Indian Sign Language | UPSC
HEADLINES:
Historic MoU Signed between ISLRTC and NCERT for Converting Educational Materials in to Indian Sign Language
WHY IN NEWS:
Union Education Minister and Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment virtually attend the 60th Foundation Day of NCERT
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Education
LEARNING:
For PRELIMS this is an important article . Go through each bit carefully ! How Sign Language in India is propagated and its usage is very important .
For MAINS go with the background and hurdles faced by deaf community . If possible search the nearest NGO or its website !
ISSUE:
SIGN LANGUAGE MODULE FOR DIVYANG
- Indian Sign Language denotes Unity in Diversity which is explained through Hands and understood through Eyes.
- It connects all hearing impaired people of our country all together.
- After this MoU, NCERT educational books and materials will be available in Indian Sign Language .
- Which is same all over India, which means all hearing impaired students of India whether from East or West or North or South, they all will read NCERT books in a single language.
- Signing of this MoU is based on the UNICEF’s initiative “Accessible Digital Textbooks for All” and it is a landmark decision.
INDIAN SIGN LANGUAGE
WHAT IS SIGN LANGUAGE
- Sign Language is a naturally evolved language like other oral languages.
- It is used by persons with deafness for day to day life communication.
- Like other languages it is also an independent language with complex grammar.
- It involves naturally evolved visual-manual signs.
BENEFITS AND USAGE
- Deaf community uses Sign Language with deaf/hearing community to express their ideas or views.
- Teachers or special educators those who are working with deaf children use Sign Language to teach various subjects and to impart the knowledge.
- Parents of deaf children use to communicate with their children in day to day life situations.
- Many other professionals those who are working with persons with deafness use to solve their individual needs.
WHERE SIGN LANGUAGE CAN BE USED?
- There are many areas where Sign Language can be used.
- It can be effectively used in special schools/colleges for the deaf and other types of educational settings.
WHY TO PROMOTE SIGN LANGUAGE
- There is a high need to promote Sign Language.
- According to Census 2001 there are more than one million deaf people and more than ten million people have hard of hearing in India.
- In order to serve and uplift the deaf community the Sign Language can be promoted in various areas.
- Once the hearing children learn the Sign Language, they can accept deaf children .
- Even deaf children mingle with their counterparts which will promote the mainstream/inclusive education.
- The UNCRPD has emphasized to promote Sign Language in all types of educational institutions.
- It is a fundamental right of the deaf person to acquire the information through Sign Language.
HOW TO PROMOTE SIGN LANGUAGE?
- Those who are working with deaf community or involving deaf community can propagate in various school/college activities.
INDIAN SIGN LANGUAGE RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTRE (ISLRTC)
- It is dedicated to the task of developing man-power for popularizing the use of Indian Sign Language, teaching and conducting research in Indian Sign Language.
VISION
- Such opportunities can let them lead productive, safe and dignified lives.
MISSION
- To empower Persons with Disabilities, through its various Acts/Institutions/Organizations and Schemes for rehabilitation.
- This will enables them to participate as independent and productive members of society.
OBJECTIVE
- To develop manpower for using Indian Sign Language (ISL) and teaching and conducting research in ISL, including bilingualism.
- To promote the use of Indian Sign Language as educational mode for deaf students at primary, secondary and higher education levels.
- To carry out research through collaboration with universities and other educational institution in India and abroad .
- To orient and train various groups, i.e. Govt. officials, teachers, and the public at large for understanding and using Indian Sign Language.
- To collaborate with organizations of the deaf and other institutions in the field of disability to promote and propagate Indian Sign Language.
- To collect information relating to Sign Language used in other parts of the world and to upgrade the Indian Sign Language.
BACKGROUND
- In the 2000s, the Indian deaf community advocated for an institute focused on ISL teaching and research.
- The 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012) acknowledged that the needs of people with hearing disabilities had been relatively neglected.
- The Finance Minister announced the setting up of ISLRTC in the Union Budget speech of 2010-11.
- As a result, in 2011, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment approved the establishment of the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center (ISLRTC) .
FOUNDATION STONE
- The foundation stone of the center was laid at IGNOU campus on 4th October, 2011.
- In 2013, the center at IGNOU was closed.
- An order to this effect was issued by the MSJE on 28th September, 2015, leading to the establishment of ISLRTC.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- This MoU is a historic step as availability of NCERT textbooks in Indian Sign Language (ISL) .
- It will ensure that Hearing Impaired children can also now access educational resources in Indian Sign Language .
- This in turn will have a huge impact on the education of Hearing Impaired children in the country.
- The COVID-19 has also forced all the schools/colleges to stop regular teaching-learning-assessment processes.
- The most ambitious NISHTHA integrated training for 42 lakhs teachers at elementary education level has come to a stand still.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Indian Sign Language | UPSC
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