GUWAHATI: Centre has launched Channel 31 on DTH, dedicated to Indian Sign Language (ISL) training. The channel, inaugurated on Friday, December 6 by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of State for Skill Development and Education, Jayant Chaudhary to cater to hearing-impaired students, special educators, interpreters, and relevant organisations.
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This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates the promotion and standardisation of ISL across the country to foster a more inclusive educational environment. Additionally, NEP encourages the respect and integration of regional sign languages, further enhancing accessibility.
Indian Sign Language is a structured language widely used by hearing-impaired individuals in India. To support this initiative, the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) signed an agreement with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in 2020 to translate school textbooks and teaching materials for classes I–XII into ISL. The translation process is expected to conclude by 2026.
The channel will feature on-air training modules for both students and educators, helping to integrate ISL into the education system. This effort complements the government’s PM e-Vidya programme, launched in May 2020 under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan.
With WHO estimating that around 63 million people in India suffer from auditory impairment in 2023, the launch of Channel 31 a crucial step in empowering hearing-impaired individuals.
