Page 34 - Mann Ki Baat September 2022
P. 34

ISL: The Flagbearer of Inclusive

                          Communication



                                           used in the Deaf community all
                                           over  India.  Due  to the  need  for
                                           accessibility for persons with
                                           hearing disabilities through the
                                           mode of ISL, deaf associations
                                           had been demanding the setting
                                           up of an exclusive institute
                                           focusing on development and
                                           furtherance of ISL. With a view to
                                           enhance accessibility for people
                 Rajesh Yadav              with hearing disabilities in India,
                                           the Government approved the
          Director, Indian Sign Language
                                           establishment  of  the  Indian
          Research and Training Centre
                                           Sign Language Research and
                                           Training Centre (ISLRTC) as an
                                           autonomous organization  under
                                           the aegis of the DEPwD, MSJE
                                           on 28  September 2015. The
                                                 th
                                           main objective of the Centre
                                           is to develop manpower for
                                           using, teaching and conducting
                                           research in Indian Sign Language.
            As per the 2011 Census, there   The  Centre offers  two Diploma
        are 50,71,007 persons with hearing   courses of two years duration
        disabilities and 19,98,535 persons   duly approved by RCI namely-
        with speech disabilities in India   Diploma in Indian Sign Language
        out of a total of 2,68,10,557 persons   Interpretation and Diploma in
        with disability. Sign languages    Teaching Indian Sign Language.
        are    visual-gestural  manual        To generate awareness about
        languages that use movements       ISL and to promote its use, ISLRTC
        of the hands, facial expressions,   has been striving hard since its
        and head/body positions to         establishment. Some of the major
        convey linguistic messages. Sign   activities and achievements of
        languages are the main medium      ISLRTC are as follows:
        of communication for people           ISL interpreting services to
        who are deaf or hard of hearing.   Doordarshan,   Hon’ble   Prime
        Indian Sign Language (ISL) is      Minister’s 'Mann ki Baat', Prime

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