Question : Ali Yavar Jung National Institute

(a) whether the Government has appointed Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities as the nodal agency for conduct of cochlear implant surgery of the eligible children and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the said nodal agency has identified candidates for cochlear implant at its regional centres at State level;

(c) the number of persons who underwent cochlear implant surgery in the country during 2015-16 and 2016-17, State-wise;

(d) whether the Government proposes to take measures to extend the benefit of the said scheme to maximum number of deaf and dumb persons; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment

(SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)

(a): Yes, Sir. Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities (Divyangjan), Mumbai (AYJNISHD) is the nodal agency for conduct of cochlear implant surgery of the eligible children under the Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP). Cochlear Implant shall be procured by Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), Kanpur and provided at the nominated hospitals. Surgery would be done at empanelled Government and Private hospitals. So far, the Ministry has empanelled 140 hospitals (both Government and Private) across the country and identified children for Cochlear Implant surgery all over India.

(b): The Institute invites Applications through Newspaper advertisements as well as through website. A dedicated website www.adipcochlearimplant.in has been developed where parents can make online submission of forms for cochlear implant surgery. Zonal Coordinators for five Zones viz. Northern, West-Central, Southern, Eastern and North-Eastern have been appointed by the Ministry. Based on the applications received, AYJNISHD and its Regional Centres identify the candidates for cochlear implantation on an individual basis and take into account a person’s hearing history, cause of hearing loss, amount of residual hearing, speech recognition ability, health status and family commitment to aural habilitation/rehabilitation. 1753 applications have been received out of which 487 surgeries have been done as on 30.11.2016 under ADIP Scheme as well as under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

(c): Under ADIP Scheme, 300 Cochlear Implant surgeries were done during 2015-2016 and 118 Cochlear Implant surgeries during 2016-17 (as on 30.11.2016). State-wise data is placed at Annexure-I. Apart from this, 13 Cochlear Implant surgeries were carried out during 2015-16 and 18 Cochlear Implant surgeries during 2016-17 (as on 30.11.2016) under CSR. State-wise data is placed at Annexure-II. List of children who underwent cochlear implant surgery along with their complete details and photographs are regularly updated on the website www.adipcochlearimplant.in.

(d) & (e): The Government’s endeavor is to extend the benefit of Cochlear Implant Programme to maximum number of deaf and dumb children based on availability of funds under the ADIP Scheme. The Cochlear Implant Programme of the Ministry has become very successful & popular and demands for Cochlear Implant surgery are increasing. Accordingly, more funds are being allocated under the Scheme to meet the requirements. The Ministry also releases separate budget for North-Eastern Zone for Cochlear Implant. Funds are also being mobilized under CSR activities through Corporate Sectors for Cochlear Implant Program of the Government to ensure that increased demand for surgeries is met from such resources. Further State Governments also run schemes for Cochlear Implant surgeries.