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Open House with George Abraham: Mainstreaming Persons with Disabilities
http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/open-house-with-george-abraham
<b>CIS collaborated with Ashoka India to host ‘Open House with George Abraham’ – an open discussion on inclusion of persons with disabilities in mainstream society on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at the Ashoka premises.</b>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The event involved screening of episodes from ‘NazaryaNazariya’ — a television series on living with visual impairment — followed by a discussion with George Abraham, CEO, Score Foundation, on identifying and resolving challenges that restrict inclusion of persons with disabilities in mainstream society.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><i>Nazarya Nazariya</i> (Sight or Perspective) is a series that was created by the Delhi based <a class="external-link" href="http://scorefoundation.org.in/">Score Foundation</a> and was telecast on <a class="external-link" href="http://www.ddindia.gov.in/Default.aspx">Doordarshan</a>. The series showcases different challenges faced by persons with visual impairment and explores steps to ensure inclusion of the visually impaired.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The discussion with George Abraham initially centred around the importance of education and universal design — the topics highlighted in the two episodes that were screened — before moving on to other areas such as use of assistive technology, enhancing employability of persons with disabilities, developing equal employment opportunities and creating an inclusive workplace.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/open-house-with-george-abraham'>http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/open-house-with-george-abraham</a>
</p>
No publisheranandiAccessibility2014-06-04T10:53:11ZBlog EntryAn Open House Session with George Abraham
http://editors.cis-india.org/events/open-house-session-with-george-abraham
<b>Ashoka India and the Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) welcome you to an open house session with George Abraham, CEO and Founder of the SCORE Foundation at Ashoka- Innovators for the Public in Domlur on Wednesday, May 21, 2014.</b>
<p class="callout" style="text-align: justify; ">“Blindness or disability is not the real problem, it is the way we all think.” – Ashoka Fellow George Abraham</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Made invisible in the public sphere, persons with disability are often overlooked by society as productive members of the community. Their families, friends and mainstream media too have done little to change the limited lens through which they, and ultimately individuals with disability see and define their role in their communities.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">We believe that the time has come for us as a society, especially businesses, to break the barriers between different worlds. We need to create spaces that allow us to ‘step in’ to each other’s worlds and engage in meaningful dialogues that allow us to reflect, question and develop an empathetic lens to building a society that is more inclusive to persons with disability.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Join Ashoka India and the Center for Internet and Society (CIS) for an <b>Open House Session</b> on <i>Wednesday, May 21</i>, where we will be screening an episode of George Abraham’s new show on the visually impaired-<b>“Nazar ya Nazariya”</b>-followed by a Q&A with George, Ashoka and CIS on what it means to shift the perception and treatment of disability in society, media and big business.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Agenda</h2>
<table class="listing">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Time</th><th>Detail</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15.00<br />15.30</td>
<td>Screening of Nazar Ya Nazariya</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15.30<br />16.00</td>
<td>Q&A with George Abraham</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16.00<br />17.00</td>
<td style="text-align: justify; ">An open dialogue with experts and audience members on <b>Stepping into Disability</b>: <i>How can we begin to change the paradigm on the inclusion of persons with disability into mainstream society, with a special focus on corporates and business enterprise?</i></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17.00<br />17.30</td>
<td>Connect and Share (Networking space)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>RSVP</h3>
<ol>
<li>RSVP: Olina Banerji (9480826557) - <a href="mailto:obanerji@ashoka.org">obanerji@ashoka.org</a></li>
<li>Rajesh Varghese (9008998414) - <a href="mailto:rvarghese@ashoka.org">rvarghese@ashoka.org</a></li>
<li>Anandhi Visvanathan (8197177080) - <a href="mailto:anandhi@cis-india.org">anandhi@cis-india.org</a></li>
</ol>
<hr />
<h2>The Team</h2>
<h3>George Abraham</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Based on his own experiences and those of hundreds of visually impaired people, George has developed a program whose combination of clinical and non-clinical components will help the seeing impaired stand on their own feet and realize their full potentials. George has designed the Vision Enhancement Center (VEC) to institutionalize comprehensive, non-medical eye care services. Like counseling, equipment, training, medical referrals, information, and rehabilitation services. George's goal is to build the first world-class institution for the visually impaired in the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) region to be an example that will inspire widespread reform in the way the blind and other people with disabilities are treated, cared for, educated, and employed. To garner support for his work, George is partnering with civil society organizations, medical professionals, the government, and corporations. His latest venture has been a collaboration with Doordarshan to create a 13-episode television series called <b>Nazar Ya Nazariya</b>, that highlights and celebrates visually impaired individuals who have overcome both physical and mental barriers to integrate successfully into the mainstream.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">CIS</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Centre for Internet and Society is a non-profit research organization that works on policy issues relating to freedom of expression, privacy, accessibility for persons with disabilities, access to knowledge and IPR reform, and openness (including open government, FOSS, open standards, etc.), and engages in academic research on digital natives and digital humanities.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Ashoka</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Ashoka is the world’s leading network of social entrepreneurs — men and women who are creating new institutions to implement system-changing solutions for the world’s most urgent social problems. Since 1980, Ashoka has pioneered the field of social entrepreneurship, electing and connecting more than 3,000 Fellows with innovative, sustainable solutions in a variety of fields such as civic engagement, economic development, health, human rights, environment, and learning/education in over 70 countries. As the largest association of leading social entrepreneurs in the world, Ashoka has started and supported movements that have brought about widespread social change, and has developed a keen understanding of what individuals need to make change happen. Ashoka has been engaged in learning from and serving this historical movement across the globe for 25 years.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/events/open-house-session-with-george-abraham'>http://editors.cis-india.org/events/open-house-session-with-george-abraham</a>
</p>
No publisherpraskrishnaAccessibilityEvent2014-05-19T01:45:58ZEventSummary of Judgements on Disability Rights
http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/summary-of-judgments-on-disability-rights
<b>The following are some of the landmark judgments given by the Supreme Court and some of the high courts in India on disability rights. </b>
<h3>Supreme Court Decisions</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Deaf Employees Welfare Association v Union of India</b><a href="#fn1" name="fr1">[1]</a><br />This petition was filed seeking a Writ of Mandamus directing the Central and state governments to grant equal transport allowance to its government employees suffering from hearing impairment as what was being given to blind and other disabled government employees. The allowance given to the hearing impaired employees was significantly lower than the allowance granted to other employees with disabilities.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Supreme Court allowed the petition and directed the Respondents to grant transport allowance to speech and hearing impaired persons also on par with blind and orthopaedically disabled government employees. The court held that <i>“there cannot be further discrimination between a person with disability of ‘blindness’ and a person with disability of ‘hearing impairment’. Such discrimination has not been envisaged under the Disabilities Act</i>.” It held that equality of law and equal protection of law afforded to all persons with disabilities while participating in government functions. The court held that the dignity of persons with hearing impairments must be protected by the state. Even the assumption that a hearing or speech impaired person is suffering less than a blind person is, in effect, marginalizing them; and as such, the same benefits must be given to them, as are awarded to blind citizens. Any move made by the state to further this objective is in consonance with the principles enshrined in Articles 14. This case held that deaf and mute people should also be given transportation allowances on par with blind and orthopedically handicapped employees of the government.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Union of India v National Federation of the Blind</b><a href="#fn2" name="fr2">[2]</a><br />This was an appeal from the decision of the Delhi High Court wherein a public interest petition had been filed which sought the implementation of Section 33 of the Act alleging that the appellants herein have failed to provide reservation to the blind and low vision persons and they are virtually excluded from the process of recruitment to the Government posts as stipulated under the said Act.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The court looked into the calculation of the 3% reservation –whether it refers to cadre strength, or number of vacancies. It was held that 3% refers to a part of the total vacancies in cadre strength. The court also observed, “It is clear that while section 33 provides for a minimum level of representation of 3 per cent in the establishments of appropriate government, the legislature intended to ensure 5 per cent of representation in the entire workforce both in public as well as private sector”.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Government of India v Ravi Prakash Gupta</b><a href="#fn3" name="fr3">[3]</a><br />In this case, the respondent was a visually challenged person who appeared for the civil services examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission and was declared successful. However, he was not given an appointment even though he was at Sl. No. 5 in the merit list of visually impaired candidates. The respondent approached the Central Administrative Tribunal which refused his application and thereafter the respondent approached the high court. The high court directed the government to accommodate the Respondent in the merit list, against which the state filed an appeal in the Supreme Court. The state contended that since the post for which the respondent was applying was not identified for persons with disabilities and therefore not reserved for them, the government could not make reservations in the same.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Supreme Court refused the state government’s contention that identification of jobs was a pre-requisite for reservation and appointment under section 33 of the Act.<a href="#fn4" name="fr4">[4]</a> The court held,</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; padding-left: 30px; ">"It is only logical that, as provided in section 32 of the aforesaid Act, posts have to be identified for reservation for the purposes of Section 33, but such identification was meant to be simultaneously undertaken with the coming into operation of the Act, to give effect to the provisions of Section 33. The legislature never intended the provisions of section 32 of the Act to be used as a tool to deny the benefits of Section 33 to these categories of disabled persons indicated therein. Such a submission strikes at the foundation of the provisions relating to the duty cast upon the appropriate government to make appointments in every establishment."<a href="#fn5" name="fr5">[5]</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Syed Bashir-ud-Din Qadri v. Nazir Ahmed Shah</b><a href="#fn6" name="fr6">[6]</a><br />This was a decision by the Supreme Court. In this case, the Appellant was a B.Sc. graduate with cerebral palsy who had applied for a job as a ‘Rehbar-e-Taleem’ or ‘Teaching Guide’ in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The state government had initially objected to his appointment on the ground of his disability. The appellant however, with directions from the high court, was appointed under the Jammu and Kashmir Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1998.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Respondent then filed a petition challenging the order of appointment and the appellant was re-examined by the head of the Department of Neurology. It was indicated in the report that as he had cerebral palsy, he had significant speech and writing difficulties, which would make it difficult for him to perform his duties as a teacher. The high court quashed his appointment and ordered that since the appellant was unfit to the post of the teacher he should be given an alternative employment. His appeal to the division bench of the high court was dismissed and he thereafter approached the Supreme Court.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court observed that,</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px; text-align: justify; ">“This case involves a beneficial piece of social legislation to enable persons with certain forms of disability to live a life of purpose and human dignity. This is a case which has to be handled with sensitivity and not with bureaucratic apathy, as appears to have been done as far as the appellant is concerned... It is only to be expected that the movement of a person suffering from cerebral palsy would be jerky on account of locomotor disability and that his speech would be somewhat impaired but despite the same, the legislature thought it fit to provide for reservation of 1 per cent of the vacancies for such persons. So long as the same did not impede the person from discharging his duties efficiently and without causing prejudice to the children being taught, there could, therefore, be no reason for a rigid approach to be taken not to continue with the appellant's services as Rehbar-e-Taleem, particularly, when his students had themselves stated that they had got used to his manner of talking and did not have any difficulty in understanding the subject being taught by him... Coupled with the above is the fact that the results achieved by him in the different classes were extremely good; his appearance and demeanour in school had been highly appreciated by the committee which had been constituted pursuant to the orders of the high court to assess the appellant's ability in conducting his classes.”<a href="#fn7" name="fr7">[7]</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The court directed that in order to overcome the impediment of writing on the black board, an electronic external aid could be provided to the appellant, which could eliminate the need for drawing a diagram and the same could be substituted by a picture on a screen, which could be projected with minimum effort. With these directions for providing reasonable accommodation, the Supreme Court held that the disengagement of the appellant goes against the grain of the PWD Act and hence the order was set aside by the court.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Suchita Srivastava v. Chandigarh Administration</b><a href="#fn8" name="fr8">[8]</a><br />This case was with regard to the reproductive rights of a woman with mental retardation residing at a government run welfare institution in Chandigarh who became pregnant due to a rape by an in-house staff and who wanted to keep the baby and carry on the pregnancy to full term. The Chandigarh Administration filed a petition in the high court seeking permission to terminate her pregnancy under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (“MTP Act”) on the ground that she was not capable of carrying on with the pregnancy and would not be able to look after a child. Although the expert body found that the woman had expressed her wish to bear her child, the high court directed the termination of the pregnancy. The woman, through an amicus, appealed to the Supreme Court and one of the main issues before the Supreme Court was regarding the legal capacity of a woman with mental retardation to decide on her pregnancy.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Supreme Court noted the provisions of the MTP Act, which provided that where pregnancy is a result of rape and termination of the same is contemplated, the consent of the pregnant woman is mandatory.<a href="#fn9" name="fr9">[9] </a>The court also noted the exception to this provision which provided that in case of a pregnant woman who is “mentally ill”, pregnancy can be terminated with the approval of the woman’s guardian.<a href="#fn10" name="fr10">[10] </a>Following this, the court proceeded to make a distinction between ‘mental illness’ and ‘mental retardation’. Upholding the legal capacity of the appellant, the court held:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; padding-left: 30px; ">“While a guardian can make decisions on behalf a ‘mentally ill person’ as per Section 3(4)(a) of the MTP Act, the same cannot be done on behalf of a person who is in a condition of ‘mental retardation’. The only reasonable conclusion that can be arrived at in this regard is that the State must respect the personal autonomy of a mentally retarded woman with regard to decisions about terminating a pregnancy. It can also be reasoned that while the explicit consent of the woman in question is not a necessary condition for continuing the pregnancy, the MTP Act clearly lays down that obtaining the consent of the pregnant woman is indeed an essential condition for proceeding with the termination of a pregnancy... We cannot permit a dilution of this requirement of consent since the same would amount to an arbitrary and unreasonable restriction on the reproductive rights of the victim.”<a href="#fn11" name="fr11">[11]</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Thus the Supreme Court clearly held that the MTP Act required the consent of a mentally retarded woman for termination of pregnancy. Following this, the Court concluded that the Appellant was mentally retarded, had not consented to the termination of her pregnancy and in fact, had expressed her willingness to bear the child. Therefore it could not permit the termination of her pregnancy. In arriving at this conclusion, the Court not only recognised the reproductive rights of a woman under the MTP Act, but also recognised international norms and principles on mentally retarded persons and persons with disabilities under the CRPD. In this context the Court specifically held:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; padding-left: 30px; ">"Our conclusions in this case are strengthened by some norms developed in the realm of international law... In respecting the personal autonomy of mentally retarded persons with regard to the reproductive choice of continuing or terminating a pregnancy, the MTP Act lays down such a procedure. We must also bear in mind that India has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on October 1, 2007 and the contents of the same are binding on our legal system."<a href="#fn12" name="fr12">[12]</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The court clearly recognised the right to legal capacity of women with mental retardation to take independent decisions on her pregnancy. The Supreme Court held that “<i>Her reproductive choice should be respected in spite of other factors such as the lack of understanding of the sexual act as well as apprehensions about her capacity to carry the pregnancy to its full term and the assumption of maternal responsibilities thereafter.<a href="#fn13" name="fr13">[13]</a></i>” Therefore, the Supreme Court laid out the specific right to legal capacity which was not subject to an understanding of one’s situation and capacities. This case clearly follows the spirit of protection of legal capacity under Article 12 of the CRPD.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">High Court Decisions</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Ranjit Kumar Rajak v. State Bank of India</b>(2009) 5 Bom CR 227<br />The Petitioner in this case underwent a renal transplant in 2004. Subsequently, he applied to the post of a probationary officer in the State Bank of India. After a medical test, the bank rejected him on the ground that he was found medically unfit for the post. The petitioner approached the Bombay High Court by a writ petition claiming that despite medical reports that indicate his fitness to perform his duties, he was denied being considered for employment. The bank rejected him as the rules required the bank to reimburse medical expenses incurred by the officers of the bank and since the medical condition of the Petitioner required regular medical check-ups, the costs would be very high and could not be borne by the bank. The main question, according to the Court, was “<i>whether a person who is fully qualified for a post because of his past or present medical condition which otherwise did not interfere with his fitness to dispense the duties of his post, be denied employment because of the financial burden that would be cast on the employer</i>.”<a href="#fn14" name="fr14">[14]</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">In an extremely significant ruling, a Division Bench of the Bombay High Court<a href="#fn15" name="fr15">[15] </a>articulated and recognised for the first time the concept of “reasonable accommodation at the workplace” in India. The court relied on the CRPD to decide the duty of the employer in providing reasonable accommodation and the limits on such a duty. The court recognised that India had signed and ratified the CRPD and that Article 27 of the Convention recognises the right of persons with disability to be "accepted in the labour market and work environment that is open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities."<a href="#fn16" name="fr16">[16]</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The court also discussed the definition of “reasonable accommodation” under Article 2 as “a necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.”<a href="#fn17" name="fr17">[17]</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">In interpreting “reasonable accommodation” and “undue burden” the court relied on the CRPD and recognised the importance of India’s international obligations with respect to rights of disabled persons by stating that:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; padding-left: 30px; ">“The law is now well settled that though the United Nations Convention may not have been enacted into the Municipal Law, as long as the convention is not in conflict with the Municipal Law and can be read into Article 2 thus making it enforceable. Therefore, in the absence of any conflict it is possible to read the test of reasonable accommodation in employment contracts.”<a href="#fn18" name="fr18">[18]</a></p>
