காது கேட்காத குழந்தைகளுக்கு பேச்சு பயிற்சி மையம்: தென் தமிழகத்தில் முதல் முறையாக ராஜாஜி மருத்துவமனையில் தொடக்கம்

மதுரை அரசு ராஜாஜி மருத்துவமனையில் காக்ளியர் இம்ப்ளாண்ட்
அறுவை சிகிச்சை செய்துகொண்ட குழந்தைக்கு பேச்சுப்பயிற்சி
அளிப்பதற்கான கருவியை பொருத்தினார் காது மூக்கு தொண்டை
சிகிச்சை பிரிவின் சிறப்பு பேச்சு மருத்துவ நிபுணர் கார்த்திகேயன்.

28.12.2017
மதுரை அரசு ராஜாஜி மருத்துவமனை காது மூக்கு தொண்டை சிகிச்சை பிரிவில் தென் தமிழகத்திலேயே முதல் முறையாக காது கேட்காத குழந்தைகளுக்கான சிறப்பு பேச்சுப்பயிற்சி அளிக்கும் மையம் தொடங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மதுரை அரசு ராஜாஜி மருத்துவமனையில் காது மூக்கு தொண்டை பிரிவில் காது கேட்காத குழந்தைகளுக்கான உயர் தர ‘காக்ளியர் இம்ப்ளாண்ட்’ அறுவை சிகிச்சை வசதி முன்பு இல்லை. இந்த அறுவை சிகிச்சையை தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளில் மேற்கொள்ள ரூ.7 லட்சம் செலவாகும். இதனால், ஏழை, நடுத்தர மக்களின் குழந்தைகள் பாதிக்கப்பட்டனர்.

இதையடுத்து, கடந்த 2015-ம் ஆண்டில் ராஜாஜி மருத்துவமனையில் ‘காக்ளியர் இம்ப்ளாண்ட்’ அறுவை சிகிச்சை வசதி தொடங்கப்பட்டது. கடந்த 2 ஆண்டுகளில் 6 வயதுக்கு உட்பட்ட 50 குழந்தைகளுக்கு காக்ளியர் இம்ப்ளாண்ட் அறுவை சிகிச்சை வெற்றிகரமாக மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்த 50 குழந்தைகளும் தற்போது நல்ல முறையில் காது கேட்கும் திறனையும், பேசும் திறனையும் பெற்றுள்ளனர். அறுவை சிகிச்சை செய்து கொண்ட இந்த குழந்தைகளுக்கு பேச்சுத்திறன் பயிற்சி அளிக்கும் வசதி இம்மருத்துவமனையில் இல்லாததால், அரசு செலவில் தனியார் மையங்களுக்கு அனுப்பிவைக்கப்பட வேண்டிய சூழ்நிலை இருந்தது.

இந்நிலையில், தென் தமிழகத்திலேயே முதல் முறையாக ராஜாஜி மருத்துவமனையில் காது மூக்கு தொண்டை சிகிச்சை பிரிவில் ‘காக்ளியர் இம்ப்ளாண்ட்’ அறுவை சிகிச்சை செய்து கொண்ட 6 வயதுக்கு உட்பட்ட குழந்தைகளுக்கு சிறப்பு பேச்சு பயிற்சி வழங்கும் மையம் (Audio verbal therapy centre) நேற்று தொடங்கப்பட்டது. இந்த மையத்தை மருத்துவமனை டீன் மருதுபாண்டியன் தொடங்கி வைத்தார். இதுகுறித்து காது மூக்கு தொண்டை சிகிச்சை பிரிவின் சிறப்பு பேச்சு மருத்துவ நிபுணர் கார்த்திகேயன் கூறியதாவது: காது கேளாத, வாய் பேசாத குழந்தைகள் 6 வயதுக்குள் ‘காக்ளியர் இம்ப்ளாண்ட்’ அறுவை சிகிச்சை செய்து கொண்டால் மட்டுமே பேச்சுத்திறனை பெறுவார்கள்.

பேச்சுப்பயிற்சி அளிப்பதற்காக பயன்படுத்தப்படும்

ஸ்பீச் பிராசெஸர் கருவி. 

ராஜாஜி மருத்துவமனை காது மூக்கு தொண்டை சிகிச்சை பிரிவில் வாரத்தில் இரண்டு நாள் இந்த பயிற்சி வழங்கப்படுகிறது. தற்போது முதல் கட்டமாக சமீபத்தில் காக்ளியர் இம்ப்ளாண்ட் அறுவை சிகிச்சை செய்த 11 குழந்தைகளுக்கு இந்த பயிற்சி வழங்கப்படுகிறது. இவ்வாறு அவர் தெரிவித்தார்.இந்த அறுவை சிகிச்சையில் காது கேட்கும் திறன் அளிக்கும் செவி சுருளுக்குள் காது கேட்கும் கருவி நுட்பமான முறையில் பொருத்தப்படும். வெளியே இந்த கருவி தெரியாது. இந்த அறுவை சிகிச்சைக்குப் பின், குழந்தைகளுக்கு மற்றவர்கள் பேசுவதை கேட்டு பேச வைக்க பேச்சுத்திறன் பயிற்சி அளிக்க வேண்டும். நாம் பேசும்போது எழுப்பும் ஒலி, குழந்தையின் மூளையில் பதிய வைப்பதற்காக இப்பயிற்சி வழங்கப்படுகிறது. இதற்காக ஸ்பீச் பிராசெஸர் (Speech Processor) என்ற பேச்சு கருவி காதிற்கு வெளியே பொருத்தி பேச்சுப்பயிற்சி வழங்கப்படுகிறது.

4 per cent quota sought for hearing impaired

29.12.2017
Musheerabad: Development Society for the Deaf (DSD) took out a rally and staged dharna in front of Bus Bhavan on Thursday demanding four per cent reservation in the RTC for the hearing impaired.

Mathineni Veeraiah, Chairman for Congress Specially Challenged wing demanded the officials to provide opportunities to the specially challenged according to 2016 specially challenged act.

He termed merging Specially-abled Department with Child Development Department as not proper. He also demanded 10 per cent jobs for the hearing impaired at parking lots and commercial complexes in the RTC Bus Stations.

Divyangula Hakkula Porata Samiti President Ande Rambabu, Satish, Prasad, Venkatesh, Bharathi and others took part.

குழந்தைகள் பேச்சு பயிற்சி மையம்

26.12.2017

மதுரை;‛‛மதுரை அரசு மருத்துவமனையில் குழந்தைகளுக்கான சிறப்பு பேச்சு பயிற்சி மையம் துவக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது,'' என, காது மூக்கு தொண்டை துறை தலைவர் தினகரன் தெரிவித்தார்.அவர் கூறியதாவது: தென்தமிழகத்தில் இம்மருத்துவமனையில் பிறவியில் முற்றிலும் காது கேளாத, வாய் பேசாத 6 வயதிற்கு உட்பட்ட குழந்தைகளுக்கு 7 லட்ச ரூபாயில் உட்செவியில் கருவி பொருத்தும் அறுவை சிகிச்சை முதல்வர் காப்பீடு திட்டத்தில் நடந்தது. இதில் 61 குழந்தைகள் பயன்பெற்றனர். இதில் 50 குழந்தைகள் நல்ல நிலையில் காதுகேட்டு பேசுகின்றனர். காதுகேளாத குழந்தைகளுக்கு சிறப்பு பேச்சு பயிற்சி அளிப்பதற்காக காது மூக்கு தொண்டை பிரிவில் பயிற்சி மையம் ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளோம். அனைத்து சிறப்பு பரிசோதனை, அறுவை சிகிச்சை, சிறப்பு பேச்சு பயிற்சி அளித்து ஒருங்கிணைந்த உட்செவியில் கருவி பொருத்தும் மையமாக செயல்படும், என்றார்.

