Question : INDIAN SIGN LANGUAGE RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTRE

(a) whether the Government has established/proposes to establish an autonomous Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) for the deaf in partnership with the National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped (NIHH) for the development and promotion of sign language and training of teachers and interpreters;

(b) if so, the details and present status thereof;

(c) whether any study of the sign language has been conducted or is under the consideration of the Ministry and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government has any proposal to bring out a dictionary of sign language for the benefit of hearing impaired and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI THAAWARCHAND GEHLOT)

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House

Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 397 for 21.04.2015 asked by Shri B. Vinod Kumar and Shri Senguttuvan B regarding Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre.

(a) Yes, Sir. The Ministry has decided to integrate Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) with the Regional Centre of Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped (AYJNIHH) at New Delhi for the development and promotion of sign language and training of teachers and interpreters.

(b) Earlier, the Ministry had approved establishment of ISLRTC on project basis for a period of 5 years, as an autonomous centre of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in July, 2011. However, the centre could not take off due to various reasons. It was decided to dis-engage the project from IGNOU and to set up the Centre as a standalone Institution under the Ministry. The proposal of the Ministry was discussed by the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Expenditure) in its meeting held on July 18, 2014. Based on the comments received on the proposal, it has been decided by the Ministry to integrate ISLRTC with the Regional Centre of AYJNIHH at New Delhi.

(c) Research in the Indian Sign Language is a continuing process. As a part of Research on Sign Language, in the year 2013-14, AYJNIHH, Mumbai, an autonomous body under the Ministry, had conducted a study on the subject “Profiling of Indian Sign Language Interpreters in India”.

(d) AYJNIHH, Mumbai has a collection of 5000 words/sentences in Indian Sign Language in CDs which is used for training and also distributed to public, on demand.