Indian Sign Langauge Research & Training Centre (ISLRTC), New Delhi

In the 2000s, the Indian deaf community advocated for an institute focused on ISL teaching and research. The 11^th Five Year Plan (2007-2012) acknowledged that the needs of people with hearing disabilities had been relatively neglected and envisaged the development of a sign language research and training center, to promote and develop sign language and training of teachers and interpreters. The Finance Minister announced the setting up of ISLRTC in the Union Budget speech of 2010-11.

As a result, in 2011, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment approved the establishment of the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center (ISLRTC) as an autonomous center of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Delhi. The foundation stone of the center was laid at IGNOU campus on 4^th October, 2011. In 2013, the center at IGNOU was closed.

In an order dated 20^th April, 2015, the Ministry decided to integrate ISLRTC with the regional center of the Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Hearing Handicapped (AYJNIHH) at Delhi. However, the Deaf community protested this decision due to the different perspectives and goals of ISLRTC and AYJNIHH.  

The protests and meetings with the ministers resulted in the Union Cabinet approving the setting up of ISLRTC as a Society under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, MSJE, in a meeting held on 22^nd September, 2015. An order to this effect was issued by the MSJE on 28^th September, 2015, leading to the establishment of ISLRTC.

As per the 2011 Census, the total population of deaf persons in India numbered about 50 lakh.  The needs of the deaf community have long been ignored and the problems have been documented by various organizations working for the deaf. Obsolete training methodology and teaching systems need urgent attention.

Indian Sign Language (ISL) is used in the deaf community all over India. But ISL is not used in deaf schools to teach deaf children. Teacher training programs do not orient teachers towards teaching methods that use ISL. There is no teaching material that incorporates sign language. Parents of deaf children are not aware about sign language and its ability to remove communication barriers. ISL interpreters are an urgent requirement at institutes and places where communication between deaf and hearing people takes place but India has only less than 300 certified interpreters.

Therefore, an institute that met all these needs was a necessity.  After a long struggle by the deaf community, the Ministry approved the establishment of ISLRTC at New Delhi on 28th September, 2015.

Objectives:

1. To develop manpower for using Indian Sign Language (ISL) and teaching and conducting research in ISL, including bilingualism.
2. To promote the use of Indian Sign Language as educational mode for deaf students at primary, secondary and higher education levels.
3. To carry out research through collaboration with universities and other educational institution in India and abroad and create linguistic records/ analyses of the Indian Sign Language, including creation of Indian Sign Language corpus (Vocabulary).
4. To orient and train various groups, i.e. Govt. officials, teachers, professionals, community leaders and the public at large for understanding and using Indian Sign Language.
5. To collaborate with organizations of the deaf and other institutions in the field of disability to promote and propagate Indian Sign Language.
6. To collect information relating to Sign Language used in other parts of the world so that this input can be used to upgrade the Indian Sign Language.

ISLRTC can be reached at:

Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC)A-91, Pocket D, Okhla Phase II, Okhla Industrial Area, New Delhi, Delhi 110020Telephone :011-26387559,011-26387558

Email : islrtcnewdelhi@gmail.com Website: http://www.islrtc.nic.in