காது கேளாத, வாய் பேசாத 50 குழந்தைகளுக்கு அறுவைசிகிச்சை! அரசு மருத்துவர்கள் சாதனை

27.12.2017

மதுரை அரசு ராஜாஜி மருத்துவமனையில் இன்று ஆடியோ வெர்பெல் தெரப்பி எனும் காக்ளியர் அறுவைசிகிச்சை செய்துகொண்ட குழந்தைகளுக்கான சிறப்புப் பேச்சுப் பயிற்சிக்கான முறை கொண்டுவரப்பட்டது. அரசு மருத்துவமனையிலையே வயதுவரம்பு அரசு காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம் உள்ளிட்டவை மூலம் இந்தத் திட்டத்தில் பயன்பெறலாம் என மருத்துவர்கள் தெரிவித்தனர்.

இது குறித்து ராஜாஜி மருத்துவமனையின் முதல்வர் மருதுபாண்டி கூறுகையில், “தென் தமிழகத்தில் அரசு ராஜாஜி மருத்துவமனையில் பிறவியிலே முற்றிலும் காது கேளாத, வாய் பேசாத 6 வயதுக்கு உட்பட்ட குழந்தைகளுக்கு ரூபாய் 7 லட்சம் பெறுமான காக்ளியர் இம்ப்ளான்ட் அறுவைசிகிச்சை முதலமைச்சரின் விரிவான காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டத்தின் கீழ் கடந்த 2015 ஜனவரி முதல் தற்போதுவரை 61 குழந்தைகளுக்கு இலவசமாக அறுவைசிகிச்சை சிறப்பாகச் செய்யப்படுகிறது . இதுவரை 50 குழந்தைகளுக்கு அறுவைசிகிச்சை செய்துகொண்டு இன்று நல்ல முறையில் காது கேட்கவும் பேசிக் கொண்டும் உள்ளனர்.

தற்போது கொண்டுவந்துள்ள பயிற்சி முறை மூலம் செவித்திறன் குறைபாடுடைய மாற்றுத்திறனாளி குழந்தைகள் மற்றும் சாதாரண குழந்தைகளுடன் சேர்ந்து பயில இயலும். காக்ளியர் இம்ப்ளான்ட் அறுவைசிகிச்சை செய்துகொண்ட குழந்தைகளுக்கு சிறப்புப் பேச்சுப் பயிற்சி மதுரை அரசு மருத்துவமனையில் காது, மூக்கு, தொண்டை சிகிச்சை பிரிவில் ஒரு பிரிவாகச் சிறப்பாகச் செயல்பட உள்ளது. இதன் மூலம் காது கேளாத குழந்தைகளுக்கு அனைத்து சிறப்புப் பரிசோதனைகள், சிறப்பு காக்ளியர் இம்ப்ளான்ட் அறுவைசிகிச்சை, சிறப்புப் பேச்சுப் பயிற்சி ஆகிய அனைத்தையும் வழங்கி அரசு மருந்துவமனை ஓர் ஒருங்கிணைந்த காக்ளியர் இம்பிளான்ட் அறுவைசிகிச்சை மையமாக செயல்பட உள்ளது'' எனத் தெரிவித்தார். இந்நிகழ்ச்சியில் காது , மூக்கு , தொண்டை பிரிவு மருத்துவர்கள், தினகரன், ராஜகணேஷ், ராதாகிருஷ்ணன் உள்ளிட்ட மருத்துவர்கள் கலந்துகொண்டனர்.

Mumbai restaurant completely run by speech and hearing impaired staff, Watch

25.12.2017
A restaurant in Mumbai has pushed for social change by employing people who are speech and hearing impaired.

The Mirchi and Mime restaurant in Mumbai's Powai area mainly consists of people with hearing and speech disability who communicate with guests through sign language.

Each item on the menu is paired with sign language images to help customers ask what they want using hand gestures, or sign language.

The restaurant currently has 50 such staff.

The owner of the restaurant is planning to open a chain of restaurants across India to provide employment to at least 500 such people.

"There is a little briefing before the operation gets started in the restaurant. There is a lunch briefing and a dinner briefing. This is done to ensure the smooth running of the restaurant," said Ranjan, a trainer specialist in sign language and captain of the restaurant.

Prashant, the owner of the restaurant, said he and his partner opened this restaurant inspired by a similar type of restaurant in Canada.

"When I and my partner came back to India, We wanted to do something that not only generates wealth for us, but also for society at large and keeping that in mind, we were looking for a restaurant concept," Prashant told ANI.

"We saw a video about a similar type of restaurant in Canada and thought that we can do it," he added.

Prashant said that he met his staff through various NGOs and colleges and persuaded them to work in his restaurant.

Prashant has learnt the sign language also for the smooth functioning of the restaurant.

‘Most IT companies in city not disabled-friendly’, says study

25.12.2017
HYDERABAD: In the wake of an announcement made by the State government that it would set up a separate IT park for persons with disabilities (PWDs), a study published recently has highlighted the lack of PWD-friendly atmosphere in IT/ITES companies in the city, a fact accepted both by PWD employees and their employers as well.

The study, ‘Factors influencing employment and employability for persons with disability: Insights from a City in South India’ conducted by researchers at the city-based South Asia Centre for Disability Inclusive Development and Research (SACDIR) involved a survey through a semi-structured questionnaire given to 147 PWD employees and 53 employers of six IT/ITeS companies in Hyderabad. It was published this month in the Indian Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine .

The results of the survey showed that a majority of the respondents, both employers and employees, acknowledged that physical, structural, communication and information barriers for PWDs existed in their workplaces. For example, 95.2 per cent of the PWD employees and 84.9 employers felt that there existed barriers to access within the building like internal ramps and lifts with Braille symbols. Similarly, around 84 per cent of PWD employees and employers felt that there was a lack of accessible communication networks/devices in workplaces like provision of text phone, type talk, hearing induction loop facilities and screen readers. Another fact emerging out of the study highlights the need for sensitisation of having a positive attitude among the IT/ITeS employees towards their PWD colleagues. Around 88 per cent of PWD employees said lack of positive attitude, harassment and discrimination in workplace was a major barrier.

However, when it comes to recruitment, almost 73 per cent of PWD employees reported that they did not face any discrimination in the recruitment process and 90 per cent of them reported that their potential employers had made reasonable adjustments to facilitate their job interviews. Moreover, 100 per cent employers in the survey said PWD employees are ‘very motivated individuals’.

Srinu Meesala, who uses a stick to support his legs while walking and works as a customer service associate at a prominent MNC in Hitec City, said, “Though my company is considerate in providing me with transport service, the organisation is insensitive about giving me a few more minutes of lunch break. I need more time to walk out, finish my lunch and walk back to my work station.”

