The Ministry of Information Broadcasting's WAVES 2025 conference discussed accessibility within India's media and entertainment sector, emphasizing inclusive design as an imperative. Experts highlighted that alongside compliance requirements, it also fosters creativity and ethics by considering diverse populations' needs beyond merely addressing visual or hearing impairments. Dipti Prasad noted India's leadership role in the conversation on inclusive design for over 1 billion citizens.
Christopher Patnoe from Google underscored the importance of systemic change, particularly citing the European Accessibility Act as a promising measure with transformative potential for accessibility implementation globally. He stressed that innovation requires foundational work being laid now and a commitment to changing how accessibility is integrated into media content creation and distribution.
Ashay Vinay Sahasrabuddhe argued for maintaining creativity while making content accessible, suggesting generic automated solutions could dilute the unique perspectives of creators. Technology like AI was highlighted as instrumental in advancing accessibility, with Dipti Prasad demonstrating an AI-based application featuring sign language interpretation, closed captions (CC), and advancements in audio description.
Rahul Bajaj echoed concerns about the need for stronger legal frameworks across different platforms like theatre, Over-the-Top services (OTT), and television, with a call for industry collaboration to ensure accessibility is not considered solely through the lens of compliance but as a critical ethical and strategic component. He stressed that technology alone is insufficient; greater governmental support, partnerships, and scaled systems are also required.
Danish Mahajan from Radio Udaan advocated for stricter implementation of existing policies on accessibility and recommended increased representation of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes related to media content. He posited that true accessibility must be deeply embedded within systems rather than merely an afterthought.
The panel collectively emphasized the need to view accessibility as more than just a checkbox, insisting on considering it as a creative, ethical responsibility integral to strategy and innovation. As India undergoes a content revolution, this focus promises to unlock full potential for all citizens by ensuring their unique needs are taken into account through inclusive design principles and practices.
Limitations in the text include the absence of quantitative data or specific benchmarks that could gauge progress towards improved accessibility within India's media ecosystem, which would have provided more context on the current landscape and the scale of future changes envisioned. The tone is analytical with a focus on information transmission rather than speculative analysis or predictions about the impact of policies discussed.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Information Broadcasting WAVES 2025: A policy initiative by the Indian government focusing on Accessibility in Media and Entertainment.
Accessibility in Media and Entertainment Sector: Area of focus for Ministry of Information Broadcasting WAVES 2025, exploring inclusive design principles for digital transformations.
Dipti Prasad: CEO at XL Cinema app and a National awardee recognized for efforts in technology and AI to accelerate accessibility initiatives.
Christopher Patnoe: Head of Accessibility and Disability Inclusion for EMEA, Google offering insights on the global landscape of accessibility standards.
IIT Delhi (Indian Institute of Technology): Institution highlighting leadership in redefining accessibility, noting India's contribution to inclusive design philosophy.
National Awardee: Title or rank given to Dipti Prasad for significant contributions to accessibility initiatives via technology and AI.
Kintel: Organization associated with CEO Ashay Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, emphasizing creative approaches in media towards accessibility.
Google: Technology company offering insights on global accessibility and disability inclusion across various platforms.
Rahul Bajaj: Lawyer advocating for inclusive content across diverse platforms, highlighting the need for stronger legal frameworks.
Radio Udaan: Platform founded by Danish Mahajan promoting increased representation of persons with disabilities in policymaking and regulatory bodies.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
WAVES 2025 discusses Accessibility in Media and
Entertainment Sector: Experts Call for Inclusive
Innovation and Policy Reform
Accessibility must be viewed not as a compliance
checkbox but as a creative, ethical, and strategic
imperative: Dipti Prasad
India is not just catching up; in many ways, we are
leading the conversation on inclusive design: Brij
Kothari
We’re laying the groundwork for systemic change in
how accessibility is implemented”: Christopher
Patnoe, Head of Accessibility and Disability
Inclusion, Google
Posted On: 02 MAY 2025 5:20PM by PIB Mumbai
Mumbai, 2 May 2025
A thought-provoking panel discussion on “Accessibility Standards in the Media &
Entertainment Sector” took center stage at WAVES 2025 today. The session brought
together leading voices from academia, technology, policy, law, and journalism to
explore how accessibility in content creation and distribution is evolving—and why it
must be prioritized in India’s digital transformation journey.
Opening the session, Prof. Brij Kothari of IIT Delhi emphasized India's leadership in
redefining accessibility. “India is not just catching up; in many ways, we are leading the
conversation on inclusive design,” he stated. He said that the scale, diversity and
accessibility are no longer just a solution for the visually or hearing impaired—it’s a
universal design philosophy that benefits over 1.4 billion citizens.Christopher Patnoe, Head of Accessibility and Disability Inclusion for EMEA at Google,
offered a global perspective, noting that while few countries like the U.S. have strong
legislation, enforcement often falls short. He said that the European Accessibility Act is
showing promise, and the next decade will be transformative. “We’re laying the
groundwork now for systemic change in how accessibility is implemented”, he stated.
Ashay Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, CEO of Kintel, highlighted the creative dimensions of
accessibility in media. “Content is shaped through the unique lens of its creator,
especially in film. To make content truly accessible, we must preserve that creative
perspective—not dilute it with generic, automated solutions,” he explained. He
emphasized on translating the director’s vision meaningfully for all audiences, including
those with disabilities.
National Awardee Dipti Prasad, CEO XL Cinema app, spotlighted how technology and AI
are accelerating accessibility efforts. "We've launched an AI-based application featuring
sign language interpretation, CC and with advancements in audio description, what once
took weeks now takes just 30 hours," she said. She further stressed that technology
alone isn't enough as greater governmental support, public-private partnerships, and
tendering mechanisms to scale accessible entertainment in India is required
Rahul Bajaj, lawyer and advocate for inclusive content across platforms such as theatre,
OTT, and television emphasized the need for stronger legal frameworks and industry
collaboration.
Danish Mahajan, Founder of Radio Udaan called for stricter implementation of existing
policies and increased representation of persons with disabilities in policymaking and
regulatory bodies. “Representation ensures that accessibility isn't an afterthought—it’s
embedded in the system,” he noted.
Together, the panel underscored a collective call to action: accessibility must be viewed
not as a compliance checkbox but as a creative, ethical, and strategic imperative. As
India stands at the crossroads of a content revolution, accessibility will be key tounlocking its full potential for every citizen.
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PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Rajith/ Swadhin/ Lekshmipriya/ CShekhar |147
(Release ID: 2126205)