Stakeholders have criticised the government for failing to incorporate the pressing problems of the persons with hearing and speech impairments in the Bill that has been drafted in view of protecting the rights of the disabled. 

Deaf and mute people have been demanding sign language translators at places like government offices, hospitals, banks and bus stations, said Shudarson Subedi, president of National Federation of the Disabled Nepal.

The government must set up a mechanism to make communication easier for deaf and mute persons when they are at government agencies, hospitals and bus stations, he added. 

A deaf-mute woman, who was allegedly gang-raped by a group of Armed Police Force personnel in June, could not communicate effectively with doctors and legal counsellors. Human rights defenders say it is to avoid such situation that the Rights of the People Living with Disability 2072 Bill should include a provision that guarantees communication assistance to persons with hearing and speech disabilities.