(a) whether the Government has accorded sanction for setting up of the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre, if so, the details thereof and the location identified for the purpose;
(b) the steps taken by the Government for the welfare of the deaf and dumb community;
(c) whether the Government is also considering to set up University for the persons with disabilities including the deaf and dumb; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)
(a) Yes, Sir. The Government has approved the setting up of Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, under the aegis of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. The main objectives of the proposed Centre are:
(i) to promote the use of Indian Sign Language (ISL) in India.
(ii) to carry out research in ISL and create linguistic record/analysis of the language.
(iii) to train persons in Sign linguistics and other related areas at various levels.
(iv) to design, promote and offer programs in ISL, interpreting and bilingual education, at various levels, through various modes including the distance mode.
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(v) to collaborate with other institutions and organizations of the Deaf to promote and propagate ISL.
(vi) to create and promote literature in and about ISL.
The Centre shall be located initially at Pt. Deendayal Upadhayay Institute for Physically Handicapped, 4, Vishnu Digamber Marg, New Delhi-110 002. Necessary Order for setting up ISLRTC has been issued on 28th September, 2015.
(b) Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for Hearing Handicapped (AYJNIHH), Mumbai, which is under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, provides early identification, diagnosis and therapeutic services for persons with hearing impairment, fitment of amplification devices such as Behind the Ear digital programmable hearing aids and Cochlear Implant. AYJNIHH is also engaged in providing educational and vocational services for persons with hearing impairment. Detailed information is available in the website of the Institute: www.ayjnihh.nic.in. Also, under the Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP), contemporary aids and assistive devices for eligible hearing impaired persons are distributed through various Implementing Agencies. Apart from Cochlear Implant , some of the assistive devices for hearing impaired include Body level hearing aids, Analog/Non Programmable-Behind the ear (BTE), In the ear (ITE), In the canal (ITC), Completely in the Canal (CIC); Digital/Programmable- Behind the ear (BTE), In the ear (ITE), In the canal (ITC), Completely in the Canal (CIC); Personal FM Hearing Aids, Bluetooth neck loop for hearing aids, Vibratory Alarm, Baby-crying Alerting Wireless device etc
(c) & (d): Up-gradation of National Institute of Speech and Hearing, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala to a National University of Disability Studies and Rehabilitation is one of the Budget Announcements of the Government for the year 2015-16. The Ministry has already initiated necessary action for establishment of the National University and Government of Kerala has decided to provide requisite land for the same.
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