Avoid Saying Pagal, Andha, Behra & Gunga: ECI To Political Parties
Mumbai: The Election Commission of India (ECI) asked political parties to avoid using derogatory words for persons with disabilities (PwDs) in public discourse.
According to the ECI, using such semantics in speeches or campaigns by candidates or members of any political party may be seen as demeaning to those with disabilities. It said that PwDs ought to have access to their websites and social media accounts, as well as their speeches, campaigns, and other actions.
It also called for parties to include more persons with disabilities as employees and attendees, as well as to offer their staff a disability training package.
“Common examples of ableist language are words like dumb(gunga), retarded (pagal, sirphira), blind (andha, kana), deaf (behra), lame (langda, lula, apahij) etc. It is necessary to avoid usage of such derogatory language,” the election body added.
Blindness, low vision, deafness, locomotor disability, intellectual disability, and other appropriate terms for disabilities are defined in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016.
The ECI also issued a set of guidelines for political parties to follow in order to “promote inclusivity and respect” for people with disabilities (PwDs).
The standards include that parties must make sure their speeches, websites, social media accounts, and other materials are accessible to individuals with disabilities and refrain from using any discriminatory language towards them.
Parties and their representatives are instructed under the rules to refrain from using phrases pertaining to disability or impaired individuals in relation to human inability or in a manner that is “offensive or perpetuates stereotypes.”
ECI states that a five-year jail penalty under Section 92 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016 might be imposed for breaking these rules.
Parties must furthermore “ensure and declare on their website that they will use disability & gender-sensitive language and etiquette as well as respect inherent human equality, equity, dignity and autonomy.”
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