to bear children, including women with mental disabilities. But if the court says it is the right of child to be born/not to be killed, and so the pregnancy must go on, that is hugely problematic. In any case, if the SC says no MTP, I would like to see what support mechanism it relies upon, institutionally, and not merely on the assurances and hyperbole of individuals and NGOs. I would also like this decision then to lead to the state's accountability for creating and sustaining comprehensive and reliable support systems for all persons with disabilities, within a rights framework. This is definitely an obligation under Article 12 of the UN Rights of Persons with Disabilities Convention, which India is totally ill-equipped to deliver on, as this case shows."
This case indicates eloquently that the Indian legal framework has to be strengthened a great deal to bring it in line with international legislation. (Women's Feature Service)
Reference : http://www.indiatogether.org/2009/aug/wom-mtpcase.htm
Kamayani Bali Mahabal is an advocate and women's activist based in Mumbai.
The SC recently ruled that a 19-year-old Chandigarh-based mentally retarded girl must be allowed to carry on her pregnancy that was caused by sexual assault. The verdict throws open more questions than it answers, writes Kamayani Bali Mahabal.
14 August 2009 - Mumbai (WFS) - In India, a disabled girl-child is usually at the receiving end of a lot of contempt and neglect. Women with disabilities have been consistently denied their rights. In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court (SC) of India recently allowed a 19-year-old mentally challenged orphan girl to carry on with a pregnancy resulting from a sexual assault. The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling had earlier ordered medical termination of pregnancy (MTP).
Giving the facts of the case, Advocate Colin Gonsalves who had argued for abortion in this case, said that the girl, who was kept at Nari Niketan, Chandigarh, a government institution for destitute women, was raped some time in March 2009 on the premises by the security guards. In May 2009, the pregnancy was detected. The media widely reported the rape but no institution or individual came forward in the woman's support.
"The SC judgment has focused more on pro-life arguments and the rights of the child," states Bhargavi Davar, who heads the Bapu Trust in Pune.
In the same month the Director of the Government Medical College and Hospital constituted a three-member board comprising a psychiatrist, a clinical psychologist and a special educator to evaluate the woman's mental status. Their report did not suggest anything out of the ordinary except that "she also cries almost daily". The board found her mental age to be nine years and placed her in the category of mild mental retardation.
A few days later, a four-doctor Multi Disciplinary Medical Board was constituted, which included a psychiatrist. It recommended an MTP. The Punjab and Haryana High Court ultimately went on the basis of these reports. The second one concluded that: "the continuation of pregnancy in this case can be associated with certain complications considering her age, mental status and previous surgery. There are increased chances of abortion... pre-maturity... foetal distress and more chances of operative delivery including anaesthetic complications."
The committees concluded that the woman "has adequate physical capacity to bear and raise the child but that her mental health can be further affected by the stress of bearing and raising her child."
This case thus raised fundamental issues relating to consent and to the support required while assessing consent. Eventually most mentally challenged women will, if properly supported, be able to indicate whether they wish to abort the pregnancy or proceed with it, concludes Gonsalves.
Shampa Sengupta, Director of the Sruti Disability Centre in Kolkata, says that if the woman wants to keep the baby she should be allowed to do so. "We as civil society must take the responsibility of supporting her. How can we forget the UN Rights of Persons with Disabilities Convention?" she asks.
Sengupta, who has worked on disability for the last 10 years, adds, "How can we say her choice is not valid? Because the doctors say so? If you or I do not consider the doctor's word as final, why should this young girl? Also, why is it that no one is talking about the rapists and how Nirmala Niketan came to have male employees?"
According to Bhargavi Davar, whether a mentally challenged woman has the 'capacity' to take care of the child is a question riddled with prejudices and stereotypes. Pic: WFS.
"The SC judgment has focused more on pro-life arguments and the rights of the child," states Bhargavi Davar, who heads the Bapu Trust in Pune, an organisation devoted to challenging the mindset and practices of the Indian mental health establishment. She points out that several women's organisations have responded to this judgment by focusing on women's rights and the right to abortion.
But nowhere in this dialogue between the state and civil society has the issue of reproductive rights and sexuality in the context of psychosocial and mental disability been discussed.
Many state institutions for women living with a mental disabilities, with the co-operation of families, routinely sterilise, abort or give the child away for adoption without the consent of the mother. Many women's organisations and NGOs that provide care have an equally problematic custodial outlook towards such persons. Argues Davar, "In this case, we have not heard the woman's voice anywhere, while we have several third party arbitrations and advocacy. We do not know what the woman wants. Whether the mentally challenged woman has the 'capacity' to take care of the child is another question riddled with prejudices and stereotypes."
In the 1990s at Sirur, Maharashtra, 17 mentally challenged girls below 18 years were peremptorily hysterectomised. The state chose to control the girls' reproductive rights by deploying extreme measures. The professionals involved in that decision neither denied that hysterectomies were done, nor did they perceive them as a violation. They justified them as having been done in the best interests of the girls.
Dr Anant Phadke from Pune who filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the issue, says that case is still on. In January 2009, the state filed an affidavit stating "Mentally retarded adolescent girls or adult women have no sense of hygiene during menstruation." Shockingly, this is the prime reason given by the government for backing the controversial decision. Justifying its move, the government stated that, unlike stools or urine, menstrual flow is continuous and lasts up to at least 100 hours a month.
It added that caregivers find it difficult to deal with inmates who are uncooperative; and that poor hygiene can lead to infection and laceration on thighs and genitals and that increased flow can cause anaemia. Behavioural problems and psychotic symptoms also cause difficulties for care-givers.
All that is needed to perform the operation is the consent of the parent/guardian and certification from a psychiatrist and gynaecologist that hysterectomy is needed.
"We are challenging these guidelines," says advocate Anand Grover adding that the hysterectomies were performed for the convenience of the institute, to prevent pregnancy in case of sexual abuse and not for the woman's welfare. The government had no authority to conduct a hysterectomy on mentally disabled women and such a move violates the fundamental rights of such women and the provisions of the Mental Health Act.
Advocate Shruti Pandey, a Delhi-based human rights lawyer feels this case was not about abortion per se, it was about whether law recognises and protects the agency of woman. Pic: WFS.
Shruti Pandey, a human rights lawyer from Delhi, admits that this is a case that is "so grey". Says Pandey, "To my mind, this case was not about abortion per se, it was about whether the law of this country recognises and protects the agency of a woman to take decisions for her life and body, especially all its nuances when the woman is a person with mental retardation (MR) or any other disability."
Legally, this case showed - which the HC also noted in detail in its first order - that the Medical Termination Of Pregnancy (MTP) Act does not deal with access to abortion of women with MR, and that it wrongly distinguishes between women with mental retardation and mental illness, leaving the former out totally. Also that the Act does not understand that both these kinds of women are more likely than not to be destitute, in which case guardianship is not that simple.
Clarifies Pandey, "If the SC has said this woman wants to go ahead with the pregnancy, in principle I would support the decision. Every woman has a right to bear children, including women with mental disabilities. But if the court says it is the right of child to be born/not to be killed, and so the pregnancy must go on, that is hugely problematic. In any case, if the SC says no MTP, I would like to see what support mechanism it relies upon, institutionally, and not merely on the assurances and hyperbole of individuals and NGOs. I would also like this decision then to lead to the state's accountability for creating and sustaining comprehensive and reliable support systems for all persons with disabilities, within a rights framework. This is definitely an obligation under Article 12 of the UN Rights of Persons with Disabilities Convention, which India is totally ill-equipped to deliver on, as this case shows."
