Aby is cleared to take off!

28.01.2017
Seems like the tussle between the makers of Aby and Vimanam - both aviation themed films - is coming to a close!

Earlier, the team of Prithviraj-starrer Vimanam had filed a temporary injunction at the Munsiff court staying the release of Vineeth Sreenivasan's Aby citing that the latter was inspired from the real-life story of hearing and speech-impaired Saji M Thomas. Thodupuzha-based Saji had shot to fame after making an ultra-light aircraft all by himself.

However, the injuction was dismissed on Friday by justice Ravisankar. "The judge read Aby's screenplay, watched the film and considered plaintiff Saji's arguments that the movie is inspired from his life, and found them invalid," says Aby director Srikant Murali. "I am happy that the court has dismissed in the injunction and allowed the film to release."

A source close to Aby's team tells us Vimanam team's arguments were based on two claims - personality and publicity rights.

"Saji's advocate argued that the movie should not be allowed to release as it violates personality rights. However, the judge was convinced that Aby bore no resemblance to Saji's life," she says. "Above all the rights to make a movie on Saji's life were been acquired by the Vimanam team after the film Aby was announced last year."

Another bone of contention was that two films based on similar theme of making aircrafts should not be allowed. "That argument too didn't hold up in court as everybody has the right to make movies based on any theme they deem fit. Just because the films have one common element, people cannot demand to halt the release," she says.

Meanwhile Vimanam director Pradeep M Nair says that he is not completely content with the decision and might consider approaching higher courts.

"Though we didn't submit our script to court, we had enough points to argue as we found a lot of similarities with Saji's life based on the Aby's trailer," he says. "Also, I don't understand why the complainant was not allowed to watch the movie before the judgment. However, as the judge has found that there is no resemblance, I respect the verdict."

On how the decision will affect his film Vimanam, Pradeep says, "Mine is a big budget movie, which I have been dreaming of doing since years. If another film with a similar theme is released, it would rob our film off the novelty in the subject. However, that being said, both Prithviraj and Vineeth bring two different acting styles to the table and that could make all the difference now."

Nikhil Malik's ode to the deaf community with his new single

20.01.2017
MUMBAI: Composer Nikhil Malik says his new single ‘Boring I Love You’ -- shot with differently-abled youngsters -- is for the deaf community.

He added that he will be glad if even one deaf person understands the meaning of the song.

Malik came out with the single as a collaborative project with Raghav Meattle under Meattle & Malik.

"The reason why I chose to execute this particular idea at this time was because I was sick of my Facebook news feed. I was just thinking along the lines of 'What does it actually take to do a good deed rather than complain about bad things happening around us and the world?' That was my inspiration," Malik told IANS.

He added: "I made this video for the deaf community. That was all I was chasing. If one deaf person watches this video and says he understood the meaning of the song, it means the world to me."

Malik says he worked with Ruma Roka, the founder of Noida Deaf Society, for the video.

He said: "She was curious to know why I wanted to make such a video and was very happy to find out that I was making it only for the deaf community. She introduced me to one of their interpreters Gaurav Rana, who taught the sign language for our lyrics to the kids. We spent about two weeks teaching and rehearsing with the kids.

"The most crucial part was timing their signs with the lyrics. It was quite a challenge since they can't hear music, so it becomes quite a challenge to sync their signs with the lyrics."

What's next for him?

Some big international collaborations, he says.

"With Meattle & Malik, there's another track we've been working. Since 2013, it’s nothing like our previous stuff. Also, I have a few other music videos lined up and possibly a hip-hop album with the producers behind Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West. At the studio, we're working on an album that could possibly put us behind bars," Malik said.

செவித்திறன் பாதித்த ஊழியர்களுக்கு பயணப் படி இரட்டிப்பு

24.01.2017

செவித்திறன் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு பயணப் படி இரட்டிப்பாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதுகுறித்து மத்திய நிதியமைச்சகம் புதன்கிழமை வெளியிட்டுள்ள அறிக்கையில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளதாவது: செவித்திறன் குறைபாடு 60 டெசிபல் மற்றும் அதற்கும் அதிகமாக இருக்கும் மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு பயணப் படி இரட்டிப்பாக்கப்படுகிறது. இதுவரை அனைத்து ஊழியர்களுக்கும் பயணப் படியாக மாதந்தோறும் ரூ.1,600 வழங்கப்பட்டு வந்தது.

இந்நிலையில், சுகாதாரத்துறையின் பரிந்துரையின்பேரில் செவித்திறன் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட ஊழியர்களுக்கு பயணப் படியை இரட்டிப்பாக்க முடிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதன்படி, செவித்திறன் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு பயணப் படியாக மாதந்தோறும் ரூ.3,200 வழங்கப்படும்.

