‘Govt should have signal language interpreters for I-Day occasions’ | Goa Information

Panaji: The Goa Disability Rights Association has requested sign language interpreting from the government for all government programs on Independence Day as well as for all future official functions of the prime minister and governor.
The association has written to the chief secretary, the prime minister, the governor of Goa and the state commissioner for people with disabilities to the effect that there are over 3,000 deaf people in the state.
Section 3 of the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of 2016 prescribes equal opportunities and non-discrimination for people with disabilities and Section 42 prescribes that communication for people with disabilities should be in an accessible format, stated the President of the Association Avelino de Sa. in the letter.
“Last year, the state government adhered to the above guidelines for the programs for Independence Day,” explained de Sa.
Following the efforts of the association, Goa is the second state after Nagaland to have a sign language interpreter for the prime minister’s address to the state on Independence Day in 2020, added de Sa.
The association, which was founded 17 years ago, is committed to integrating people with disabilities into society.