“Floors, especially in IT/ITeS companies which employ many PWDs, are smooth, making them watch their every step as the it is slippery and they can skid off it. Also, the companies are hesitant to employ interpreters for the visually or hearing impaired,” said B Kirtana, workplace coordinator, Disability Rights Promotion International.

Swaraj shares notes of Geeta

21.12.2017
Makes appeal to locate her parents from dialect used in note
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday shared a few handwritten notes of Geeta, the deaf-mute woman who returned to India in October 2015 after accidentally crossing over to Pakistan more than a decade ago.

Ms. Swaraj also made a fresh appeal to help find her parents.

One of the pages shared by Ms. Swaraj contains Geeta’s message in Hindi, written in Roman script: “ A Bhagwan mujhe mare man, bap ke paas bhej. Me bohat roti hun. Or Mujhe mare ma, baap boht yaad arha hain. Mai un se bohot pyar karta hu .”

It roughly translates to “Dear God, please send me to my parents. I cry a lot thinking about them. I love them a lot.”

Geeta was brought to India in 2015 from Pakistan, where she remained stranded for more than a decade.

In Pakistan, she stayed with the Karachi-based Edhi Foundation. Since her return to India, she is being taken care of by an institution for hearing and speech impaired people in Indore.

“Geeta was rescued from Pakistan. She cannot speak or hear. We have obtained some pages from Pakistan written by her in a local dialect and in Devanagari script.

“Please see these pages and tell us the area where this dialect is spoken and what do these pages convey. This will help us locate her home and unite her with her family,” Ms. Swaraj, who had played an instrumental role in bringing her back, said in a series of tweets.

ஜூனியர் ஒலிம்பிக் போட்டிக்கு தகுதி பெற்றுள்ள தமிழக வீராங்கனை ஷமிகா பர்வீன்!

திருநெல்வேலி(18 டிச 2017): அமெரிக்காவில் நடைபெறும் ஜூனியர் ஒலிம்பிக் போட்டிக்கு தமிழக வீராங்கனை ஷமிகா பர்வீன்(14) தகுதி பெற்றுள்ளார்.

நெல்லை மாவட்டம் வடக்கன்குளத்தை சேர்ந்தவர் முஜீப் .இவருடைய மனைவி ஸலாமத். இவர்களுக்கு ஒரே மகள் ஷமிகா பர்வீன். 14 வயதான இவர் அதே பகுதியில் உள்ள பாலகிருஷ்ணா மெட்ரிக் பள்ளியில் 8ம் வகுப்பு பயின்று வருகிறார். இவருக்கு பிறவியிலேயே காது கேட்காது. இருந்தாலும் விளையாட்டு போட்டிகளில் மிகவும் ஆர்வம் உள்ளவர்.குறிப்பாக தடகளப் போட்டிகளில் பங்குபெற்று பல வெற்றிகள் பெற்றுள்ளார்.

இந்நிலையில்கடந்த டிசம்பர் 1ந் தேதி முதல் 6ந் தேதி வரை ஜார்கென்ட் மாநிலத்தில் நடைபெற்ற தடகள போட்டிகளில் 400 மீட்டர் ஓட்டப் பந்தயத்தில் கலந்து கொண்டு தங்க பதக்கத்தையும், 200 மீட்டர் ஓட்டப் பந்தயத்தில் வெள்ளி பதக்கத்தையும், 100 மீட்டர் ஓட்டப்பந்தயத்தில் வெண்கல பதக்கத்தையும் பெற்றுள்ளார். அதன் பின்பு நடைபெற்ற காது கேளாதோர் பிரிவில் தேசிய அளவில் ஜார்கென்ட் மாநிலத்தில் நடைபெற்ற போட்டியின் உயரம் தாண்டுதல் போட்டியில் கலந்து கொண்டு வெற்றி பெற்று முதல் பரிசை பெற்றும் தங்க மெடல் வாங்கியும் புதிய சாதனை படைத்துள்ளார். இதன் மூலம் அமெரிக்காவில் நடைபெற இருக்கும் ஜுனியர் ஒலிம்பிக் போட்டியில் தேர்வாகி உள்ளார்.

ஷமிகா பர்வீனை நெல்லை மாவட்ட ஆட்சித் தலைவர் சந்தீப் நந்தூரி வாழ்த்தினார்.

Pak deaf-mute boy to be released soon

Faridkot, December 19
The Juvenile Justice Board today ordered the release of a 12-year-old deaf-mute Pakisani boy who was arrested by the BSF on May 3 for straying into India without passport and travelling documents.

The court ordered the release of the boy as he had already completed his sentence for the offence of entering into India without valid documents.

The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has also conveyed to the Ministry of External Affairs confirming the nationality status of the boy as Pakistani. As per the letter from the Pakistan High Commission to the External Affairs Ministry, the boy has been identified as Hasnain, son of Javed Iqbal, resident of Lahore.

The Pakistan High Commission has asked the Centre to convey the date of repatriation of the juvenile at the earliest so that necessary arrangements may be made accordingly.

தேசிய கூடைப்பந்துப் போட்டியில் சாம்பியன்: புதுவை மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் அணிக்கு பாராட்டு

