By Matters India Reporter
Itanagar, Nov 4, 2022: Rajiv Gandhi University Itanagar on November 3 hosted an orientation-training program on “Community Radio Broadcast and Disability Related information” for community radio professionals, mass communication faculty and students.
Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities (Divyangjan) organized the program in collaboration with Community Radio Association of India, and Department of Mass Communication of Rajiv Gandhi Central University, Itanagar, capital of the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.
The Ministry of Railways uses Divyangjan, a Hindi word to replace the term “Persons with disabilities” in English communications. On the suggestion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the word Viklang (handicapped) was replaced with Divyaang (divine body) to refer to persons with disabilities in 2016.
Divyangjan operates under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under the federal government.
According to the 2011 Census, India has 26.8 billion persons with disabilities in a population of 1.21 billion, or about 2.21 percent of the total population.
“Media professionals and media persons need to understand that persons with disabilities are also consumers of media programs,” says P J Mathew Martin of Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities, Mumbai, the training program coordinator.
Since, 21 types of disabilities exist in the world, Martin suggests the application of Universal Design in media as a solution to the problem.
Martin insists that Disability Information Line be made available in multiple languages with help from community radios and assist in help early intervention and rehabilitation and employability of disabled persons.
Besides some 50 students and faculty, resource persons from Mumbai and Delhi, 11 Community Radio Stations of Northeast India participated.
The daylong program inaugurated by Vice Chancellor Saket Kushwaha had speakers highlighting the importance of community radio in creating awareness among public on various issues connected with access and acceptance of differently abled people in the society.
Presentations included, two disabled persons, a faculty and another student, both shared their expectations from media and academic community.
Community Radio Stations present came up with proposals to educate public on ways to create awareness and promote accessibility for the differently abled beginning with introduction of syllabus in high schools and make the foundation course mandatory like Environmental Studies.