Stop Showing People Who Stammer In Films To Draw Laughs: Activists

Bengaluru: Stammering, and people who stammer, are often the target of jokes in movies. And one Bengaluru based-organisation believes that it should stop right away. Today, a march was held to appeal to the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry -- no more raising laughs using stammering.

Radhika Poovayya, founder and director of Samvaad Institute of Speech and Hearing, said there should be a strict law that prevents any character with stammering to be used to draw laughter.

"Our demand to the I&B ministry is to stop films from showing stammering inappropriately. Show them (people who stammer) as normal people and don't portray them for just a few laughs," Ms Poovayya said.

"They know what to say, but they take a little more time to say. So we have to give them the time without rolling our eyes, giving a word in between, helping them. They don't need any help. If you try to help them, they get even more insulated," she said.
 Bengaluru senior police officer M Ashwini lent her support to the cause. "This walkathon insists that stammering should be properly addressed in social media and in films," the police officer said.

An online petition and distribution of brochures are part of raising awareness about the campaign.

Abhiya, a student at the Samvaad Institute of Speech and Hearing, said, "We are spreading awareness so that we can develop a community to support them."