Rights of the disabled

19.12.2017

Even today the disabled in India see their physical or mental limitation as whether a source of shame or source of inspiration for others. By concentrating on overcoming the disability, we fail to notice that a disability itself cannot be overcome by a disabled person, however, heroic he or she may be. In the west, the disability rights movement has realized this and therefore, they proclaim that “it is okay, even good to be disabled. Disability is a class in itself that anyone may fall victim at anytime.
Unlike other movements like feminism or lesbian movements which have distinct agendas of either gender justice or the right to sexual orientation, the disability right movement does not have systematic path. Disability right movement even in the west has a very recent origin and tries to draw strength from the traditional legal order rather than by critiquing or deconstructing it. Joseph Shapiro neatly summarises the characteristic of this movement in the west.”The disability movement is a mosaic movement for the 1990’s .Diversity in its critical characteristic.No leader or organization can claim to speak for all the disabled.
The disability rights movement in India and in third world countries is discursive and disorganized and there is no written document to trace it’s origin .Instead of coming together, sections of disabled viz.blind persons, person with physical disability deaf and dumb persons and those with mental disabilities have launched their movements and struggles separately. Mainly through NGOs. It was all the much difficult for all disabled groups to come together with the stupendous diversities in their problems. Two important reasons can be assigned for such a scenario. Firstly in our country, the disabled are bound to struggle to fulfill the basic needs like food, shelter and education and therefore, they are bound to be disable specific in their struggles; secondly, the advocates of disability rights in India do not have any coherence in their agenda, some stress solely on rehabilitation and research. Others are solely concerned with generation of employment and still others are wholly occupied by efforts in the education sector. A few in India ever talk of about the civil rights or crisis of identity of the disabled. Under such circumstance the various groups have to work segregated, and so they do not come togetherand chalk out a common agenda.
In India the disability rights movement has been launched by NGOs and therefore a large number of NGOs have mushroomed all over the country. Instead of working together, there is often seen unwarranted and unhealthy rivalry between NGOs. Similar conflicts were also noted across different sections of the disabled, while there are a number of organizations making serious rehabilitation efforts and genuinely working for the upliftment of the disabled. There are also NGOs that are simply cashing in on the cause just trying to pocket the funds and doing nothing for the disabled.
Some assumptions prevailed about the disabled in our country like, disabled people are the most vulnerable section of society and have been ignored by state and society alike since long, disabled people have always been dependent and, therefore, need helping hands and gracious charity, disabled people are victims of their bad luck, disableness is the punishment for sins he has never committed in this life, such assumptions about the disabled do nothing to help them.
Until 1995 there was no law that even defined discrimination against people with disabilities. It is only with the persons with Disabilities Act, passed in 1995 that discrimination specifically against persons with disabilities came under the purview of the law. Till 1995, most of the welfare measures taken by the states were by way of affirmative action. The Ministry of Social Welfare was largely concerned with problems of persons with disability and with providing them privileges. Rehabilitation of people with disability by opening shelter workshops and educational and research institutions. During early 80’s some major development in the international Disability Rights Movement brought about a change in the attitude of the Govt. of India. The first earnest sign was the enactment of the mental health act, 1987.
A meeting was convened by the economic and social commission for the Asia pacific region in Beijing in December 1992 to launch the Asia pacific decade of disabled persons. The meeting declared 1993-2000 as the Asia pacific decade and proclaimed the full participation and equality of people with “disabilities” as the objective. To give legislative effect to the above proclamation, The Persons With Disabilities Act was enacted in India in 1995 and came into force on 1st Jan 1996. Objectives of the Act were, to create a barrier free environment for disabled persons to remove any discrimination against disabled people to the sharing of development benefits vis-à-vis non disabled persons to counteract any situation of abuse and exploitation of disabled persons, to lay down strategies for the development of comprehensive programmes and services and the equalization of opportunities for disabled persons to make special provisions for the integration of person with disabilities into the social main stream.
Unfortunately, the Act does not pay any serious attention to secure some basic rights like the right to human dignity, right to equal concern and respect, right against discrimination in public employment and educational institutions, right against exploitation,right against victimization etc. The Act has completely ignored some vital aspects such as: pre school education of disabled children, special problems of the parents of disabled and female disabled, games, sports and cultural activities, exploitation of disabled by their own families, higher education of the disabled .Though the implementation of the Act has been gradual ,but it has provided a platform to unite and mobilize disabled individuals across the country.
The success of this Act would, however, depend much upon the extent to which the political leaders and bureaucratic executive internalizes the values, sensibilities and goals enshrined in the Act .If persons with disability are to be regarded as full citizens of India, their right to equal concern and respect must find its expression in the supreme law of the land.

காதுகேளாதோர் தேசிய கூடைப்பந்து - பட்டிவீரன்பட்டி மாணவர் சாதனை

18.12.2017

பட்டிவீரன்பட்டி: தேசிய அளவிலான காதுகேளாதோர் கூடைப்பந்து போட்டியில் பட்டிவீரன்பட்டி பள்ளி மாணவன் சாதனை படைத்தார்.பட்டிவீரன்பட்டி என்.எஸ்.வி.வி., ஆண்கள் மேல்நிலைப்பள்ளி மாணவன் விஷ்ணுராம் பாண்டிச்சேரி காதுகேளாதோர் கூடைப்பந்து அணியில் விளையாட பங்கேற்றார். ராஞ்சியில் நடந்த அரையிறுதியில் பாண்டிச்சேரி, தமிழக அணியை 45:16 என்ற புள்ளிகளில் வென்றது. இறுதிப்போட்டியில் கர்நாடக அணியை 63:31 புள்ளிகளில் வென்றது.இரு போட்டிகளிலும் விஷ்ணுராம் எடுத்த புள்ளிகள் 43. இவரது தந்தை ரமேஷ்பாபு இந்த அணியின் மேனேஜராக இருந்தது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. ஒரே அணியில் தந்தை, மகன் பங்கேற்றது சிறப்பாகும். மாணவனை எச்.என்.யூ.பி.ஆர்., பள்ளி மேலாண்மை குழு தலைவர் மோகன்அருணாச்சலம், எச்.என்.யூ.பி., சங்க தலைவர் ராஜாராம், செயலாளர் சங்கரலிங்கம், பள்ளி செயலாளர் அய்யனார்வெங்கடேசன், தலைமை ஆசிரியர் ஜெயக்குமார், உடற்கல்வி ஆசிரியர்கள் வெங்கடேஸ், குமார், காமாட்சி ஆகியோர் பாராட்டினர்.

PFCL sponsors cochlear implant surgeries for 100 children under CSR project

18.12.2017

Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFCL) has sponsored cochlear implant surgeries for 100 children with profound hearing loss under their CSR project implemented by Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO).

PFC and ALIMCO had signed MoU on 25th July 2016 at Urjanidhi, 1 Barakhamba Lane, Connaught Place, New Delhi for conducting Cochlear Implant surgeries of 100 beneficiaries for FY 2016-17 on PAN India basis valuing Rs.630 lakhs under the CSR initiative of Power Finance Corporation Ltd.

The MoU was signed by R. Murahari, GM (CSR & SD), PFC& D.R.Sarin, chairman & managing director, ALIMCO. Cochlear Implant surgeries are done through Ali Yavar Jang National Institute of Speech and Language Disabilities (Divyangjan), Mumbai under Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. Post operative rehabilitation is undertaken by Audiologist and speech language pathologist and special educator of Hearing Impaired. Parent have very important role in stimulating child to learn speech and language at home and maintain the external part (Processor). Details process of home bound training is also available on website: www.adipcochlearimplant.in

This major CSR initiative of PFC will help the children to completely overcome their hearing disability, thereby enabling them to hear and speak coherently and making them fully independent to lead a normal and productive life. This effort will not only bring these underprivileged children to the mainstream of life but will also contribute to national economy.

Hearing impairment has a significant impact on the child and his family. Considering the wide ranging impact of hearing impairment, early identification and intervention during the critical learning years, has been found to be very important to minimize the impact of the hearing impairment in the child's over all development. Most of children who are born deaf or hard of hearing can learn to listen to their own voices, listen to the voices of others and listen to the sounds of life.

An estimate shows that around 35,000 children need Cochlear Implant annually in India. Government of India has made provision to sponsor 500 numbers under the ADIP Scheme which is minuscule in comparison to actual requirement. Till date more than 1,000 numbers of Cochlear Implant Surgeries have been successfully conducted in the country under the ADIP Government of India and CSR funds.

The event is an effort to sensitize various organisations to come forward for the noble cause of supporting hearing impaired children under their CSR initiatives.

CSR in India has gone beyond merely ‘Charity and Donations’. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) acknowledges the corporation’s duty that the corporation owes to the community within which it operates. It regards the community as an equal stakeholder.

As per provision of Company Act 2013 it is now mandatory for all companies to contribute 2% of their 3 year average annual net profit on their CSR activities as mentioned in Schedule VII of the acts with effect from April, 2014. Further added in Scheduled VII there is provision of aids and appliances to Divyangjans under ‘Promoting Health and Care including preventive health care’.

Activities undertaken by corporates under their CSR obligation could prove a game changer for providing sustainable development in social sector. Disability sector is one of the area which needs to be addressed for inclusive growth of the society and CSR provide the huge opportunity to serve the persons with disabilities that fall under vulnerable section of society.

