For children with hearing impairments, the Government will work on standardization of Indian Sign language across the country, and develop National and State Curriculum materials for use by them. This was announced during Budget 2021-22 as Initiatives on Education as part of National Education Policy 2020.

In line with this announcement, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education will take up following from April this year:

• Books shall be converted as e-books as per the UDL guidelines
• Sign language videos shall be developed
• A Dictionary/glossary for sign language will be developed

Efforts will be made to disseminate these resources through DIKSHA and PM e-VIDYA. An MoU has been signed between CIET, NCERT and ISLRTC and are working in close collaboration with ISLRTC for developing NCERT textbook based videos in Indian Sign language.

The task of standardization of ISL brings an opportunity to collaborate and contribute towards making society inclusive and to bring some cohesiveness in the many dialects of sign language in practice across India. The task will also promote the learning of children with hearing impairment thereby providing them an equal opportunity to unfold their potential. All children will be able to communicate with each other with ease and know each other better. This will help to promote inclusion in the impressionable period of development during the school years.

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MC/KP/AK