<p>The Court further held:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; padding-left: 30px; ">“A duty is, therefore, cast on the State to provide reasonable accommodation in the matter of employment subject to the burden of hardship test being satisfied. In the absence of a statutory definition of reasonable accommodation, the reasonable accommodation as set out in the protocol in the first instance can be considered. It will have to have a nexus with the financial burden on the institution and/or undertaking which will have to bear the burden and further the extent to which reasonable accommodation can be provided for.”<a href="#fn19" name="fr19">[19]</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The court incorporated the right to reasonable accommodation by declaring that “Reasonable accommodation, if read into Article 21, based on the U.N Protocol, would not be in conflict with municipal law. It would give added life and dimension to the ever expanding concept of life and its true enjoyment.”<a href="#fn20" name="fr20">[20] </a>Following this, the court concluded that the bank has a duty to provide reasonable accommodation to the petitioner subject to any undue burden. The court observed that no evidence was presented on how the financial burden would actually be a caused to the bank in providing reasonable accommodation to the petitioner even if it meant meeting his medical expenses. Consequently, the court allowed the petition and directed that the Petitioner be offered appointment and allowed to join the post.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Lalit and Others v Govt. of NCT and Another</b><a href="#fn21" name="fr21">[21]</a><br />This petition was filed by 12 inmates of the hostel attached to Andh Mahavidyalya, New Delhi, an institution for visually impaired students, seeking a direction that they may not be expelled or dispossessed from the hostel. Out of these 12 inmates, expulsion orders were issued by the Respondents against 5 inmates on the ground that the hostel was meant for only students up to Class VIII and the petitioners had overstayed beyond this class. Many of them were between 25-35 years old and it was alleged that there was a shortage of space for deserving younger visually impaired students and that they were also intimidating the younger students. One of the main issues before the Court was whether the hostel was obligated to accommodate the petitioners because of their disabled status even if it resulted in a disadvantage to the other disabled students.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Justice Muralidhar of the Delhi High Court noted that the facts illustrated the lack of decent accommodation for children with disabilities and recognised the associated problems of lack of resources, hygiene and accountability in the running of institutions with disabled children. The court held as follows:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; padding-left: 30px; ">“In the context of the inviolable human rights of the disabled, it is necessary to take note of the binding and mandatory provisions of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (specifically Sections 26 and 30) (`PDR Act’) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (`CRPD’) which has been ratified by India. In particular, Article 7 which set out the obligations of the States towards children with disabilities, Article 9 which obliges the States to take appropriate measures to ensure access to “schools, housing, medical facilities’, and Article 24 which deals with the right to education are relevant.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The court relied upon Article 24 of the CRPD which guaranteed the right to education and held that in the context of a disabled child housed in a state-run institution there are a cluster of laws all of which can be traced to the fundamental rights to liberty and a life with dignity. It held that in the context of a young person receiving education in a state-run institution as a resident scholar, the right to shelter and decent living is an inalienable facet of the right to education itself and when the State takes over the running of an educational institution that caters to the needs of the disabled, it has to account for the ‘cascading effect’ of multiple disadvantages that such children face.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">In the context of the present case however, the court held that due to the limitation of resources, all the visually impaired persons at the Andh Mahavidhyalala, irrespective of their age cannot possibly expect to be allowed to live there as the primary purpose should be to cater to the needs of young children studying up to class VIII. If this primary object was not kept in view, then it may result in an unfair denial of the right to education of other deserving young students who are visually challenged.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The court thus directed the Respondent authorities to take every possible effort to see if all the 5 inmates who were given expulsion orders could be accommodated in any of the other institutions in Delhi. Sufficient time of 6 months should be given to them to make alternative arrangements and assistance should be given to help them find alternative accommodation. The court also observed that this case should act as a wakeup call for the government to monitor the functioning generally of all institutions under its control, particularly for the disabled. This case illustrates the incorporation of the CRPD principles with regard to reasonable accommodation and right to education of children. The court was called upon to balance the two rights, which it ultimately did by taking into account the level of disabilities faced by each group demanding accommodation.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>The National Association for the Deaf v. Union of India</b> <a href="#fn22" name="fr22">[22]</a><br />This was a public interest petition filed by the National Association for the Deaf before the Delhi High Court on the non-availability of sign language interpreters in public services. The petition complained of the lack of availability of adequate number of sign language interpreters in various public places and sought for directions against the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and other authorities to ensure access and better training of sign language interpreters.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">While the court noted the lack of availability of sign language interpreters, it agreed with the Petitioner Association that due to non-availability of interpreters, the hearing impaired were unable to avail medical, transport and banking facilities and to also seek police help. With regard to the importance of ensuring the availability of support in the form of interpreters, the Court relied on the CRPD and held,</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; padding-left: 30px; ">“The United Nations Convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities adopted by the General Assembly and ratified by the Govt. of India on 1st October, 2007 also provides for taking appropriate measures to provide forms of live assistance and intermediaries including guides, readers and professional Sign Language Interpreters to facilitate accessibility to buildings and other facilities open to the public. Needless to state that all the said rights are composite part of life enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution of India.”<a href="#fn23" name="fr23">[23]</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Based on this, the court issued specific directions to the respondent authorities which included undertaking a survey to assess the availability and requirements for sign language interpreters, appointing nodal officers to seek information from concerned authorities and prepare a report to be used for creation of new posts, creating courses and curricula for training of interpreters.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>BhagwanDass and Anr v. Punjab State Electricity Board</b><br />In this case, the Appellant was an Assistant Lineman in the Respondent Board. During his service, he became totally blind and the Respondent failed to accommodate him in an alternative post as per Section 47 of the PWD Act and terminated his service. Therefore the appellant approached the High Court of Punjab and Haryana against the termination of his service. The high court dismissed the petition and the Appellant appealed to the Supreme Court.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Supreme Court allowed the appeal relying on Section 47 of the PWD Act and observed that the Board had an obligation to follow this provision as the appellant had acquired disability during his service. On Section 47, the Court relied on a previous decision in <i>Kunal Singh v. Union of India and Anr</i><a href="#fn24" name="fr24">[24] </a>which held that, “<i>In construing a provision of a social beneficial enactment that too dealing with disabled persons intended to give them equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation, the view that advances the object of the Act and serves its purpose must be preferred to the one which obstructs the object and paralyses the purpose of the Act</i>”<a href="#fn25" name="fr25">[25]</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The court gave a broad interpretation to Section 47 and took a protective approach towards persons with disabilities by holding:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; padding-left: 30px; ">“From the narrow point of view the officers were duty bound to follow the law and it was not open to them to allow their bias to defeat the lawful rights of the disabled employee. From the larger point of view the officers failed to realise that the disabled too are equal citizens of the country and have as much share in its resources as any other citizen. The denial of their rights would not only be unjust and unfair to them and their families but would create larger and graver problems for the society at large. What the law permits to them is no charity or largess but their right as equal citizens of the country.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Ritesh Sinha v. State of Haryana</b><a href="#fn26" name="fr26">[26]</a><br />In this case, an important interim order was passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana and the matter is still pending. The petitioner was a person with locomotor disability and was appointed as a clerk by the District and Sessions Judge, Karnal in the post reserved for physically disabled persons. Thereafter his services were terminated due to his inability to perform the duties as a clerk who was expected to write the office notes and maintain records in his own hands.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The court held that as the petitioner was well conversant with computer operations and that there could be plenty of work done by him like preparation of daily cause lists of all courts, certified copies of judgments, etc., which could be assigned to a computer savvy person like him. The court directed that in the interim, his dismissal order would remain stayed, and the respondents were directed to reinstate the petitioner in service with all benefits. The court even directed the respondents to immediately construct a ramp / slope so that the petitioner could enter his office and a compliance report to be submitted to court about the same. Further, it directed the respondents to see that a congenial atmosphere is created at the workplace so that the Petitioner is made an integral part of the mainstream workforce.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>U.P. Vishesh Shikshak Association v. State of U.P.</b><a href="#fn27" name="fr27">[27]</a><br />Here the Petitioner Association had filed a public interest petition before the Allahabad High Court contending that the pupil-teacher ratio so far as specialised teachers and children with disabilities was concerned was not adequate and claimed that the government circular on Integrated Education for Disabled Children Scheme mandated a pupil teacher ratio of 8:1. It also claimed that the Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992 imposed a statutory duty on the State to make arrangements for adequate number of teachers for persons with disabilities.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Allahabad High Court recognised the statutory duty of the State to “provide all necessary help and assistance to physically disabled students.”<a href="#fn28" name="fr28">[28] </a>However, in response to an argument that orthopaedically handicapped children do not require specialised teachers, it held, “<i>We are of the view that now, the right to education and right to livelihood being the fundamental rights enshrined under Articles 21 and 21-A of the Constitution, the State Government has to make all efforts to provide necessary assistance to all disabled persons. Taking into consideration the meagre strength of 1291 teachers, we cannot presume that State Government may be able to impart education to disabled students.</i>”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Manjunatha v. Government of Karnataka and Ors</b><a href="#fn29" name="fr29">[29]</a><br />In this case, the petitioner, who was completely blind sought to apply for the B. Ed. Course under the government quota of seats in Karnataka. However, he was denied admission by reason of the condition that persons with disability greater than 75 per cent would not be eligible for admission. The announcement issued by the respondent permitted applications from persons with disability but restricted it to such applicants who had a disability exceeding 40 per cent but below 75 per cent.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Karnataka High Court allowed the petition by holding that such a provision in the announcement ran counter to the PWD Act. The respondent government argued that the upper limit in the announcement was based on a similar provision in Karnataka Selection of Candidates for Admission to Teachers Certificate Higher Course (TCH) and Bachelor of Education Course (B.Ed.) Rules 1999 and therefore such a notification could not be challenged. The bench however, rejected this contention and held that even the Rules run contrary to the PWD Act and the state government could not rely on the Rules to deny admission to candidates having more than 75 per cent disability. The court ruled in favour of the petitioner and held that he was entitled to take up CET for admission to B.Ed. course and further declared that he shall not be denied admission on the basis of his disability exceeding 75 per cent.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The observations of the court strengthened the protection for persons with disabilities as it effectively held that the disability legislations would take precedence over administrative rules of the government.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>KritikaPurohit and Anr. v. State of Maharashtra and Ors</b>.<a href="#fn30" name="fr30">[30]</a><br />The petitioner was a visually impaired student who sought admission to the course in Bachelor of Physiotherapy but was not permitted to apply for the same. The petitioner contended that although the post of a physiotherapist was considered to be suitable for blind persons, the denial of courses in physiotherapy for blind persons ran counter to Section 39 of the PWD Act and that the respondents were obliged to make all accommodations for the Petitioner in conformity with Article 24(2) of the CRPD.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The respondents contended that it was not practical for the petitioner to be involved in the course. However, the court also noted the petitioner’s reliance on the circular of the Mumbai University in mandating that resources should be made available to visually impaired student to allow them to complete their courses. In view of these materials, the court observed that the respondents had shown a negative attitude towards persons with disabilities and “<i>have not cared to consider the object underlying the provisions of Disabilities Act, 1995</i>”. Therefore, by an interim order dated 2 August 2010, it directed the Commissioner of Disabilities to consider all the materials and make suitable instructions to the respondents for making necessary arrangements for admission of visually challenged students. It also directed that the petitioner should be provisionally admitted for the course and should be provided with resources for translation of the material to braille.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Subsequently the court found that the petitioner had completed the first exam and had secured 62 per cent in the same. Therefore, it held that she should be allowed to be admitted and complete the course. However, the court noted that the state government had accepted the guidelines of the Maharashtra State Council for Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy that visually impaired candidates are not fit for the physiotherapy course. On this, it noted the contentions of the Petitioner and also Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged who claimed that a physiotherapist is not required to perform all the functions of physiotherapy and visually impaired physiotherapists can perform all functions with assistance if necessary. They also pointed out various physiotherapists who were working in Maharasthra successfully for many years. The court held that “<i>We are, therefore, of the view that the stand of the respondent authorities is clearly discriminatory and adversely affects the Right to Life and equal opportunities of the petitioner as also other such students similarly situated. The fact that petitioner though being visually impaired not only passed her first year examination with 62% marks and is successfully studying in 2nd year, and several visually impaired persons have been working as professional physiotherapists in India as well as abroad appeals to us not to allow the petitioner as also others in the same position to be discriminated against or disqualified on that ground.</i><a href="#fn31" name="fr31">[31]</a>”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Thus, the court stayed the decision of the state government and directed the respondents to consider candidates with visual disability for admission to the course in physiotherapy.</p>
<hr />
<p>[<a href="#fr1" name="fn1">1</a>]. Civil Petition 107 of 2011, decided on December 12, 2013.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr2" name="fn2">2</a>]. (2013)2 SCC 772.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr3" name="fn3">3</a>]. (2010) 7 SCC 626.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">[<a href="#fr4" name="fn4">4</a>]. The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, section 33, available at <a class="external-link" href="http://www.socialjustice.nic.in/pwdact1995.php?format=print">http://www.socialjustice.nic.in/pwdact1995.php?format=print</a></p>
<p>[<a href="#fr5" name="fn5">5</a>]. Id at Para 16.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr6" name="fn6">6</a>]. SLP(C)Nos.10669-70 of 2008 decided on 10 March 2010.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr7" name="fn7">7</a>]. SLP(C)Nos.10669-70 of 2008 ¶28.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr8" name="fn8">8</a>]. 2009 (9) SCC 1.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr9" name="fn9">9</a>]. See Section 3(4)(b), Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr10" name="fn10">10</a>]. See Section 3(4)(a), Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr11" name="fn11">11</a>].Suchita Shrivastavav Chandigarh Administration, (2009) 9 SCC 1, at para 15.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr12" name="fn12">12</a>]. <i>See</i> Id at Para 25, 26.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr13" name="fn13">13</a>]. See SuchitaShrivastava (n 5) at Para 10.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr14" name="fn14">14</a>]. Ranjit Kumar Rajak v. State Bank of India 2009 (5) BomCR 227 at Para 1.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr15" name="fn15">15</a>]. With Justice Re</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr16" name="fn16">16</a>]. See Article 27(1), CRPD (n 1).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">[<a href="#fr17" name="fn17">17</a>]. Reasonable accommodation is recognised under Article 2 of the CRPD and is defined as follows: ‘“Reasonable accommodation” means necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.”</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr18" name="fn18">18</a>]. Ranjit Kumar Rajak (n 9) at Para 17.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr19" name="fn19">19</a>]. Id at Para 19.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr20" name="fn20">20</a>]. Id at Para 21.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr21" name="fn21">21</a>]. W.P. (C) No. 3444/2008, Judgment dated 7.5.2010 (Delhi High Court).</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr22" name="fn22">22</a>]. W.P.(C) No.6250/2010, Judgment dated 24.11.2011 (Delhi High Court).</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr23" name="fn23">23</a>]. The National Association of the Deaf v Union of India(n 20) at Para 7.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr24" name="fn24">24</a>]. (2003) 4 SCC 524.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr25" name="fn25">25</a>]. Id at Para 9.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr26" name="fn26">26</a>].CWP NO. 3087 OF 2011 (Punjab and Haryana High Court).</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr27" name="fn27">27</a>]. Misc Bench No. 5622/ 2010, order dated 17 June 2010 (Allahabad High Court).</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr28" name="fn28">28</a>]. Id at Para 12.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr29" name="fn29">29</a>]. W.P. 35969/2010, judgment dated 29-09-2011 (Karnataka High Court).</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr30" name="fn30">30</a>]. W.P. 979/2010, Bombay High Court.</p>
