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New guidelines on national anthem released, activists protest
Differently-abled people, who are unable to stand, will have to display “maximum attentiveness” while persons with hearing disabilities and those visually challenged will have to stand up when the national anthem is played at cinema halls or at a public function.
New Delhi
These are part of the “Guidelines for visually challenged to show respect to National Anthem” issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on the eve of Republic Day. The only category for which there is some relaxation is people with intellectual disabilities.
According to details made public by the ministry today, “Persons with locomotor disabilities with lower limbs affected and wheel chair user who are not capable of standing shall may position himself/herself to the extent of maximum attentiveness and alertness” adding, “If the person with disability is on crutch, he/she should become stable (non-mobile) to the extent of maximum alertness.”
Persons with hearing disabilities (deaf or hard of hearing) will have to stand with attentiveness, the guidelines also require the owner/organiser to ensure that there “is appropriate indication on the screen that the national anthem is being played or sung so that a person with hearing disability doesn’t miss the auditory cues”.
Guidelines unreasonable, say activists
The recent guidelines have earned flak from activists and those with disabilities, who termed them unreasonable and insensitive. TMN Deepak of the December 3 Movement, asked, “When we have as many as 21 types of disabilities, the guidelines issued are too limiting. Take the case of cerebral palsy - how does one with the condition show alertness, though the mind is alert?” S Namburajan, State General Secretary, Tamilnadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC) said, “The guidelines have overlooked the practical difficulties faced by those with disabilities,” he said. He pointed out that the guidelines also said the attenders and escorts of the disabled had to stand up when the National Anthem was played. “Will they pay attention to the disabled or to the anthem?” he asked.
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