Bengaluru: National anthem rules for disabled draws flak

Bengaluru: After the Union Home Ministry issued guidelines on how people with disabilities can show respect when the national anthem is being played in movie halls or public functions, it drew a lot of flak on the internet for lack of sensitivity.

The ministry had stated that they should not move and position themselves “maintaining the maximum possible alertness physically”.

While some people with disability and people who have seen it from close quarters felt the rule needed more groundwork of awareness and sensitization before implementation, the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People begged to differ.

“A person with disability will respect the national anthem even if it causes him discomfort. If he is asked to, in spite of accessibility issues, he will do the best he can. 

“People with physical disabilities like mine, lower limb amputee, are able to adhere, people with intellectual disability like cerebral palsy, it is difficult to get the message through in the first place,” said Briju Mohan, co founder of One Step At a Time, a support group for the disabled.