How the govt wants to make movie theatres accessible for persons with visual and hearing disabilities

These guidelines are applicable for those feature films that are certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for public exhibition in cinema halls/movie theatres for commercial purposes. The focus of these guidelines is not only on the content, but also on the information and assistive devices needed by persons with disabilities to enjoy films in cinema theatres.

The proposal quotes Sections 29 and 42 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which mandate the government to take measures to promote universal access in the information and communication sector, including access to films for persons with hearing and visual disabilities. As per the Census 2011, 2.21% of the total population in India has been marked as ‘disabled’, of which 19 percent are with disability in seeing, and another 19 percent are with disability in hearing.

What do the guidelines propose?

The producer would be required to deliver two sets of the films for certification to CBFC: the original one for the public view, and the second one with accessibility features — audio description, open/closed captioning and Indian Sign Language Interpretation.

Cinemas have to ensure that feature films being delivered for theatrical releases mandatorily have both the versions being certified by CBFC. There are two options for the cinema halls to implement this. Either to have dedicated days and timings of screenings with accessible services, or using certain equipment in theatres during the normal show, which facilitates the impaired segment.

Theatres have to offer accessibility features in a regular show by making available at least two equipment per 200 seats. This equipment could be in the form of:

1. Smart glasses for displaying captions;
2. Installing closed caption stands near their seats;
3. A separate small screen below the big screen to display captions/subtitles;
4. Headphones/ earphones for audio description attached to seats for visually impaired, and
5. Using mobile apps during the normal show and other technologies.

When do these guidelines come into effect?

Films dubbed in more than one language would be required to provide at least one accessibility feature each for the hearing impaired and visually impaired, within six months from the effective date of implementation of these guidelines.

Feature films submitted for consideration in the National Film Awards, in the Indian Panorama Section of the International Film Festival of India, Goa and Mumbai International Film Festival also have to include closed captioning and audio description with effect from January 1 next year.

All other Feature Films being certified through CBFC and meant for theatrical release (digital feature films), would be required to mandatorily provide accessibility features from three years from the date of issue of these guidelines.

Onus and the deterrents

Exhibitors have been asked to develop a self-regulatory mechanism for providing the requisite number of seats with accessibility features within a period of three years. Cinema owners, in consultation with organisations for disabled persons, also have to train their staff to serve customers with disabilities, including explaining how they can find information about access services, assist in booking of tickets.

The licensing authorities will monitor the places under their jurisdiction to ensure provision of accessible seats. This shall be made mandatory after three years from the date of notification of the guidelines. The I&B Ministry will also set up a committee to monitor the implementation of these rules. It will comprise 50 percent members who are persons with hearing/visual impairment and representatives from the film industry.

In case of a grievance, a person can file a complaint with the licensee of the cinema theatre. In case of unsatisfactory response or lack of response from the licensee, the complainant may file the complaint before the licensing authority after a period of 45 days. Annually, the CBFC will also collect and publish information about different accessible services provided in the certified feature films.