<p>[<a href="#fr31" name="fn31">31</a>]. KritikaPurohit and Anr. v. State of Maharashtra and Ors., W.P. 979/2010, Bombay High Court, order dated 17 November 2011, para 7.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/summary-of-judgments-on-disability-rights'>http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/summary-of-judgments-on-disability-rights</a>
</p>
No publisherCLPRAccessibility2014-05-23T09:23:13ZBlog EntryThe Road to Financial Inclusion
http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/the-road-to-financial-inclusion
<b>It is increasingly frustrating to hear about wonderful steps being taken for financial inclusion within the private sector which completely ignores the question of inclusion of persons with disabilities. </b>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Those of us working in the disabilities sector and those who live with the reality of disability know how difficult it is for persons with disabilities to even open bank accounts independently, and for those who are allowed to open bank accounts on their own, access to added services like ATM cards, chequebooks, internet banking — facilities which many of us take for granted — becomes a matter of discretion of bank managerial staff. The <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/banking-and-accessibility-in-india-report">CIS Report on Banking Accessibility</a> is a seminal document on the problems being faced on accessibility to banking, and it was hoped that the Reserve Bank of India would take cognizance of the numerous issued raised within it.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">On May 21, 2014, the Reserve Bank of India issued a <a href="http://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/notification/PDFs/DB13NT0514FS.pdf">notification</a> mandating all scheduled banks to take necessary steps to provide all existing ATMs / future ATMs with ramps for the same to be accessible for persons with disabilities, and provided further that the height of the ATMs should not create an impediment in their use by wheelchair users. The onus is on banks to provide this, and in cases where such changes are not practicable, this requirement may be dispensed with, for reasons recorded and displayed in branches or ATMs concerned. The requirements for ramps at entrances is also extended to bank branches (wherever feasible). The notification also notes the failure of Banks to ensure that at least 1/3rd of all their ATMs are "talking" ATMs with Braille keypads as per the <a href="http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=4923&Mode=0">2009 Circular</a> and now mandates that all ATMs installed from July 1,<sup></sup> 2014 shall be talking ATMs with Braille Keypads.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The 2014 Notification goes one step forward and makes special provisions for providing magnifying glasses for persons with low vision in order to assist them in the carrying out of banking transactions. Banks should maintain a list of facilities for persons with disabilities and make this information available for customers prominently. On the May 27, a similar Notification, <a href="http://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/notification/PDFs/ATR270514FC.pdf">extending similar provisions to Regional Rural Banks</a>, was published.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">What does this mean for accessibility and banking? Definitely, the circulars come as a big boost to accessibility, particularly with regard to ATM facilities. ATM Machines which are designed to accommodate persons with disabilities do make a huge difference, though many, many persons have reported not even being given access to these facilities on account of their disabilities which has not been addressed in these circulars.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Additionally, it does not appear that non compliance is actionable, as Banks are merely advised to report the progress made in this regard periodically to their respective Customer Service Committee of the Board and ensure compliance. As pointed out above, reasons for non compliance are merely to be recorded and displayed. The procedures to approach the Ombudsman do not include accessible measures, and this continues to allow bank staff to act with impunity in denying banking facilities for persons with disabilities.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Despite actively intervening in the eventual <a href="http://rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationReportDetails.aspx?UrlPage=&ID=760#9">Report of the Technical Committee on Banking of the RBI</a>, disability rights activists have found that the banking industry has not been receptive to the needs of persons with disabilities. From this background, the RBI Notifications are a welcome start, though slightly premature — what is of utmost urgency on the part of the RBI is a categorical statement that no person with disability who comes to the bank to open a bank account will be denied access to the same. Additional tools which can be extremely beneficial to persons with disabilities, including mobile and internet banking, must be made accessible and available to persons with disabilities. It is also important for basic training on disability and communication be made part of syllabus for training of banking officials, and that regular interactions and training is encouraged for bank officials. It would be useful for all bank branches, and all departments of the RBI, to have an accessibility officer, a bank official given the additional responsibility of ensuring accessibility of the bank branch or the Department as the case may be, who is given specialized training in matters relating to accessibility. This would go a long way in ensuring that financial inclusion leaves no one behind.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/the-road-to-financial-inclusion'>http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/the-road-to-financial-inclusion</a>
</p>
No publishersalelkarAccessibility2014-06-03T06:46:18ZBlog EntryFrance, Greece, India and the European Union Sign the Marrakesh Treaty
http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/france-greece-india-eu-sign-marrakesh-treaty
<b>On April 30, 2014, on Day 3 of the 27th Session of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights, a Signing Ceremony was conducted for member states wishing to sign the Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to books and other reading material for the print disabled.</b>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Read the <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/wipo-sccr-marakkesh-treaty" class="external-link">WIPO Signing Ceremony for Marrakesh Treaty</a></p>
<hr />
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Opening the proceedings, the Director General of WIPO, Francis Gurry called the Marrakesh Treaty “one of the greatest achievements of this Committee in the past year.” The Hon’ble Ambassador of France in his speech following that of the Director General emphasised the importance that his government placed on this treaty. Mrs. Veena Ish, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development signed the Marrakesh Treaty for the Government of India. In her address at the Signing Ceremony, Mrs. Ish placed emphasis on India’s 2012 amendments to the Copyright Act, 1957, stating that these provisions were “in complete harmony” with the Marrakesh Treaty and that India was “well poised” to implement the same. Mrs.Ish also stated that India would be ratifying the treaty “very soon.” Most importantly perhaps, Mrs. Ish reminded the Committee that appropriate mechanisms to implement this treaty would have to be put in place; and that implementing it in its true spirit would require cooperation from all member states. The Ambassador of Greece, speaking on behalf of Greece and the European Union said that they wanted the Marrakesh Treaty to serve its original purpose of benefitting persons with print disabilities.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The European Blind Union (EBU) and the Secretary General of (and speaking on behalf of) the International Publishers’ Association (IPA) also made statements at the Signing Ceremony. EBU was of the opinion that while the signature was a “major, symbolic leap forward”, the next crucial step was to ensure its speedy ratification so that it might become effective. IPA echoed previous speakers on the point that ratification and implementation were but first steps, and that access would only be achieved as a result of “collaboration between rights organizations and rights holders.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">It will be interesting to see how these member states follow up on their signatures to the Marrakesh Treaty. The treaty will only be effective 3 months after at least 20 nations have ratified it.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/france-greece-india-eu-sign-marrakesh-treaty'>http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/france-greece-india-eu-sign-marrakesh-treaty</a>
</p>
No publishernehaaAccessibilityAccess to KnowledgeWIPO2014-05-02T23:23:25ZBlog EntryApril 2014 Bulletin
http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2014-bulletin
<b>The newsletter for the month of April can be accessed below:</b>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">We at the Centre for Internet & Society (CIS) welcome you to the fourth issue of the newsletter (April) for the year 2014. Archives of our newsletters can be accessed at: <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/">http://cis-india.org/about/newsletters</a></p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify; ">Highlights</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">We have published a compilation of the various central government schemes in a blog post as part of our National Resource Kit project.</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li>The 27<sup>th</sup> session of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (WIPO-SCCR) was held in Geneva from April 28 to May 2, 2014. Nehaa Chaudhari participated in the event. CIS made its statements on Technological Measures of Protection on Limitations and Exceptions for Libraries and Archives, Orphan Works, Retracted and Withdrawn Works, and Works out of Commerce on Limitations and Exceptions for Libraries and Archives, and on the WIPO Proposed Treaty for the Protection of Broadcasting Organizations. </li>
<li>CIS signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mysore University for converting to Unicode and re-releasing their encyclopaedia under Creative Commons License. Dr. U.B. Pavanaja on behalf of the CIS-A2K team signed the MoU.</li>
<li>A two-day global stakeholder meeting on future of internet governance (NETmundial) was organized by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee in partnership with /1Net at Sao Paulo in Brazil on April 23 and 24, 2014. Achal Prabhala participated in the event. As part of its research to enable productive discussions of the critical internet governance issues at the meeting and elsewhere CIS published a total of 16 blog entries. </li>
<li>We conducted an empirical study of five separate and diverse banks (State Bank of India, Central Bank of India, ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank) to gain a practical perspective on the existing banking practices and policies in India, and published a Banking Policy Guide. </li>
<li>As part of the Making Change project Denisse Albornoz interviewed Tuhin Paul, an artist and storyteller behind Menstrupedia, an India-based social venture creating comics to shatter the myths and misunderstandings surrounding menstruation around the world. Denisse provides an analysis of ‘menstrual activism’ — a movement that despite its trajectory in feminism remains unnoticed in most accounts of traditional and digital activism.</li>
<li>Six research studies were commissioned by HEIRA-CSCS (over November 2013-March 2014) as part of the collaborative exercise with CIS to map the Digital Humanities within a broad rubric of exploring changes at the intersection of youth, technology and higher education in India. P.P.Sneha in her blog post presents a broad overview of some of the key learnings from these projects.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><br /><b><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/jobs">Jobs<br /></a></b>CIS is seeking applications for the post of <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/jobs/programme-officer-access-to-knowledge-and-openness">Programme Officer</a> (Access to Knowledge). There are two vacancies for this post one in Delhi and one in Bangalore. To apply, please send your resume to Sunil Abraham (<a href="mailto:sunil@cis-india.org">sunil@cis-india.org</a>), Nirmita Narasimhan (<a href="mailto:nirmita@cis-india.org">nirmita@cis-india.org</a>) and Pranesh Prakash (<a href="mailto:pranesh@cis-india.org">pranesh@cis-india.org</a>) with three writing samples of which at least one demonstrates your analytic skills, and one that shows your ability to simplify complex policy issues.</p>
<h2><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility">Accessibility and Inclusion</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Under a grant from the Hans Foundation we are doing two projects. The first project is on creating a national resource kit of state-wise laws, policies and programmes on issues relating to persons with disabilities in India. We compiled the first draft of the kit (29 states and 6 union territories). The chapters along with the quarterly reports can be accessed on the <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/resources/national-resource-kit-project">project page</a>. The second project is on developing text-to-speech software for 15 Indian languages. The progress made so far in the project can be accessed <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/resources/nvda-text-to-speech-synthesizer">here</a>.</p>
<h3>NVDA</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Monthly Update</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/resources/nvda-text-to-speech-synthesizer">NVDA e-Speak Text-to-Speech Project Update</a> (by Suman Dogra, April 28, 2014). </li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">National Resource Kit</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Blog Entry</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/central-government-schemes">Central Government Schemes</a> (by Anandhi Viswanathan and CLPR, April 27, 2014). </li>
</ul>
<h3>Other</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Blog Entry</b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/polling-pains">Polling Pains</a> (by Amba Salelkar, April 30, 2014). </li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Media Coverage</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/new-indian-express-april-8-2014-papiya-bhattacharya-are-elections-fair-to-people-with-special-needs">Are Elections Fair to People With Special Needs?</a> (by Papiya Bhattacharya, New Indian Express, April 8, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/vijay-karnataka-april-9-2014-enabling-elections">Enabling Elections</a> (Vijay Karnataka, April 9, 2014). This was published in Kannada. </li>
</ul>
<h2><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k">Access to Knowledge</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">As part of the Access to Knowledge programme we are doing two projects. The first one (Pervasive Technologies) under a grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is for research on the complex interplay between pervasive technologies and intellectual property to support intellectual property norms that encourage the proliferation and development of such technologies as a social good. The second one (Wikipedia) under a grant from the Wikimedia Foundation is for the growth of Indic language communities and projects by designing community collaborations and partnerships that recruit and cultivate new editors and explore innovative approaches to building projects.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">WIPO SCCR</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Participation in Events</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li>Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights: Twenty-Seventh Session (organized by WIPO, Geneva, April 28 – May 2, 2014). Nehaa Chaudhari participated in the event. France, Greece, India and the European Union <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/france-greece-india-eu-sign-marrakesh-treaty">signed the Marrakesh Treaty</a>. CIS delivered statements on <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/cis-statement-on-technological-measures-of-protection-27-sccr-on-limitations-exceptions-for-libraries-and-archives">Technological Measures of Protection on Limitations and Exceptions for Libraries and Archives</a>, <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/cis-statement-orphan-works-retracted-withdrawn-works-and-works-out-of-commerce-at-27-sccr-on-limitations-and-exceptions-for-libraries-and-archives">Orphan Works, Retracted and Withdrawn Works, and Works out of Commerce on Limitations and Exceptions for Libraries and Archives</a>, and on the <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/cis-statement-27-sccr-on-wipo-proposed-treaty-for-protection-of-broadcasting-organizations">WIPO Proposed Treaty for the Protection of Broadcasting Organizations</a>. Transcripts of the discussions can be <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/wipo-sccr-27-discussions-transcripts">accessed here</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Blog Entries</b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/report-on-cpdip-2">Report on CDIP-12</a> (by Puneeth Nagraj, April 22, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/signing-and-ratification-of-marrakesh-treaty-to-facilitate-access-to-published-works-for-persons-blind-visually-impaired-print-disabled">Signing and Ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled</a> (by Nehaa Chaudhari, April 25, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/report-on-wipo-director-general-meeting-with-ngos">Report on the WIPO Director General’s Meeting with NGO’s</a> (by Puneeth Nagraj, April 30, 2014). </li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Media Coverage</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/knowledge-ecology-international-manon-ress-april-29-2014-is-wipo-treaty-for-broadcasters-moving-forward-at-sccr-27">Is the WIPO Treaty for Broadcasters Moving Forward at SCCR 27?</a> (by Manon Ress, Knowledge Ecology International, April 29, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/ip-watch-catherine-saez-may-1-2014-wipo-authors-civil-society-watchful-of-rights-for-broadcasters">At WIPO, Authors, Civil Society Watchful of Rights for Broadcasters</a> (by Catherine Saez, IP Watch, May 1, 2014).</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Other</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Event Organized</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/events/nasa-international-space-apps-challenge-2014">NASA International Space Apps Challenge 2014</a> (CIS, Bangalore, April 12 – 13, 2014). </li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Blog Entries</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/online-survey-for-indian-mobile-app-developer-enterprise">Online Survey for Indian Mobile App Developer Startups & Enterprises</a> (by Samantha Cassar, April 9, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/app-developers-series-services-products-dichotomy-ip-2013-part-i">App Developers Series: Services, Products, Dichotomy & IP – Part I</a> (by Samantha Cassar, April 10, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/report-on-cpdip-2">Report on CDIP-12</a> (by Puneeth Nagraj, April 22, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/report-on-31-session-of-standing-committee-on-trademarks">Report on the 31st Session of the Standing Committee on Trademarks</a> (by Puneeth Nagraj, April 29, 2014).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Wikipedia</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The following has been done under <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/access-to-knowledge-program-plan">grant from the Wikimedia Foundation</a>:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Announcement</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/cis-signs-mou-with-mysore-university">CIS Signs MoU with Mysore University</a> (by Dr. U.B.Pavanaja, April 16, 2014): for converting to Unicode and re-releasing their encyclopaedia under Creative Commons License. Dr. U.B. Pavanaja on behalf of the CIS-A2K team signed the MoU. The signing event took place earlier on February 22, 2014. </li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Articles</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/openaccessweek-april-3-2014-subhashish-panigrahi-vachana-sanchaya">Vachana Sanchaya: Bringing Access to 11th century Kannada Literature</a> (by Subhashish Panigrahi, April 3, 2014)</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/subhashish-panigrahi-article-in-amalekha">୭୯ ବର୍ଷରେ ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ଓଡ଼ିଶା: ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରୀୟ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଓ କମ୍ପ୍ୟୁଟରରେ ଏହାର ବ୍ୟବହାର</a> (by Subhashish Panigrahi, Amalekha, April 4, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/kadambini-april-8-2014-subhashish-panigrahi-odia-language-and-development-in-digital-era">ଓଡ଼ିଅା ଭାଷାର ବିକାଶ ଓ କମ୍ପ୍ୟୁଟର</a> (by Subhashish Panigrahi, The Kadambini, April 8, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/creative-commons-subhashish-panigrahi-april-18-2014-report-from-india-relicensing-books-under-creative-commons">Report from India: Relicensing books under CC</a> (by Subhashish Panigrahi, Creative Commons Blog, April 19, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/dna-rohini-lakshane-april-26-2014-14-books-re-released-under-creative-commons-license">14 Odia books re-released under Creative Commons license</a> (by Subhashish Panigrahi, DNA, April 26, 2014). The article was edited by Rohini Lakshane.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Events Organized</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/events/tulu-wikipedia-workshop">Tulu Wikipedia Workshop</a> (organized by CIS-A2K, Balmatta Computer Centre, Mangalore, April 5, 2014). Dr. U.B.Pavanaja conducted the workshop. </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/daijiworld-april-6-2014-mangalore-wikipedia-workshop-held-for-konkani-writers">Konkani Wikipedia Workshop</a> (co-organized by All India Konkani Writers Organization and CIS-A2K, Kalaangann Shaktinagar, April 6, 2014). Dr. U.B.Pavanaja conducted the workshop.</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/events/tulu-wikipedia-editathon">Tulu Wikipedia Editathon</a> (co-organized by Karnataka Theological College and CIS-A2K, Mangalore, April 19, 2014). Dr. U.B.Pavanaja conducted the workshop.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Participation in Events</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/wiki-session-for-prajavani-journalists">Wikipedia Session for Trainee Journos</a> (organized by Prajavani, Bangalore, April 28, 2014). Dr. U.B.Pavanaja took a session for the trainee journalists of Prajavani Kannada daily on Wikipedia. </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/world-book-day">World Book Day</a> (organized by Karnataka Publishers’ Association, Indian Institute of World Culture, Basavanagudi, Bangalore, April 23, 2014). Dr. U.B.Pavanaja was a speaker.</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/relevance-of-bhagabat-tungi-in-evolution-of-odia-language?searchterm=Relevance+of+Bhagabat+Tungi+in+the+evolution+of+Odia+language+from+Buddha+era+to+digital+age">Relevance of Bhagabat Tungi in the evolution of Odia language from Buddha era to digital age</a> (organized by The Intellects, Shree Jagannath Mandir and Odisha Art and Cultural Center, New Delhi, April 24, 2014). Subhashish Panigrahi participated in the event.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Media Coverage<br /></b>CIS gave its inputs to the following media coverage:</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/daijiworld-april-6-2014-mangalore-wikipedia-workshop-held-for-konkani-writers">M'lore: Wikipedia Workshop held for Konkani writers</a> (Daijiworld, April 6, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org/blog/2014/04/10/odia-loves-wikipedia/">Odia Loves Wikipedia</a> (Rising Voices, April 10, 2014). This was also published in <a href="http://es.globalvoicesonline.org/2014/04/12/el-idioma-oriya-ama-a-wikipedia/">Spanish</a> and in <a href="http://ru.globalvoicesonline.org/2014/04/13/28775/">Russian</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/international-book-day/article5932673.ece">International Book Day</a> (The Hindu, April 21, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/deccan-herald-april-23-2014-books-are-a-bridge-between-generations">Books are a bridge between generations</a> (The Deccan Herald, April 23, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/vijayavani-april-23-2014-world-book-day">World Book Day Report</a> (Vijaywani, April 23, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/eodishasamacharseminar-on-odia-language-in-new-delhi-by-the-intellects">Seminar on Odia Language in New Delhi by the Intellects</a> (Odisha Samachar, April 24, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/delhi-meet-focuses-on-bhagabat-tungi-revival.html">Delhi meet focuses on Bhagabat Tungi revival</a> (The Pioneer, April 26, 2014).</li>
