IDCA 4th Test National Cricket Championship for Deaf: Jammu-Kashmir crowned as champions

25.12.2025
Kolkata (West Bengal)[India], December 24 (ANI): The 4th IDCA Test National Cricket Championship for the Deaf, hosted by the Bengal Cricket Association of the Deaf (BCAD), concluded on Tuesday at Kolkata's Merlin Rise Cricket Ground, with the Jammu and Kashmir Deaf cricket team being crowned the champions, while the Delhi Deaf cricket team finished as the runners-up.

The Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA), supported by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and recognised by the Deaf International Cricket Council and Asian Deaf Cricket Association, had kicked off the championship on December 18, with the semifinals being played between Delhi Deaf and Bengal Deaf, and Odisha Deaf and Jammu and Kashmir Deaf teams. The matches had taken place at Kolkata's Merlin Rise Cricket Ground and Rajasthan Club Ground.

In a grand closing ceremony, chief guest Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner, East and North East, British High Commission, Kolkata, along with Guests of Honour Boria Mazumdar, Senior sports journalist, historian and writer, Satyen Sanghvi, Director. Merlin Group, Sarbani Bhattacharya, Vice-President, Corporate Communications and Corporate Affairs and CSR, Merlin Group, Yusuf Sonaseth, Cricket Manager, Harvard School, Kolkata and Amit Sengupta, Head - Media and Communications, British High Commission, Kolkata, gave out trophies to the champions and awardees, with the Merlin Group sponsoring the Individual Cash Awards for the winners.

Addressing the participants, Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner, East and North East, British High Commission, said, "Deaf Cricket is more than just a competition, it is a community and a statement of inclusion and a platform where talent and teamwork shine together through all barriers, the athleticism, comradery and discipline that is on display in this competition is everything about the best in sports. You (participants) remind all of us that accessibility and opportunity are not just ideals, they are values within organisations like IDCA that invest in pathways for athletes who are deaf or hard of hearing. I would also like to add that behind every statistic there is a person with talent and potential like all of you and the success of deaf athletes on the cricket field and overcoming challenges is something that can inspire many more and I hope more people would be able to have similar opportunities to what you have here today."

Echoing his thoughts Boria Mazumdar, Senior sports journalist, historian and writer added "At the end of game what I saw a pure sportsmanship, when Jammu and Kashmir was celebrating, there was a vibe that every single person was together and that is what one wants to see in sports and I will add to the Delhi team that sports also teaches us how to lose, you might have lost today but tomorrow every loss will lead you to success. That is what Sports does and Jammu and Kashmir, your win is special for me because I feel every time you win India wins."

A nearly week-long Test series featuring teams from Delhi, Bengal, Odisha, and Jammu and Kashmir came to an end on December 23rd, when the Jammu and Kashmir Deaf team was crowned champions after defeating the Delhi Deaf team by 10 wickets. Earlier in the week, the Delhi Deaf team had scored 212 runs in the first innings, followed by 222 runs in the second innings, while the Jammu and Kashmir Deaf team had scored 376 runs in the first innings, followed by 60 runs in the second innings to win the match.

The IDCA 4th Test National Cricket Championship for Deaf was organised under the patronage of Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla Group, and ran from December 18 to December 23, bringing together some of India's most talented hearing-impaired cricketers from across the four states.

Speaking about the championship, Sumit Jain, President, IDCA, said, "The 4th Test National Cricket Championship for the Deaf was the perfect platform for all the players to test their skills in the longer format of the game, and I congratulate the Jammu and Kashmir Deaf team for winning the championship. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Cyrus Poonawalla Group, the Merlin Rise Group management, which has been our venue partner for the last three years, and Shyamsunder Barman, General Secretary, Bengal Cricket Association of the Deaf, for continuing to create a strong platform for differently-abled cricketers to shine on a national stage."

Thanking the support partners, Roma Balwani, CEO, IDCA, added, "I am really happy with the successful completion of the 4th Test National Cricket Championship and would like to congratulate all the players and members associated with the event. I would also like to thank all our partners, our aim of bringing together talented players who represent the strength of inclusivity in sports would not be possible without you. I am especially grateful to our venue partner Merlin Rise for their continued support by providing these wonderful locations over the past three years and also to EIILM - Kolkata for their volunteers, hard work and immense support over the past week."