This case indicates eloquently that the Indian legal framework has to be strengthened a great deal to bring it in line with international legislation. (Women's Feature Service)
Reference : http://www.indiatogether.org/2009/aug/wom-mtpcase.htm
Kamayani Bali Mahabal is an advocate and women's activist based in Mumbai.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Marathoner outruns disability
The Almighty uses different people in different ways, they say. He must have a special road marked for Sharad Bhagwatkar.
This 66-year-old has run marathons all across the country, as well as far flung places like Chicago. Now, he is running to raise money to renovate a Jain temple in Pusla village near Warud.
And, this feat is being achieved despite around 40 per cent disability of his legs after an accident in 1992. He was in fact bedridden for four years after the accident!
Bhagwatkar's marathon running success started in 2005. "My brother informed me that he had entered me for the international half marathon in Bangalore. I had been trying to garner funds for the temple, but with limited success over the years. Besides, my age and the condition of my legs were a deterrent. However, I thought that if this is the will of the Lord, then so be it," Bhagwatkar said.
"In my youth, I had been a state-level medal winner in swimming. However, lack of practice over the years had done no good for my legs. After taking the decision to participate in the marathon, I started swimming again, hoping to increase my endurance and regain sufficient strength in my legs. Besides, I had retired as an accountant from the police commissionerate in Nagpur in 2000, and could devote more time to the task at hand," he says.
"The task was daunting, and I knew it. However, I managed to hold my fort throughout the marathon, which was held on October 12 that year, and managed to complete it in two hours and 35 minutes. Although I came in last in my category, those over 40 years of age, people said that I was a winner because I had overcome a big hurdle," Bhagwatkar says.
"After that, I participated in two more marathons almost back to back in the first part of 2006. One of them was held in Mumbai on January 15, and the other in Chennai in February.
Reference : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This 66-year-old has run marathons all across the country, as well as far flung places like Chicago. Now, he is running to raise money to renovate a Jain temple in Pusla village near Warud.
And, this feat is being achieved despite around 40 per cent disability of his legs after an accident in 1992. He was in fact bedridden for four years after the accident!
Bhagwatkar's marathon running success started in 2005. "My brother informed me that he had entered me for the international half marathon in Bangalore. I had been trying to garner funds for the temple, but with limited success over the years. Besides, my age and the condition of my legs were a deterrent. However, I thought that if this is the will of the Lord, then so be it," Bhagwatkar said.
"In my youth, I had been a state-level medal winner in swimming. However, lack of practice over the years had done no good for my legs. After taking the decision to participate in the marathon, I started swimming again, hoping to increase my endurance and regain sufficient strength in my legs. Besides, I had retired as an accountant from the police commissionerate in Nagpur in 2000, and could devote more time to the task at hand," he says.
"The task was daunting, and I knew it. However, I managed to hold my fort throughout the marathon, which was held on October 12 that year, and managed to complete it in two hours and 35 minutes. Although I came in last in my category, those over 40 years of age, people said that I was a winner because I had overcome a big hurdle," Bhagwatkar says.
"After that, I participated in two more marathons almost back to back in the first part of 2006. One of them was held in Mumbai on January 15, and the other in Chennai in February.
Reference : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Women with disabilities discriminated even by family members’
Gender plays a major role in the lives of people with hearing impairment as women face more harassment than their male counterparts. This observation was made by Era Walton, coordinator of the local chapter of Deafway Foundation, an NGO, during a seminar held on women’s empowerment at the Chandigarh Club on Friday. Manju Sharma, Women and Child Welfare Officer, Haryana, was the chief guest on the occasion.
Walton said that deaf women faced bias even at the hands of their relatives. “Our NGO has received cases where women were discriminated against by their own relatives because of their condition. It is sad to see that people fail to show any compassion to the hearing disabled,” she said.
Women from different walks of life, who despite their handicap had made a mark for themselves, shared their experiences at the seminar. Supriya, who is associated with the NGO for almost two decades, teaches interpretation and sign language to the hearing-disabled. “Women with a hearing disability have not had it easy in life. It has been a journey marked with difficulties but despite all this, they have carved a niche for themselves because of their hard work, persistence and courage,” remarked Walton
A motivating example is that of Rupinder who works with the Indian Overseas Bank and also teaches English to the hearing-impaired and helps them with new technologies. It was also observed that there has been a change in the outlook to hearing-impaired people getting married.
“People with a hearing disability now prefer getting married to people with the same disability as it ensures better compatibility and understanding. This was, however, not the case earlier. We have had cases where women were abandoned by their spouses or harassed for dowry because of their handicap,” said Walton.
Reference : http://www.indianexpress.com
Walton said that deaf women faced bias even at the hands of their relatives. “Our NGO has received cases where women were discriminated against by their own relatives because of their condition. It is sad to see that people fail to show any compassion to the hearing disabled,” she said.
Women from different walks of life, who despite their handicap had made a mark for themselves, shared their experiences at the seminar. Supriya, who is associated with the NGO for almost two decades, teaches interpretation and sign language to the hearing-disabled. “Women with a hearing disability have not had it easy in life. It has been a journey marked with difficulties but despite all this, they have carved a niche for themselves because of their hard work, persistence and courage,” remarked Walton
A motivating example is that of Rupinder who works with the Indian Overseas Bank and also teaches English to the hearing-impaired and helps them with new technologies. It was also observed that there has been a change in the outlook to hearing-impaired people getting married.
“People with a hearing disability now prefer getting married to people with the same disability as it ensures better compatibility and understanding. This was, however, not the case earlier. We have had cases where women were abandoned by their spouses or harassed for dowry because of their handicap,” said Walton.
Reference : http://www.indianexpress.com
Punjab University to set up vocational centre for disabled people
Patiala, Oct 09:The Ministry of Human Resource Development has approved the construction of a Centre of Research and Vocational Training for Physically Disabled People at Punjabi University.
With the approval, the university will become the only one in Punjab to have this centre, aimed at empowering disabled people and ensuring 100 per cent employability against the posts reserved for them. University Vice–Chancellor Jaspal Singh said this while presiding over the Senate and Academic Council meeting on Thursday. "The next step will be to explore possibilities and generate avenues for the rehabilitation of drug addicts and eradicating child labour," he added.
The Senate also authorized the Vice–Chancellor for co–opting three members on the Senate for the next two years. It also gave its consent to the Department of Distance Education to start a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Diploma in HIV/AIDS counseling.
Reference :http://www.indianexpress.com
With the approval, the university will become the only one in Punjab to have this centre, aimed at empowering disabled people and ensuring 100 per cent employability against the posts reserved for them. University Vice–Chancellor Jaspal Singh said this while presiding over the Senate and Academic Council meeting on Thursday. "The next step will be to explore possibilities and generate avenues for the rehabilitation of drug addicts and eradicating child labour," he added.
The Senate also authorized the Vice–Chancellor for co–opting three members on the Senate for the next two years. It also gave its consent to the Department of Distance Education to start a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Diploma in HIV/AIDS counseling.
Reference :http://www.indianexpress.com
After 15 years, deaf candidate get into IAS
NEW DELHI, 8 Oct: Maniram Sharma has won a 15–year–old battle for justice. On Thursday, this deaf IAS candidate learnt he has made it to the service.
With this, Maniram has not just won a personal battle but a milestone victory for disabled persons like him who have been kept away from the premier government service.
Maniram's case has been highlighted by TOI over the past couple of years how his efforts were thwarted on one ground or the other, till he finally went through surgery to make his aided hearing so good that he gave his IAS interview this time by the oral question–and–answer method. Despite this, his induction into the service was just not happening.
While other successful candidates got their call on August 17, he didn't. Finally, on September 3 he was informed that he had cleared the exam on all counts but still had to wait for another month to get his appointment. "I still can't believe it has happened. It has not sunk in. After suffering so many disappointments, it's difficult to imagine it has actually come true,'' Maniram told TOI.
Maniram's IAS saga began in 1995 when he failed in his first attempt to clear the preliminary examination. He was then 100% deaf. Since then he has cleared the exam three times a?" 2005, 2006 and 2009. In 2006, he was told he could not be allotted the IAS as only the partially deaf were eligible, not fully deaf persons like him. So, he was allotted the Post and Telegraph Accounts and Finance Service.
To improve his hearing, Maniram had a surgical cochlear implant, costing Rs 7.5 lakh that now enables him to hear partially. He appeared for the IAS again this year and cleared it, scoring the highest in the hearing–impaired category. Yet, he faced several more hurdles as the government put technical hurdles questioning his level of disability.
Anyway, this story has a happy ending. And Maniram has no complaints. ``If I could wait for 15 years, I could surely wait for a few more months. But the uncertainty kept me on edge,'' he said without rancour. He is off to his village Badangarhi in Alwar district, Rajasthan, to convey the news to his family. ``I have decided to go in person to tell them. My whole village will celebrate.''
Maniram's Badangarhi is a remote village which doesn't even have a school. He started losing his hearing at the age of five, becoming totally deaf by nine. His parents, both illiterate farm labourers, could do little to help. Yet, Maniram continued trudging to the nearest school, 5km away, and cleared class 10 standing fifth in the state board examination and cleared class 12 ranking seventh in the state board.
In his second year in college, he cleared the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) examination to become a clerk–cum–typist. He studied and worked during his final year and topped the university in Political Science. He went on to clear the NET (National Eligibility Test).
He then gave up his RPSC job and became a lecturer. Not satisfied with that, he became a Junior Research Fellow and completed his Ph.D in Political Science during which time he taught M Phil and MA students in Rajasthan University. Having completed his Ph.D, Maniram got through the Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) and while in service he started trying for the UPSC
Reference : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
With this, Maniram has not just won a personal battle but a milestone victory for disabled persons like him who have been kept away from the premier government service.
Maniram's case has been highlighted by TOI over the past couple of years how his efforts were thwarted on one ground or the other, till he finally went through surgery to make his aided hearing so good that he gave his IAS interview this time by the oral question–and–answer method. Despite this, his induction into the service was just not happening.
While other successful candidates got their call on August 17, he didn't. Finally, on September 3 he was informed that he had cleared the exam on all counts but still had to wait for another month to get his appointment. "I still can't believe it has happened. It has not sunk in. After suffering so many disappointments, it's difficult to imagine it has actually come true,'' Maniram told TOI.
Maniram's IAS saga began in 1995 when he failed in his first attempt to clear the preliminary examination. He was then 100% deaf. Since then he has cleared the exam three times a?" 2005, 2006 and 2009. In 2006, he was told he could not be allotted the IAS as only the partially deaf were eligible, not fully deaf persons like him. So, he was allotted the Post and Telegraph Accounts and Finance Service.
To improve his hearing, Maniram had a surgical cochlear implant, costing Rs 7.5 lakh that now enables him to hear partially. He appeared for the IAS again this year and cleared it, scoring the highest in the hearing–impaired category. Yet, he faced several more hurdles as the government put technical hurdles questioning his level of disability.
Anyway, this story has a happy ending. And Maniram has no complaints. ``If I could wait for 15 years, I could surely wait for a few more months. But the uncertainty kept me on edge,'' he said without rancour. He is off to his village Badangarhi in Alwar district, Rajasthan, to convey the news to his family. ``I have decided to go in person to tell them. My whole village will celebrate.''
Maniram's Badangarhi is a remote village which doesn't even have a school. He started losing his hearing at the age of five, becoming totally deaf by nine. His parents, both illiterate farm labourers, could do little to help. Yet, Maniram continued trudging to the nearest school, 5km away, and cleared class 10 standing fifth in the state board examination and cleared class 12 ranking seventh in the state board.
In his second year in college, he cleared the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) examination to become a clerk–cum–typist. He studied and worked during his final year and topped the university in Political Science. He went on to clear the NET (National Eligibility Test).
He then gave up his RPSC job and became a lecturer. Not satisfied with that, he became a Junior Research Fellow and completed his Ph.D in Political Science during which time he taught M Phil and MA students in Rajasthan University. Having completed his Ph.D, Maniram got through the Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) and while in service he started trying for the UPSC
Reference : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Monday, October 26, 2009
Kendriya Vidyalaya students with dyslexia say school don’t understand them
Twelve–year–old Raman Khanna (named changed), a student of Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) in Janakpuri, with dyslexia and dyscalculia. His school says it doesn't know how to deal with students like him.
After ToI highlighted the plight of two dyslexic students in two indifferent schools in February this year, Raman appears to have become the latest victim of official ignorance.
Raman, a promising footballer and swimmer, is repeating Class VI after he failed to clear the exam. His school has not been able to provide him with a special educator. He does not receive extra attention in class, neither does he get instructions on homework in writing or a scribe during exams. The child's grandmother, Neeta Khanna (name changed), who has been bringing him up since his parents died a few years ago, now has nowhere to go. "If my grandson fails again this year, his school will throw him out. Where will I take him then? What's his fault that he has dyslexia? It's the teachers who should understand his special needs,'' she said.
U N Singh, joint commissioner (academics), KVS, pleaded helplessness as the sangathan has no guidelines in place on how to deal with students with special needs. "The primary problem we are facing is how to save the child as we have no rules for such problems. The dyslexia clause is not covered. We just take care of visually and orthopaedically challenged students. At present we have no idea how to deal with this case,'' he said.
Another senior official said none of the KVs are prepared to deal with such students and there are no facilities such as special educators in the system. "This is not an exception. Of late, quite a few cases of special needs are emerging. But unfortunately most of the teachers and principals are insensitive to such issues or are completely ignorant. Such issues should be dealt with at the school level rather than at the headquarters, but since schools are not equipped and the principals are not proactive, we are not able to help the students,'' he said.
Neeta has been running from pillar–to–post since March. After spending several months meeting KVS officials, Neeta was reportedly informed last month that Raman could not be promoted. "I got him evaluated by a clinical psychologist and submitted the reports to the school as well as to the KVS officials. One of the officials told me that KVs don't have enough teachers to give extra attention to any child. I was also told that I should put him in a special school. They do not even understand the difference between learning difficulty and mental disability,'' she said.
While the MHRD has been making noises about reforming education, it appears not to have put its own house in order. The KVs are run by the Central government and funded by MHRD. According to Singh, dyslexia will figure at the next academic advisory committee meeting. But till the Sangathan changes its policy, the ordeal of Raman and his grandmother will continue.
References : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Type : Archive
After ToI highlighted the plight of two dyslexic students in two indifferent schools in February this year, Raman appears to have become the latest victim of official ignorance.
Raman, a promising footballer and swimmer, is repeating Class VI after he failed to clear the exam. His school has not been able to provide him with a special educator. He does not receive extra attention in class, neither does he get instructions on homework in writing or a scribe during exams. The child's grandmother, Neeta Khanna (name changed), who has been bringing him up since his parents died a few years ago, now has nowhere to go. "If my grandson fails again this year, his school will throw him out. Where will I take him then? What's his fault that he has dyslexia? It's the teachers who should understand his special needs,'' she said.