</ul>
<h2><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance">Internet Governance</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">As part of its research on privacy and free speech, CIS is engaged with two different projects. The first one (under a grant from Privacy International and International Development Research Centre (IDRC)) is on surveillance and freedom of expression (SAFEGUARDS). The second one (under a grant from MacArthur Foundation) is on studying the restrictions placed on freedom of expression online by the Indian government.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">NETmundial</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">As part of its participation in the NETmundial event organized in Brazil by Brazilian Internet Steering Committee in partnership with /1Net at Sao Paulo on April 23 and 24, 2014 CIS produced a total of 16 outputs:</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li>Sumandro Chattapadhyay produced these visual representations: <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-comparing-appearance-of-fifty-most-frequent-words">Comparing Appearance of Fifty Most Frequent Words</a>, <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-contributions-by-countries-of-origin">Contributions by Countries of Origin</a>, <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-contributions-by-types-of-organisation">Contributions by Types of Organisation</a>, <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-which-countries-have-not-contributed-to-net-mundial">Which Countries Have Not Submitted Contributions to NETmundial?</a>, <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-which-governments-have-not-contributed-to-net-mundial">Which Governments Have Not Submitted Contributions to NETmundial?</a>, <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-word-clouds-of-contributions-by-types-of-organisation">Word Clouds of Contributions by Types of Organisation</a> and <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-tracking-multi-stakeholder-across-contributions">Tracking *Multistakeholder* across Contributions</a>. Achal Prabhala participated in the event and wrote these: <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-day-0">Day 0</a>, <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-day-1">Day 1</a>, and <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-day-2">Day 2</a>. <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/netmundial-transcript-archive">Transcript of the NETmundial</a> for archival purposes was made available by Pranesh Prakash. Smarika Kumar produced two research outputs: <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-and-suggestions-for-iana-administration">NETmundial and Suggestions for IANA Administration</a> and <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/accountability-of-icann">Accountability of ICANN</a>. Geetha Hariharan wrote two blog posts: <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/marco-civil-da-internet">Marco Civil da Internet: Brazil’s ‘Internet Constitution’</a> and <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/brazil-passes-marco-civil-us-fcc-alters-stance-on-net-neutrality">Brazil passes Marco Civil; the US-FCC Alters its Stance on Net Neutrality</a>. Jyoti Panday wrote one blog post: <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-roadmap-defining-roles-of-stakeholders-in-multistakeholderism">NETmundial Roadmap: Defining the Roles of Stakeholders in Multistakeholderism</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Privacy</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Analyses</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/report-of-group-of-experts-on-privacy-vs-leaked-2014-privacy-bill">Report of the Group of Experts on Privacy vs. The Leaked 2014 Privacy Bill</a> (by Elonnai Hickok, April 14, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/banking-policy-guide">Banking Policy Guide</a> (by Elonnai Hickok, April 22, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/the-embodiment-of-right-to-privacy-within-domestic-legislation">The Embodiment of the Right to Privacy within Domestic Legislation</a> (by Tanvi Mani, April 29, 2014).</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Articles</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/yojana-april-2014-sunil-abraham-who-governs-the-internet-implications-for-freedom-and-national-security">Who Governs the Internet? Implications for Freedom and National Security</a> (by Sunil Abraham, Yojana, April 4, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/the-hoot-bhairav-acharya-april-15-2014-privacy-law-in-india-a-muddled-field-1">Privacy Law in India: A Muddled Field – I</a> (by Bhairav Acharya, The Hoot, April 15, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/council-for-responsible-genetics-april-2014-sunil-abraham-very-big-brother">Very Big Brother</a> (by Sunil Abraham, GeneWatch, January – April 2014 Issue).</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Blog Entry</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/south-african-protection-personal-information-act-2013">South African Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013</a> (by Divij Joshi, April 16, 2014). </li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Participation in Events</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://cgcs.asc.upenn.edu/fileLibrary/PDFs/MW_Updated_Agenda_for_Website.pdf">Milton Wolf Seminar on Media and Diplomacy: The Third Man Theme Revisited: Foreign Policies of the Internet in a Time Of Surveillance and Disclosure</a> (jointly organized by the Center for Global Communication Studies (CGCS) at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication, the American Austrian Foundation (AAF), and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna (DA), Vienna, March 30 – April 1, 2014). Nishant Shah participated in the event as a panelist.</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/gsma-partners-meeting">GSMA Partners Meeting</a> (organized by Privacy International, London, April 9, 2014). Elonnai Hickok participated in this meeting.</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/critical-life-of-information">The Critical Life of Information</a> (organized by Yale University, 100 Wall Street, April 11, 2014). Nishant Shah spoke in the panel on Big Data and Governance. Malavika Jayaram spoke in the panel on Big Data and the Arts.</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/round-table-on-user-safety-on-internet">Round-table on User Safety on the Internet</a> (organized by Consumer Voice and Google, Infantry Road, Bangalore, April 24, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/ssn-2014-sixth-biannual-surveillance-and-society-conference">6th Biannual Surveillance and Society Conference</a> (organized by Eticas Research and Consulting, University of Barcelona and CCCB, April 26 – 24, 2014). Malavika Jayaram gave a talk on “Biometrics in beta: experimenting on a nation (while normalising surveillance for 1.2 billion people)”.</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Other</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Articles</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/cgcs-nishant-shah-april-1-2014-between-the-local-and-the-global">Between the Local and the Global: Notes Towards Thinking the Nature of Internet Policy</a> (by Nishant Shah, cgcsblog, April 1, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/dml-central-april-17-2014-nishant-shah-networks-what-you-dont-see-is-what-you-for-get">Networks: What You Don’t See is What You (for)Get</a> (by Nishant Shah, April 17, 2014).</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news">News & Media Coverage</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS gave its inputs to the following media coverage:</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/outlook-april-1-2014-two-indians-in-global-commission-on-web-governance">Two Indians in Global Commission on Web Governance</a> (April 1, 2014): Sunil Abraham was named as one of the experts. This was published in <a href="http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=835007">Outlook</a>, <a href="http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-04-01/news/48767578_1_internet-governance-two-indians-general-dynamics">Economic Times</a>, and in <a href="http://mattersindia.com/two-indians-among-25-selected-for-internet-governance-network/">Matters India</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/newslaundry-april-1-2014-somi-das-the-take-down-of-free-speech-online">The Take Down of Free Speech Online</a> (Newslaundry, April 1, 2014): CIS research on Intermediary Liabilities is quoted.</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/livemint-april-1-2014-shweta-taneja-the-politics-of-facebook">The politics of Facebook</a> (by Shweta Tiwari, April 1, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/business-standard-april-3-2014-surabhi-agarwal-new-privacy-bill-more-refined-has-wider-ambit-say-experts">New privacy Bill more refined & has wider ambit, say experts</a> (by Surabhi Agarwal, Business Standard, April 2, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/economic-times-april-3-2014-m-rajshekhar-should-nandan-nilekani-aadhar-project-for-identity-proof-and-welfare-delivery-exist">Should Nandan Nilekani's Aadhaar project, for identity proof and welfare delivery, exist at all?</a> (by M. Rajshekhar, April 3, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/economic-times-april-10-2014-varuni-khosla-lok-sabha-polls">Lok sabha polls: Social media companies launch special pages for polls</a> (by Varuni Khosla, Economic Times, April 10, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/governance-now-april-12-2014-pratap-vikram-singh-parties-give-short-shrift-to-privacy">Parties give short shrift to privacy</a> (by Pratap Vikram Singh, GovernanceNow.com, April 12, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/governance-now-april-13-2014-pratap-vikram-singh-no-party-has-got-clear-stand-aadhaar-fate-hangs-in-balance">No party's got a clear stand, Aadhaar's fate hangs in balance</a> (by Pratap Vikram Singh, GovernanceNow.com, April 13, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/the-times-of-india-april-24-2014-india-wants-core-internet-infrastructure">'India wants core internet infrastructure'</a> (by Indrani Bagchi, April 24, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/the-times-of-india-april-25-indrani-bagchi-india-for-inclusive-internet-governance">India for inclusive internet governance</a> (by Indrani Bagchi, April 25, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/dna-amrita-madhukalya-april-26-2014-facebook-launches-fb-newswire-for-journalists-loses-part-of-its-immunity-under-it-act-2000">Facebook launches FB Newswire for journalists; loses part of its immunity under IT Act 2000</a> (by Amrita Madhukalya, DNA, April 26, 2014).</li>
</ul>
<h2><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities">Digital Humanities</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS is building research clusters in the field of Digital Humanities. The Digital will be used as a way of unpacking the debates in humanities and social sciences and look at the new frameworks, concepts and ideas that emerge in our engagement with the digital. The clusters aim to produce and document new conversations and debates that shape the contours of Digital Humanities in Asia:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Blog Entries</b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/confession-in-digital-age">Confession in the Digital Age</a> (by Rimi Nandy, April 14, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/animating-the-archive">Animating the Archive – A Survey of Printed Digitized Materials in Bengali and their Use in Higher Education</a> (by Saidul Haque, April 14, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/doing-digital-humanities">‘Doing’ Digital Humanities: Reflections on a project on Online Feminism in India</a> (by Sujatha Subramanian, April 14, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/the-machinistic-paradigm-collapse">The Machinistic Paradigm Collapse</a> (by Anirudh Sridhar, April 14, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/exploring-the-digital-landscape">Exploring the Digital Landscape: An Overview</a> (by P.P.Sneha, April 14, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/digital-humanities-problem-of-definition">Digital Humanities and the Problem of Definition</a> (by P.P.Sneha, April 25, 2014).</li>
</ul>
<h2><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/digital-natives">Digital Natives</a></h2>
<p>CIS is doing a research project titled “Making Change”. The project will explore new ways of defining, locating, and understanding change in network societies. Having the thought piece 'Whose Change is it Anyway' as an entry point for discussion and reflection, the project will feature profiles, interviews and responses of change-makers to questions around current mechanisms and practices of change in South Asia and South East Asia:</p>
<h3>Making Change Project<b> </b></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Blog Entry</b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/digital-natives/making-change/multimedia-storytellers">Multimedia Storytellers: Panel Discussion</a> (by Denisse Albornoz, April 16, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/digital-natives/making-change/menstrupedia-taboo-beautiful">From Taboo to Beautiful – Menstrupedia</a> (by Denisse Albornoz, April 30, 2014).</li>
</ul>
<h2><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom">Telecom</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS is involved in promoting access and accessibility to telecommunications services and resources and has provided inputs to ongoing policy discussions and consultation papers published by TRAI. It has prepared reports on unlicensed spectrum and accessibility of mobile phones for persons with disabilities and also works with the USOF to include funding projects for persons with disabilities in its mandate:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Event Organized</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
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<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/events/tech-talk-landscape-of-wireless-communications-and-electromagnetic-spectrum">Tech Talk: Landscape of Wireless Communications & Electromagnetic Spectrum</a> (CIS, Bangalore, April 28, 2014). A. Radha Krishna gave a talk on wireless communication technologies.</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/">About CIS</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Centre for Internet and Society is a non-profit research organization that works on policy issues relating to freedom of expression, privacy, accessibility for persons with disabilities, access to knowledge and IPR reform, and openness (including open government, FOSS, open standards, etc.), and engages in academic research on digital natives and digital humanities.</p>
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<hr style="text-align: justify; " />
<p style="text-align: justify; "><i>CIS is grateful to its primary donor the Kusuma Trust founded by Anurag Dikshit and Soma Pujari, philanthropists of Indian origin for its core funding and support for most of its projects. CIS is also grateful to its other donors, Wikimedia Foundation, Ford Foundation, Privacy International, UK, Hans Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and IDRC for funding its various projects.</i></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><i> </i></p>
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For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2014-bulletin'>http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2014-bulletin</a>
</p>
No publisherpraskrishnaAccess to KnowledgeDigital NativesTelecomAccessibilityInternet GovernanceOpennessResearchers at Work2014-07-04T03:38:00ZPagePolling Pains
http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/polling-pains
<b>While there has been a lot of outrage and furore over the dropping of names of eligible and previously registered persons from voter's lists across the Country, what hasn't received a lot of coverage is the large scale apathy towards the needs of voters with disabilities across the Country.</b>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">While Delhi noticed some improvement over the terrible conditions during the State Assembly Elections earlier this year, other States continued to plead ignorance to even Supreme Court approved guidelines on accessibility in elections. In Chennai, the State Election Commission held a meeting with persons with disabilities, facilitated by the Office of the State Commissioner for Disabilities, a month prior to the elections. A number of grievances were raised, ranging from non implementation of the Guidelines issued by <a href="http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/ElectoralLaws/OrdersNotifications/disabled%20right%20group%20W.P.%20No.%20187%20of%2004%20.pdf">the Supreme Court in 2007</a> (which were issued thanks to the laudable efforts of the Disability Rights Group), to the lack of efforts to include persons with disabilities housed in institutions, to provision of sign language interpreters and large print materials for persons with low vision. The Election Commission undertook to, at the very least, implement the mandate of the Court, but election day brought out a different story altogether – polling booths were not provided with ramps, and where there were ramps they were too steep to navigate. Polling booth officials and police officials were largely reported to be apologetic and friendly, but the inconvenience, danger, and humiliation associated with having one's wheelchair lifted (or worse, being lifted yourself) in order to exercise a constitutional right could not be excused by smiles and shrugs.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">There are complaints by voters who are blind of not being given a braille list of candidates and not being allowed to feel the braille stickers on the side of the EVMs. For persons with disabilities, the Conduct of Election Rules allow for them to cast their votes with the assistance of another person – a person who may not be of their choice, but who still gets to enter the booth with them and thus creates an exception from the right to “secret ballot”. While some voters who could use braille found centres in Bombay to be accessible on their own, the question still remains as to what happens to those voters who are blind or have visual impairment who cannot use braille. In such cases, wouldn't a universally designed “talking” EVM with a headphone help solve most problems?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">It is additionally problematic when, instead of highlighting issues of inaccessibility, the media finds it more convenient to glorify persons being physically lifted, or seen crawling to election booths. Such images perhaps serve to encourage people to vote (“if they do, so should you”) but in another sense they make it difficult to demand dignified access to the polling booth and reflect negatively on persons with disabilities who opted to turn away from the electoral process that refused to accommodate them. The inexplicability, for example, of polling booths in Mumbai to be located on the first floor of a building without a lift, clearly shows that for the election authorities in India, disability, or even age, isn't even a factor to be considered in assessing the situation for potential voters. This being the situation in metropolitan cities – feedback from rural voters is something yet to be gathered.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The stark reality of even 7 year old Supreme Court mandated guidelines on accessibility not being followed through gives little hope for when elections will be truly accessible for India's disabled, and at the same time, makes one wonder whether alternatives, particularly in ICT, can be explored by the Election Commission towards a more inclusive 2019 General Elections. An examination of the political manifestos of the major political parties in India does reveal a lack of serious consideration of the needs of persons with disabilities. Imagine how many people with disabilities eventually get to vote after excluding those who cannot access the booth on account of physical or communicational barriers, or even the process of recognition as a voter—thanks to perceived legal barriers on persons of 'unsound mind' in the Representation of People Act, 1950, and the procedural ambiguity (necessity of address proof, etc.) of reaching out to institutionalized persons. For this small fraction of the population, there may be little incentive for political parties to come up with a comprehensive political strategy. Steps by the Election Commission to empower every person with a disability as a voter, therefore, is an important step in accessibility and inclusion being a part of all political manifestos.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/polling-pains'>http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/polling-pains</a>