முழுமையாக காது கேளாத மற்றும் வாய்பேச முடியாத ஊழியர்களுக்கும் இது பொருந்தும் என அந்த அறிக்கையில் மத்திய நிதியமைச்சகம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

காது கேளாத குழந்தைகளுக்கு இலவச சிகிச்சை: கொடைக்கானலில் 16 பேர் தேர்வு

23.01.2017

கொடைக்கானல் செஞ்சிலுவைச் சங்கம் மற்றும் பாசம் டிரஸ்ட் சார்பில், 6 வயதுக்குள்பட்ட காது கேளாத குழந்தைகளுக்கு காக்ளியர் இம்ளான்ட் எனப்படும் காது கேட்கச் செய்யும் கருவி பொருத்தி இலவச சிகிச்சை அளிக்க சனிக்கிழமை 16 குழந்தைகள் தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டனர்.
கொடைக்கானல் எஸ்தர் ஆப்ரகாம் வளாகத்தில் நடைபெற்ற இந்த முகாமில், கொடைக்கானல், மதுரை, பெரியகுளம், நிலக்கோட்டை, கெங்குவார்பட்டி ஆகிய பகுதிகளைச் சேர்ந்த 200-க்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் கலந்துகொண்டனர். இந்த முகாமை, கொடைக்கானல் முன்னாள் நகர்மன்றத் தலைவரும், சீயோன் பள்ளித் தாளாளருமான கே.சி. குரியன் ஆப்ரகாம் தொடக்கி வைத்தார்.
முன்னாள் நகர்மன்றத் தலைவர் ஸ்ரீதர் முன்னிலை வகித்தார். இதில் கலந்துகொண்டவர்களுக்கு, மெட்ராஸ் காது, மூக்கு, தொண்டை ஆராய்ச்சி மருத்துவமனையின் மருத்துவர் மோகன் காமேஸ்வரன் தலைமையில், மருத்துவர்கள் குழுவினர் பரிசோதனை செய்து, ஆலோசனை வழங்கினர். முகாமில் பங்கேற்றவர்களில் 16 பேர் தமிழக முதலமைச்சரின் விரிவான மருத்துவக் காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டத்தின் கீழ் இலவச சிகிச்சை பெறுவதற்காகத் தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டு, முகாமிலேயே அவர்களுக்கு அடையாளச் சான்றிதழ் வழங்கப்பட்டது. இந் நிகழ்ச்சியில், செஞ்சிலுவைச் சங்கத்தின் உறுப்பினர்கள், தனியார் மருத்துவமனைப் பணியாளர்கள் உள்ளிட்ட பலர் கலந்துகொண்டனர்.
இது குறித்து மெட்ராஸ் காது, மூக்கு, தொண்டை ஆராய்ச்சி மருத்துவமனை மருத்துவர் மோகன் காமேஸ்வரன் கூறியது: தமிழக முதலமைச்சரின் விரிவான மருத்துவக் காப்பீடு திட்டத்தில் இதுவரை 3 ஆயிரம் பேர் பயனடைந்துள்ளனர். கடந்த 3 ஆண்டுகளாக 6 வயதுக்குள்பட்ட குழந்தைகளுக்கான இலவச காக்ளியர் இம்பிளான்ட் சிகிச்சை முகாம் நடைபெற்று வருகிறது, இந்தியாவிலேயே தமிழகத்தில்தான் காது கேளாதவர்கள் அதிகம். இதற்குக் காரணம், உறவு முறையில் திருமணம் செய்து கொள்வதுதான் என்றார்.

Govt doubles transport allowance for hearing impaired staff

New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) Finance Ministry has doubled transport allowance to Rs 3,200 crore for hearing impaired employees of central government.

It has been decided to double transport allowance to hearing impaired employees also in addition to employees who are both deaf and dumb, Finance Ministry in an office memorandum said.

For the other staff, transport allowance is pegged at Rs 1,600 per month.

Transport allowance at double the normal rates would be admissible to the hearing impaired employees having loss of 60 decibels or more in the better ear in the conversation range of frequencies, it said.

"The admissibility of the transport allowance at double the normal rates to the categories of employees is subject to recommendation of the head of the ENT Department of the Government Civil Hospital," it said.

The order is effective from February 19, 2014, it added.

This Badminton Legend is the Deafalympian of the Century. But You’ve Probably Never Heard of Him!

CLICK HERE

This Badminton Legend is the Deafalympian of the Century. But You’ve Probably Never Heard of Him!

