Saying your words in parliament with hand gestures. Translated by an interpreter. This is the scene seen in the Gandaki State Assembly since hearing-impaired MP Sunita Thapa took oath on November 28. Being able to speak but unable to listen, she makes good use of zero time.

She speaks at special times. Reaching the rostrum, she gives her opinion in the discussion on the bill. Thapa was elected MP according to the roll order submitted in the closed list after the death of Bimala Gauchan, who was elected proportionally from the tribal women's group of the Congress .

32-year-old Syangja from Chapakot can speak but cannot hear. She takes the interpreter Subas Koirala to the Parliament meeting. Koirala stands on one side and explains the activities in the Parliament to him through sign language.

For the first time, she used sign language while addressing a special time in the Parliament meeting on February 23. Interpreter Koirala narrated his speech in Parliament. She raised the issues of inclusive democracy and ensuring equal opportunities, equal access to education, health and employment of persons with disabilities, construction of physical infrastructure and accessible structures, and youth empowerment.

Since then, she expressed her opinion in the discussion of the bill regarding the inclusion of Gurung and Magar languages ​​in the government working languages ​​of Gandaki province. In this session, "Bill 2081 to regulate the rights of persons with disabilities in Gandaki Province" was registered in the Secretariat of the Provincial Assembly on Chait 3. She was actively involved in the creation of the bill. She says that this bill will prove to be a milestone to ensure the rights, rights, equal opportunities and inclusive development of people with disabilities.

"Disability is no longer a matter of compassion or charity, it is a matter of rights," she said in the Parliament meeting on the bill, "This bill is not just a legal document, it is a commitment to respect, opportunity and equality for 72 thousand 330 citizens." She expressed her belief that the bill will pave the way to make people with disabilities capable citizens. "We need equal opportunities now, not sympathy," she said, "Now we need justice and rights, not charity." During the discussion on the

bill, MP Thapa protested when UML MP Devka Pahari repeatedly called "people with disabilities" instead of "persons with disabilities". Although increasing understanding and interest in the rights of people with disabilities in society is positive, he believes that the limitations of sign language are a serious challenge. Since what she wants to say is not possible only through sign language, she has started to speak and put her words in the parliament meeting.

Many people have asked him after speaking in Parliament, 'Why do you speak even though you are hearing impaired?' He has a simple answer. "I am a person with a hearing disability, not a person who cannot speak". Sign language is my identity . My first language is sign language. I use it as much as possible," she says, "but in a legal, administrative and political forum like Parliament, some complex words are not available in sign language. In such a situation, I am forced to use verbal language to clearly express my thoughts.'

She said that she is trying to present herself in sign language as much as possible because she can inspire the hearing impaired community by using sign language. She says that the government should make special efforts to translate words related to legal, economic and administrative matters. She says, 'Until these words have a proper symbolic translation, the hearing impaired community will be completely deprived of equal opportunities.'

She lost her hearing after contracting typhoid when she was 12 years old. After getting sick, she started hearing faintly . She failed in class 7 . "Some even said that I acted but my hearing was missing," she said. That was the biggest change in my life .' The society's view of a disabled person was different, which added more challenges to him .

Having a hearing disability, difficulties appeared in his learning process . The teacher put him on the previous bench and taught him . Passed SLC in 065 . The staff nurse had a great desire to study, but due to her deafness, she could not choose a subject and study it . After that, she studied up to 12th grade by taking Nepali subject at the Srijan Bahira Residential School in Lekhnath, Pokhara. At that time, only Nepali subjects could be studied in the Faculty of Education. Now computer subject has been added in Baglung. Accounting teaching has just started in Kathmandu.

After enrolling in a school for the deaf, she saw that everyone used sign language and realized that she had finally found a friend . I also learned the language. At first, I was scared because I didn't know how to use my hands. I gradually got used to it," she said. "After that, I came to know that there is an organization related to the hearing impaired. In 2066, I joined the Syangja District Deaf Association.'

By participating in various programs in the country and abroad, she started representing not only the problems of the hearing-impaired community, but also the issues of people with disabilities, women, tribes and backward youth. Getting a 10-month leadership development training opportunity in Japan in 2018/019 came as an opportunity for him. There, she learned about leadership development, disability-friendly topics, organization management, the role of youth, and policy making. She said that she did not feel that she had a disability while staying there.

came from there with a plan to work in the field of disability in Gandaki province. At that time, she came to know that even if she had to work, politics became an obstacle. "I came with a plan to bring various projects in the field of disability, to bring in support from Japan." Here, it is not possible to do those things without joining any party,' she said bitterly, 'I wanted to be active in social service . I couldn't work for two years because I didn't belong to any party.'

People's representatives elected at the local level also supported only by looking at their political affiliation, and the projects brought by the organization were hindered by the party's decision. Had to fight for two years. Then the thought came to him that he should be involved in politics. He realized that he should enter politics to raise the voice of the disabled. She started politics by joining Congress. He has been active in politics for 7 years now. She has been active in politics as a regional representative of the Congress, a convention representative, and a central member of the Democratic Disabled Association. She considers politics to be an effective means of changing society.

About the journey to the state assembly, she says, "If we want equal opportunities, we have to reach the place where policies are formulated for that". Realizing this need, I came to the Gandaki State Assembly.'' Earlier, she used to raise her voice on behalf of the disabled.

Now she has reached the place where she can hear the voice . "I have felt that the responsibility has been increased," she says, "Yesterday, I have come to the place where I was demanding." I have to listen to everyone. It is difficult to explain even here.'

She wondered if the Parliament building is disabled friendly. But even the Parliament building is not completely disabled friendly. The constitution also ensures the right to information of persons with disabilities. He complains that even though an interpreter should be arranged in the Parliament, it has not been done yet. Subhas Koirala, now an interpreter, is his personal assistant. Parliament has not appointed to provide salary facilities .