INDIAN SIGN LANGUAGE: STRUGGLE FOR RECOGNITION

A PIL was filed at the Delhi High Court by a disability activist named Nipun Malhotra for the recognition of Indian Sign Language (ISL). It should be taken into account that the lack of recognition of Indian sign language has resulted in sad ignorance by successive governments in providing inclusive legislations and policy framework for the deaf population of India. The census of 2011 mentions an approximate 7 million deaf population ; whereas, the National Association of Deaf based in Delhi say the figures are far more than what the official records state.

The percentage of deaf people well versed with ISL or are using them in their daily lives to communicate with each other is very less. As a lack of ISL education, different parts of the country have regional sign languages which creates a barrier for deaf people from different states to communicate with each other efficiently. This problem is observed not only in children but also in deaf people above 40 years who have spent half of their lives without having a language to communicate.

Last but not the least, the ratio of ISL interpreters and that of deaf people is really skewed in India. According to the official numbers, there is only one SL interpreter for every 40,000 deaf people across the country.

In spite of having filed a PIL last year, and subsequent protests by various disability rights activists and groups, the recognition of ISL is still pending in the Parliament.

Видео INDIAN SIGN LANGUAGE: STRUGGLE FOR RECOGNITION канала Shruti Enabling Voices