U N Singh, joint commissioner (academics), KVS, pleaded helplessness as the sangathan has no guidelines in place on how to deal with students with special needs. "The primary problem we are facing is how to save the child as we have no rules for such problems. The dyslexia clause is not covered. We just take care of visually and orthopaedically challenged students. At present we have no idea how to deal with this case,'' he said.
Another senior official said none of the KVs are prepared to deal with such students and there are no facilities such as special educators in the system. "This is not an exception. Of late, quite a few cases of special needs are emerging. But unfortunately most of the teachers and principals are insensitive to such issues or are completely ignorant. Such issues should be dealt with at the school level rather than at the headquarters, but since schools are not equipped and the principals are not proactive, we are not able to help the students,'' he said.
Neeta has been running from pillar–to–post since March. After spending several months meeting KVS officials, Neeta was reportedly informed last month that Raman could not be promoted. "I got him evaluated by a clinical psychologist and submitted the reports to the school as well as to the KVS officials. One of the officials told me that KVs don't have enough teachers to give extra attention to any child. I was also told that I should put him in a special school. They do not even understand the difference between learning difficulty and mental disability,'' she said.
While the MHRD has been making noises about reforming education, it appears not to have put its own house in order. The KVs are run by the Central government and funded by MHRD. According to Singh, dyslexia will figure at the next academic advisory committee meeting. But till the Sangathan changes its policy, the ordeal of Raman and his grandmother will continue.
References : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Type : Archive
Central Railway fined 49 passengers for traveling in compartments for Disabled people
The Central Railway (CR) on Tuesday fined 49 commuters for travelling in a (pictured) compartment meant for people with disabilities. According to railway officials, the drive has been carried out in six local trains, five Kalyan– Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) locals and one Asangaon–CST local between 10 and 11 am.
According to Shriniwas Mudgerikar, chief spokesperson, Central Railway (CR), the administration had received several complaints (through SMSes and e–mails) alleging that several passengers travel in special compartments meant for people with disabilities. On Monday, a disabled commuter had also lodged a complaint with the railway authorities alleging the same.
RPF personnel and Travel Ticket Examiners (TTEs) also participated in the drive and collected fine amounting to Rs 11, 806 from the offenders.
"As per section 155 of the Indian Railway Act, a minimum amount of Rs 200 can be imposed on a person who is found to travel in a compartment meant for people with disabilities and he/she can be given simple imprisonment for four days, if he/she fails to give the fine. As per the Act, physically challenged persons should produce the necessary certificates issued by an authorised medical officer. A cancer patient can also avail of this service. Leave alone the first class and compartments meant for people with disabilities and cancer patients, commuters cannot enter the vendors' compartment also," Mudgerikar said.
"This is not an end to it. We will soon conduct similar surprise checks so that such travelling can be curbed," added Mudgerikar.
According to Shriniwas Mudgerikar, chief spokesperson, Central Railway (CR), the administration had received several complaints (through SMSes and e–mails) alleging that several passengers travel in special compartments meant for people with disabilities. On Monday, a disabled commuter had also lodged a complaint with the railway authorities alleging the same.
RPF personnel and Travel Ticket Examiners (TTEs) also participated in the drive and collected fine amounting to Rs 11, 806 from the offenders.
"As per section 155 of the Indian Railway Act, a minimum amount of Rs 200 can be imposed on a person who is found to travel in a compartment meant for people with disabilities and he/she can be given simple imprisonment for four days, if he/she fails to give the fine. As per the Act, physically challenged persons should produce the necessary certificates issued by an authorised medical officer. A cancer patient can also avail of this service. Leave alone the first class and compartments meant for people with disabilities and cancer patients, commuters cannot enter the vendors' compartment also," Mudgerikar said.
"This is not an end to it. We will soon conduct similar surprise checks so that such travelling can be curbed," added Mudgerikar.
Bachelors Programme in sign language introduced by IGNOU
A Bachelor's programme in sign language has been introduced by Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou). A four–year programme, it entails a one year foundation course that imparts English language and sign language skills. Students who have completed class X are eligible for the programme.
"As far as learning needs of the hearing impaired are concerned, there is a lack of awareness. This is reflected in the dearth of quality course materials and infrastructural paucity in our country," says PR Ramanujam, director, Staff Training and Research Institute of Distance Education (STRIDE), Ignou. "Even policy statements of the government regarding education for the hearing impaired fall short of addressing their 'specific' needs. However, the foremost challenge is the lack of trained teachers."
The first graduate programme for the hearing impaired in India, it also hopes to address the challenge of unemployment. According to a recent estimate, only 5% of the hearing impaired children attend schools in India.
"This course has been developed in collaboration with the International Centre for Sign Languages and Deaf Studies (iSLanDS) at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in the UK. This partnership will help us leverage their relatively more sophisticated teaching methodologies and course materials for the benefit of our students through exchange programs. We are being able to understand how specific technologies can assist and augment learning for hearing impaired students. This understanding is also useful for developing new learning assistive technologies and replenishing our computer labs for the benefit of students," he explains.
Ram Das, a history student from St Stephen's College, who is visually impaired, used around 150 audio–cassettes in class X and 250 in class XII for his studies. But then, he points out that it was cumbersome when it came to searching subjects and chapters. But now, with the 'Audio Book Reader' (ABR) recently launched by Samadrishti, Kshamata Vikas Evam Anusandhan Mandal (Saksham), an NGO, things are likely to be better.
The ABR is a pocket size device that reads the audio tracks stored in a Multimedia Memory Card (MMC) with random access to any subject, book or chapter. With a storage capacity of 60 hours in 2 GB capacity memory card, it provides the facility of putting the entire curriculum in a pocket, in a specified language, as per the need. It can be operated through a voice menu and embossed buttons and has a rechargeable battery backup of eight hours. Another advantage is that ABR can also be used as a group–hearing device by attachment of external amplispeakers or audio distributor.
Reference: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Type: Archive
"As far as learning needs of the hearing impaired are concerned, there is a lack of awareness. This is reflected in the dearth of quality course materials and infrastructural paucity in our country," says PR Ramanujam, director, Staff Training and Research Institute of Distance Education (STRIDE), Ignou. "Even policy statements of the government regarding education for the hearing impaired fall short of addressing their 'specific' needs. However, the foremost challenge is the lack of trained teachers."
The first graduate programme for the hearing impaired in India, it also hopes to address the challenge of unemployment. According to a recent estimate, only 5% of the hearing impaired children attend schools in India.
"This course has been developed in collaboration with the International Centre for Sign Languages and Deaf Studies (iSLanDS) at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in the UK. This partnership will help us leverage their relatively more sophisticated teaching methodologies and course materials for the benefit of our students through exchange programs. We are being able to understand how specific technologies can assist and augment learning for hearing impaired students. This understanding is also useful for developing new learning assistive technologies and replenishing our computer labs for the benefit of students," he explains.
Ram Das, a history student from St Stephen's College, who is visually impaired, used around 150 audio–cassettes in class X and 250 in class XII for his studies. But then, he points out that it was cumbersome when it came to searching subjects and chapters. But now, with the 'Audio Book Reader' (ABR) recently launched by Samadrishti, Kshamata Vikas Evam Anusandhan Mandal (Saksham), an NGO, things are likely to be better.
The ABR is a pocket size device that reads the audio tracks stored in a Multimedia Memory Card (MMC) with random access to any subject, book or chapter. With a storage capacity of 60 hours in 2 GB capacity memory card, it provides the facility of putting the entire curriculum in a pocket, in a specified language, as per the need. It can be operated through a voice menu and embossed buttons and has a rechargeable battery backup of eight hours. Another advantage is that ABR can also be used as a group–hearing device by attachment of external amplispeakers or audio distributor.
