New Delhi: Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan today inaugurated PMeVIDYA DTH Channel No. 31, a dedicated 24×7 platform for Indian Sign Language (ISL), at an event in New Delhi. The initiative is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to make education more inclusive and accessible. Minister of State for Skill Development and Education Jayant Chaudhary, along with senior officials, including Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of School Education, and Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director of NCERT, also attended the launch.
In his address, Pradhan emphasized the transformative impact of expanding the legal definition of disabilities from 7 to 21 categories under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, creating a more comprehensive framework for inclusivity. He highlighted how the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) prioritizes the education of Children with Special Needs (CwSN), underscoring a shift towards equitable learning opportunities.
“Sound is not the only medium for communication,” Pradhan remarked, underscoring the importance of ISL as a tool for inclusivity. He called for the standardization of ISL to global benchmarks and encouraged broader societal adoption, envisioning ISL as a means to create job opportunities and enhance communication with the hearing-impaired community.
The minister also praised ISL’s cultural significance, noting its role in dance and drama, and described Channel 31 as a crucial bridge for fostering inclusivity and unlocking the potential of the differently abled. He urged stakeholders to popularize the channel, positioning it as a global benchmark and a model for other emerging economies.
Minister of State Jayant Chaudhary lauded the initiative as a milestone in India’s journey toward inclusive development. He highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting children with disabilities through early identification and interventions, preventing adverse impacts on their education. Chaudhary also emphasized the need for societal efforts to destigmatize tools like hearing aids and support systems, ensuring equal participation for individuals with hearing impairments.
Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of School Education, highlighted how the initiative aligns with the pillars of inclusivity and accessibility outlined in NEP 2020. He praised the categorization of disabilities through NCERT’s Prashast App and the ongoing efforts to integrate ISL as a formal language in education.
The channel, a significant step toward promoting ISL as both a language and a school subject, will provide diverse content for school children, teachers, and educators. The programming will cover class-wise curricula, skill training, career guidance, mental health, and the promotion of ISL. The content will also be available on YouTube, ensuring wide accessibility.
The event showcased the contributions of the hearing-impaired community, including skits, a national anthem rendition in sign language, and a short film on hearing-impaired achievers. Exhibitions by NCERT, ISLRTC, and other organizations working for the mainstreaming of the hearing-impaired were also displayed.