</p>
No publishersalelkarAccessibility2014-05-06T08:12:03ZBlog EntryCentral Government Schemes
http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/central-government-schemes
<b>The various central government schemes are compiled in this blog post. This research was done by the Centre for Law and Policy Research and Anandhi Viswanathan. </b>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; "></h3>
<h3>General Entitlements</h3>
<ol style="text-align: justify; ">
<li>Persons with disabilities are eligible for income tax deduction under Section 80U. Deduction of Rs. 50,000 is provided to those with disability in the range of 40 per cent to 80 per cent. Deduction of Rs. 1,00,000 is provided to those with more than 80 per cent disability.</li>
<li>Legal guardians of dependant persons with disabilities are eligible for income tax deduction under section 80DD for expenditures incurred on medical care, training and rehabilitation expenses or annuity paid. Deduction of Rs. 50,000 can be claimed for dependents with 40 per cent to 80 per cent disability and Rs. 1,00,000 can be claimed for dependants with 80 per cent or more disabilities.</li>
</ol>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">3. Persons with disabilities are exempted from payment of professional tax.</p>
<table class="plain" style="text-align: justify; ">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Sl. No.</th><th><span>Notification / Scheme</span> </th><th>Issuing Authority</th><th>Notification No / Date</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>Deduction under 80U</td>
<td>Ministry of Finance</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>Deduction under 80DD</td>
<td>Ministry of Finance</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>Exemption from professional tax</td>
<td>Ministry of Finance</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Women and Children with Disabilities</h3>
<ol style="text-align: justify; ">
<li>The government is yet to implement schemes / notifications in this category.</li>
</ol>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Education</h3>
<ol style="text-align: justify; ">
<li style="text-align: justify; ">Scheme of National Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities – Scholarship is awarded for pursueing post matric / professional / technical courses of duration more than one year. For students with autism / cerebral palsy / mental retardation / multiple disabilities the scholarship is provided from Class 9 onwards. Advertisements are placed in all national dailies and on the MSJE website in the month of June. Applicants are eligible if they have disability above 40 per cent and the total family income does not exceed Rs. 15,000 per month.<br />
<table class="plain">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Category</th><th style="text-align: right; ">Day Scholars</th><th style="text-align: right; ">Hostelers</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Graduate / PG courses in Professional / Technical</td>
<td style="text-align: right; ">Rs. 700</td>
<td style="text-align: right; ">Rs. 1000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Diploma / Certificate level professional courses</td>
<td style="text-align: right; ">Rs. 400</td>
<td style="text-align: right; ">Rs. 700</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Fees up to Rs. 10,000 are reimbursed every year. Financial assistance is provided for procuring computer with editing software for students with visual impairment / hearing impairment pursueing graduate / post graduate professional courses and support access software for students with cerebral palsy.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">Students with disabilities are provided three per cent reservation in seats in government and government aided educational institutes.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">Comprehensive Education Scheme for Disabled Children – The scheme provides for accessible and barrier free built-in infrastructure and transport facilities, supply of books, uniforms and stationery, specialised learning aids and scholarships for students with disabilities. Other provisions in the scheme include exemption from mathematics and pictoral questions for visually impaired students, use of scribes / readers for students with visual impairment / orthopaedic disabilities / learning disabilities, extra time in examinations for disabled students, exemption from third language and modification of curriculum to facilitate inclusive education.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">Inclusive Education for the Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS) – This scheme supports children with disabilities aged 14 or above for completing their secondary education from Class 9 to Class 12 in government, local body and government aided schools. The scheme provides for identification of children with disabilities moving from elementary school to secondary and providing them with aids and appliances for their disabilities, access to learning material, transport facilities, hostel facilities, scholarships, books, assistive technologies and provision of scribes and readers.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">Rajiv Gandhi Fellowship scheme – This scheme provides scholarships to persons with disabilities to pursue higher education such as M Phil / Ph D. The scheme offers 200 fellowships every year and covers all the universities and institutions covered by the University Grants Commission. All students with disabilities admitted to M. Phil / Ph. D programmes of any university or academic institution are eligible to receive the fellowship provided they meet the requirements of the scheme. The fellowship will be awarded for a maximum of five years.</li>
</ol>
<table class="plain" style="text-align: justify; ">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Sl. No.</th><th>Notification / Scheme</th><th>Issuing Authority</th><th>Notification No. / Date</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Scheme of National Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities</td>
<td>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>3% reservation in govt / govt aided institutes</td>
<td>Ministry of Edication</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Comprehensive Education Scheme for Disabled Children</td>
<td>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</td>
<td>2005</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Integrated Education for the Disabled in the Secondary Stage.</td>
<td>Department of Education</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Rajiv Gandhi Fellowship to pursue higher education</td>
<td>T – Department of Disability Affairs</td>
<td>04. 2012</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<ol style="text-align: justify; "> </ol>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; "><span>Employment</span></h3>
<ol style="text-align: justify; ">
<li><span>The government has reserved three per cent posts in Groups A, B, C and Group D positions in government services, public sector banks and government undertakings for persons with disabilities. The reservations are provided as:<br />
<table class="plain">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Category</th><th>Reservation</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Visually Impaired</td>
<td>One Per cent</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hearing Impaired</td>
<td>One Per cent</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Physically disabled</td>
<td>One Per cent</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br /></span></li>
<li><span>A roster of 100 points is prescribed for reserving positions for persons with disabilities in government employment. Points on the roster are reserved as given below for every year:<br />
<table class="plain">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Category</th><th style="text-align: right; ">Roster Point</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span>Visually Impaired</span></td>
<td style="text-align: right; ">34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span>Hearing Impaired</span></td>
<td style="text-align: right; ">67</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span>Physically disabled</span></td>
<td style="text-align: right; ">100</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br /></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><span>IF for any year the vacancies reserved for persons with disabilities are not filled, the vacancies are required to be carried forward for three consecutive years until a suitable candidate is found. If a suitable candidate is not found even after three years, the vacancies may be filled through interchanging between disabilities after which the reservation ceases to exist.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><span>Persons with disabilities are given an age relaxation of up to ten years in the upper age limit for recruitment to government positions. They are also exempted from payment of application fees and examination fees.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><span>The government provides that persons with disabilities should not be denied promotion in their employment on account of the disability / medical fitness if they are otherwise medically fit and can discharge their duties satisfactorily.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><span>The government has identified positions in various departments and sections that are to be reserved for persons with disabilities based on their ability to perform the work of the position.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><span>The government provides that persons with disabilities recruited to Group C and Group D employment on regional basis may be given postings, as far as possible under administrative constraints, nearest to their native places within the region. Requests from disabled employees for transfers to offices in or nearest to their native places may also be given priority.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><span>The government has established special employment exchanges for persons with disabilities in all state capitals and special employment cells have been set up in all district headquarters for recruitment to government posts reserved for persons with disabilities. In places where special employment exchanges have not been established, special employment cells have been set up within regular employment exchanges. Persons with disabilities are required to register themselves with the special employment exchanges / cells to be eligible for government employment under reservation. Special employment registrations can also be done at the 17 vocational rehabilitation centres for persons with disabilities.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><span>The government provides for employment of persons with disabilities in the private sector through incentives to employers. The government pays the employer’s contribution of the disabled employee’s provident fund and employee state insurance up to three years for employment of persons with disabilities with a minimum salary of Rs. 25,000 per month.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><span>The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has reserved 7.5 per cent of all types of dealership agencies of public sector oil companies for persons with physical disabilities. This does not include defence personnel injured while on service. The dealership is advertised in one English daily and one regional language daily having maximum circulation in the district where the dealership is located. Applicants should be Indian citizens, aged between 21 years to 30 years, should have a minimum educational qualification of matriculation or equivalent, should produce disability certificate with minimum 40 percent disability of either upper limb or lower limb or both limbs considered together. Persons with partial hearing impairment are also eligible to apply. Persons with total visual impairment are eligible to apply for retail outlets, kerosene / LDO dealerships but are not eligible to apply for LPG dealership. Total family income of applicant should not exceed Rs. 50,000 per annum.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><span>The National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation provides loans to persons with disabilities for self employment. The details of the schemes are given as under:</span></li>
</ol>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<ul>
<li>For setting up small business in service / trading sector – loan of Rs. 3,00,000 (Three lakh)</li>
<li>For setting up small business in sales / trading sector – Rs. 5,00,000 (five lakh)</li>
<li>For agriculture / allied activities – Loan of up to Rs. 10,00,000 (ten lakh)</li>
<li>Purchase of vehicle for commercial hiring – Loan of Rs. 10,00,000 (ten lakh)</li>
<li>For setting up small industries unit – Loan of Rs. 25,00,000 (25 lakh)</li>
<li>For professionally educated / trained persons with disabilities for self-employment – Rs. 25,00,000 (25 lakh)</li>
<li>For building business premises on own land for employment – Rs. 3,00,000 (three lakh)</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The business for which financial assistance is sought should be directly operated by the applicant. In case of persons with autism, cerebral palsy or mental retardation, the parent / spouse / legal guardian of the applicant is authorised to enter into contract with NHFDC on behalf of the applicant. Applicant should fulfil the following eligibility criteria:</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li>Should have disability of minimum 40 percent</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li>Should be an Indian citizen</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li>Should have required professional / technical qualification for the business undertaken</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li>Loans should be repaid by a maximum of 10 years. </li>
</ul>
<table class="plain" style="text-align: justify; ">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Sl. No.</th><th>Notification / Scheme</th><th>Issuing Authority</th><th>Notification No. / Date</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>3% reservation in employment</td>
<td>Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Roster system for reservation</td>
<td>Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Carry forward of employment reservation</td>
<td>Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Age relaxation for direct recruitment</td>
<td>Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Non denial of promotion</td>
<td>Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Identification of jobs</td>
<td>Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Postings / Transfer of disabled employees</td>
<td>Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions – Department of Personnel and Training</td>
<td>O.M.No.14017/41/90</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Special employment exchanges</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Incentives for private employers</td>
<td>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment – Department of Disability Affairs</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Award of dealership / agency by oil companies</td>
<td>Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>Financial assistance from NHFDC</td>
<td>National Handicapped Finance & Development Corporation</td>
<td>2013</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Social Security, Health, Rehabilitation and Recreation</h3>
<ol style="text-align: justify; ">
<li>The Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme: This was inserted as a component of the National Social Assistance Programme on 17th February, 2009 by the Secretary, Ministry for Rural Development. Under IGNDPS, central assistance of Rs. 300 p.m. per beneficiary is provided to persons with severe or multiple disabilities in the age group of 18-79 years and belonging to a household living BPL as per criteria prescribed by Government of India. This scheme has been implemented in 8 districts of Manipur and a total of Rs 13.4 lakhs has been received by the State Government for this scheme in 2010-11.</li>
<li>Composite Regional Centres for Persons with Disabilities (CRCs): Due to lack of adequate facilities for rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities, the Ministry has set up multiple Composite Regional Centres for Persons with Disabilities at Srinagar, Sundernagar (Himachal Pradesh), Lucknow, Bhopal, Kozhikode, Ahmedabad (No. 6-9/2009-NIs) and Guwahati to provide both preventive and promotional aspects of rehabilitation like education, health, employment and vocational training, research and manpower development, rehabilitation for persons with disabilities etc. </li>
<li>District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRCs): The Ministry with active support of State Governments is facilitating setting up District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRCs) to provide rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities. Centres are being set up in unreached and unserved districts of the country in a phased manner. These centres are to provide services for prevention and early detection, referral for medical intervention and surgical correction, fitment of artificial aids and appliances, therapeutical services such as physiotherapy, occupational and speech therapy, provision of training for acquisition of skills through vocational training, job placement in local industries etc. at district headquarters as well as through camp approach. </li>
<li>Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase /Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP Scheme): The main objective of the scheme is to assist needy persons with disabilities in procuring durable sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhance their economic potential. Aids and appliances which do not cost less than Rs. 50 and not more than Rs. 6,000 are covered under the scheme. Further travelling cost would be admissible and limited to a bus fare in the ordinary class or railway by second class sleeper subject to a limit of Rs. 250 for the beneficiary irrespective of the number of visits to a medical centre.<a href="#fn1" name="fr1">[1]</a></li>
<li>Public Sector Banks: Under the ‘Scheme for Public Sector Banks for Orphanages, Women’s Homes and Physically Handicapped Persons’, the benefits of the differential rate of interest are available to physically handicapped persons as well as institutions working for the welfare of the handicapped. Rate of interest will be uniformly charged at 4% per annum keeping in view the social objectives. Under the scheme of Financing Small Scale Industries, a special provision has been made in the rate of interest for the physically handicapped person (0.5% concession) for availing capital limit up to Rs.2,00,000/-. </li>
<li>The National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC): This corporation has been set up by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India on 24th January 1997. The company is registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 as a Company not for profit. It is wholly owned by Government of India and has an authorised share capital of Rs. 400 crores (Rupees Four Hundred Crore only). The NHFDC functions as an Apex institution for channelising the funds to persons with disabilities through the State Channelising Agencies (SCAs) nominated by the State Government(s). The schemes include loans for setting up small business in service/trading/industrial units, for higher studies/professional training, for manufacturing /production of assistive devices for disabled persons, for agricultural activities, for self employment amongst persons with mental retardation, Cerebral Palsy and Autism.</li>
<li>Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS): Replaced the earlier ‘Scheme to Promote Voluntary Action for Persons with Disabilities’ on 01.04.2009. Under this scheme financial assistance is provided through NGOs for various projects for providing education, vocational training and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. It is a scheme to promote voluntary action for persons with disabilities. The maximum level of support could be up to 90% of the eligible amount of grant for the project. During the 10th Five Year Plan grant-in-aid to the extent of Rs. 335.4 cr. was released to NGOs under the revised DDRS.<a href="#fn2" name="fr2">[2] </a></li>
<li>Indira Awaas Yojana: It is a centrally sponsored housing scheme for providing dwelling units free of cost to the rural poor living below the poverty line at a unit cost of Rs. 20,000 in plain areas and Rs. 22, 000 in the hill/difficult areas. Three percent of its funds are reserved for the benefit of disabled persons living below the poverty line in rural areas.<a href="#fn3" name="fr3">[3] </a></li>
<li>Scheme of National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities: In order to recognise their effort and encourage others to strive to achieve excellence in this field, separate awards are being presented to the most efficient/outstanding employees with disabilities, best employers, best placement agency/officer, outstanding individuals, outstanding institutions, role models, outstanding creative disabled individuals and for outstanding technological innovation and adaptation of innovation to provide cost effective technology. Awards are also given to Government Sector, Public Sector Undertakings and private enterprises for creating barrier free environment for the persons with disabilities, the best district in the field of disability rehabilitation, best Local Level Committee of the National Trust and to the best State Channelising Agency (SCA) of the National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC). Preference is given to the placement of women with disabilities, particularly, from the rural areas and self-employed women.<a href="#fn4" name="fr4">[4]</a></li>
