NEW DELHI: Government will sympathetically consider setting up Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre, as an independent body for the benefit of those suffering from impaired hearing.
This was conveyed here on Friday by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh to a deputation of National Association of the Deaf (NAD) led by its Secretary A.S Narayanan, who requested for withdrawal of the order placing the proposed Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre under Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped (AYJNIHH). They demanded that the proposed autonomous institute for sign language research and training should, instead of being placed under another institute, be managed by concerned experts dealing with hearing impairment as well as by representatives of the Association of the deaf.
Jitendra gave the deputation a patient hearing and said, the number of persons suffering from hearing impairment in India has gone up in recent years and even though the official census placed their number at 5 million, some of the other surveys have placed their number at much higher figure.
Jitendra said, he has understood the contention expressed by the representatives of NAD that “Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped” deals more with therapeutic management like cochlear implant, etc., to restore hearing and may not be actually imparting the non-pharmaceutical training like sign language, etc. He would, therefore, take up the issue and try to find a way out, he said.
The representatives of the NAD hoped that the government will help strengthening the rights of deaf community by providing them the best available means to play a constructive role in the society.