‘World Sign Language Day’ with the theme “A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere!”; was celebrated by the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), New Delhi under the aegis of DEPwD (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment at Bhim Hall, Dr. Ambedkar International Centre Janpath, New Delhi today.
Ever since the United Nations declared 23rd September as the International Day of Sign Languages, the ISLRTC celebrates it every year on 23rd September. DEPwD and ISLRTC had brought more citizens, stakeholders, service-providing agencies, Deaf schools, NGOs, activists, Deaf leaders, educators, researchers together on this Sign Language Day celebration to create positive awareness about Indian Sign Language among all sections of our society.
Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Pratima Bhoumik was the Chief Guest and Rajesh Aggrawal, Secretary; DEPwD was the Guest of Honour on the occasion. Rajesh Yadav, Joint Secretary, DEPwD and Mrityunjay Jha, Director, DEPwD & ISLRTC, and Representatives from National Association of Deaf, All India Federation of Deaf, All India Federation of Deaf for Women also graced the occasion.
The Minister of State, Social Justice and Empowerment, Pratima Bhoumik mentioned that Mann Ki Baat should be started in ISL. She highlighted the efforts taken by the Government to promote job employment of youth with disabilities.
Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, DEPwD informed about the initiative taken by DEPwD to employ persons with disabilities, and the department is planning to provide tablets to deaf students to enable them to access educational videos in sign languages.
Rajesh Yadav, Joint Secretary, DEPwD welcomed all the dignitaries and participants. He said that ISLRTC will take the initiative to develop a platform where deaf can easily communicate with the hearing and that ISLRTC will work on the translation of NCERT textbooks for class VII and onwards.
Sunil Sahasrabudhe, President, All India Federation of Deaf appreciated the significant growth of ISLRTC over the last 8 years.
Uma Kapoor, President, All India Federation of the Deaf Women said that all parents should learn the online self-learning ISL course so that they can communicate with their deaf children.
A.S. Narayan, President, National Association of Deaf said that on the significant occasion of Sign Language Day, the government is recognizing the occasion by displaying blue light central locations like India Gate.
During the programme, the following programs and materials were also launched:
• Basic Communication Skills in Indian Sign Language an online self-learning course was launched. The primary aim of this course is to foster basic communication skills in Indian Sign Language. It is tailor-made for parents of deaf children, siblings, educators, and individuals interested in acquiring basic knowledge of Indian Sign Language (ISL). The course comprises 10 modules, covering 30 essential topics, ensuring a comprehensive grasp of basic ISL communication.
• 260 signs of Financial terms in Indian Sign Language which are jointly developed by ISLRTC, Societe Generale and V-Shesh was launched. The sign for financial terms are developed to facilitate communication between deaf and hearing people working in the financial and banking sector. The project will help improve the employment prospects of deaf job-seeking youth.
• 10,000 ISL dictionary terms were launched on website.
• ISL course in Special Schools for the hearing impaired was launched.
• Video Relay Service for the deaf community through WhatsApp video calls was launched. Video Relay Service is a video telecommunication service which enables deaf people to communicate with hearing people vide a remote sign language interpreter.
