Produced by:
KBOO
Program::
Air date:
Wed, 04/22/2015 - 9:00am to 9:30am
The Deaf Community in India is fighting for their rights to language and equality!
The Indian Sign Language Research and Teaching Center (ISLRTC) was originally established to promote Indian Sign Language, Deaf Culture and bilingualism, and was even approved by the Indian government. The intent was to have a center much like our Gallaudet University, for Deaf people and run by Deaf people. The ISLRTC's mere establishment, in some ways, validates the existence of Indian Sign Language, Deaf Culture and Deaf life in India. Unfortunately, the Center's autonomy still has not been achieved.
Currently the National Institute for Hearing Handicapped (NIHH), the Indian government's agency that specializes in deafness, aims to take control of the ISLRTC and continue the promotion of speech therapy, lip-reading, hearing aids and other rehabilitative measures, which have long failed Deaf Indians. Under this regime, there is no room or concern for Indian Sign Language and Deaf culture.
Deaf communities all over India have been organizing and fighting against this potential merger. If the Indian government, through the NIHH, does take control of the ISLRTC (to be decided April 27th), potentially 10,000 Deaf Indians will protest against this.
KBOO's Sarika Mehta speaks with Deaf leaders, Madan Vasishta and Sunil Sahasrabudhe, from the ground. She also speaks with Shweta Sahasrabudhe to learn more about the struggles of Deaf Indians in the workplace.
KBOO's Sarika Mehta speaks with Deaf leaders, Madan Vasishta and Sunil Sahasrabudhe, from the ground. She also speaks with Shweta Sahasrabudhe to learn more about the struggles of Deaf Indians in the workplace.
Links:
On the movement/community organizing: http://www.islrtcnow.com/
Madan Vasishta: http://www.
Sunil Sahasrabudhe: https://www.
- KBOO
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