<li>Trust Fund for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities: The Supreme Court in its order dated 16th April, 2004 in the Civil Appeals No.4655 and 5218 of 2000 had directed that the banks, who had collected an estimated excess amount of Rs.723.79 crores annually from the borrowers through rounding off in collection of interest tax, should transfer it to a trust which would be used for welfare of persons with disabilities. The Court had constituted a Committee under the chairmanship of Comptroller and Auditor General of India with Finance Secretary and Law Secretary as members. The Ministry had sought directions of the Apex court for transfer of these funds to the National Trust for Welfare of persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities for purposeful utilization. The Supreme Court is yet to take a view on the request of the Ministry but in the meantime the trust has been set up and the banks have been advised by the Banking Division of the Ministry of Finance to deposit the due amount in the Trust account.</li>
<li>Technology Development Projects in Mission Mode: With a view to provide suitable and cost effective aids and appliances through the application of technology and to increase their employment opportunities and integration in society of the physically disabled, the above scheme was started during 1990-91. Under the scheme, suitable R&D projects are identified and funded for developing aids and appliances. The scheme is implemented through the IITs. Educational Institutes, Research Agencies and Voluntary Organisations etc. Financial assistance is provided on 100% basis. The four Technical Advisory Groups monitor the selection of the projects and also their progress at different stages in areas of disabilities, namely, Orthopaedic (including Cerebral Palsy), Visual, Speech and Hearing and Mental. All the projects those are recommended by the respective Technical Advisory Groups placed before the Apex Level Committee headed by Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.<a href="#fn5" name="fr5">[5] </a></li>
</ol>
<table class="plain">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Sl. No.</th><th>Description</th><th>Issuing Authority</th><th>Date Issued</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>The Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDP) D.O.J.-11013/2/2007-NSAP</td>
<td>Ministry of Rural Development</td>
<td>February, 2009</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Composite Regional Centres for Persons with Disabilities (CRCs)</td>
<td>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRCs)</td>
<td>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</td>
<td>1995</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase /Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP Scheme)</td>
<td>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</td>
<td>01.04.2005</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>‘Scheme of Public Sector Banks for Orphanages, Women's Home and Physically Handicapped persons' D.O.No.F.301/89-SCT (B) dated 8.9.89</td>
<td>Department of Economic Affairs & Ministry of Welfare</td>
<td>08.09.1989</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>The National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC)</td>
<td>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</td>
<td>24.01.1997</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS)</td>
<td>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</td>
<td>01.04.2009</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Indira Awaas Yojana</td>
<td>Ministry of Rural Development</td>
<td>May, 1985</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Scheme of National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities</td>
<td>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</td>
<td>2012</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Trust Fund for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities via Civil Appeals No.4655 and 5218 of 2000</td>
<td>Supreme Court of India</td>
<td>16.04.2004</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>Technology Development Projects in Mission Mode</td>
<td>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Accessibility</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier Free Built Environment for Disabled and Elderly Persons<a href="#fn6" name="fr6">[6] </a>: In order to create a barrier free environment in consonance with the provisions of the Act, the Government of India (Ministry of Urban Affairs & Employment) is currently engaged in the process of amending/modifying the existing building bye-laws which would be applicable to all buildings and facilities used by the public. With this intention to ensure that everyone, including the physically disabled and elderly persons ,will have equal access in everyday life in the city, the Min. of UA&E has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of DG(W), CPWD with the following members for the purpose of developing comprehensive Guide lines and space Standards for barrier free built environment for disabled and elderly persons.</p>
<table class="plain">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Sl. No.</th><th>Description</th><th>Issuing Authority</th><th>Date Issued</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Guidelines for Space Standards for Barrier Free Built Environment for Disabled and Elderly Persons</td>
<td>Central Public Works Department</td>
<td>1998</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Certification</h3>
<ol>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">Guidelines for issue of Disability Certificates: the Persons with Disabilities Rules, 1996 provide the broad guidelines for issue of the disability certificates. The Rules lay down that a Medical Board, duly constituted by the Central and the State Government, shall issue a Disability Certificate. The certificate issued by the Medical Board makes a person eligible to apply for facilities, concessions and benefits admissible under schemes of the Governments or Non-Governmental Organisations, subject to such conditions as the Central or the State Government may impose. It is for this reason that the Central Government has issued these guidelines with the aim of simplifying the procedures for issue of disability certificates. It has also created some additional guidelines for the issue of disability certificates to students with disabilities.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">Guidelines for evaluation of various disabilities and procedure for certification: The Government has notified the guidelines for evaluation of locomotor, visual, hearing, mental retardation and multiple disabilities and the procedure for certification, formulated by the Expert Committees set up by the Government, under the Chairmanship of Director General Health Services (DGHS), vide notification No. 16-18/97-NI I dated 1st June, 2001. As per the guidelines, the Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is the final authority, should there arise any controversy / doubt regarding the interpretation of the definitions/classifications / evaluations tests etc. Therefore, for any problems relating to evaluation of various disabilities and procedure for certification, Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi may be approached.</li>
</ol>
<table class="plain">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Sl. No.</th><th>Description</th><th>Issuing Authority</th><th>Date Issued</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Guidelines for Issue of Disability Certificates No. 16-18/97-NI</td>
<td>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Guidelines for Evaluation of Various Disabilities and Procedure for Certification via D.O.No.F.301/89-SCT (B) DATED 8.9.89</td>
<td>Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<ol style="text-align: justify; "> </ol>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; "><span> </span> </h3>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="text-align: justify; "></div>
<h3>Grants and Schemes for Organisations & Individuals for Disabilities</h3>
<p>There are no schemes / notifications under this category.</p>
<hr />
<p>[<a href="#fr1" name="fn1">1</a>].<a class="external-link" href="http://socialjustice.nic.in/pdf/adipsch.pdf">http://socialjustice.nic.in/pdf/adipsch.pdf</a></p>
<p>[<a href="#fr2" name="fn2">2</a>].<a class="external-link" href="http://socialjustice.nic.in/ddrs.php">http://socialjustice.nic.in/ddrs.php</a></p>
<p>[<a href="#fr3" name="fn3">3</a>].<a class="external-link" href="http://iay.nic.in/netiay/IAY%20revised%20guidelines%20july%202013.pdf">http://iay.nic.in/netiay/IAY%20revised%20guidelines%20july%202013.pdf</a></p>
<p>[<a href="#fr4" name="fn4">4</a>].<a class="external-link" href="http://socialjustice.nic.in/pdf/nawardeng2012.pdf">http://socialjustice.nic.in/pdf/nawardeng2012.pdf</a></p>
<p>[<a href="#fr5" name="fn5">5</a>].<a class="external-link" href="http://www.socialjustice.nic.in/pdf/glinerpdd.pdf">http://www.socialjustice.nic.in/pdf/glinerpdd.pdf</a></p>
<p>[<a href="#fr6" name="fn6">6</a>]. <a class="external-link" href="http://socialjustice.nic.in/pdf/adipsch.pdf">cpwd.gov.in/Publication/Buildings_aged.pdf</a></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/central-government-schemes'>http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/central-government-schemes</a>
</p>
No publisheranandiAccessibility2014-05-07T01:20:35ZBlog EntryEnabling Elections: (Coverage in Vijay Karnataka)
http://editors.cis-india.org/news/vijay-karnataka-april-9-2014-enabling-elections
<b>Vijay Karnataka published about the Enabling Elections report from CIS. Nirmita Narasimhan is quoted.</b>
<table class="listing">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th><img src="http://editors.cis-india.org/home-images/EnablingElections.png" alt="Enabling Elections Coverage" class="image-inline" title="Enabling Elections Coverage" /></th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; ">Above: A scanned version of the article in Kannada (published by Vijay Karnataka).</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/news/vijay-karnataka-april-9-2014-enabling-elections'>http://editors.cis-india.org/news/vijay-karnataka-april-9-2014-enabling-elections</a>
</p>
No publisherpraskrishnaAccessibility2014-04-09T14:37:40ZNews ItemAre Elections Fair to People With Special Needs?
http://editors.cis-india.org/news/new-indian-express-april-8-2014-papiya-bhattacharya-are-elections-fair-to-people-with-special-needs
<b>City-based think tanks have submitted a report to the Election Commission saying elections in India are unfriendly to people with disabilities.</b>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The article by Papiya Bhattacharya was <a class="external-link" href="http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/Are-Elections-Fair-to-People-With-Special-Needs/2014/04/08/article2156127.ece">published in the New Indian Express</a> on April 8, 2014. Dr. Nirmita Narasimhan is quoted.</p>
<hr />
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The report, by the Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) and Centre for Law and Policy Research (CLPR), says there are several legal barriers that hinder the involvement of people with disabilities in elections.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that India is home to 150 million people with disabilities. While the Constitution of India and the Representation of People Act, 1951, gives people with disabilities the right to vote, the report says the community remains excluded from polling largely because of the inaccessibility of the physical environment of polling and lack of easily-available electoral information.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Dr. Nirmita Narasimhan, policy director of CIS and one of the authors of the study, says, “The report is based on feedback from the disabled. It would be nice if the Election Commission makes it easy for them to vote.”<br />She said registration of voters with disabilities has not been completed because there have been too few attempts to reach out to them.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The report concludes with recommendations to make the electoral process more inclusive. The suggestions include ensuring complete registration of voters with disabilities, use of technology to this end, training and sensitising voters with disabilities and improving information accessibility and election monitoring.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The report also inludes the results of a test conducted on the information accessibility in websites of EC and major political parties. The test revealed that most of the websites don’t conform to standards of web accessibility and are not disabled-friendly.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Steps Taken for Fair Polling: JHA</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha told Express that the Election Commission has instructed polling officers to ensure fair treatment to people with special needs. He said, “We have instructed polling officers to provide entry to specially-challenged people on priority. The visually-impaired can take a companion above the age of 18 to the polling booth for help. The electronic voting machines have Braille stickers on their side. If the voters know the serial number of the candidate, they can vote on their own.” He added that a ramp will be set up wherever feasible.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/news/new-indian-express-april-8-2014-papiya-bhattacharya-are-elections-fair-to-people-with-special-needs'>http://editors.cis-india.org/news/new-indian-express-april-8-2014-papiya-bhattacharya-are-elections-fair-to-people-with-special-needs</a>
</p>
No publisherpraskrishnaAccessibility2014-04-09T06:37:14ZNews ItemEnabling Elections
http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/enabling-elections
<b>For making the 2014 General Elections in India participatory and accessible for voters with disabilities the Centre for Law and Policy Research and the Centre for Internet and Society have come up with a report. The report addresses the barriers that people with disabilities face during elections and recommends solutions for the same.</b>
<h2 style="text-align: justify; ">Executive Summary</h2>
<p>The report examines three main areas:</p>
<ol>
<li>The barriers that people with disabilities face at the time of elections.</li>
<li>The legal framework around this issue.</li>
<li>The measures which need to be taken to eliminate the barriers in the pre-voting phase, during voting phase and also post-voting phase, so as to enhance the participation of voters with disabilities.</li>
</ol>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Access to the public sphere and full political participation is a matter of right for persons with disabilities and the state is constitutionally mandated to enforce this right. The rights of voters with disabilities are examined under the constitutional provisions, the Representation of People’s Act 1951, the relevant directions of the Supreme Court and the international conventions. This report also considers international best practices while making recommendations, to the extent that they are suitable and practical in the Indian context.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">This report looks at Electoral Participation in two dimensions:</p>
<ul>
<li>“Pre-electoral Participation” and</li>
<li>“Actual Electoral Participation”</li>
</ul>
<p>The report then goes on to make recommendations for enhancing accessibility in both these categories.</p>
<p>On Pre-electoral Participation, the report inter alia recommends the following:</p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">Opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in public consultations.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">Immediate outreach programs for higher voter registrations.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">Making election material and candidate guides available in different formats such as large print, Braille and audio formats upon request so that voters can have full knowledge of the candidate they want to vote for.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">Providing information for voters about locations which have special access, wheelchair facilities, technological assistance for visually impaired, etc.</li>
</ul>
<p>On Actual Electoral Participation, we inter alia recommend the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>Accessible polling sites.</li>
<li>Training election staff to be sensitive to diverse needs of voters.</li>
<li>Enabling privacy and independent voting by persons with disabilities.</li>
<li>Arranging for mobile polling booths.</li>
<li>Making EVM’s compatible and accessible such as by providing for Braille, large print.</li>
<li>Tactile buttons, 'sip and puff' and audio devices.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The report also recommends the need to monitor participation of voters with disabilities in the forthcoming elections.There is a need to collect data, surveys and studies in the pre-election, election and post-election phases.</p>
<hr />
<p><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/enabling-elections.pdf" class="internal-link">Click here</a> to download and read the full report (PDF, 4.5 MB)</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/enabling-elections'>http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/enabling-elections</a>
</p>
No publishernirmitaFeaturedHomepageAccessibility2014-05-10T00:12:00ZBlog EntryAccessibility of Political Parties Websites in India
http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/accessibility-of-political-parties-websites-in-india
<b>Given the impending elections in India across April and May 2014, a test was conducted to determine the accessibility of websites of the Election Commission of India, the Parliament and some key political parties in India. This report summarises the results of the test. </b>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Introduction</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Internet has rapidly become a preferred medium for accessing information on various topics, ranging from politics, news, governance, recreation, business, education and carrying on social interaction. While this was initially a trend found more in urban areas, with the proliferation of the mobile phone, there is an ever expanding number of rural, elderly and illiterate persons accessing and downloading content from the Internet.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The focus shift of the government to carrying on administration and governance through electronic media and to enable G2C transactions over the Internet underscores the absolute necessity of ensuring that information and communications technologies realise their full potential as a tool for inclusion and participation. Even policymakers and parliamentarians have started using it as an effective medium to engage with the public. The Government of India has made some efforts in this direction, since it formulated Guidelines for Indian Government websites and also the recently notified National Policy on Universal Electronic Accessibility. Both of these require all Government websites and those of other entities such as essential service providers, research and academic institutions and other stakeholders to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, the universally accepted standard for measuring web accessibility formulated by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Since inaccessibility of websites impedes access on all platforms, it is one of the most important domains of electronic accessibility.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Highlights</h3>
<ul>
<li>41 websites were tested</li>
<li>13 websites failed to open or had no official website address / URL</li>
<li>Most of the remaining 28 websites have some accessibility barriers, with only 2 websites having no known accessibility errors</li>
<li>The average number of errors per homepage across all tested websites is 91, with around 10 websites having more than 100 errors.</li>
<li>28.5% of homepages have over 500 cumulative errors</li>
<li>21.4% of websites have no alternate text for non-text objects</li>
<li>21.4% of the websites have no navigation-markup</li>
<li>Only 1 website has a colour change option</li>
<li>Around 50% of the web pages have form links of which only 50% were accessible</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<p>Click to download the full report below</p>
<ul>
<li>as <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/accessibility-of-political-parties-websites.pdf" class="internal-link">PDF</a></li>
<li>as <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/accessibility-of-political-parties-websites.docx" class="internal-link">Word file</a></li>
</ul>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/accessibility-of-political-parties-websites-in-india'>http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/accessibility-of-political-parties-websites-in-india</a>
</p>
No publishernirmitaAccessibility2014-03-24T10:22:34ZBlog EntryNVDA e-Speak Text-to-Speech Project Update (March 2014)
http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/nvda-e-speak-update-march-2014
<b>CIS in partnership with the Daisy Forum of India is engaged in a project supported by The Hans Foundation to develop enhancements to the open source screen reader for Windows NVDA (Non Visual desktop Access) and e-Speak text-to-speech synthesiser in 15 Indian languages.</b>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Under the NVDA project, we have been working in the past year on issues relating to Excel, Power Point and MS Outlook. The issues which have been fixed are:</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li>3680 : Read all formula in excel sheet (NVDA+f7).</li>
<li>3681 : Read all comments in excel sheet (NVDA+f7).</li>
<li>Finished implementation for 'viewing modes' supported like Cells-Flat, Row-Cells, Column-Cells, etc.</li>
<li>Pressing NVDA+f7 will print a dialog box. This has a choice to show cells with comment or formula. Pressing 'Enter' at any selection in the tree will close dialog and select cell or area.</li>
<li>3231: NVDA incorrectly speaks previously entered but later deleted characters when the space bar is pressed in PowerPoint.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">#3538: Office 2010, NVDA now reads the selected symbols in the insert|symbols dialog box in Word and Excel 2010.</li>
<li>#2921: In Excel, NVDA will say 'has comment' if the cell has a comment in it.</li>
<li>#3043 : In Excel, Ctrl+A doesn't notify the change in selection.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">#1938 : In word 2007 and 2010, NVDA does not automatically speak the error text in the spell checker dialog after the first time the dialog is launched if the focus is already in the error text field.</li>