Match Highlights:

Champions: Jammu and Kashmir Deaf team

Runners-up: Delhi Deaf Team

Semi-Finalists: Odisha Deaf and Bengal Deaf Team

Man of the Match: Suhail Ahmad

Man of the Series: Suhail Ahmad

Best Batsman: Suhail Mohi u Din

Best Bowler: Hilal Ahmad Wani

Best Wicketkeeper: Abhishek Thakur.

Santa’s cause: Eateries bring Xmas cheer to deaf students

25.12.2025
Noida: Ahead of Christmas, the city's restaurant community came forward to spread festive cheer among deaf children.

At least 50 restaurants in Noida and NCR, part of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), donated school bags and stationery to 150 students, aged between four and 17, of Noida Deaf Society on Tuesday.

The initiative, ‘Santa's Cause', encouraged restaurateurs to donate 10% of every food bill paid at their eateries in Dec. The pooled contribution was used to organise the distribution at the society's campus, where a brief Christmas celebration was also held.

Head of the NRAI Noida Chapter, Varun Khera, said the initiative was meant to ensure that children with hearing and speech disabilities are not excluded from festive experiences.
"Children look forward to Christmas because of the gifts associated with it. Through Santa's Cause, we wanted to share that happiness with these marginalised students," he said.Khera said the association is also looking beyond one-time donations. NRAI is also in talks with the school to provide employment to deaf students in the hospitality sector. "There are several roles where they can perform well with the right support. Our effort is to create inclusive employment opportunities and help integrate them into the workforce," he said.

Founder of the Noida Deaf Society, Ruma Rupa, said the students responded with visible excitement. "The children were thrilled. Many of them had never interacted so closely with people from the restaurant industry," she said. She added that the visiting restaurateurs took a tour of the society, spent time with the students and interacted with them through sign language and the assistance of teachers.

Noida Deaf Society works to educate and upskill deaf children and youth aiming to bring them into mainstream education and employment.

The organisation supports students through formal schooling, vocational training and life-skills development, with a focus on long-term independence.

Staff members said such visits help build confidence among students and expose them to possible career paths.

Healthcare workers overcome communication barrier to deliver baby of hearing and speech impaired woman at rural health centre in Kolhapur

25.12.2025
Kolhapur: Six staffers, including a doctor, a health visitor, three nurses and an ASHA worker, delivered a healthy baby for a hearing and speech-impaired woman at the Kasba Sangaon's primary health centre in Kolhapur district on Dec 20. They overcame the challenge of communication without the presence of a sign-language expert by relying on clinical analysis and gestures. The woman was admitted in the afternoon, and she gave birth eight hours later, at 10pm on Saturday night.

At the PHC, which is at the grassroots level of the public healthcare system, such cases are a rarity. The 25-year-old woman's husband was physically challenged and could not assist staff with communication, nor were any of her relatives present. An ambulance brought her to the PHC after she went into labour.

"We were not able to understand what pain she was going through as she was not able to convey it. We relied on clinical analysis to find out how she was doing. We had to use actions to show her how to get into labour. We had to squat so that she understood how to squat; otherwise, the wrong position may have caused the delivery of the baby in the bathroom. The problem was that the pain was insufferable to her, which worried us.

She had no hearing aid to understand what we were asking," said Vasundhara Deshmukh, the medical officer who led the delivery.

Deshmukh was assisted by Uma Bothe, a health visitor, and nurses Vidya Bidkar, Urmila Mohite and Urmila Bhangre, along with ASHA worker Manisha Devadkar.

This was the speech and hearing-impaired woman's second delivery. During her first pregnancy, she had been referred to CPR Hospital Kolhapur, a tertiary care facility. This time, travel was inadvisable because the CPR Hospital is around 55 km away, nearly an hour's journey. At PHCs, normal deliveries are carried out, while complicated and high-risk cases are referred to sub-district or district hospitals, where c-sections are generally performed.

Farukh Desai, the district reproductive and child care officer of Kolhapur, said, "In the past 10 years of my service in Kolhapur district, I never came across such a case at the PHC level. The doctors at the PHC, from the start, provided the service of sonography, medicines, and all tests free of cost to the pregnant woman. We are going to screen the baby for congenital anomalies with the help of an ENT specialist, as many parents have doubts in mind that if any one of them is speech and hearing impaired, then their babies too may get similar impairment hereditarily. In such cases, we carry out cochlear implants so that the baby may grow up listening and thereby may speak normally."

