New Delhi: In a landmark initiative to promote inclusive education, the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Book Trust (NBT) at the NBT Pavilion during the World Book Fair 2025.
The MoU aims to convert 500 NBT storybooks, general reading materials, and other engaging books into Indian Sign Language (ISL), making them accessible for Deaf children across the country.
The agreement was signed by Kumar Raju, Director, ISLRTC, and Yuvraj Malik, Director, NBT, in the presence of Rajeev Sharma, Joint Secretary, DEPwD, and Professor Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairperson, NBT.
Speaking at the event, Rajeev Sharma and Professor Milind Sudhakar Marathe emphasized the significance of this initiative in enhancing accessibility and inclusivity in education. They highlighted that the collaboration between ISLRTC and NBT will ensure that Deaf children have access to quality reading materials in their preferred mode of communication.
Both Director ISLRTC and Director NBT reaffirmed their commitment to this initiative, stating that the project is a major step towards bridging the communication gap and promoting literacy among Deaf children.
The signing and exchange of the MoU mark a significant milestone in making literature more accessible, demonstrating the government’s continued efforts to create an inclusive learning environment. The event was attended by officials from ISLRTC and NBT, who expressed their collective dedication to this transformative initiative.
