Government wants to make movie theatres accessible for persons with visual and hearing disabilities
Context:
- According to a recent statement by the government officials the deadline for sending public comments on the draft guidelines for accessibility for the hearing and visually impaired in movie halls expires next week.
- Once the guidelines are notified then film production houses and movie theatres will be mandated to either run dedicated shows of films for impaired, or else ensure that provisions are made for them in theatres to be able to enjoy the movie-going experience without any discrimination.
Need of such guidelines:
- In Dec 2023 the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting came out with Accessibility Standards in the Public Exhibition of Feature Films in Cinema Theatres for Persons with Hearing and Visual Impairment.
- The government invited stakeholder comments on the draft till February 15.
- The above guidelines are applicable for those feature films that are certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for public exhibition in cinema halls/movie theatres for commercial purposes.
- The focus of these guidelines is not only on the content but also on the information and assistive devices which are needed by persons with disabilities to enjoy films in cinema theatres.
- The proposal of the government quotes Sections 29 and 42 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 which mandate the government to take measures to promote universal access in the information and communication sector, including access to films for persons with hearing and visual disabilities.
- According to the Census 2011, 2.21% of the total population in India has been marked as ‘disabled’, of which 19 percent are with disability in seeing, and another 19 percent are with disability in hearing.
What do the guidelines propose?
- The producer would be required to deliver two sets of the films for certification to CBFC.
- They are the original one for the public view and also the second one with accessibility features audio description, open/closed captioning and Indian Sign Language Interpretation.
- Cinemas should also to ensure that feature films being delivered for theatrical releases mandatorily have both the versions being certified by CBFC.
- There are two options for the cinema halls to implement this.
- The first option is to have dedicated days and timings of screenings with accessible services.
- The second option is using certain equipment in theatres during the normal show, which facilitates the impaired segment.
When do these guidelines come into effect?
- Films dubbed in more than one language would be required to provide at least one accessibility feature each for the hearing impaired and visually impaired within six months from the effective date of implementation of the said guidelines.
- Feature films which are submitted for consideration in the National Film Awards, in the Indian Panorama Section of the International Film Festival of India, Goa and Mumbai International Film Festival also have to include closed captioning and audio description with effect from January 1 next year.
- All other Feature Films which are being certified through CBFC and meant for theatrical release (digital feature films), would be required to mandatorily provide accessibility features from three years from the date of issue of these guidelines.
- The licensing authorities will monitor the places under their jurisdiction to make sure provision of accessible seats.
- The provisions will be made mandatory after three years from the date of notification of the guidelines.
- The I&B Ministry shall also set up a committee to monitor the implementation of these rules.
- It will comprise 50 percent members who are persons with hearing/visual impairment and also representatives from the film industry.
- In case of a grievance one can file a complaint with the licensee of the cinema theatre.
- In case of unsatisfactory response or lack of response from the licensee the complainant may also file the complaint before the licensing authority after a period of 45 days.
- Annually the CBFC will collect and publish information about different accessible services provided in the certified feature films.