Coming soon: First-of-its-kind Indian sign language dictionary

22.01.2017
THE TERM ‘hearing and speech impaired’ is a pejorative for Sachin Singh. “I am deaf and I have my own language. From where I stand, those who cannot understand my language suffer an impairment,” he gesticulates, as his interpreter Kushboo Soni spells it out through the spoken word.

Kushboo, who is proficient in the language of her deaf parents, and Sachin are part of a dozen-member team that is currently working on a central government project for documenting the first-of-its-kind Indian Sign Language (ISL) dictionary, which is expected to be released in March. Under the ambitious project, commissioned by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, so far over 6,000 English and Hindi words — of everyday usage, legal, medical, technical and academic terms — have been compiled in sign languages specific to the Indian context.

The team from the autonomous Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) is working on graphic representations of not only the widely used country-specific signs but also the many regional variations. As an example, Kushboo points out how in the well-documented American sign language, one indicates a girl by sliding the tip of the thumb along the cheek down to the chin since women would wear bonnets. Andesha Mangla, an assistant professor at ISLRTC, says, “In India, depending on the region it is shown either by bringing the index finger to the centre of the forehead or side of the nose to indicate bindi or nose-ring.”

It was in 1980, that author Madan Vasishta established that the Indian sign language was a language in its own right. He compiled a few hundred sign languages used in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru in his book ‘An Introduction to Indian Sign Languages’. Two decades later, the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University collated signs from across 42 places in the country and released a sign dictionary for 1,600 words. Experts have shown how in a diverse country like India, not only does sign language vary as per region, certain villages such as those in the Naga hills and Alipur in Karnataka, with a history of high incidence of congenital deafness, have their own variant of rural sign languages.

The ISLRTC will compile its glossary of 6,000 words by borrowing from the existing scholarship as well from its own research. The dictionary will serve as a record of the common parlance of the 50 lakh deaf and 20 lakh mute people (Census 2011) across the country.

ISLRTC’s Dr Abhishek Shrivastav, who is working on the signs for legal words, says, “Like every language, sign language too has its own phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics. The dictionary, once made widely available, will bridge the communication gap between the deaf and the hearing.”

Once the compilation process is over, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment plans to call for a national conference so that experts from the field can further improve on it. The dictionary is also a corollary to the ministry’s Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill 2016, which was the only legislation to be passed during the last session of the Parliament. The Act, under sections 16 and 17, requires the government to ensure, in all manner possible, an inclusive education for all children with disabilities.

A recent survey by the ministry has found that there are merely 300 sign language interpreters in the entire country. According to a ministry official, this is the main reason why, of all persons with disabilities, literacy rate is the lowest when it comes to those who can’t hear.

“Presently, there are roughly 15 lakh deaf children in the school-going age; very few are actually able to get an education. This dictionary will be widely circulated in all schools, put up online with videos and eventually we want to have it in all regional languages. Our aim is that each and every school should have at least one teacher who knows the sign language,” says the official.

Madan Vasishta has documented how while only five per cent of the total deaf children go to school, just 0.5 per cent receive education in sign language which is the only way they can comprehend.

Back in the ISLRTC cell, researchers Rahul Garg and Islam Ul Haque, both deaf themselves, have identified 44 hand-shapes used in India under which each of the 6,000 words would be classified in the dictionary. Efforts are still on to come up with signs for abstract words. As researchers ponder over how to depict the befuddling ‘trigonometry’, Kushboo is quick to suggest that it should be broken into three different signs to indicate ‘mathematics relating to triangles’. For most of the researchers, many of whom are either deaf themselves or are siblings/ children of deaf persons, the final product would be more than just a dictionary. As Sachin puts it, through gestures that Kushboo interprets, it would an acknowledgement of their linguistic identity.

Deaf-mute mom run over in tram trap - Tragedy with school bags over shoulder

Jan. 17: A young deaf-mute mother escorting her children to a tuition centre was run over on Rashbehari Avenue today after being caught between two trams, one of which sideswiped the school bags slung over her shoulder and flung her onto the other track.

Lake Gardens resident Jyoti Singh, her daughter Sakshi and friend Bimla Singh were walking single file along the divider between the tracks and looking to cross over to the Kalighat-bound flank when they spotted a tram approaching from the Gariahat side and another travelling in the opposite direction.

Caught between the trams at the Lake View Road intersection with no railings separating them in that barely two feet of space, the trio stood still and then arched to avoid contact with the passing compartments. Jyoti possibly didn't realise that the school bags she was carrying were jutting out from the side.

"The tram that was coming from behind us hit the bags on Jyoti's shoulder. She lost her balance and lurched towards the other track. The tram dragged her some distance," friend Bimla recounted.

