India on Wednesday became the first country to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually-impaired or print disabled. In another development, India and Singapore discussed strengthening of educational relations between the two countries.
The Marrakesh Treaty would go a long way towards establishing equal rights and opportunities for education and employment for them, the HRD Ministry said in a statement here. The Treaty, which was ratified on June 30, will facilitate import of accessible format copies from member States by authorised entities in India such as educational institutions, libraries, etc. Serving the needs of visually-impaired persons, the statement added.
So far, 79 World Intellectual Property Organisation member States have signed the Treaty, which will come into force once 20 countries have ratified it.“The development will also facilitate translation of imported accessible format copies and export of accessible format copies in Indian languages,” the statement. The Indian Copyright (Amendment) Act, 2012, is in harmony with the Marrakesh Treaty.
In another development, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of law of Singapore K Shanmugam met HRD Minister Smriti Irani. Both discussed further strengthening of educational relations and suggested a platform of officials which could regularly meet to charter a way for collaboration, particularly in the field of Science Education, Research and Skill Development.
Irani also proposed an ‘India Connect’ Programme to enable students of Singapore to visit educational institutions in India.