Reference: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Type: Archive
Government shows apathy for the needs of the disabled children
Going by the past record, it would not be wrong to say that as far as Centre's policies on special children are concerned, they are rarely been implemented. This was stated by Anil Joshi, General Secretary, 'Pariwaar' – a National Federation of Parents Organisation having 170 NGOs working for special children as its member.
"The state–level bureaucrats have no time to implement these projects and policies so the plans remain in papers only. In 1999, when National for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act 1999 came into existence –– autism, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities were debated as disabilities. Policies were made but never implemented."
Joshi was in the city today to attend the third regional parents' meet held under joint banner of the National Institute of Mentally Handicapped and Pariwaar and organised by Ashirwad – The North India Cerebral Palsy Association, Ludhiana.
Talking to the Indian Express, Joshi said, "Not only government but parents' apathy is also ignoring special children. Parents need to come out of the murk and make efforts to bring their wards to the mainstream. There is a dire need to make people sensitive towards such children."
Reacting to the callous attitude of different political parties, Amarjeet Singha Anand one of the members of Pariwaar, said, "In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Pariwaar wrote letters to all political parties to consider special children in their agendas but none paid heed to it. In Punjab, parents hide their special children from the society. I have instances where families had arranged for a caretaker and hardly bothered to take her/her to social functions. The situation is more precarious in the rural areas."
"Parents in Bengal and South India are more sensitive to such kids. Being a part of an NGO, we have planned to run an awareness campaign in the state."
Reference : http://www.indianexpress.com
Type :Archive
"The state–level bureaucrats have no time to implement these projects and policies so the plans remain in papers only. In 1999, when National for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act 1999 came into existence –– autism, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities were debated as disabilities. Policies were made but never implemented."
Joshi was in the city today to attend the third regional parents' meet held under joint banner of the National Institute of Mentally Handicapped and Pariwaar and organised by Ashirwad – The North India Cerebral Palsy Association, Ludhiana.
Talking to the Indian Express, Joshi said, "Not only government but parents' apathy is also ignoring special children. Parents need to come out of the murk and make efforts to bring their wards to the mainstream. There is a dire need to make people sensitive towards such children."
Reacting to the callous attitude of different political parties, Amarjeet Singha Anand one of the members of Pariwaar, said, "In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Pariwaar wrote letters to all political parties to consider special children in their agendas but none paid heed to it. In Punjab, parents hide their special children from the society. I have instances where families had arranged for a caretaker and hardly bothered to take her/her to social functions. The situation is more precarious in the rural areas."
"Parents in Bengal and South India are more sensitive to such kids. Being a part of an NGO, we have planned to run an awareness campaign in the state."
Reference : http://www.indianexpress.com
Type :Archive
Disability Activist fight for the wheelchair access near the Jagannath temple
Activists fighting for rights of disabled people on Saturday demanded that wheelchairs be allowed inside the (pictured) Jagannath temple like it is in other pilgrimages of the country. Priests do not allow people on wheelchairs or with crutches inside the temple as they believe that such equipment are impure.
"This violates religious rights of people with disability, which is a fundamental right. They must be allowed to worship the way they want to," said advocate Mrinalini Padhi, a Cuttack–based social activist and lawyer, who has taken the lead in the campaign. This not only prevents the disabled from entering the temple but also patients and elderly people.
Recollecting an embarrassing experience, Shruti Mohapatra, a disability rights activist and also a wheelchair–bound person said, "A priest told me that my disability was due to the sins I committed in my last birth and I should not sin more by entering the temple. It will be better if I go back."
"This is not only undignified but also painful for a person with disability to be carried by four persons into the temple," she said. The activists said though they have written to the temple administration many times about it, there has been no response. So a group of wheelchair–bound devotees would go to the temple on October 2 and request the authorities to allow them into the temple.
"Filing a PIL would be the easiest option but we want the temple authorities to understand the issue and religious sentiments of the people with disability," said Padhi.
The activists said while most of the famous pilgrimage places like Sidhhi Vinayak temple, Shridi Sai temple, Vaishno Devi and Akshardham temple have access to wheelchairs, not a single temple in Orissa has this facility.
Reference : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Type : Archive
"This violates religious rights of people with disability, which is a fundamental right. They must be allowed to worship the way they want to," said advocate Mrinalini Padhi, a Cuttack–based social activist and lawyer, who has taken the lead in the campaign. This not only prevents the disabled from entering the temple but also patients and elderly people.
Recollecting an embarrassing experience, Shruti Mohapatra, a disability rights activist and also a wheelchair–bound person said, "A priest told me that my disability was due to the sins I committed in my last birth and I should not sin more by entering the temple. It will be better if I go back."
"This is not only undignified but also painful for a person with disability to be carried by four persons into the temple," she said. The activists said though they have written to the temple administration many times about it, there has been no response. So a group of wheelchair–bound devotees would go to the temple on October 2 and request the authorities to allow them into the temple.
"Filing a PIL would be the easiest option but we want the temple authorities to understand the issue and religious sentiments of the people with disability," said Padhi.
The activists said while most of the famous pilgrimage places like Sidhhi Vinayak temple, Shridi Sai temple, Vaishno Devi and Akshardham temple have access to wheelchairs, not a single temple in Orissa has this facility.
Reference : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Type : Archive
PM unhappy with scheme for disabled people
Seventeen months ago, the government had planned to provide one–lakh jobs annually to disabled people in the private sector by giving incentives to companies. But instead of about 1.5 lakh jobs that should have been generated by now, the figure stands at a low of 119. A mere 0.08 per cent of the intended target.
Addressing a conference of state ministers of welfare and social justice on Monday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made his displeasure clear at the progress of the ambitious Public–Private Partnership (PPP) scheme.
Ironically, the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry's recently released annual report 2008–09 listed the scheme under the "major achievements" of the year.
The offer to private companies under the scheme said, hire disabled and the central government will pay the employer's contribution to the Employees Provident Fund and Employees State Insurance for the first three years for employees earning up to Rs 25,000 a month.
But the scheme having a total outlay of Rs 1,800 crore for the 11th Five Year Plan –has simply failed to take off.
The Prime Minister said: "This scheme has been in operation since April 1, 2008.
However, it has unfortunately not made much headway in the last one–and–a–half year."
Three days ago, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Mukul Wasnik, too, had rebuked officials of the National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation, and said: "Whether problems are with the states or my ministry, these have to be sorted out."
At the same meeting Social Justice secretary K.M. Acharya admitted, "The response is not adequate."
He listed two reasons for the failure. First, the economic slowdown made companies reluctant to hire –– a reason the Prime Minister, too, has cited.
Second, central and state governments could not publicise the scheme extensively.
Reference : Hindustan Times
Type :Archive
Addressing a conference of state ministers of welfare and social justice on Monday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made his displeasure clear at the progress of the ambitious Public–Private Partnership (PPP) scheme.
Ironically, the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry's recently released annual report 2008–09 listed the scheme under the "major achievements" of the year.
The offer to private companies under the scheme said, hire disabled and the central government will pay the employer's contribution to the Employees Provident Fund and Employees State Insurance for the first three years for employees earning up to Rs 25,000 a month.
But the scheme having a total outlay of Rs 1,800 crore for the 11th Five Year Plan –has simply failed to take off.
The Prime Minister said: "This scheme has been in operation since April 1, 2008.
However, it has unfortunately not made much headway in the last one–and–a–half year."
Three days ago, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Mukul Wasnik, too, had rebuked officials of the National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation, and said: "Whether problems are with the states or my ministry, these have to be sorted out."
