Film Festival on Disability Issues
03/12/2009

Jain University’s Community Radio - Radio Active 90.4 MHz along with the PG Department of Mass Communication in association with We Care, the National Trust and Brotherhood, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), New Delhi, Oxfam India, UNESCO, and Asian Academy of Film and Television (AAFT) held a one-day film festival on disability on 3 December 2009, on the International Day of Disabled Persons.

The film festival saw enthusiastic participants including students, NGOs, academicians, government officials and community members from Srirampura.

The film festival was inaugurated by Dr. Najoo Varkey, a campaigner against consanguineous marriages, Mr. Das Suryawanshi (KAS) State Commissioner for Disability, Govt of Karnataka was the Chief Guest, Mr. Basavaraj, Director - Association of People with Disability was the Guest of Honour, Dr. Chenraj Jain, Chairman – Jain Group of Institutions & Chancellor - Jain University and Mrs. Shanthama, Social Worker- Srirampura were present on the occasion.

The main aim of the Film Festival was to sensitize students and general public on various issues of disabilities and to promote the rights of persons with disabilities according to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which came into effect from 3 May 2008.  The theme of the Film Festival was “Dignity and Justice for All.”

“Bringing up disabled children is a challenge, but we should never discourage them because this would mean that we are discriminating them and this will not help them cope once they are out in the world. This festival has helped us understand our children better and has given us tips and ways of how to deal with their problems that could arise in bringing them up” said Valarmati, parent of four-year-old Harish with a limb and motor disability.

“Disability prevention is as important as tackling disability issues and society should be sensitized to people suffering from various disabilities. The media also plays an important role and youth involvement is crucial in building an inclusive society,” said Dr. Najoo Varkey in her inaugural address.

Sparsh, Advithya, Three of Us, Basket Bronx, Still Waiting, Rakkum School for the Blind were some of the films screened in the festival followed up by a relevant discussion led by Poornima from Cheshire homes.

The film festival will also seek to motivate students to make short films and documentaries for the upcoming we Care Filmfest-2010. Appreciating the efforts towards creating awareness, “Helping people with disability is the mission of my life,” said Mr Das Suryavanshi, KAS, State Commissioner for Disability, Govt of Karnataka.