The Supreme Court has recently given a significant ruling that impacts the way the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) conducts its selection process for various courses. As per the court’s directive, candidates with colour blindness should not be discriminated against while considering admissions into film-making and editing courses in FTII. This judgment has opened up the conversation around colour blindness, what it is, its causes, and treatments, and how it impacts various aspects of life, including career prospects.
About Colour Blindness
Colour blindness refers to the inability to perceive colours the same way as most people do. Typically, those with colour blindness struggle to distinguish between certain colours, especially greens and reds, and sometimes blues. An individual’s retina contains two types of cells – rods and cones. While rods help detect light and darkness, cones help in colour detection. The human eye normally has three types of these cone cells that perceive red, green, and blue. In some individuals, one or more of these cone cells could be absent or perform incorrectly, leading to colour blindness.
Types and Causes of Colour Blindness
The condition of colour blindness can vary considerably across individuals. Some may experience mild colour blindness where all three cone cells are present, but one malfunctions. They usually view all colours accurately under good lighting conditions. The most severe form of this condition results in a black-and-white vision where everything appears as a shade of grey. However, this type is not very common.
Most people with colour blindness are born with it. This congenital condition is typically genetic and affects both eyes uniformly for the entirety of the person’s life. Alternatively, colour blindness can also be acquired due to diseases, trauma, or exposure to certain toxins. Conditions like glaucoma, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, alcoholism, leukemia, and sickle-cell anemia can increase the risk of developing colour blindness.
Treatment Options
Currently, there is no cure for colour blindness. However, some level of correction is possible through special contact lenses or colour filter glasses. Gene replacement therapy has also shown promising results in modifying the condition, but the research is still ongoing.
Gender Differentiation and Career Implications
Colour blindness has a higher prevalence in men compared to women. It’s estimated that every tenth male globally has some form of colour deficiency. This condition might affect certain career paths like being a pilot or joining the armed forces, as they require accurate colour perception. Nevertheless, the severity of the condition, along with rules in various jurisdictions, can influence these restrictions.
In June 2020, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in India amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, allowing citizens with mild to medium colour blindness to obtain a driver’s licence.
The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII)
The FTII was established by the Government of India in 1960 at the site of the former Prabhat Studios in Pune. The studio was renowned in the film-making industry and relocated to Pune from Kolhapur in 1933. Today, it operates as an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. By siding with colour-blind candidates in its recent judgment, the Supreme Court has thus asked the FTII to modify its curriculum instead of excluding such candidates.