The Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to make NCERT textbooks accessible to hearing-impaired students in sign language. NCERT textbooks, teachers’ handbooks and other materials for Class I-XII of all subjects in Hindi and English medium would be converted into Indian Sign Language (ISL) in digital format.
It is a step towards fulfilling needs of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016 and New Education Policy, 2020. Signing of this MoU is based on the United Nations Children’s Fund – UNICEF’s initiative “Accessible Digital Textbooks for All”.
So far, hearing impaired children used to study only through verbal or written medium now they can study through Indian Sign Language which is the same all over the country. In the childhood days, cognitive skills of children are developed and it is very necessary to provide them educational material as per their learning needs. It will not only enhance their vocabulary but also enhance their capabilities to understand concepts.
Indian Sign Language (ISL) is a set of hand and facial gestures used to communicate, most often by the hearing and speech impaired. It has its own grammar, syntax and regional “dialects”, essentially different gestures for the same word or sentiment. The main difference from spoken languages lies in form: Sign languages are visual, spoken ones are auditory. Sign language is recognized as an official language in many countries across the world like the USA.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018, the prevalence of hearing impairment (HI) in India is around 6.3% (63 million people suffering from significant auditory loss).The estimated prevalence of adult-onset deafness in India is 7.6% and childhood-onset deafness is 2%. The larger percentage of Indian population also suffers from milder degrees of hearing loss and unilateral (one sided) hearing loss. Nearly 50% of deafness can be prevented if primary health-care approach is adopted for otological care (care of ear and its diseases) across the world.
National Program for Prevention and Control of Deafness (NPPCD): It was launched in 2006 in an effort to tackle the high incidence of deafness in the country, in view of the preventable nature of this disability. 60:40 for all states except for the North Eastern and Himalayan States (90:10).In case of Union Territories, Central funding is 100% for all UTs except the UTs with legislature, where this ratio is 60:40.
To prevent the avoidable hearing loss on account of disease or injury. Early identification, diagnosis and treatment of ear problems responsible for hearing loss and deafness. To medically rehabilitate persons of all age groups, suffering with deafness. To develop institutional capacity for ear care services by providing support for equipment and material and training personnel.