At the same meeting Social Justice secretary K.M. Acharya admitted, "The response is not adequate."
He listed two reasons for the failure. First, the economic slowdown made companies reluctant to hire –– a reason the Prime Minister, too, has cited.
Second, central and state governments could not publicise the scheme extensively.
Reference : Hindustan Times
Type :Archive
Right to Information Act in Braille
The Union Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry has got the Right to Information Act 2005 printed in Braille.
This is part of the Ministry's effort to make an inclusive society for all including persons with disabilities, according to an official spokesperson. The Ministry believes that a majority of persons with disabilities can have a better quality of life if they have equal opportunities and access to information including rehabilitation measures.
The Braille versions of the Right to Information Act have been printed and published by the National Institute for Visually Handicapped working under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The copies of the Act in Braille version can be obtained from the National Institute for Visually Handicapped, 116, Rajpur Road, Dehradun.
References : The Hindu
Type : Archive
This is part of the Ministry's effort to make an inclusive society for all including persons with disabilities, according to an official spokesperson. The Ministry believes that a majority of persons with disabilities can have a better quality of life if they have equal opportunities and access to information including rehabilitation measures.
The Braille versions of the Right to Information Act have been printed and published by the National Institute for Visually Handicapped working under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The copies of the Act in Braille version can be obtained from the National Institute for Visually Handicapped, 116, Rajpur Road, Dehradun.
References : The Hindu
Type : Archive
Appoint special teachers for disabled children
Ten–year–old Usha Shukla attends school everyday but still failed in her examinations. It's not that she does not study, but she suffers from a hearing disability and she cannot cope with the regular lessons taught in the government run–school. Many children like Usha, with various mental and physical disabilities, have now a reason to rejoice with Delhi High Court on Wednesday directing the Delhi Government to provide special educators for them.
Taking a serious note of absence of special teachers for disabled students in government schools, a division bench comprising chief justice Ajit Prakash Shah and justice Manmohan asked the state government to appoint two such specialists in each of 3,000 state–run schools in the capital. The court also asked the government to ensure that these educators get all the facilities including salaries at par with the general teachers. The court's order came on a PIL filed by Social Jurist, an NGO through counsel Ashok Aggarwal, seeking a direction to the NCT government as well as the civic agencies not to deprive disabled children of their fundamental right to have education by appointing adequate number of specially trained teachers for them.
"It's not fair at all. Why these students are being suppressed by not being provided with basic facilities?,'' the court asked while directing the state government to ensure the teachers get every necessary equipments. The order is to be implemented in schools run by the Delhi government, MCD and NDMC.
The court also came down heavily on the state government for not admitting students on the basis of their disability. Counsel Aggarwal told the court that one of the disabled kids was denied admission by a state–run school as the principal said they did not have the facility for the child. "This is clearly contrary to our order dated February 19, 2009. It is made clear that no disabled child should be denied admission in school run by Delhi government,'' the bench said.
The government appointed committee's report on mapping the disabled students across the city was also criticized by the court, which pulled up the committee for doing it in an improper way. "Mapping is not done in schools. It is equally important and requires an extensive campaign having 200–300 people who will get the fair statistics,'' the bench said while directing the government to conduct door–to–door campaign to list the disabled students. In this regard, the court also directed the secretary, directorate of education, Rakesh Mohan, to appear before it for September 23.
According to counsel Aggarwal, out of two lakh disabled children, only 15000 are in private schools. "The future of the remaining children hangs lose with no facility being provided to them," he said.
Reference : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Type: Archive
Taking a serious note of absence of special teachers for disabled students in government schools, a division bench comprising chief justice Ajit Prakash Shah and justice Manmohan asked the state government to appoint two such specialists in each of 3,000 state–run schools in the capital. The court also asked the government to ensure that these educators get all the facilities including salaries at par with the general teachers. The court's order came on a PIL filed by Social Jurist, an NGO through counsel Ashok Aggarwal, seeking a direction to the NCT government as well as the civic agencies not to deprive disabled children of their fundamental right to have education by appointing adequate number of specially trained teachers for them.
"It's not fair at all. Why these students are being suppressed by not being provided with basic facilities?,'' the court asked while directing the state government to ensure the teachers get every necessary equipments. The order is to be implemented in schools run by the Delhi government, MCD and NDMC.
The court also came down heavily on the state government for not admitting students on the basis of their disability. Counsel Aggarwal told the court that one of the disabled kids was denied admission by a state–run school as the principal said they did not have the facility for the child. "This is clearly contrary to our order dated February 19, 2009. It is made clear that no disabled child should be denied admission in school run by Delhi government,'' the bench said.
The government appointed committee's report on mapping the disabled students across the city was also criticized by the court, which pulled up the committee for doing it in an improper way. "Mapping is not done in schools. It is equally important and requires an extensive campaign having 200–300 people who will get the fair statistics,'' the bench said while directing the government to conduct door–to–door campaign to list the disabled students. In this regard, the court also directed the secretary, directorate of education, Rakesh Mohan, to appear before it for September 23.
According to counsel Aggarwal, out of two lakh disabled children, only 15000 are in private schools. "The future of the remaining children hangs lose with no facility being provided to them," he said.
Reference : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Type: Archive
New website to help disabled people find a match
It was a fervent, five–page letter from a young man in Sivaganga district saying that none of his 88 family members was willing to help him find a bride as he was disabled person that got G Chidambaranathan thinking. The president of the Tamil Nadu Handicapped Federation Charitable Trust (TNHFCT) says they'd received a number of similar appeals from well–educated, working professionals, both male and female, who were disabled people and could not find spouses and so came up with the idea of a swayamvaram and a matrimonial website for the community.
To be held on October 10 at YMCA grounds in Nandanam from 10 am to 4 pm, the swayamvaram will be a chance for disabled people to meet and spend time together. "About 80% of the disabled people in Tamil Nadu are unmarried, and of them 60% are women," says P Simmachandran, TNHFCT secretary. "Another issue is that people marry disabled women and then abandon them after a few months. We're hoping lots of people from the community will come forward and register for the swayamvaram," he says. Registration is free; they've received 60 applications so far and are hoping to attract at least 2,000 people.
"We recently had a job fair which was a success. We've been helping people with education and employment, so the next step is trying to help them settle into family life," says Simmachandran.
The fair's being organised in association with Advent Designs, the company that has designed the trust's website (www.tnhfctrust.in) and is in the process of starting up a matrimonial section for the disabled on it. "This is one of the ways to get the disabled integrated into the mainstream," says A Muthukumar, managing director, Advent Designs. The swayamvaram will also be webcast live on www.anytimemarry.com.
They're hoping the swayamvaram will popularise the trust's matrimonial section and prompt disabled people from across the state and even the country to sign up. "Society seems to think the disabled don't need the companionship of marriage," says Chidambaranathan. "We get so many letters from educated people who earn good salaries who say their own families are unwilling to consider them eligible matches."
They're also planning to select 100 couples and conduct free marriages in January next year. "These could be couples who meet through our swayamvaram or those who have fallen in love somewhere else but do not have the means to hold a wedding," says Simmachandran. And if their swayamvaram is a success, they'll take the model to cities across the state.
Reference : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Type : Archive
To be held on October 10 at YMCA grounds in Nandanam from 10 am to 4 pm, the swayamvaram will be a chance for disabled people to meet and spend time together. "About 80% of the disabled people in Tamil Nadu are unmarried, and of them 60% are women," says P Simmachandran, TNHFCT secretary. "Another issue is that people marry disabled women and then abandon them after a few months. We're hoping lots of people from the community will come forward and register for the swayamvaram," he says. Registration is free; they've received 60 applications so far and are hoping to attract at least 2,000 people.
