Subtitled Prime Time News on National TV for Deaf People
Article 21 ‘Freedom of Expression and Opinion, and Access to Information’ 
talks about mass media to make their services accessible to persons
with disabilities. The only accessible T.V. news that was available to
deaf people in India was the weekly sign language news bulletin. In
other developed/progressive countries, the Sub-titling of television
programming is a very normal thing.
The demand for sub-titling television programming was first raised by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) about two years ago, but the Government did not take it very seriously. The Chapter, ‘Empowering Persons with Disability’ in the XI Five Year Plan, which was drafted by Disabled Rights Group (DRG) clearly stated, ‘Subtitling and captioning of all recorded information and similar support services is also essential. National Captioning Centre will also be set up to provide sub-titling and captioning services.’
During last World Disability Day, one of DRG’s “10 Big Ticket Items” demands was “An Order to be issued to all broadcasters to ensure sub-titling of all television programmes and films.”
The Prime Minister’s Office took up the matter with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. The decision to make Prime Time news accessible to hearing impaired people was taken at a Meeting held in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in March 2009. As the news reader reads the news, either a running scroll or sub-titles will appear at the bottom of the screen of the television set.
This will be a completely new thing for India and in that sense, a historic first.
According to Mr. Javed Abidi, Convenor, DRG “For us, this is not the end of the road. On the contrary, it is the beginning of one. Yes, Prime Time news being made accessible to deaf people is a good & positive beginning. However, our aim is to ensure that the entire programming on television, atleast as far as public broadcasters are concerned, is made accessible. We also aim to now extend this dialogue with the private Sector. It is now incumbent upon all the private television channels to take necessary steps.”