Information
Peace Protest on 6th March, 2011 at Delhi on the deaf girl raped by Govt. Doctor in Bankura Hospital, Kolkota, West Bengal:-
About 200 deaf women/girls with 50 deaf men from only NCR gathered at Jantar Mantar, Delhi on 6th March, 2012 for the Peace Protest on the deaf girl raped by Govt. Doctor in Bankura Hospital, Kolkota West Bengal.
The plan was path breaking in its approach to the problems and needs of disabled people and the resolution of these issues. The Plan for the first time contains a section dedicated to the disabled population of the country, numbering approximately 6-7 % of the total population. We represent the deaf community of India, which is reported to be anything from 15 million to 18 million strong. Yet we find ourselves without the most basic access; witness the lack of provision of the post of interpreter and in fact the non-existence of interpreters for the deaf. No access to Government Services, not even Police, Fire and Ambulance, Government Hospital and private hospital or an officer of law without interpreters we are disabled.
The latest outrage perpetrated on the deaf community is the shameless rape of a deaf minor girl in Kolkata by a hearing doctor and action is yet to be taken against him. We demand in the strongest terms that the culprit be brought to book and proceedings him as accused be taken up.
NAD demands an urgent call to Government agencies, for a meeting to create access to justice policy and send them to all Govt. States. Each High court should begin by creating a pool of interpreters who will be able to available to the police and the court as per requirement to support he access needs of the deaf. This should be done immediately.
Our community has long been oppressed without adequate communication access and this dismal state of basic human rights in our country in the 21st century is unconscionable.
Demand:-
- Create a post of interpreter for the deaf as per High court order No.W.P. (C) No. 6250 / 2010 date of decision 24th November, 2011 (see attached).
- Pool of interpreters for the deaf to be established in each district of India.
Imagine life as a deaf person in the country. You cannot go to school; you cannot watch TV and God forbid if you have to go to the police station or hospital for an emergency! Imagine going to catch a train and not being able to hear the announcement that your train has been delayed or postponed or the platform number where the train was supposed to have come has suddenly changed! There are no visual announcements for deaf people!
Imagine being in a building and not being able to hear the fire alarm ring!
There are no visual emergency alarms!
We have decided that we have carried a 'Solidarity March' on Tuesday, 6th March 2012 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi from 11.00 AM to 2:00 PM. It was a 'Silent March' to protest against the Government's silence on our concerns. It was peaceful and orderly.
The Police men led Mrs. Geeta Sharma (Woman Secretary of NAD), Mrs. Rajni Khandelwal (North India Deaf Woman Committee of NAD) & Ms. Nirupama Kaul (C0-Worker of NAD) to meet the Secretary of Health Minister, India. They explained to him about the rape and there is no interpreters in Hospital. They demanded him to provide the human deaf rights. He said He will do it. After their returning, they announced to deaf women that the Secretary, Health Minister accepted our demands.