Lack of training, education facility for deaf & speech-impaired: Study

18.12.2017
CHANDIGARH: The deaf and speech-impaired people often run into problems in their professional lives owing to absence of quality education facility for them. Hence, better school and college education for them to be self-dependent. In fact, separate training programmes for these people should be designed, which should be conducted by teachers using sign language. This are what Dr J S Saini, professor and head of centre for physically challenged person, National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research found out from the study his team conducted with the deaf and speech-impaired employees of banks.
Dr Saini submitted the case study to the National Institute for Speech and Hearing (NISH) last week so that the implementation of the suggestions can result in improvement in the opportunities for the deaf and speech-impaired people. He said the case study was conducted in 2016, when a number of such bank employees participated in a conference held in NITTTR.

During the study, a questionnaire consisting of 16 questions were filled by 56 bank employees of 16 organisations across the country. Most of them were from Maharashtra and Karnataka, while rest hailed from Punjab, Gujarat, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Chennai, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.

The respondents of the study held various positions in the banks. Two of them were managers, 14 deputy managers, 24 clerks, 3 peons and 13 were single window operators in various organisations.

While responding to the questionnaire, the deaf employees shared their experiences of isolation at work. They said they do not get as many opportunities to grow as the other employees. Besides this, there is hardly any deaf instructors available to train the deaf and speech-impaired bank employees. There are no dedicated training programs for them in banks. In fact, they are not even included in most of the training programmes which adversely affects their career growth. On top of this, they are forced to put in longer hours as compared to others. Majority of them claimed that they are made to work beyond routine working hours.

They also reported that the behaviour of the colleagues remains unfriendly and rude. Often, reporting to a deaf employee as a junior does not go well with the other employees.

They deaf and speech-impaired bank employees to also find it difficult to get accustomed to the advanced technology used in bank jobs, without the help of any sign language interpreter. No special software and in that case, special training programmes are designed for them to ease their difficulties.

The team also found that almost half of the respondents were conversant with their local language, but were unable to communicate in English. Most of them were also unable to write a complete sentence in English. Hence, communication through reading and writing was also a large problem for them. Analysis of the data revealed that the majority of the deaf-mute bank employees are educated but not well-versed with writing English.

The deaf and speech-impaired staffers claimed that they have already forwarded many suggestions to the Government of India but in vain. Suggestions given by them were not taken into account by the government which makes them feel helpless. They feel that there is no point in making such suggestions to authorities, they said.

வாய் பேச முடியாத, காது கேளாத பெண்கள் 'ஆதார்' தகவலால் வீடு திரும்பினர்

16.12.2017

சென்னை, சென்னையில் செயல்படும், தனியார் காப்பகத்தின் உதவியால், உறவினர்களை பிரிந்து தவித்த, வாய் பேச முடியாத, காது கேளாத பெண்கள், 'ஆதார்' பதிவு தகவலின் அடிப்படையில், மீண்டும் வீடு திரும்பினர்.சென்னை, நுங்கம்பாக்கத்தில், மாற்றுத்திறனாளி பெண்களுக்கான காப்பகம் செயல்படுகிறது. இரு ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன், நகரின் வெவ்வேறு பகுதி களில், ஆதரவின்றி சுற்றித் திரிந்த, வாய் பேச முடியாத, காது கேளாத பெண்கள் மூவரை, இந்த காப்பகம் அரவணைத்தது.தங்களை பற்றிய தகவல்களையோ, வீட்டு முகவரி பற்றிய குறிப்பையோ, கூற இயலாத நிலையில் இருந்த அவர்களை, எப்படியாவது, அவர்களின் உறவினர்களுடன் இணைக்கும் முயற்சியில், காப்பக நிர்வாகிகள் செயல்பட்டனர். அவர்களை, ஆதார் பதிவு மையத்திற்கு அழைத்துச் சென்று, பதிவு செய்ய முயன்ற போது, அவர்கள் மூவரும், ஏற்கனவே, ஆதார் பதிவு செய்திருப்பது தெரிய வந்தது.இதையடுத்து, காப்பக நிர்வாகத்தின் சார்பில், ஆதார் ஆணையத்திற்கு கடிதம் எழுதப்பட்டது. அவர்கள் விடுத்த வேண்டு கோளை தொடர்ந்து, ஆதார் பதிவில் இடம் பெற்றுள்ள, மூவரின் விபரங்களும் பெறப்பட்டன. இதையடுத்து, போலீசார் உதவியுடன், மூவரின் உறவினர்களை தொடர்பு கொண்டு, அவர்களுடன் அனுப்பி வைக்கும் முயற்சி மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டது. இதையடுத்து, ஆந்திர மாநிலம், பிரகாசம் மாவட்டத்தைச் சேர்ந்த, வேங்கடலக் ஷம்மா, 45, அவரது மகளுடன் அனுப்பி வைக்கப்பட்டார். தெலுங்கானா மாநிலம், வாரங்கல் மாவட்டத்தைச் சேர்ந்த, சிந்தலா ரஜிதா, 27, அவரது தாயுடன் அனுப்பி வைக்கப்பட்டார்.காப்பகத்தில் இருந்த மற்றொரு பெண், பார்வதி, 19, ஈரோட்டைச் சேர்ந்தவர் என, கண்டறியப்பட்டது. இதையடுத்து, அவரது தாயாருக்கு தகவல் அளிக்கப்பட்டது. எனினும், அவரின் தாயாருடன் செல்ல, பார்வதி மறுத்து விட்டார். சற்று மனநலம் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட நிலையில் உள்ள பார்வதி, பல முறை வீட்டை விட்டு வெளியேறி உள்ளதாக, அவரது தாயார் தெரிவித்தார்.தன்னுடன் இருப்பதை விட, காப்பகத்தில், மகள் பார்வதிக்கு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகம் என, அவரது தாயார் கூறியதை தொடர்ந்து, பார்வதி, அங்கேயே தங்க வைக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளார். மாதம் ஒரு முறை, தன் மகளை சந்திப்பதாக, அவர் உறுதியளித்து உள்ளார்.இது குறித்து, காப்பக இயக்குனர், டாக்டர் ஐஸ்வர்யா கூறியதாவது:காணாமல் போனவர்களை, ஆதார் பதிவின் மூலம் கிடைக்கும் தகவல்களின் அடிப்படையில், அவர்களின் உறவினர்களுடன் சேர்த்து வைத்த சம்பவங்கள், இதற்கு முன்னரும் நடந்துள்ளன.ஆனாலும், காது கேளாத, வாய் பேச முடியாத பெண்களை, அவர்களது உறவினர்களுடன் சேர்த்து வைத்துள்ளது, இதுவே முதன்முறை என, ஆதார் ஆணைய அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்தனர்.இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

AAI funds 115 cochlear implant surgeries: Gehlot

16.12.2017
In a major CSR initiative, Airport Authority of India (AAI) has sponsored cochlear implant surgeries for 115 children with profound hearing loss under their CSR project implemented by Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India(ALIMCO).