BIG FM’s Santa Cause 2025 cheers hearing-impaired kids

24.12.2025
BIG FM, one of India’s leading radio networks, brought the spirit of Christmas alive with the successful culmination of its Santa Cause 2025 initiative, spreading joy and warmth among students of The Stephen High School for the Deaf and Aphasic. The festive outreach saw enthusiastic participation from BIG FM’s RJ team along with actress Akanksha Puri, who joined the celebration and helped make the day special for the children.

According to a press release, the initiative was rooted in the network’s belief that entertainment can serve as a powerful force for positive social impact. Santa Cause 2025 reinforced BIG FM’s long-standing commitment to inclusivity, community engagement and creating meaningful experiences beyond the airwaves, especially during the festive season.

A key highlight of the celebration was a specially curated bus joy ride across Mumbai for the children. The route covered some of the city’s most iconic stretches, starting from Dadar and passing through the Worli Sea Link, Marine Drive via the Coastal Road, before returning to Dadar. The outing offered the students a memorable festive experience, filled with excitement and shared moments of happiness.

Speaking on the initiative, Ashit Kukian, CEO, BIG FM, said that with its extensive reach and strong local connect, the network consistently strives to go beyond entertainment. He added that campaigns like Santa Cause reaffirm BIG FM’s commitment to using the power of sound, on-ground engagement and digital platforms to connect communities and create lasting, positive change.

Adding to the warmth of the celebration, Bombay Tacos distributed meals for the children, while Ultra Toys contributed toys and gifts, further amplifying the festive cheer. Actress Akanksha Puri actively interacted with the students and took part in the gifting activities, creating moments of joy and connection that resonated throughout the day.

BIG FM’s RJs—Sahil, Dilip, Rani and Vrajesh—played a central role in keeping the atmosphere lively, leading engaging activities and ensuring the celebration was filled with laughter, warmth and the true spirit of Christmas. Through Santa Cause 2025, BIG FM once again demonstrated how thoughtful initiatives can bring communities together and make the festive season meaningful for those who need it most.

மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கு காதொலிக் கருவி: திருவள்ளூர் ஆட்சியர் வழங்கினார்

23.12.2025
திருவள்ளூர்: மாற்றுத்திறனாளி மாணவர்கள் 32 பேருக்கு ரூ.16.42 லட்சத்தில் காதொலிக் கருவிகளை ஆட்சியர் மு.பிரதாப் வழங்கினார்.

திருவள்ளுர் மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் அலுவலகத்தில் குறைதீர் கூட்டம் திங்கள்கிழமை நடைபெற்றது. கூட்டத்துக்கு ஆட்சியர் மு.பிரதாப் தலைமை வகித்தார். பொதுமக்களிடம் இருந்து மொத்தம் 442 மனுக்களைப் பெற்று, தொடர்புடைய துறை அதிகாரிகளிடம் வழங்கி உரிய நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க அறிவுறுத்தினார்.

தொடர்ந்து உங்களுடன் ஸ்டாலின் முகாம்களில் காதொலி கருவிகள் வேண்டி பல்வேறு மனுக்கள் பெறப்பட்டதை தொடர்ந்து தனியார் நிறுவன சமூக பங்களிப்பு நிதி திட்டத்தில் செவித்திறன் குறைபாடு உடையவர்களுக்கு 500 காதொலிக் கருவிகள் ரூ.16,42,500 லட்சத்தில் பெறப்பட்டு அதனை வழங்கும் அடையாளமாக சிறப்புப்பள்ளிகளைச் சேர்ந்த 32 மாணவர்களுக்கு 64 காதொலி கருவிகளை வழங்கினார்.

இதில், மாவட்ட வருவாய் அலுவலர் சு.சுரேஷ், ஆட்சியரின் நேர்முக உதவியாளர் (பொது) வெங்கட்ராமன், தனித்துணை ஆட்சியர்(ச.பா.தி) பாலமுருகன், உதவி ஆணையர் (கலால்) கணேசன், ஆட்சியரின் நேர்முக உதவியாளர் (நிலம்) நிர்மலா, மாவட்ட வழங்கல் அலுவலர் வெங்கடேசன், மாற்றுதிறனாளிகள் நல அலுவலர் சீனிவாசன் பங்கேற்றனர்.

மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கான அரசு நிதியுதவி உயர்வு: புதுச்சேரி முதல்வர் ரங்கசாமி அறிவிப்பு

23.12.2025

புதுச்சேரி: புதுச்சேரியில் மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கான மாத உதவித்தொகை, அரிசி தொகை, பண்டிகை இலவச துணி தொகை, பெட்ரோல் ஆகியவற்றை உயர்த்தி மாநில முதல்வர் ரங்கசாமி அறிவித்துள்ளார்.

புதுச்சேரி சமூக நலத்துறை சார்பில் சர்வதேச மாற்றுத் திறனாளர்கள் தின விழா ஆண்டுதோறும் டிசம்பர் 3ல் நடக்கும். நடப்பாண்டு தொடர் மழையால் இந்நிகழ்வு தள்ளிவைக்கப்பட்டு இன்று நடைபெற்றது.

இந்நிகழ்வில் முதல்வர் ரங்கசாமி பேசுகையில், "மாற்றுத் திறனாளிகள் என சொல்லும்போது எத்தனை சதவீதம் இருந்தால் உதவிகள் கிடைக்கும் என்ற நிலையில் 40 சதவீதம் இருந்தாலே போதும் என்று உறுதி செய்துள்ளோம். மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் வண்டிக்கான பெட்ரோல் 25 லிட்டரில் இருந்து 5 லிட்டர் உயர்த்தி 30 லிட்டராக தரப்படும்.

மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் வாழ்க்கை தரத்தை உயர்த்த செலவுகளை சமாளிக்க மாதாந்திர உதவித்தொகையை உயர்த்துகிறோம். ரூ.3,000 உதவித்தொகை வாங்குவோருக்கு ரூ.3,500 ஆகவும் ரூ.4,800 வாங்குவோருக்கு ரூ.5,500 ஆக உயர்த்தப்படும். மாற்றுத் திறனாளிகளுக்கு தற்போது 15 கிலோ அரிசிக்கு பணம் நேரடியாக வங்கிக் கணக்கில் அரசு செலுத்துகிறது. அது 20 கிலோ அரிசிக்கான பணமாக தரப்படும்.

தற்போது 15 கிலோ அரிசிக்கு கிலோவுக்கு ரூ.30 தருவதை ரூ.40 ஆக உயர்த்தி மாதம் ரூ.800 அரிசி பணம் தரப்படும். இலவச துணிக்கு பண்டிகை காலத்தில் ரூ.500 தருவதை ரூ.750 ஆக உயர்த்தி தரப்படும். உயர்த்தப்பட்ட தொகை விரைவில் தரப்படும் என்றார்.

புதுச்சேரி ஜெயராம் திருமண மண்டபத்தில் சர்வதேச மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் விழாவில் ஆளுநர் கைலாஷ்நாதன், முதல்வர் ரங்கசாமி, பேரவைத்தலைவர் செல்வம், அமைச்சர் தேனீ ஜெயக்குமார் மற்றும் அதிகாரிகள் பங்கேற்றனர்.

ஆளுநர்- முதல்வர் முன்னிலையில் மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் வாக்குவாதம்: முன்னதாக விழாவில் மாற்றுத்திறனாளி சங்கங்கள் நிர்வாகிகள் பேச அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டனர். வேலாயுதம் என்பவர் பேசும்போது, "நீண்ட காலம் முதல்வராக ரங்கசாமி இருக்கிறார். நமது கருத்துகள் கேட்பார்.

அவர் மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கு ஏதும் செய்யவில்லை. பல நலத்திட்டங்களை பலருக்கு செய்தாலும் மாற்றுத் திறனாளிகளுக்கு செய்யவில்லை. நம் பிரச்சினைகள் குறித்து அரசு கவலைப்படவில்லை." என்றார்.

அப்போது கீழே இருந்த மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் எழுந்து எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்தனர். இதனால் வாக்குவாதம் ஏற்பட்டது. வேலாயுதம் தனது கருத்தை சொல்வதாக கூறினார். அதற்கு பலரும் எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்தனர். மோதல் ஏற்பட்டதையடுத்து போலீஸார் சமானதப்படுத்தினர். தொடர்ந்து வேலாயுதம் பேசினார்.

