Miss-Delectable
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Mins give Int'l Deaf Day celebrations a miss - The Times of India
While our politicians always pledge to work for the underprivileged and the marginalised, on Friday they seemed to do a u-turn on their self-professed claims.
The International Deaf Day turned into a major disappointment for the city's deaf community on Friday. Politicians and bureaucrats, who promised to address their rally at the Amar Jawan Jyoti kept them waiting for hours.
The community had invited a few ministers for the occasion weeks in advance, and wanted to hand over their memorandum with all their demands to them. Among the lot, state social welfare minister, Ram Kishore Saini did arrive at the venue, only two-and-a-hour after the scheduled time at 7:30p.m.
Nearly 150 deaf citizens under the banner of Jaipur Deaf Friendship Club organised a rally to observe the International Deaf Day. They were accompanied by an interpreter, Gaurav Deep Singh who had especially come from Delhi to translate their grievances to the invited ministers.
The rally kicked-off at 2 pm from Albert Museum, and culminated at Amar Jawan Jyoti at 5pm. The enthusiasm among the crowd was at its hilt. People were seen laughing, sharing jokes in their own sign language.
It was not just the ministers who let these people down by not turning up. The much-feted civil society too, heaped on barbed insults and abuses at the group. Several commuters were seen commenting and making fun of them.
The participants however, remained unfazed by the criticism, instead marched towards Amar Jawan Jyoti and eagerly awaited the arrival of the ministers.
After an hour, the crowd finally started growing impatient. Some came rushing to their interpreter, asking him to answer their parents' anxious calls. Natasha (22), a deaf student left the venue at 6.30 dejected. Before she left, she told the reporter (as translated by the interpreter): "They (politicians and bureaucrats) love to hear those who can shout and cheer them during their address."
Ankit Arora, another student, who had come sporting a new hairstyle in a bid to stand out from the crowd, spent all his time and energy on convincing his friends not to leave the venue and wait for the special guests. After a long wait, his prayers were answered as the minister arrived, spoke a few words and left.
At the end of the meet, many left with tears in their eyes. Not broken in spirit, they promised to bring out a similar rally next year.
While our politicians always pledge to work for the underprivileged and the marginalised, on Friday they seemed to do a u-turn on their self-professed claims.
The International Deaf Day turned into a major disappointment for the city's deaf community on Friday. Politicians and bureaucrats, who promised to address their rally at the Amar Jawan Jyoti kept them waiting for hours.
The community had invited a few ministers for the occasion weeks in advance, and wanted to hand over their memorandum with all their demands to them. Among the lot, state social welfare minister, Ram Kishore Saini did arrive at the venue, only two-and-a-hour after the scheduled time at 7:30p.m.
Nearly 150 deaf citizens under the banner of Jaipur Deaf Friendship Club organised a rally to observe the International Deaf Day. They were accompanied by an interpreter, Gaurav Deep Singh who had especially come from Delhi to translate their grievances to the invited ministers.
The rally kicked-off at 2 pm from Albert Museum, and culminated at Amar Jawan Jyoti at 5pm. The enthusiasm among the crowd was at its hilt. People were seen laughing, sharing jokes in their own sign language.
It was not just the ministers who let these people down by not turning up. The much-feted civil society too, heaped on barbed insults and abuses at the group. Several commuters were seen commenting and making fun of them.
The participants however, remained unfazed by the criticism, instead marched towards Amar Jawan Jyoti and eagerly awaited the arrival of the ministers.
After an hour, the crowd finally started growing impatient. Some came rushing to their interpreter, asking him to answer their parents' anxious calls. Natasha (22), a deaf student left the venue at 6.30 dejected. Before she left, she told the reporter (as translated by the interpreter): "They (politicians and bureaucrats) love to hear those who can shout and cheer them during their address."
Ankit Arora, another student, who had come sporting a new hairstyle in a bid to stand out from the crowd, spent all his time and energy on convincing his friends not to leave the venue and wait for the special guests. After a long wait, his prayers were answered as the minister arrived, spoke a few words and left.
At the end of the meet, many left with tears in their eyes. Not broken in spirit, they promised to bring out a similar rally next year.