AAI and ALIMCO signed an MoU in September to conduct the surgeries. The cochlear implant surgeries are done through Ali Yavar Jang National Institute of Speech and Language Disabilities (Divyangjan), Mumbai, under Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Post operative rehabilitation is undertaken by audiologists and speech language pathologists and special educators of hearing impaired.

At a press meet and CSR summit on 14 December, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot was the chief guest. Senior officials of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilites, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, were also present.

காதுகேளாதோருக்கான தேசிய தடகள போட்டி: துறையூர் மாணவனுக்கு 3 தங்கம், 1 வெள்ளி பதக்கம்

காதுகேளாதோருக்கான தேசிய தடகளப்போட்டி: தங்கப்பதக்கம் வென்ற துறையூர் மாணவர்

Fest for a special cause

15.12.2017
Salt Lake: It was like any other fest as excited participants ran around, busy with last-minute preparations. Only, it was unusually silent all around.

Exhibition stalls, games, awareness programmes and a fashion show were in store for over 400 participants at the India Deaf Expo 2017 at EZCC recently.

Ninety per cent of the guests, many of them from other countries like Korea, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Switzerland, France and America, were hearing impaired. The expo was aimed at encouraging exchange of ideas and empowering the audience.

"Not many events are organised keeping the disabled in mind. I loved interacting with so many people from around the world who share similar problems like me," said TCS employee Suvrojyoti Sur, who has a hearing impairment.

Disabled biker Shinan P.S. came all the way from Kerala, hoping to form a biking team with fellow adventure lovers.

Pune-based Zamir Dale, the founder chairman of Society for Empowerment of the Deafblind, was here to share his life story and tell the audience how he never lost hope despite losing both his hearing and visual faculties.

"I was so happy to see disabled participants enjoying themselves here. They too should have a life," Dale said. As he spoke, a group of excited participants engaged in a treasure hunt at the venue.

Organised by the Deaf Leaders Foundation, the expo was preceded by a film festival where 45 short films from around the world were screened. From romance to comedy and action to supernatural, there were films to cater to every taste.

"Most of the films were made by the disabled for the disabled. Even the cast included disabled actors. The event gave these films a much-needed platform and encouraged many others to follow their passion," said Noorain Akbar Shabbar, organising secretary of both the events.

A web designer by profession, Shabbar and his teammates spread the word through their websites and designed the slogans and posters themselves.

"We took more than six months to organise the event. Getting sponsors was the biggest block," said Prabir De Sarkar of the West Bengal Association of the Deaf in Calcutta and the president of the organising committee.

DIY generation: Hear and Now

15.12.2017
Bleewatch is a product that enables the deaf to dance on rhythm patterns. There's also BleeTV, offering education and entertainment, and AskBlee, which provides video content in Indian sign language (ISL) to users posing questions.

The idea of Blee Tech Innovations goes back to when classmates Janhavi Joshi and Nupura Kirloskar were studying at the Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune, and had to work on solutions for niche users.

"We selected the problem of deaf dancers," says Joshi, a trained Kathak performer.

"We developed a prototype for a wearable product that gave the hearing impaired rhythm patterns of the music through vibrations."

On getting a positive feedback, the two turned entrepreneurial with their idea in 2015.

Bleewatch is a product that enables the deaf to dance on rhythm patterns. "It aims to empower 50,000 deaf persons within the next two years," says Joshi. There's also BleeTV, offering education and entertainment, and AskBlee, which provides video content in Indian sign language (ISL) to users posing questions.

"People can ask our team questions on general knowledge, politics, current affairs or English language and get answers in ISL through creative videos," says Joshi, adding that at least 750 English words have been explained so far.

With more than 2,000 people from the deaf community regularly watching these videos, the outreach has spread across 15 states in India. "We currently run through WhatsApp, but AskBlee will soon have its first android app in order to expand exponentially," says Joshi.

People with disabilities, she adds, do not need sympathy but "more opportunities, inclusion and exposure".Their biggest challenge, though, is to develop high tech user devices that are cost-effective.

"It will be an ongoing task, but what keeps us motivated are the smiles and positive impact stories of the users," says Joshi, who, along with Kirloskar, continues to learn ISL every day from a deaf team member and dear friend.

Listening to India's hearing impaired

15.12.2017
New Delhi - Nearly two decades ago, when Shruti Gupta was diagnosed with congenital hearing loss at the age of one, her life took a dramatic turn.

Her cognitive development, speech retention and ability to respond to loud noises was impaired. Year after year, she visited a specialist to help upgrade and fine-tune her hearing aid. After a decade, she received a cochlear implant and began speech therapy and audiovisual rehabilitation.

Today, after learning from her own journey through disability, Gupta is helping others. The third-year undergraduate technology student has created an app called Jellow Communicator India to help other children who struggle with speech impairment. The app, which has been downloaded by more than 1,800 people so far, uses images and icons to help children improve their communication and speech development.

"Today I feel like any other child," Gupta told Al Jazeera, bubbling with infectious energy. "After going through the agony of hearing loss myself, I decided that there were so many other children who needed this help."

Gupta's partner, Ninaad Digital Technology, last week secured innovation fundingthrough UNICEF for the app, which took 19 months to create under the guidance of professors at the Industrial Design Centre at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.

Millions affected

An estimated 63 million people suffer from significant hearing loss in India. According to a study by the World Health Organization, five million Indian children were suffering from hearing and speech impairment in 2016.

Shefali Shah, a therapist who treats hearing loss, noted that there are two main types: conductive hearing loss, which affects the passage of sound in the outer and middle ear, and sensorineural hearing loss, which involves the nerves. It is necessary to differentiate between the two types in order to devise the most effective therapy.

Hearing has a huge influence on a child's development of language and contextual understanding, highlighting the importance of early intervention: "We hear primarily through our brain," Shah told Al Jazeera.

When Ritu Nakra's daughter, Ananya, was diagnosed with profound sensorineural hearing loss in 2004, Nakra began a journey of exploring new therapies and hearing aids, while becoming frustrated by the lack of modern technology and the high costs associated with treatment.

"It was a very daunting period of my life," she told Al Jazeera.

Later that same year, Ananya underwent implant surgery, and within six months she was admitted to one of Delhi's mainstream schools. Today, at 14, she excels academically, performs classical dance and takes part in extracurricular sports.

Deeply affected by her daughter's journey and the difficulties they faced in reaching this point, Nakra left her well-established career in fashion designing in 2005 to become a special educator with the Rehabilitation Council of India, a government body that monitors and regulates services for people with disabilities.

"It was important to fight against the ignorance related to hearing loss in India," said Nakra, who today conducts therapy sessions for families suffering from hearing loss.

Although India's social justice ministry decades ago launched the Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped in an effort to help provide jobs for the country's deaf population, experts cite the need for better data management and universal hearing tests for newborn children. People with hearing loss still suffer from social stigma, a lack of employment opportunities and inadequate rehabilitation processes.

This year, the science and technology ministry launched a low-cost screening device to detect congenital hearing loss, but it remains in the early stages of development.

Particularly in India's rural villages, there remains an awareness gap about the causes of hearing loss and how to deal with it, experts note.

''Hearing loss is not dealt [with] only through having an implant. It involves the necessary collaboration of audiologists, speech language pathologists and ENT [ear, nose and throat] surgeons,'' Shah said.

