Ministry seeks sign language interpreters in govt meetings
In a letter to secretaries of all central ministries and departments, social justice and empowerment secretary Anjali Bhawra requested “provisions of sign language interpreters at meetings/seminars/workshops organised by the ministries/departments”.
New Delhi: The ministry of social justice and empowerment has urged the Centre to set up a provision for sign language interpreters during official meetings of all ministries in compliance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
In a letter to secretaries of all central ministries and departments, social justice and empowerment secretary Anjali Bhawra requested “provisions of sign language interpreters at meetings/seminars/workshops organised by the Ministries/Departments”.
“It is incumbent upon the Government to ensure that all public information relating to each sector is accessible to all categories of the persons with disabilities including persons with hearing impairment,” Bhawra said while referring to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.
“Since sign language is one of the preferred modes of communication for persons with hearing impairment, it will be in the proper fitness of things for making sign language interpretation,” she added.
Bhawra pointed out that the Union government has set up the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) and ministries and departments can take “technical support” from here for the provision of sign language interpretations during their meetings.