Jyoti's son Nishant, who studies in Class VI, saw the tragedy from a pavement. He had crossed the road with Bimla's son Vinod moments earlier. The time was 9.30am and Rashbehari Avenue, a blur of traffic at that hour, suddenly seemed to come to a standstill.

Bimla said Sakshi, a student of Class V, tried to hold on to her mother and was dragged a few metres before she let go. "Fortunately, she didn't go under the tram like her mother."

Jyoti and Sakshi were taken to Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan in a police ambulance, where the homemaker died around 2pm. "She had lost a lot of blood. Her right leg was almost severed from below the knee," said an official at the hospital.

Sakshi, who studies at Svarna High School, was discharged after first aid. Her father Rajnish drives an oil tanker.

The police said Jyoti was trapped under the second compartment of the Kalighat-bound tram, which is why the driver and conductor did not realise what had happened until it was too late. "The traffic signal for both trams was green," an officer said.

Calcutta has 25 tram routes and route 24 - Ballygunge to Tollygunge - isn't a very busy one. Ten tramcars ply on this route at intervals of about 30 minutes in each direction. Sources in the Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) said two trams crossing one another at the Lake View Road intersection was a matter of chance rather than a regular occurrence.

Route 24, which has been in operation since the 1940s, is listed first among those on the CTC's website. It was closed for some years since the late 1990s when the Gariahat flyover was being built. The tracks then used to be an elevated, grass-lined route. They were removed at the start of this millennium and the route was reopened in 2004 with tracks aligned with the thoroughfare.

The carriageway too became wider by about seven feet on each flank, allowing smoother traffic flow. But it made boarding and disembarking from trams more dangerous. Crossing the entire stretch of road became unsafe as well.

1st South Zonal T20 Cricket Championship of the Deaf - Competition of Table

Inaugural SZ T20 Cricket championship for deaf

The First South Zonal T 20 Cricket Championship for the Deaf will begin here tomorrow.

Organised by All India Sports Council of the Deaf, New Delhi, there will be 90 participants in the three-day championship.

Teams from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Puducherry, Telengana and Andhra Pradesh have confirmed their participation in the tourney, a release from Deaf Leaders Foundation here, the co-hosts said in a release today.

Other co-hosts are Tamil Nadu Sports Council of the Deaf, Chennai, Coimbatore District Association of the Deaf, South India Welfare Trust, Family Care and supported by Coimbatore District Cricket Association, it said.

மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள்: வாழ்க்கைத் துணை!

மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் தங்களது வாழ்க்கைத் துணையைத் தேடுவதில் ஏற்படும் கஷ்டங்கள் கொஞ்சம் நஞ்சம் அல்ல.
இது குறித்து கல்யாணி கோனா விளக்குகிறார்:
"எட்டு லட்சம் மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் வாழ்கிறார்கள். இவர்களில் ஐந்து சதவீதத்தினருக்குத்தான் திருமணம் செய்து கொள்ளும் வாய்ப்புகள் கிடைக்கின்றன. இதர 95 சதவீதத்தினர் ஏன் திருமணம் செய்து கொள்ளவில்லை என்று யாரும் கவலைப்படவில்லை.. காரணம் என்னவாக இருக்கும் என்று யோசிக்கவும் இல்லை.

சமூகம் அவர்களின் அடிப்படை உரிமைகளை அங்கீகரிப்பதில்லை. உரிமைகளைத் தருவதில்லை. தர மறுக்கிறது என்பதுதான் சரி.... மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் தங்களின் உடல் குறைகளை எதிர்த்து எதிர் நீச்சல் போட வேண்டியிருக்கிறது. பிறந்துவிட்டதினால் வாழ்ந்தாக வேண்டும் என்ற காரணத்திற்காக உரிமைகளுக்காக சமூகத்துடன் போராட வேண்டியிருக்கிறது. இந்தப் போராட்டத்தில் திருமணம் பற்றி அநேக மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கு நினைத்துப் பார்க்கவே நேரம் இருப்பதில்லை.

பதினேழு வயதில் பெற்றோர்களிடம் பண உதவி பெறுவதை நிறுத்திவிட்டேன். பிரேசிலில் வாழ்ந்திருக்கிறேன். அங்கே தனியாகப் போனேன். பிரேசிலில் ஆங்கிலம் கொஞ்சம் பேருக்குத்தான் தெரியும். அங்கே தெரிந்தவர்கள் சொந்தக்காரர்கள் யாரும் கிடையாது. ஸ்பானிஷ் அரசாங்க மொழி. தெரியாத இடம்... தெரியாத மொழி.. தெரியாத நபர்கள்.. என்னால் திரு திருவென்று விழிக்க மட்டுமே முடிந்தது .

