Meet stresses on PWD-friendly media
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 14 2013: A two-day long orientation cum training programme on 'Media & Accessibility' being organized by Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped (AYJNIHH), Mumbai in collaboration of Department of Mass Communication, Manipur University has begun from today at the Seminar Hall of the Department.

The main objective of the orientation cum training programme is application of modern media technologies and access to them by all, especially persons with disabilities (PWDs) .

Prof E Bijoykumar Singh, Dean of Social Sciences, Manipur University, who attended the inaugural function of the training programme as Chief Guest, said that we should help PWDs to live a meaningful life and respect their rights.

For this, the Government also needs to frame and introduce development policy and programmes of PWDs.

He also emphasized on the need to organize such training programmes to create mass awareness on the rights and issues of differently-abled persons in the society.

orientation cum training programme on 'Media & Accessibility'

Delivering the key note address, Dr P J Mathew Martin, Course Coordinator, PGDMDC, Department of Outreach & Extension Education Services, AYJNIHH, pointed out that about 15% of the world's population lives with some form of disability.

To leave them out from access to different forms of media would be an injustice.

However, lack of accessibility designs or universal designs application for PWDs in India has remained the main concern.

So, the training programmes aims to create awareness for increasing media accessibility of PWDs.

Dr Sanjay Ranade of University of Mumbai, who talked on 'Mass media & challenges vis-�-vis person with disabilities' as a resource persons, observed that mass media specially electronic media excludes and have no interest to cover stories from uncomfortable places and people inhabiting in remote parts of the country.

Maintaining that denial of human rights in 21st century is a serious crime, K Kanan of Oxfam-India, New Delhi, another resource person, maintained that if we discriminate PWDs, they would surely feel that their rights are being denied.

So, we should ensure equal treatment to persons with disabilities as well.