Universal screening

When Rebecca Rajukumar's four-year-old son, Nahum, underwent surgery for hearing loss, he was almost entirely deaf. During more than a month of recovery, however, he grew comfortable with high-frequency noises, as specialists worked on his cognitive development, brain processing and body language finesse.

"Now my son can have a normal life, friends, secrets and everyday little happiness,'' Rajukumar told Al Jazeera.

In India, different state governments have implemented various measures to help children with hearing loss. In Assam, for example, the Gauhati Medical College is providing funding for implants for newborns, pediatric surgeon Nirmal Bhattacharya told Al Jazeera. In Kerala, the government recently made the universal newborn hearing screening test mandatory.

Though hearing loss is a common affliction globally, experts say there are still deficiencies in awareness and the level of attention paid to this issue.

"Early intervention in hearing loss cases is needed right at the time of birth, and better data management services are needed for this process," Shah noted.

ராஞ்சியில் நடந்த போட்டியில் 3 தங்கம், ஒரு வெள்ளி பதக்கம் வென்ற காதுகேளாத மாணவன்

12.12.2017, துறையூர் அருகே பிறவியிலேயே காது கேளாத, வாய் பேச முடியாத மாணவர் ஒருவர் விளையாட்டுத்துறையில் பல்வேறு சாதனைகளைச் செய்து வருகிறார். திருச்சி மாவட்டம் துறையூர் நாகலாபுரத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவர் காமராஜ் என்பவர் மகனான மணிகண்டன் பிறவியிலேயே காது கேளாத, வாய் பேச முடியாதவர். தளகட போட்டிகளில் ஆர்வம் கொண்ட மணிகண்டன், அதில் பல்வேறு வெற்றிகளை குவித்துள்ளார்.

திருச்சி மாவட்ட காதுகேளாதோர் நல முன்னேற்ற சங்கத்தின் தலைவர் ந.ரமேஷ்பாபு அவர்கள் மணிகண்டனின் மீது தீவிரமாக உதவி செய்தார். ஜார்க்கண்ட் மாநிலம், ராஞ்சியில் கடந்த 1 ம் தேதி முதல் 6 ம் தேதி வரை நடந்த இந்திய காது கேளாதோர் விளையாட்டு போட்டிகளில் கலந்து கொண்டு 3 தங்கப்பதக்கம் மற்றும் ஒரு வெள்ளிப் பதக்கத்தையும் வென்றெடுத்தார். திருச்சி மாவட்ட காதுகேளாதோர் நல முன்னேற்ற சங்கம் கடும் உழைப்பால் அவன் வெற்றி பெற்றுள்ளான்.

அடுத்தாண்டு பிப்ரவரி மாதத்தில் அமெரிக்காவில்  நடைபெற உள்ள காது கேளாதோர் மற்றும் வாய்பேச முடியாதோர் ஒலிம்பிக் (DEAF OLYMPIC) போட்டிகளில் இந்தியா சார்பில் மணிகண்டன் பங்கேற்க உள்ளார் என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

3 தங்கம், ஒரு வெள்ளி பதக்கம் வென்று காதுகேளாத மாணவன் சாதனை.!

3 தங்கம், ஒரு வெள்ளி பதக்கம் வென்று
காதுகேளாத மாணவன் சாதனை.!

12.12.2017

தமிழகத்தைச் சேர்ந்த மாற்றுத் திறனாளி மாணவன் தேசிய அளவில் நடந்த போட்டியில் கலந்து கொண்டு, 3 தங்கபதக்கம், ஒரு வெள்ளி பதக்கம் வென்று சாதனை படைத்துள்ளான்.

திருச்சி மாவட்டம் துறையூர் நாகலாபுரத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவர் காமராஜ். இவரது மகன் மணிகண்டன், பிறவியிலேயே காது கேளாத, வாய் பேச முடியாதவர். தளகட போட்டிகளில் ஆர்வம் கொண்ட மணிகண்டன், அதில் பல்வேறு வெற்றிகளை குவித்துள்ளார்.

டெல்லியில் கடந்த 1 ம் தேதி முதல் 6 ம் தேதி வரை நடந்த இந்திய காது கேளாதோர் விளையாட்டு போட்டிகள் நடைபெற்றது. இதில், 3 தங்கபதக்கம், ஒரு வெள்ளி பதக்கம் வென்று தமிழக மாணவன் சாதனை படைத்துள்ளான்.

காது கேளாதோர் மற்றும் வாய்பேச முடியாதோர் ஒலிம்பிக் போட்டிகள் அடுத்தாண்டு நடைபெற உள்ளது. அமெரிக்கா, ரஷ்யா, ஜப்பான் ஆகிய நாடுகளில் நடைபெற உள்ள இந்த ஒலிம்பிக் போட்டிகளில் இந்தியா சார்பில் மணிகண்டன் பங்கேற்க உள்ளது என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

காதுகேளாதோர் கூடைப்பந்துப் போட்டி: புதுச்சேரி அணி சாம்பியன்

Job-ready training for the disabled

11.12.2017, Jamshedpur: Getting jobs has never been easy for people with disabilities even if they are aptly skilled and qualified. To increase their employability, Tata Steel Skill Development Society (TSSDS) will open a capacity building centre for people with disabilities by month-end at Noamundi in West Singhbhum, about 130km from here. 

Also known as Sabal Centre for Capabilities, the institute will initially train candidates with visual impairment in the field of capacity building depending on their aptitude and interest.

TSSDS has collaborated with EnAble India, a Bangalore-based organisation, which works on strengthening the skills, instincts and abilities for people with disabilities. Besides, Sabal will educate the trainers who in turn will reach out to the special people.

“Even now many HR professionals across the country are unaware that disabled people can be trained and made fit for the industry like any other normal person. Sabal will be a centre that will not only strengthen the skills of the disabled people according to their interest but also educate the trainers and make them ready to hold such programmes in future. It will further conduct awareness and sensitisation programmes,” said Amitabh, TSSDS head under Tata Steel CSR wing.
There will be 25 students in each batch of the training programme that will range from six days to six months depending on the need and course designs. The centre will not only make PWDs ready for jobs but also motivate to become self-employed.

Initially the programme will be targeted to people with physical disabilities, including speech and hearing impaired, and later focus on mentally ill candidates.

“The module for people with mental disabilities has to be designed with special attention. First we plan to focus on physically-disabled people and later train mentally ill candidates,” added Amitabh.

hearing-impaired Pak boy in Faridkot juvenile home gets Sushma Swaraj’s attention

11.12.2017
This happened after Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar tweeted a Geo News report alleging that a Pakistani boy with hearing and speech disabilities was lodged in Amritsar jail, and asked Swaraj to look onto the matter.

A 12-year-old hearing-impaired boy from Pakistan, lodged at Faridkot children’s home since May this year, became a subject of cross-border speculation following a twitter exchange between a Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.

It was on December 2 that Tarar tweeted a Geo News report alleging that a Pakistani boy with hearing and speech disabilities was lodged in Amritsar jail, and asked Swaraj to look onto the matter. She also marked the tweet to the prime minister and the home minister. In reply, Swaraj asked Tarar to send details.

Two days later, Tarar shared that the boy’s name was Hammad Hussain and his father was one Ghulam Mustafa, a resident of Pasrur, Punjab. As per the father, Hammad had gone missing from Pasrur near Sialkot in 2013.