"We recently had a job fair which was a success. We've been helping people with education and employment, so the next step is trying to help them settle into family life," says Simmachandran.
The fair's being organised in association with Advent Designs, the company that has designed the trust's website (www.tnhfctrust.in) and is in the process of starting up a matrimonial section for the disabled on it. "This is one of the ways to get the disabled integrated into the mainstream," says A Muthukumar, managing director, Advent Designs. The swayamvaram will also be webcast live on www.anytimemarry.com.
They're hoping the swayamvaram will popularise the trust's matrimonial section and prompt disabled people from across the state and even the country to sign up. "Society seems to think the disabled don't need the companionship of marriage," says Chidambaranathan. "We get so many letters from educated people who earn good salaries who say their own families are unwilling to consider them eligible matches."
They're also planning to select 100 couples and conduct free marriages in January next year. "These could be couples who meet through our swayamvaram or those who have fallen in love somewhere else but do not have the means to hold a wedding," says Simmachandran. And if their swayamvaram is a success, they'll take the model to cities across the state.
Reference : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Type : Archive
Hearing Impaired wins legal battle against Gujrat Technological University
A 17–year–old girl with hearing impairment, Rachna Shah, heaved a sigh of relief when she was allowed to take her diploma exams on Friday after a prolonged legal battle for justice. The Gujarat Technological University (GTU) had to permit her to appear for the test after a Gujarat High Court order in her favour on Thursday. The decision came after irregularities were detected in the evaluation of her answer sheets of remedial tests.
Rachna's fight against the university and education system was not only for herself, but for all those physically challenged students who are discriminated against by state's education authorities. After clearing the boards last year, Rachna enrolled in a diploma course in electronics and communication. Just before she was to take her second semester exams, GTU changed the medium of study to English. Rachna had all along studied in Gujarati medium.
To her shock, she was declared failed in all six subjects. The university provided remedial tests for three subjects, but she was passed in one subject only. She appeared in the mid semester test and secured 67.7 per cent, but was not allowed to attend classes from April this year because she did not clear all the papers in the remedial tests.
She sensed some problem either in calculation of marks or in evaluation of her answer sheets. Rachna requested the authorities to show her answer sheets, which they refused. Ultimately, she approached the officer appointed under the RTI Act, but was shown her copies from a distance only and that too only the first page of the answer book.
She approached the Gujarat High Court demanding transparency in evaluation system, to fix 20 per cent criteria as passing score for disabled students, and to allow her to sit in the third semester. But the judge refused to entertain her application. Ultimately, a division bench of Chief Justice KS Radhakrishnan and Justice Akil Kureshi heard her case. The judges were furious over the university's attitude towards this physically disabled student.
On court's instructions, the university showed answer sheets to Rachna, a team of subject experts re–assessed the copies, upgraded her marks in two subjects and reduced marks in three papers. A 10–member committee was also set up to inquire against the evaluators, who checked Rachna's answer sheets first. A show–cause notice was issued to evaluators asking them why they should not be debarred on counts of negligence and insincerity.
The court's order has not only smoothened things for Rachna alone, but will force GTU to make appropriate changes in its policy towards physically disabled students.
Reference : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Type :Archive
Rachna's fight against the university and education system was not only for herself, but for all those physically challenged students who are discriminated against by state's education authorities. After clearing the boards last year, Rachna enrolled in a diploma course in electronics and communication. Just before she was to take her second semester exams, GTU changed the medium of study to English. Rachna had all along studied in Gujarati medium.
To her shock, she was declared failed in all six subjects. The university provided remedial tests for three subjects, but she was passed in one subject only. She appeared in the mid semester test and secured 67.7 per cent, but was not allowed to attend classes from April this year because she did not clear all the papers in the remedial tests.
She sensed some problem either in calculation of marks or in evaluation of her answer sheets. Rachna requested the authorities to show her answer sheets, which they refused. Ultimately, she approached the officer appointed under the RTI Act, but was shown her copies from a distance only and that too only the first page of the answer book.
She approached the Gujarat High Court demanding transparency in evaluation system, to fix 20 per cent criteria as passing score for disabled students, and to allow her to sit in the third semester. But the judge refused to entertain her application. Ultimately, a division bench of Chief Justice KS Radhakrishnan and Justice Akil Kureshi heard her case. The judges were furious over the university's attitude towards this physically disabled student.
On court's instructions, the university showed answer sheets to Rachna, a team of subject experts re–assessed the copies, upgraded her marks in two subjects and reduced marks in three papers. A 10–member committee was also set up to inquire against the evaluators, who checked Rachna's answer sheets first. A show–cause notice was issued to evaluators asking them why they should not be debarred on counts of negligence and insincerity.
The court's order has not only smoothened things for Rachna alone, but will force GTU to make appropriate changes in its policy towards physically disabled students.
Reference : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Type :Archive
National Convention of State Viklang Mancha Organized by Human Right Law Network
People with disabilities, groups and organisations of disabled persons from the rural parts of India came together in New Delhi to bring their demands and issues to the forefront on the 18th and 19th of September 2009. The two–day National Convention of State Viklang Manchas, organized by the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), dealt with various issues of disability such as their right to vote, right to food, right to employment, right education, etc. The inaugural session was addressed by Ms. Poonam Natarajan, Chairperson of the National Trust; General Ian Cardozo, Chairperson of the RCI; and Deputy Chief Commissioner of Disability, Shri. T.D. Dhariyal.
Recently, there have been several debates surrounding the non–inclusion of persons with disabilities in different fields, and the denial of rights to them. The voices of persons with disabilities have been becoming more audible in demanding their rights, and in inspiring a movement towards a society that is inclusive and just for all.
Active sharing by the Viklang Manchas threw light on their various achievements is advocating their rights, as well as the obstacles they faced in this process. Suggestions were made for eliminating discrimination through greater sensitization towards disability from all sections of society. Issues of accessibility, certification and employment were evident in most of the discussions.
The Convention also included inspiring and interactive talks by eminent speakers such as Prof. Anil Sadgopal, Prof. Anita Ghai and Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves. On the last day, around 200 disabled activists from 17 states led a demonstration outside Jantar Mantar. Seven delegates were sent to the Prime Minister's Office, where his secretary received the memorandum, and assured the activists that an initiative for action will be taken and communicated on Tuesday.
The memorandum, dealt with various issues, such as; consulting disabled persons in amending all laws and policies in accordance with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities; inclusion of all disabled children in the Right to Education Bill which was passed recently by the parliament; ensuring that the mandated 3% quota for employment of disabled persons is filled up; making currency notes accessible to persons with visual disabilities, and making all public buildings accessible to disabled persons; simplifying the process of obtaining disability certification; and reservation in special compartments for disabled persons.
Reference : http://www.disabilityindia.com/html/newssep09.html
Type : Archive
Recently, there have been several debates surrounding the non–inclusion of persons with disabilities in different fields, and the denial of rights to them. The voices of persons with disabilities have been becoming more audible in demanding their rights, and in inspiring a movement towards a society that is inclusive and just for all.
Active sharing by the Viklang Manchas threw light on their various achievements is advocating their rights, as well as the obstacles they faced in this process. Suggestions were made for eliminating discrimination through greater sensitization towards disability from all sections of society. Issues of accessibility, certification and employment were evident in most of the discussions.