<li>Ctrl + Up and Down arrows in Word now skip blank paragraphs.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">#3431: Spell check in Word 2010 now reads the correct context error text instead of reading all bolded text in the context.</li>
<li>#3290: Bulleted text is now correctly read with Ctrl+Up and Down arrows.</li>
<li>#1686: Protected documents are now read in Word 2010.</li>
<li>#649: Status bar in Word Office 2010 is now read.</li>
<li>#2816: Auto complete suggested contacts in Outlook 2010 are now read.</li>
<li>2047: Language detection in Word is available now.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Some of these fixes are available in NVDA and can be downloaded from <a href="http://www.nvaccess.org">www.nvaccess.org</a>. The info about these fixes can be checked in what’s new section of the application at the website.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">We have also been working on some documentation for the project, primarily FAQs to cater to the community’s needs for users switching from Jaws to NVDA which is available at <a class="external-link" href="http://code.google.com/p/saksham-projects/wiki/Tutorials">http://code.google.com/p/saksham-projects/wiki/Tutorials.</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The project wiki is available at <a href="http://code.google.com/p/saksham-projects/wiki/WikiContrib">http://code.google.com/p/saksham-projects/wiki/WikiContrib.</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">We are also working on the development of e-speak text-to-speech synthesisers for the following languages:</p>
<ol style="text-align: justify; ">
<li>Hindi, </li>
<li>Bengali, </li>
<li>Telugu, </li>
<li>Malayalam, </li>
<li>Sindhi, </li>
<li>Punjabi, </li>
<li>Gujrati, </li>
<li>Oriya, </li>
<li>Asamese and </li>
<li>Manipuri.</li>
</ol>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">They are all in different stages of development. We are near to closing our work on Gujrati this month. The issues which we have worked on are:</p>
<ol style="text-align: justify; ">
<li>Introduction of Gujarati in e-speak.</li>
<li>The following issues were identified by the reviewer and closed:</li>
</ol>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li>Character support for Gujarati language was introduced.</li>
<li>Introduced rules for Gujarati language.</li>
<li>Gujarati numbers have been introduced and set according to the feedback received. </li>
<li>Several other changes made.</li>
<li>Fixed the R sound which was sounding inappropriate when at the end of a word.Fixed the number sound 200 according to the feedback received.</li>
<li>Problems with half characters where the half characters come before the same full character have been fixed.</li>
<li>e-Speak could not join sounds of these two characters: ka, ch, tta, ta.</li>
<li> The character name of the character [anna] has been modified according to the feedback received.</li>
<li>Number 2 has been modified when it comes as the third character from the right. </li>
<li>The name of two characters: [Hnna], [ ણ ], [adda] [ ડ઼ ] was modified according to the feedback received. </li>
<li>The phoneme sound of letter [Gnna] [ જ્ઞ ] has been modified according to feedback received.</li>
<li>Phoneme [ra] [ર] has been improved because at the end of a Word it was pronounced wrongly.</li>
<li>When [Va] [વ] comes at the end of the word the matra was sounding wrong. This has been fixed.</li>
<li>Incorrect pronnounciations: All words which ended with "Va" like Sarva Maanava Daanava Sarva Kharava Jakhava, etc., have been fixed. </li>
</ul>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/nvda-e-speak-update-march-2014'>http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/nvda-e-speak-update-march-2014</a>
</p>
No publishersumanE-SpeakAccessibilityText-to-SpeechNVDA2014-04-09T06:27:07ZBlog EntryInstitute for Internet & Society 2014, Pune
http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/blog/institute-for-internet-society-2014-pune
<b>Last month, activists, journalists, researchers, and members of civil society came together at the 2014 Institute for Internet & Society in Pune, which was hosted by CIS and funded by the Ford Foundation. The Institute was a week long, in which participants heard from speakers from various backgrounds on issues arising out of the intersection of internet and society, such as intellectual property, freedom of expression, and accessibility, to name a few. Below is an official reporting summarizing sessions that took place.</b>
<p style="text-align: center; "><iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="http://www.slideflickr.com/iframe/J3JYk2bm" width="700"></iframe></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<h1></h1>
<h1></h1>
<h1>Day One</h1>
<p>February 11, 2014</p>
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<p><b>Time</b></p>
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<p><b>Detail</b></p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">9.30 a.m. – 9.40 a.m.</p>
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<p>Introduction: Sunil Abraham, <i>Executive Director Centre for Internet and Society</i><i> </i></p>
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<td>10.00 a.m. – 10.15 a.m.<br /></td>
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<p>Introduction of Participants</p>
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<td>10.15 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.</td>
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<p>Internet Governance and Privacy: Sunil Abraham</p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">12.00 p.m. – 12.30 p.m.</p>
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<p>Tea-break</p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">12.30 p.m. – 1.00 p.m.</p>
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<p>Keynote: Bishakha Datta, <i>Filmmaker and Activist, and Board Member, Wikimedia Foundation</i></p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">1.00 p.m. – 2.00 p.m.</p>
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<p>Lunch</p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">1.30 p.m. – 3.00 p.m.</p>
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<p>Participant Presentations<i> </i></p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">3.00 p.m. – 3.15 p.m.</p>
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<p>Tea Break</p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">3.15 p.m. – 4.45 p.m.</p>
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<p>Histories, Bodies and Debates around the Internet: Nishant Shah, <i>Director-Research, CIS</i></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify; ">This year’s Internet Institute, hosted by the Centre for Internet & Society (CIS), kicked off in Pune to put a start to a week of learnings and discussions surrounding internet usage and its implications on individuals of society. Twenty two attendees from all over India attended this year, from backgrounds of activism, journalism, research and advocacy work.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Attendees were welcomed by<b> Dr. Ravina Aggarwal</b>, Program Officer for Media Rights & Access at the Ford Foundation, the event’s sponsor, who started off the day by introducing the Foundation’s initiatives in pursuit of bridging the digital divide by addressing issues of internet connectivity.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Internet Governance & Privacy</b>, Sunil Abraham <br />The Institute’s first session was led by <b>Sunil Abraham</b>, Executive Director of CIS, and engaged with issues of internet governance and privacy with reference to four stories: 1) a dispute between tweeters from the US and those in South Africa over the use of hashtag <a href="http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/khayadlanga/2009/11/05/yesterday-a-short-lived-war-broke-out-between-america-and-south-africa/comment-page-1/">#thingsdarkiesays</a>, which is said not to be as racially derogatory as it is in the US; 2) Facebook’s contested policies on <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/facebook/facebook-clarifies-breastfeeding-photo-policy/8791">photos featuring users breastfeeding</a>, 3) a lawsuit between <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/jul/26/tata-sue-greenpeace-turtle-game">Tata and Greenpeace</a> over the organization’s use of Tata’s logo in a video game created for public criticism of their environmentally-degrading practices, and lastly, 4) the case of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savita_Bhabhi">Savita Bhabhi</a>, an Indian pornographic cartoon character which had been banned by India’s High Court and which had served as a landmark case in expanding the statutory laws for what is considered to be pornographic.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify; ">Each of these stories has one major thing in common: due to their nature of taking place over the internet, they are not confined to one geographic location and in turn, are addressed at the international level. The way by which an issue as such is to be addressed cuts across State policies and internet intermediary bodies to create quite a messy case in trying to determine who is at fault. Such complexity illustrates how challenging internet governance can be within today’s society that is no longer restricted to national or geographic boundaries.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Sunil also goes on in explaining the relationship between privacy, transparency, and power, summing it up in a simple formula; <b>privacy protection s</b>hould have a <i>reverse</i> relationship to <b>power</b>—the more the power, the less the privacy one should be entitled to. On the contrary, a <i>direct correlation</i> goes for <b>power</b> and <b>transparency</b>—the more the power, the more transparent a body should be. Instead of thinking about these concepts as a dichotomy, Sunil suggests to see them as absolute rights in themselves—instrumental in policies and necessary to address power imbalances.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>The Web We Want</b>, Bishakha Datta<br />The Institute’s kickoff was also joined by Indian filmmaker and activist, <b>Bishakha Datta</b>, who had delivered the keynote address. Bishakha bridged together notions of freedom of speech, surveillance, and accessibility, while introducing campaigns that work to create an open and universally accessible web, such as the <a href="https://webwewant.org/">Web We Want</a> and <a href="http://www.sexualityanddisability.org/">Sexuality and Disability</a>. Bishakha stresses how the internet as a space has altered how we experience societal constructs, which can be easily exhibited in how individuals experience Facebook in the occurrence of a death, for example. Bishakha initiated discussion among participants by posing questions such as, “what is our expectation of privacy in this brave new world?” and “what is the society we want?” to encompass the need to think of privacy in a new way with the coming of the endless possibilities the internet brings with it.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Histories, Bodies and Debates around the Internet</b>, Nishant Shah<br />CIS Research Director, <b>Nishant Shah</b>, led a session examining internet as a technology more broadly, and our understandings of it in relation to the human body. Nishant proposes the idea that history is a form of technology, as well as time, itself, for which our understanding only comes into being with the aid of technologies of measurement. Although we are inclined to separate technology from the self, Nishant challenges this notion while suggesting that technology is very integral to being human, and defines a “cyborg” as someone who is very intimate with technology. In this way, we are all cyborgs. While making reference to several literary pieces, including Haraway’s <i>Cyborg: Human, Animus, Technology</i>; Kevin Warwick’s <i>Living Cyborg</i>; and Watt’s small world theory, Nishant challenges participants’ previous notions of how one is to understand technology in relation to oneself, as well as the networks we find ourselves implicated within.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Also brought forth by Nishant, was the fact that the internet as a technology has become integral to our identities, making <i>us</i> accessible (rather than us solely making the technology accessible) through online forms of documentation. This digital phenomenon in which we tend to document what we know and experience as a means of legitimizing it can be summed in the modern version of an old fable: “If a tree falls in a lonely forest, and nobody tweets it, has it fallen?”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Nishant refers to several case studies in which the use of online technologies has created a sense of an extension of the self and one’s personal space; which can then be subject to violation as one can be in the physical form, and to the same emotional and psychological effect—as illustrated within the 1993 occurrence referred to as “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Rape_in_Cyberspace">A Rape in Cyberspace</a>.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Attendee Participation</b><br />Participants remained engaged and enthusiastic for the duration of the day, bringing forth their personal expertise and experiences. Several participants presented their own research initiatives, which looked at issues women face as journalists and as portrayed by the media; amateur pornography without the consent of the woman; study findings on the understandings of symptoms of internet addiction; as well as studies looking at how students engage with college confession pages on Facebook.</p>
<div></div>
<hr />
<h1>Day Two</h1>
<p>February 12, 2014</p>
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<p><b>Time</b></p>
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<p><b>Detail</b></p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">9.30 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.</p>
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<p>Wireless Technology: Ravikiran Annaswamy, <i>CEO and Co-founder at Teritree Technologies</i></p>
</td>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">11.00 a.m. – 11.15 a.m.</p>
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<td>
<p>Tea-break</p>
</td>
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<td>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">11.15 a.m. – 12.45 p.m.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Wired Technology: Ravikiran Annaswamy</p>
</td>
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<td>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">12.45 p.m. – 1.30 p.m.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Lunch</p>
</td>
</tr>
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<td>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">1.30 p.m. – 3.00 p.m.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Network, Threats and Securing Yourself: Kingsley John, <i>Independent Consultant</i></p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">3.00 p.m. – 3.15 p.m.</p>
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<td>
<p>Tea Break</p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">3.15 p.m. – 4.45 p.m.</p>
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<td>
<p>Practical Lab: Kingsley John</p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">4.45 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.</p>
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<p>Wrap-up: Sunil Abraham</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify; ">Day Two of the Institute entailed a more technical orientation to “internet & society” across sessions. Participants listened to speakers introduce concepts related to wired and wireless internet connectivity devices and their networks, along with the network of internet users and how one may secure him or herself while “online.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Wireless & Wired Technology</b>, Ravikiran Annaswamy<br />Senior industry practitioner, <b>Ravikiran Annaswamy</b> had aimed to enable the Institute’s participants to “understand the depth and omnipresent of telecom networks” that we find ourselves implicated within. Ravikiran went through the basics of these networks—including fixed line-, mobile-, IP-, and Next Generation IP-networks—as well as the technical structuring of wired and wireless broadband. Many participants found this session to be particularly enriching as their projects aimed to provide increased access to internet connectivity to marginalized areas in India, and had been without the know-how to go about it.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Network, Threats and Securing Yourself</b>, Kinglsey John<br />An instructional session on how to protect oneself was given by <b>Kingsley John</b>, beginning with a lesson on IP Addresses—what they are and the different generations of such, and how IP addresses fit into a broader internet network. Following, Kingsley demonstrated and explained <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/lupucosmin/encrypting-emails-using-kleopatra-pgp">email encryption through the use of software, Kleopatra</a>, and how it may be used to generate keys to <a href="http://thehackernews.com/2014/01/PGP-encryption-Thunderbird-Enigmail_12.html">encrypt emails through Thunderbird mail client</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Evening Discussion</b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">A handful of participants voluntarily partook in an evening discussion, looking at the role of big players in the global internet network, such as Google and Facebook, how they collect and utilize users’ data, and what sorts of measures can be taken to minimize the collecting of such. Due to the widely varying backgrounds of interest among participants, those coming from this technical orientation towards the internet were able to inform their peers on relevant information and types of software that may be found useful related to minimizing one’s online presence.</p>
<hr />
<h1>Day Three</h1>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">February 13, 2014</p>
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<p><b>Time</b></p>
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<p><b>Detail</b></p>
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<p>9.30 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.</p>
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<p>Free Software: Prof. G. Nagarjuna, <i>Chairperson, Free Software Foundation</i></p>
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<p>11.00 a.m. – 11.15 a.m.</p>
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<p>Tea-break</p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">11.15 a.m. – 12.45 p.m.</p>
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<p>Open Data: Nisha Thompson, <i>Independent Consultant</i></p>
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<p>12.45 p.m. – 1.30 p.m.</p>
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<p>Lunch</p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">1.30 p.m. – 3.00 p.m.</p>
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<p>Freedom of Expression: Bhairav Acharya, <i>Advocate and Adviser, Centre for Internet and Society</i></p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">3.00 p.m. – 3.15 p.m.</p>
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<p>Tea-break</p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">3.15 p.m. – 4.45 p.m.</p>
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<p>Copyright: Nehaa Chaudhari, <i>Program Officer, Centre for Internet and Society</i></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify; ">The third day of the Internet Institute incorporated themes presented by speakers ranging from free software, to freedom of expression, to copyright.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Free Software</b>, Prof. G. Nagarjuna<br />Chairman on the Board of Directors for the Free Software Foundation of India, <b>Professor G. Nagarjuna</b> shared with the Institute’s participants his personal expertise on <b>software freedom</b>. Nagarjuna mapped for us the network of concepts related to software freedom, beginning with the origins of the <b>copyleft movement</b>, and also touching upon the art of hacking, the <b>open source movement</b>, and what role software freedom plays in an interconnected world.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Nagarjuna looks at the free software movement as a political movement in the digital space highlighting the <a href="http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html">user’s freedoms</a> associated to the use, distribution, and modification of software for the greater good for all. This is said to distinguish this movement from that of Open Source—a technical and more practical development-oriented movement. The free software movement is not set out to compromise the fundamental issues for the sake of being practical and in that sense, ubiquitous. Instead, its objective is “not to make everybody <i>use</i> the software, but to have them understand <i>why</i> they are using the software,” so that they may become “authentic citizens that can also resonate <i>why </i>they’re doing what they’re doing. We want them to understand the ethical and political aspects of doing so,” Nagarjuna says.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Open Data</b>, Nisha Thompson<br />Participants learned from <b>Nisha Thompson</b> on Open Data; what it is, its benefits, and how it is involved in central government initiatives and policy, as well as civil society groups—generally for uses such as serving as evidence for decision making and accountability. Nisha explored challenges concerning the use of open data, such as those pertaining to privacy, legitimacy, copyright, and interoperability. The group looked at the <a href="http://www.indiawaterportal.org/">India Water Portal</a> as a case study, which makes accessible more than 300 water-related datasets already available in the public space for use from anything from sanitation and agriculture to climate change.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Freedom of Expression</b>, Bhairav Acharya<br /><b>Bhairav Acharya</b>, a constitutional lawyer, traced the development of the freedom of speech and expression in India. Beginning with a conceptual understanding of censorship and the practice of censorship by the state, society, and the individual herself, Bhairav examines the limits traditionally placed by a nation-state on the right to free speech.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">In India, modern free speech and censorship law was first formulated by the colonial British government, which broadly imported the common law to India. However, the colonial state also yielded to the religious and communitarian sensitivities of its subjects, resulting in a continuing close link between communalism and free speech in India today. After Independence, the post-colonial Indian state carried forward Raj censorship, but tweaked it to serve to a nation-building and developmental agenda. Nation-building and nationalism are centrifugal forces that attempt to construct a homogenous 'mainstream'; voices from the margins of this mainstream (the geographical, ethnic, and religious peripheries) and of the marginalised within the mainstream (the poor and disadvantaged), are censored.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Within this narrative, Bhairav located and explained the evolution of the law relating to press censorship, defamation, obscenity, and contempt of court. Free speech law applies equally online. Broadly, censorship on the internet must survive the same constitutional scrutiny that is applied to offline censorship; but, as technology develops, the law must innovate.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Copyright</b>, Nehaa Chaudhari<br />CIS Programme Officer, <b>Nehaa Chaudhari</b> examined the concept of Copyright as an intellectual property right in discussing its fundamentals, purpose and origins, and Copyright’s intersection with the internet. Nehaa also explained the different exceptions to Copyright, along with its alternatives, such as opposing intellectual property protection regimes, including the Creative Commons and Copyleft. Within this session, Nehaa also introduced several cases in which Copyright came into play with the use of the internet, including Hunter Moore’s “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is_Anyone_Up%3F">Is Anyone Up</a>?” website, which had showcased pornographic pictures obtained by submission bringing rise to the phenomenon of “revenge porn.” Instances as such blur the lines of what is commonly referred to as intellectual property, and what specific requirements enables one to own the rights to such.</p>