Deaf and mute woman breaks 16-year silence, exposes serial sexual abuse, blackmail in Mumbai

21.12.2025
A probe has revealed that the accused had similarly drugged and assaulted speech and hearing impaired women and threatened them into silence by blackmailing them with obscene videos, according to a police official

A deaf and mute woman's complaint about a sexual assault that took place 16 years ago in Mumbai has unmasked a serial predator, revealing a disturbing pattern of abuse and blackmail he perpetrated on several women from the community.

The accused was arrested on December 13 after the survivor broke her silence recently following the suicide attempt by one of the women he allegedly sexually harassed.

Disturbed by the suicide attempt, she confided in her friends during a video call about the assault that occurred in 2009.

According to the police, the survivor, a resident of the western suburbs, communicated in sign language during a video call with her friends and colleagues, who were part of a WhatsApp group, that the accused had drugged and raped her when she was a minor.

She also took her husband into confidence, and with support from Thane Deaf Association president Vaibhav Ghaisis, activist Mohammed Farhan Khan, sign language interpreter Madhu Keni, and a retired officer from the Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities Divyangjan, the survivor approached the police.

The survivor, her husband and a few of her friends went to the Kurar police station, where her statement was recorded in camera, with Ms. Keni as interpreter, and the accused, Mahesh Pawar, was arrested a few hours later from Virar, a suburb in Palghar district.

Recalling the trauma she endured 16 years ago, the survivor said that a female friend had invited her to explore the city in July 2009 and took her to Pawar's home in Vakola, Santacruz, an official said.

The accused allegedly offered her samosas and some beverage to celebrate the female friend's birthday. The survivor said she was forced to have the drink, which Pawar had allegedly spiked, and after a while, her friend left her alone with him.

The accused allegedly overpowered and raped her, and later blackmailed her with the recorded video of the assault.

The trauma of assault stayed with her over the years, and the attempted suicide of another woman from the community, allegedly assaulted by Pawar, propelled her to come forward.

A probe has revealed that the accused had similarly drugged and assaulted speech and hearing impaired women and threatened them into silence by blackmailing them with obscene videos, a senior police officer said.

The accused allegedly shot obscene videos of several women, using which he blackmailed them and extorted money, gold and mobile phones, he said.

He allegedly forced women into participating in nude video calls with him and recorded these to threaten them, the official said.

"As per initial investigation so far, we have evidence of his abuse of seven women, but the number can increase to more than 24," the official told PTI.

While Pawar has been remanded in judicial custody, no other woman has come forward with a complaint against him as yet, he said.

Talking to PTI, Ms. Keni said all women who have survived abuse and harassment by Pawar want to lodge a complaint against him.

She claimed that the accused had extorted money from one of the women he abused, but did not return the sum even when she needed it for a medical emergency.

Man arrested for raping deaf-mute niece in Samastipur

18.12.2025
Patna: Police have arrested a 30-year-old man for allegedly raping his deaf and mute teenage niece in Samastipur district.

According to the complaint, the incident took place on Dec 15 when the survivor was sent to fetch a spade from the fields. The accused allegedly intercepted her, took her to his house and raped her.

The teenager managed to escape and informed her family about the assault through gestures. She later went to the police station accompanied by her relatives and lodged a complaint.

Following the arrest, both the survivor and the accused were sent for medical examination. Police said further legal proceedings are underway.

Deaf and mute woman registers complaint six years after sexual assault in Mumbai

18.12.2025
Mumbai: Six years after a deaf and mute woman was drugged and sexually assaulted, she registered a police complaint after getting support from her husband. Kurar police arrested the accused and transferred the case to Vakola police as it occurred in their jurisdiction.

The victim was a minor when the incident occurred in SAFETY HEALTH GURU 2009. She attended a friend's birthday party when the accused saw her. Later, one of her friends took her to his house. The accused offered her a spiked beverage and sexually assaulted her after she passed out. When the girl came to, she found that she was bleeding. She told her family but did not get enough support to lodge a complaint until now.

After arresting the accused, the police seized his phone and found that it contained inappropriate videos of several women. Police suspect he filmed these women over video call, without their consent, and subsequently blackmailed them.

Further police investigation is ongoing, and police are trying to reach out to other victims to record their statements.