In a series of tweets on December 6, Swaraj said India has five Pakistani nationals who are unable to speak and hear. Three of them are in a transit camp in Amritsar but Pakistan has not confirmed their nationality.

She further tweeted that they have a 12-year-old juvenile in the Faridkot observation home. He was apprehended by the BSF in May 2017. “We are waiting for Pakistan to confirm his nationality as well,” she tweeted.

She wrote that even though the boy was just 12 and had strayed into the Indian territory in May this year, the Indian government was ready to give the parents a visa. “We are prepared to give visa to parents of Hammad if they believe the juvenile we have is their son. They may visit India, meet him and confirm for themselves.”

The Border Security Force (BSF) had detained the 12-year-old when he crossed over to the Indian side in the Ferozepur sector of Punjab on May 1. He could not speak or hear, and it was only from a currency note in his pocket that they found he was from Pakistan. Two days later, he was sent to children’s observation home.

Officials say they sent the boy to Amritsar in the hope that counselors for hearing impaired would be able to find the name of his native place from him, but without any success.

Deputy commissioner of Faridkot, Rajiv Prashar, said nobody from Pakistan has so far approached the administration for the boy’s custody. “We will be very happy if he returns home,” he said.

He said the boy has been under special care at the observation home and is being counseled regularly. He has also made friends with other inmates.

Charges galore

The police have slapped a slew of serious charges against the juvenile. He has been booked under Sections 3 (punishment of offences committed beyond, but which by law may be tried within India), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), Section 20 of the Indian Passport Act and Section 14 of the Foreign Act at the police station (Sadar) in Ferozepur.

"காது கேளாதோர் எண்ணிக்கை ஆண்டுக்கு 10 சதவீதம் அதிகரிப்பு'

Limited opportunities for hearing impaired in India Inc, says Centum Foundation survey

MUMBAI, DECEMBER 10: 

Hearing loss and deafness pose challenges to both workers with the impairments and their employers. Though HR professionals, supervisors and co-workers may have concerns about being able to communicate with hearing impaired employees, such employees feel their plea for a better working environment is never heard.

To highlight the challenges faced by such workers in India, a survey was conducted by Centum Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Centum Learning. The survey reflected the limited opportunities for the deaf in India Inc.

The survey was conducted amongst 500 employees, of whom 92.1 per cent were deaf while 7.4 per cent were hard of hearing.

Though enthusiastic about working, deaf employees’ performance as well as participation is limited, the survey showed. The job market for them continues to be stereotypically limited to retail stores, housekeeping roles, waiters, or as data entry operators. Getting a job is even more challenging for hearing impaired women, the survey noted.

Pointing out that a person’s disability needs to become an attribute and not a liability, Sanjay Bahl, CEO, Centum Learning, said many deaf individuals in India are reluctant to take up a job because of the unfavourable environment.

“This is primarily because of lack of inclusiveness and sensitivity in their work environment,” added Aarti Chandna, Head, Centum Foundation.

Though communication between hearing people and those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can take place in a plethora of ways, many of the employees with the disability surveyed said they do not like their work environment because of the feeling of being left out and getting strange looks from colleagues.

Lack of training

Some 18 million people comprise the deaf and hard-of-hearing population in India. Numerous qualified and capable people with disabilities (PwDs) are being neglected due to lack of training, the survey showed.

Considerable efforts will be required to improve the employability of PwDs and to ensure India catches up with the National Action Plan 2015. The goal of the plan is to create 2.5 million jobs for people with disabilities by 2022.

The need to broaden the spectrum of avenues available for the hearing impaired at corporates was specified, as were options like job mapping and tweaking of job descriptions which could open up more roles suitable for them.

J&K Deaf Judo team wins 5 medals at Nationals

JAMMU, Dec 9: J&K Deaf Judo team wins 5 medals, with 2 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze in the recently concluded 22nd National Games of the Deaf for Senior Men & Women at Sports Village Ranchi in Jharkhand.

The Games were organized by All India Sports Council for Deaf.
The team was accompanied by Team Coach Suraj Bhan Singh, State Sports Council Coach, Gulshan General Secretary All J&K Association of Deaf, Saleem, Gulzar and other members of All J&K Sports Council for Deaf.
The Team was sponsored by J&K State Sports Council.
40 players of different games participated in the six days long Championship.
The team was trained by Suraj Bhan and Ritika Slathia, coaches of J&K State Sports Council.
Waheed-Ur-Rehman Parra, Secretary J&K State Sports Council lauded the efforts of the players for this achievement.
The medals winners in Judo included Vivek Singh (Gold), Rakshanda Mehak (Gold), Nabeel Ahmed Dar (Silver), Shikha (Silver) and Rohit Nowsheri (Bronze).
Meanwhile, J&K won 2 medals in Badminton also in these Games and the winners were Ifla (Gold) and Shubi (Gold) in doubles and Silver in singles by Ifla.

Majority of deaf employees not satisfied with their salary: Survey

09.12.2017
According to the report, only 56 percent of deaf people have access to a sign language interpreter during the interview and provided with accessible services during training programmes.

Deaf employees in India are not satisfied with their salary, as per a report by Centum Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Centum Learning (a Bharti Group company). The report, ‘Working experiences of Deaf Employees in India’ said that 52 percent of the respondents are not satisfied with their salary. They feel they are underpaid compared to the amount of work they undertake.

“While discussing with the focus groups, the deaf employees expressed that they work much more than they get paid for. They also shared that they are forced to stick to the same job because of lack of options available for them in the job market,” the report said.

The bilingual (written English and videos signed in Indian Sign language) survey done by Centum GRO, an initiative of Centum Foundation to empower the Deaf in India, reflects the limited opportunities for the deaf, challenges due to limited accessibility and employers being unaware about creating inclusive spaces for the deaf.

Alim Chandani, Head, Centum said that getting jobs for deaf women is more challenging in India. “A meager percentage of the employed deaf people are working in domains like Accounting and IT, 7 percent as graphic designers and very few are self-employed. The job market open for deaf people is still stereotypically in retail stores, housekeeping roles, waiters or at the maximum level, a data entry operator,” said Chandani.

Many companies have doubts when it comes to hiring the deaf as to how will one communicate with them and what efforts need to be taken to make sure that they are included in company activities, the report said.According to the report, only 56 percent of deaf people have access to a sign language interpreter during the interview and provided with accessible services during training programmes. Further, 42.6 percent of the deaf employees did not experience any cultural sensitization workshop at their workplace.

When asked about the requirements at the workplace to enable a more conducive working environment for them, 45 percent of the respondents stated that deaf awareness training for regular employees was of utmost priority.

Creating positive change at the workplace was another suggestion offered by 38 percent of the respondents. To facilitate ease of communication and accessibility, 39 percent of the respondents suggested that providing sign language interpreter and/or other accessible services.About 70 million (out of a total population of 1.86 billion) people with disabilities (PwDs) are currently living in India. Only 1 million of these PwDs are employed while a large segment is still struggling at finding suitable employment opportunities. One of the key steps in this direction is the launch of the National Action Plan 2015 by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The goal of this plan is to create 2.5 million jobs for people with disabilities by 2022.