MP Assembly Proceedings Made Accessible to Special Children for the First Time

Bhopal July 23, 2026

In a significant step towards making democratic institutions more inclusive, hearing and speech-impaired children from Bhopal witnessed the proceedings of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Wednesday with the assistance of a sign language interpreter, marking the first such initiative in the Assembly's history.

The initiative coincided with the submission of the Annual Report of the Office of the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities to Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar by Commissioner Dr Ajay Khemariya. During the meeting, Dr Khemariya requested the Speaker to allow specially-abled children to observe the functioning of the House. Responding positively, Tomar extended the invitation and made special arrangements for their visit.

Students from the Government School for the Visually and Hearing Impaired and Samarthanam Trust attended the Assembly proceedings from the visitors' gallery. In a first for the House, the Speaker granted special permission for a sign language interpreter to accompany the children, enabling them to understand the debates and proceedings in real time.

The initiative ensured that the Assembly's deliberations were accessible to children who would otherwise have found it difficult to follow the proceedings. The arrangement reflected an effort to make democratic institutions more inclusive and encourage greater participation and awareness among persons with disabilities.

Apart from witnessing the proceedings, the children met Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar, who interacted with them and made special arrangements for refreshments in the Assembly's conference hall.

The programme highlighted the growing emphasis on accessibility in public institutions and aligned with broader efforts to promote equal opportunities for persons with disabilities. Providing children with first-hand exposure to the functioning of the Legislature also aimed to strengthen their understanding of democratic processes and constitutional institutions.

The Office of the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities has been undertaking several initiatives to improve accessibility, strengthen inclusive governance and advocate policy reforms for the welfare and empowerment of persons with disabilities. Wednesday’s visit to the Assembly added another milestone by ensuring that democratic proceedings became accessible to special children through interpretation support for the first time in the history of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly.