Edu-leaders

The Indira Gandhi National Open University has launched a first-of-its-kind sign language training centre for the deaf, an official said.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Mukul Wasnik and Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal inaugurated the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC).

"The approach to understanding 30 lakh hearing-impaired population is very limited. We not only require enough trainers in this field but interpreters too play a key role in the process," Wasnik said.

"This centre will full-time teaching combined with distance learning for short-term and full-fledged programmes," he added.

The ISLRTC will be established at an estimated cost of Rs 44 crore over five years. However, the classes will begin October 15 in a temporary building in IGNOU's campus.

A committee, consisting of representatives of national-level organisations of the deaf, will be responsible for planning and managing it.

The institute also launched a Sindhi language and cultural centre, the Centre for Sindhi Language and Culture (CSLC), the official said.

The CSLC will begin its session January 2012 and will offer various programmes including certificate courses for reading, writing and speaking the language, diploma and advanced diploma, among others.

"Among the modern Indian languages, Sindhi is the only language which is stateless," said Sibal.

Source: igovernment