The Convention also included inspiring and interactive talks by eminent speakers such as Prof. Anil Sadgopal, Prof. Anita Ghai and Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves. On the last day, around 200 disabled activists from 17 states led a demonstration outside Jantar Mantar. Seven delegates were sent to the Prime Minister's Office, where his secretary received the memorandum, and assured the activists that an initiative for action will be taken and communicated on Tuesday.
The memorandum, dealt with various issues, such as; consulting disabled persons in amending all laws and policies in accordance with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities; inclusion of all disabled children in the Right to Education Bill which was passed recently by the parliament; ensuring that the mandated 3% quota for employment of disabled persons is filled up; making currency notes accessible to persons with visual disabilities, and making all public buildings accessible to disabled persons; simplifying the process of obtaining disability certification; and reservation in special compartments for disabled persons.
Reference : http://www.disabilityindia.com/html/newssep09.html
Type : Archive
High Court asked Delhi Government to send children with disabilities to school
The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the Delhi government to conduct a door–to–door survey to find out children with disabilities and send them to school.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Manmohan asked Delhi's Education Secretary to oversee the survey so that no child with disability is deprived of the right to Education.
"Many parents are reluctant (to admit) that their child is having some disability. So to ensure that every child is educated, there is a need to conduct mapping of such children," the bench said.
The court has asked the Delhi government to reply by Oct 28. The court was hearing a public interest petition by Social Jurists, an NGO which contended that many schools deny admission to children with Disabilities.
The court had last week asked the government to appoint two special teachers for disabled students in the 3000 state – run schools in Delhi.
The order is valid for schools run by the Delhi government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the New Delhi Municipal Council. http://www.thaindian.com
Reference :http://www.expressindia.com
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Manmohan asked Delhi's Education Secretary to oversee the survey so that no child with disability is deprived of the right to Education.
"Many parents are reluctant (to admit) that their child is having some disability. So to ensure that every child is educated, there is a need to conduct mapping of such children," the bench said.
The court has asked the Delhi government to reply by Oct 28. The court was hearing a public interest petition by Social Jurists, an NGO which contended that many schools deny admission to children with Disabilities.
The court had last week asked the government to appoint two special teachers for disabled students in the 3000 state – run schools in Delhi.
The order is valid for schools run by the Delhi government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the New Delhi Municipal Council. http://www.thaindian.com
Reference :http://www.expressindia.com
World Deaf Day: Film made by and for hearing Impaired to be screened.
Hearing impaired will soon experience reel magic by just clicking the mouse. They will have a chance to select from a wide range of options including short films, feature films and animations to docudrama.
All This, thanks to Mook Badhir Mandal (MBM) - a NGO working for the hearing impaired. To start with, MBM has made a three–hour feature film Mr. 420' written, directed, produced and enacted by hearing impaired.
The film will be showcased on occasion of World Deaf Day celebration on Sunday at CC Mehta Auditorium in which over 1,200 people from across country will participate. The day–long celebration will include screening of Mr 420', launching two websites for the community and another one for short films. They will also announce initiation of interpreter training programme for professionals, policemen and doctors to help in communicating with hearing impaired community.
"We have taken inspiration from popular Hindi movies, especially the blockbuster Sholay', which people from our community could not enjoy. It's a comedy film made to entertain people who can't just walk inside a cinema hall to enjoy a film," director of the film Rajesh Ketkar explained through sign language.
Mr 420' was made on a shoe–string budget of Rs 60,000 and shot in and around Vadodara district. The film has all ingredients required for a hardcore commercial film. "The cast and crew worked for free and cooperated in making the film despite some of them got injured during the shoot," added action director Imran Sheikh.
The NGO will also start making short films in Indian sign languages and upload them on the website. "We are creating a special site where films will be uploaded. Short films will be used to generate awareness amongst the community on issues such as AIDS/HIV, deaf women empowerment and sign languages.
MBM will also come out with interactive Indian sign language dictionary. These will be available in compact disc as well in printable version to aid in grasping the sign language.
Reference : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
All This, thanks to Mook Badhir Mandal (MBM) - a NGO working for the hearing impaired. To start with, MBM has made a three–hour feature film Mr. 420' written, directed, produced and enacted by hearing impaired.
The film will be showcased on occasion of World Deaf Day celebration on Sunday at CC Mehta Auditorium in which over 1,200 people from across country will participate. The day–long celebration will include screening of Mr 420', launching two websites for the community and another one for short films. They will also announce initiation of interpreter training programme for professionals, policemen and doctors to help in communicating with hearing impaired community.
"We have taken inspiration from popular Hindi movies, especially the blockbuster Sholay', which people from our community could not enjoy. It's a comedy film made to entertain people who can't just walk inside a cinema hall to enjoy a film," director of the film Rajesh Ketkar explained through sign language.
Mr 420' was made on a shoe–string budget of Rs 60,000 and shot in and around Vadodara district. The film has all ingredients required for a hardcore commercial film. "The cast and crew worked for free and cooperated in making the film despite some of them got injured during the shoot," added action director Imran Sheikh.
The NGO will also start making short films in Indian sign languages and upload them on the website. "We are creating a special site where films will be uploaded. Short films will be used to generate awareness amongst the community on issues such as AIDS/HIV, deaf women empowerment and sign languages.
MBM will also come out with interactive Indian sign language dictionary. These will be available in compact disc as well in printable version to aid in grasping the sign language.
Reference : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Cochlear to launch technologies for hearing Impaired
A higher generation of implantable hearing technology is slated to be soon released in India by Cochlear Limited, engaged in cochlear and bone conduction implant technology. The company is releasing three new technologies? Cochlear Hybrid, Cochlear Nucleus 5, and Cochlear Baha BP100 ? designed for hearing impaired people across a wide spectrum.
"For more than 25 years now, Cochlear has focused on developing technologies which addresses different types of hearing loss. The three new offerings have been designed for unique needs of people suffering from partial deafness, moderate to profound deafness, and single–sided deafness. Each one is, more sophisticated and more feature rich than ever before, and that means a world of sound can be opened up to millions of people," says Mark Salmon, president, Asia Pacific, Cochlear Limited.
Cochlear Nucleus 5 is thin, strong, stylish and an easy–to–use for both adults and children experiencing moderate to profound hearing loss. Cochlear Hybrid addresses distinctive needs of people with steeply sloping hearing losses in the high frequency region.
On the other hand, Cochlear Baha BP100 is supposed to be world's first hi–tech direct bone conduction sound processor that can automatically process sound. Also, this device delivers more than 25 per cent improvement in speech understanding in noisy situations. It comes in a range of colours and also has a Europin audio connector for lifestyle accessories such as FM systems, MP3 players and Bluetooth adaptors
Reference : http://www.business–standard.com
"For more than 25 years now, Cochlear has focused on developing technologies which addresses different types of hearing loss. The three new offerings have been designed for unique needs of people suffering from partial deafness, moderate to profound deafness, and single–sided deafness. Each one is, more sophisticated and more feature rich than ever before, and that means a world of sound can be opened up to millions of people," says Mark Salmon, president, Asia Pacific, Cochlear Limited.
Cochlear Nucleus 5 is thin, strong, stylish and an easy–to–use for both adults and children experiencing moderate to profound hearing loss. Cochlear Hybrid addresses distinctive needs of people with steeply sloping hearing losses in the high frequency region.
On the other hand, Cochlear Baha BP100 is supposed to be world's first hi–tech direct bone conduction sound processor that can automatically process sound. Also, this device delivers more than 25 per cent improvement in speech understanding in noisy situations. It comes in a range of colours and also has a Europin audio connector for lifestyle accessories such as FM systems, MP3 players and Bluetooth adaptors
Reference : http://www.business–standard.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)