<hr />
<h1>Day Four</h1>
<p>February 14, 2014</p>
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<p><b>Detail</b></p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">9.30 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.</p>
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<p>E-Accessibility and Inclusion: Prashant Naik, <i>Union Bank</i></p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">11.00 a.m. – 11.15 a.m.</p>
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<p>Tea-break</p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">11.15 a.m. – 12.45 p.m.</p>
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<p>Patents: Nehaa Chaudhari</p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">12.45 p.m. – 1.30 p.m.</p>
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<p>Lunch</p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">1.30 p.m. – 2.00 p.m.</p>
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<p>Fieldwork Assignment</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify; ">Day Four of the Internet Institute introduced concepts of eAccessibilty and Inclusion on the internet for persons with disabilities, along with patents as an intellectual property right. Participants were also assigned a fieldwork exercise as a hands-on activity in which they were to employ what they’ve learned to initiate conversation with individuals in public spaces and collect primary data while doing so.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>eAccessibility and Inclusion</b>, Prashant Naik</p>
<b>Prashant Naik</b> started off the day with his session on E-Accessibility and Inclusion. Prashant illustrated the importance of accessibility and what is meant by the term. Participants learned of assistive technologies for different disability types and how to create more accessible word and PDF documents, as well as web pages for users. Prashant demonstrated to participants what it is like to use a computer as a visually impaired individual, which provided for an enriching experience.</td>
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<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Patents</b>, Nehaa Chaudhari<b><br />Nehaa Chaudhari </b>led a second session at the Internet Institute on intellectual property rights—this one looking at patents particularly and their role within statutory law. Nehaa traced the historical origins of patents before examining the fundamentals of them, and addresses the questions, “Why have patents? And is the present system working for everyone?” Nehaa also introduced notions of the Commons along with the Anticommons, and perspectives within the debate around software patents, as well as different means by which the law can address the exploitation of patents or “patent thickets”—such as through patent pools or compulsory licensing.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Fieldwork Assignment</b>, Groupwork<br />Participants were split into groups and required to carry out a mini fieldwork assignment in approaching individuals in varying public spaces in Pune in attempts to collect primary data. Questions asked to individuals were to be devised by the group, so long as they pertained to themes examined within the Internet Institute. Areas visited by groups included the Pune Central Mall, MG Road, and FC Road.</p>
<hr />
<h1>Day Five</h1>
<p>February 15, 2014</p>
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<p><b>Detail</b></p>
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<p>9.30 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.</p>
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<p>E-Governance: Manu Srivastav, <i>Vice President, eGovernments Foundation</i></p>
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<p>11.00 a.m. – 11.15 a.m.</p>
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<p>Tea-break</p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">11.15 a.m. – 12.45 p.m.</p>
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<p>Market Concerns: Payal Malik, <i>Economic Adviser, Competition Commission of India</i></p>
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<p>12.45 p.m. – 1.30 p.m.</p>
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<p>Lunch</p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">1.30 p.m. – 3.00 p.m.</p>
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<p>Digital Natives: Nishant Shah</p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">3.00 p.m. – 3.15 p.m.</p>
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<p>Tea-break</p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">3.15 p.m. – 4.45 p.m.</p>
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<p>Fieldwork Presentations</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify; ">Day Five of the Internet Institute brought with it sessions related to themes of e-governance, market concerns of telecommunications, and so called “Digital Natives.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>eGovernance</b>, Manu Srivastava<br />Vice President of the eGovernments Foundation, <b>Manu Srivastava</b> led a session on eGovernance—the utilization of the internet as a means of delivering government services communicating with citizens, businesses, and members of government. Manu examined the complexities of the eGovernance and barriers to implementation of eGovernance initiatives. Within discussion, participants examined the nuanced relationship between the government and citizens with the incorporation of other governing bodies in an eGovernance system, as well as new spaces for corruption to take place.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Market Concerns</b>, Payal Malik<br /><b>Payal Malik</b>, Advisor of the Economics Division of the Competition Commission of India shared her knowledge on market concerns of the telecommunications industry, and exclaimed the importance of competition issues in such an industry as a tool to create greater good for a greater number of people. She demonstrated this importance by stating that affordability as a product of increased access can only be possible once there is enough investment, which generally only happens in a competitive market. In this way, we must set the conditions to make competition possible, as a tool to achieve certain objectives. Payal also demonstrated the economic benefits of telecommunications by stating that for every 10% increase in broadband penetration, increase in GDP of 1.3%. She also examined the broadband ecosystem in India and touched upon future possibilities of increased broadband penetration, such as for formers and the education sector.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Digital Natives</b>, Nishant Shah<br /><b>Nishant Shah</b> shed some light on one of the areas that the Centre for Internet & Society looks at within their research scope, this being the “<a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/digital-natives">Digital Native</a>.” As referred to by Nishant, the Digital Native is not to categorize a specific type of internet user, but can be said for simply any person who is performing a digital action, while doing away with this false dichotomy of age, location, and geography.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Nishant examines varying case studies in which “the digital is empowering natives to not merely be benefactors of change, but agents of change,” from the <a href="http://blog.blanknoise.org/2012/07/i-never-ask-for-it.html">Blank Noise Project</a>’s “I NEVER Ask for it…” campaign in efforts to rethink sexual violence, to <a href="http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/">Matt Harding</a>’s foolish dancing with groups of individuals from all over the world.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">As occurrences in the digital realm, however, these often political expressions may be rewritten by the network when picked up as a growing phenomenon, in order to make it accessible to online consumers by the masses. In doing so, the expression is removed from its political context and is presented in the form of nothing more than a fad. For this reason, Nishant stresses the need to become aware of the potential of the internet in becoming an “echo-chamber”—in which forms of expression are amplified and mimicked, resulting in a restructuring of the dynamics surrounding the subject—whether it be videos of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_Dorm_Boys">boys lipsyncing to Backstreet Boys</a> in their dorm room going viral, or a strong and malicious movement to punish the Chinese girl who had taken a video of her heinously and wickedly killing a kitten after locating her using the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_flesh_search_engine">Human Flesh Search Engine</a>.<b><br /></b></p>
<p><b>Fieldwork Presentations</b>, Groupwork</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">To end off the day, participant groups presented findings collated from the prior evening’s fieldwork exercise, in which they were to ask strangers in various public places of Pune questions pertaining to themes looked at from within this year’s Institute. Participants were divided into four groups and visited Pune’s FC Road, Mahatma Gandhi Road, and Central Mall.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Groups found that the majority of those interviews primarily accessed the phone via the mobile. There was also a common weariness of using the internet and concern for one’s privacy while doing so, especially with uploading photos to Facebook and online financial transactions. People were also generally concerned about using cyber cafes for fear of one’s accounts being hacked. Generally people suspected that so long as conversations are “private” (i.e. in one’s Facebook inbox), so too are they secure. Just as well, those interviewed shared a sense of security with the use of a password.</p>
<hr />
<h1>Day Six</h1>
<p>February 16, 2014</p>
<table class="listing">
<tbody>
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<td>
<p><b>Time</b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><b>Detail</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">9.30 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Wikipedia: Dr. Abhijeet Safai</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">11.00 a.m. – 11.15 a.m.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Tea-break</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">11.15 a.m. – 12.45 p.m.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Open Access: Muthu Madhan (TBC)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">12.45 p.m. – 1.30 p.m.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Lunch</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">1.30 p.m. – 3.00 p.m.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Case Studies Groupwork</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">3.00 p.m. – 3.15 p.m.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Tea-break</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">3.15 p.m. – 4.45 p.m.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Case Studies Presentations</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">As the Institute came closer to its end, participants got the opportunity to hear from speakers on topics pertaining the Wikipedia editing in addition to Open Access to scholarly literature. Participants also worked together in groups to examine specific case studies referenced in previous sessions, and then presented their conclusions.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Wikipedia</b>, Dr. Abhijeet Safai<br />The Institute was joined by Medical Officer of Clinical Research at Pune’s Symbiosis Centre of Health Care, <b>Dr. Abhijeet Safai</b>, who led a session on Wikipedia. Having edited over 3700 Wikipedia articles, Dr. Abhijeet was able to bring forth his expertise and familiarity in editing Wikipedia to participants so that they would be able to do the same. Introduced within this session were Wikipedia’s different fundamental pillars and codes of conducts to be complied with by all contributors, along with different features and components of Wikipedia articles that one should be aware of when contributing, such as how to cite sources and discuss the contents of an article with other contributors.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Open Access</b>, Muthu Madhan<br /><b>Muthu Madhan</b> joined the Internet Institute while speaking on Open Access (OA) to scholarly literature. Within his session, Muthu examined the historical context within which the scholarly journal had arisen and how the idea of Open Access began within this space. The presence of Open Access in India and other developing nations was also examined in this session, and the concept of Open Data, introduced.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Case Studies</b>, Groupworks</p>
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<tbody>
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<td><img src="http://editors.cis-india.org/home-images/11.JPG/image_preview" alt="Pune_Group2" class="image-inline image-inline" title="Pune_Group2" /><br /></td>
<td><img src="http://editors.cis-india.org/home-images/8.JPG/image_preview" alt="Pune_Group" class="image-inline image-inline" title="Pune_Group" /><br /></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Participants were split up into groups and assigned particular case studies looked at briefly in previous sessions. Case studies included <a href="http://siditty.blogspot.in/2009/11/things-darkies-say.html"><i>#thingsdarkiessay</i></a><i>,</i> a once trending Twitter hashtag in South Africa which had offended many Americans for its use of “darkie” as a derogatory term; the literary novel, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hindus:_An_Alternative_History"><i>The Hindus</i></a>, which offers an alternative narrative of Hindu history had been banned in India for obscenity; a case in which several users’ avatars had been controlled by another in a virtual community and forced to perform sexual acts, referred to as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Rape_in_Cyberspace"><i>A Rape Happened in Cyber Space</i></a>; and lastly, a pornographic submission website, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is_Anyone_Up%3F">Is Anyone Up?</a>, for which content was largely derived from “revenge porn.” Each group then presented on the various perspectives surrounding the issue at hand.<b><br /></b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>The Cyborg</b>, Nishant Shah<br />Nishant Shah led an off-agenda session in the evening looking more closely at the notion of the human cyborg. Nishant deconstructs humanity’s relationship to technology, in suggesting that we “think of the human as <i>produced</i> with the technologies… not who <i>produces</i> technology.” Nishant explores the Digital Native as an attained identity for those who, because of technology, restructure and reinvent his or her environment—offline as well as online. Among other ideas shared, Nishant refers to works by Haraway on the human cyborg in illustrating our dependency on technology and our need to care for these technologies we depend on.</p>
<hr />
<h1>Day Seven</h1>
<p>February 17, 2014</p>
<table class="listing">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<p><b>Time</b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><b>Detail</b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">9.30 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Internet Activism: Laura Stein, <i>Associate Professor, University of Texas </i>and <i>Fulbright Fellow<br /></i></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">11.00 a.m. – 11.15 a.m.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Tea-break</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">11.15 a.m. – 12.45 p.m.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Domestic and International Bodies: Chinmayi Arun, <i>Research Director<br /></i></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">12.45 p.m. – 1.30 p.m.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Lunch</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">1.30 p.m. – 3.00 p.m.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Participant Presentations</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">3.00 p.m. – 3.15 p.m.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Tea-break</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center; ">3.15 p.m. – 4.45 p.m.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Hot Question Challenge</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b> </b>The last day of the week-long Internet Institute examined concepts of Internet Activism and Domestic and International Bodies. Some participants led presentations on topics of personal familiarity, before a final wrap-up exercise, calling upon individuals to share any new formulations resulting from the Institute.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Internet Activism</b>, Laura Stein</p>
<table class="invisible">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://editors.cis-india.org/home-images/17.JPG/image_preview" alt="Pune_Laura" class="image-inline image-inline" title="Pune_Laura" /><br /></td>
<td style="text-align: justify; ">Associate Professor from the University of Texas, <b>Laura Stein</b>, spoke on activism on the internet. Laura examined some grassroots organizations and movements taking place on the online and the benefits that the internet brings in facilitating their impact, such as its associated low costs, accessibility and possibility for anonymity. Despite the positive effects catalyzed by the internet, Laura stresses that the “laying field is still unequal, and movements are not simply transformed by technology.” Some of the websites exemplifying online activism that were examined within this session includes the <a href="http://www.itgetsbetter.org/">It Gets Better Project</a>, which aims to give hope to LGBT youth facing harassment, and the national election watch by the <a href="http://adrindia.org/">Association for Democratic Reforms</a>. Additionally, Laura spoke on public communication policy, comparing that of the US and India, and how this area of policy may influence media content and practice.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Domestic and International Bodies</b>, Chinmayi Arun<br />As the Internet Institute’s final speaker, Research Director for Communication Governance at National Law University<i> </i>,<b> Chinmayi Arun</b>, explores the network of factors that affect one’s behavior on the internet—these including: social norms, the law, the markets, and architecture. In referring to Lawrence Lessig’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathetic_dot_theory">pathetic dot theory</a>, Chinmayi illustrates how individual’s—the pathetic dots in question—are functions of the interactions of these factors, and in this sense, regulated, and stresses the essential need to understand the system, in order to effectively change the dynamics within it. It is worth noting that not all pathetic dots are equal, and Google’s dot, for example, will be drastically bigger than a single user’s, having more leveraging power within the network of internet bodies. Also demonstrated, is the fact that we must acknowledge the need for regulation by the law to some extent, otherwise, the internet would be a black box where anything goes, putting one’s security at risk of violation.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Hot Question Challenge</b><br />The very last exercise of the Institute entailed participants asking each other questions on demand, relating back to different themes looked at within the last week. Participants had the chance, here, to bridge together concepts across sessions, as well as formulate their own opinions, while posing questions to others that they, themselves, were still curious about.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><img src="http://editors.cis-india.org/home-images/DSC_0371.JPG/image_large" alt="Pune_Everyone" class="image-inline image-inline" title="Pune_Everyone" /></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/blog/institute-for-internet-society-2014-pune'>http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/blog/institute-for-internet-society-2014-pune</a>
</p>
No publishersamanthaAccess to KnowledgeDigital NativesTelecomResearchers at WorkWikipediaAccessibilityInternet GovernanceFeaturedWikimediaOpennessHomepage2014-04-07T11:31:23ZBlog EntryConstitution of the High Level Advisory Committee (HLAC) on National Policy on Universal Electronic Accessibility
http://editors.cis-india.org/news/hlac-national-policy-universal-electronic-accessibility
<b>The Centre for Internet and Society has been invited to serve on the high level committee on electronic accessibility policy constituted by the Government of India. </b>
<p><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/hlac-on-national-electronic-accessibility-policy.pdf" class="internal-link">Click to read the notification</a> issued by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/news/hlac-national-policy-universal-electronic-accessibility'>http://editors.cis-india.org/news/hlac-national-policy-universal-electronic-accessibility</a>
</p>
No publisherpraskrishnaAccessibility2014-04-06T06:46:15ZNews Item