To protest the growth in cases of rape in the country, the community of speech and hearing impaired people from Mumbai organised a protest march from Dadar railway station to Shivaji Park on Sunday afternoon.
Community leader Pradeep More took up the initiative after learning about the gang rape of a 11-year-old girl by 22 men in Tamil Nadu, who was also hearing impaired.
The group of over thousand college students, parents and women from Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Panvel, backed by non-governmental organisations under ‘Unity of Maharashtra State Deaf Associations,’ marched with posters, banners, and whistles. They enacted a street play to create awareness at Shivaji Park and demanded counseling or a website for the same for hearing impaired individuals.
“Cases relating to people with disabilities are more sensitive. The 11-year-old was speech and hearing impaired so it was more difficult for her to express herself. We want the government to be aware of this and bring her justice. We demand that such rapists be hanged at the time of arrest itself by enacting a law,” Mr. More said.
Community leader Arti Umrotkar said, “We want those who can hear to join in our cause. Rapes have increased during this government’s tenure. Something needs to be done,” she said.
School teacher Rajesh Kulkarni said, “Parents often do not know sign language, so they cannot understand the child. The government should be responsible for educating them.” The march ended at 3 p.m.
