The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will be issuing advisory to all private channels that they can get the Republic Day parade feed showing sign language interpretations from DD News.
Disabled Rights Group convenor Javed Abidi told The Hindu : “The I&B Ministry will issue an advisory to all private channels that they can get feed from DD News so that hearing-impaired persons can understand the proceedings of the parade.
This move seeks to encourage these channels to borrow coverage free of cost from DD News. This would immensely benefit the hearing-impaired persons.” For the convenience of hearing-impaired persons to understand the proceedings during the Republic Day parade, Doordarshan will show three sign language interpretations in all its three channels.
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However, Mr. Abidi and differently-abled persons will demonstrate outside the Shastri Bhawan here on Thursday to demand the national broadcaster air the Republic Day parade in sign language in all its six channels. “The I&B Ministry has not agreed to show the live coverage in sign language on DD National, which has a wider reach. Due to the relentless pressure from Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the I&B Ministry has sent this proposal to the Cabinet Secretary.”
A senior official of DD said: “For the first time in the history of India, DD Bharti, DD Urdu and DD News will air the Republic Day parade for the benefit of hearing-impaired persons. But we cannot have this coverage on DD National because it would spoil the show. In foreign channels also there is no such facility.”
DD has made an elaborate arrangement to cover the entire ceremony.
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“Telecast will be in high definition. Eight high definition state-of-the-art cameras will be placed at Rajpath. One battery-operated camera with link to DD studios will be provided at Rajpath for emergency use in case of failure of power supply.”