Centre for development of Indian sign language

Updated on: Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Government decided to establish a research and training centre for academic development and propagation of Indian sign language, which would benefit over 13 lakh deaf and hearing impaired persons.

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment approved the establishment of an Indian Sign Language Research & Training Centre (ISLRTC), on project basis for a period of five years, as an autonomous Centre of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), an official release said.

IGNOU will provide five acres of land available for the Centre in its campus at Maidan Garhi here at a cost of Rs 44 crore.

The Centre will lead the way in the study, academic development, and propagation of Indian Sign Language and in its teaching and training, so that this language gains its rightful linguistic, cultural, educational and social place, the release said.

The Government has also accorded approval for creation of 35 posts for the Centre for Department like Sign Linguistics, Interpreting, Library, Documentation and Administration.

IGNOU's vast distance education network, including 61 regional centres and more than 3,000 study centres will be available to the ISLRTC to expand its outreach.

As per the 2001 Census, there were about 13 lakh deaf and hearing impaired persons in the country who use sign language for communication amongst themselves.

Recognising that existing facilities for systematic study of, and research and training in Indian Sign Language were limited, the 11th Five Year Plan had envisaged establishment of an ISLRTC for development and promotion of the Indian sign language, and training of teachers and interpreters.

Centre for development of Indian sign language

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