நான் ஆங்கிலத்தில் கேட்பதை - சொல்வதைக் கேட்ட பிரேசில் நாட்டவர்களும் பதிலுக்கு விழித்தார்கள். எனக்குத் தெரிந்த ஆங்கிலம் எனக்குக் கை கொடுக்கவில்லை அவர்கள் மொழி எனக்குத் தெரியாதது ஒரு இயலாமைதானே.. எனது இயலாமைகளினால் நானும் ஒரு மாற்றுத் திறனாளியானேன். அந்த நாட்டு மக்களிடம் பேச வேண்டும் என்பதற்காக வேறு வழியில்லாமல், ஸ்பானிஷ் மொழி படித்தேன். கொலம்பியா போனேன். அங்கும் அதே கதைதான். பிறகு கம்போடியா... எல்லா இடத்திலும் என்னை ஒரு மாற்றுத்திறனாளியாகவே உணர்ந்தேன்.. அந்த உணர்வுதான் என்னை இந்தப் பாதையில் பயணிக்கத் தூண்டியிருக்க வேண்டும். நான் குஜராத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவள் என்றாலும், படித்தது மும்பையில், வாழுவது டில்லியில்.

மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கு மட்டுமாக வாழ்க்கைத்துணையைத் தேடித்தரும் திருமண சேவை மையம் இல்லை என்பது தெரியவந்தது. இது இந்தியாவில் மட்டும் உள்ள நிலைமை அல்ல. வெளிநாடுகளிலும் இதே நிலைமைதான். அதனால் இந்தியர்களை இந்த விஷயத்தில் குறை சொல்ல முடியாது. மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் அவர்கள் திருமணம் வேண்டாம் என்று முடிவு செய்தால் தனியாக இருந்து கொள்ளட்டும். ஜோடியை தேடிக் கண்டுபிடிக்க இயலவில்லை என்பதற்காகத் தனியாக, தனிமையாக யாரும் வாழவேண்டாம். தனியாக வாழவும் விடக் கூடாது என்ற முடிவிற்கு வந்தேன். இந்த முயற்சியில் நாமே முதன் முதலாக இறங்கினால் என்ன என்று தோன்றியது. அந்த முடிவில் உருவானதுதான் "வாண்ட்டட் அம்பரல்லா' (Wanted Umbrella).

ஆன்லைன் சேவை மட்டுமே விரைவாக செயல்படும் என்பதால் ஆன்லைன் சேவை தொடங்க முடிவு செய்தேன். ஆனால் ஆன்லைன் சேவை தொடங்க சுமார் ஐந்து லட்சம் செலவு செய்யவேண்டும். பணத்திற்கு எங்கு போவது. இந்தப் பொருளாதாரத் தேவையை மக்களிடம் முன் வைத்தேன். சுமார் ஆறு லட்சம் திரட்ட முடிந்தது. அதைவிட முக்கியமானது பலர் தந்த யோசனைகள் அறிவுரைகள்.. அவை எனது முயற்சிக்கு புதிய பாதை போட்டுத் தந்தன. அப்படித் தொடங்கப்பட்டதுதான் இன்க்லவ் (Inclov) என்ற நிறுவனம்.

இன்க்லவ், உலகில் அனைத்து வகை மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கு வாழ்க்கைத் துணையைத் தேடுவதற்காக உருவாக்கப்பட்ட முதல் செயலி. பார்வை இல்லாத மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கு எளிதாகப் பயன்படுத்திக் கொள்ளும் விதத்தில், ஸ்க்ரீன் ரீடர், டாக்பேக் வசதிளை உருவாக்கியிருக்கிறோம். இது பாதுகாப்பான செயலி ஆகும். இதைத் தவறாகப் பயன்படுத்த முடியாது. கூடிய சீக்கிரம், வீடியோ அழைப்பு வசதியையும் உருவாக்க இருக்கிறோம். இதனால், கேட்கும் சக்தி இல்லாதவர்கள், பேச இயலாதவர்கள் சைகை மூலம் பேசிப் புரிந்து கொள்ள முடியும். இப்போதைய செயலி ஆண்ட்ராய்ட் தளத்தில் இயங்குகிறது. இந்த ஆன்லைன் வசதிக்கு அபாரமான வரவேற்பு கிடைத்துள்ளது. இன்க்லவ்வை 2016 ஜனவரி மாதம் 21-ம் நாள் தொடங்கினேன். இதுவரை ஐம்பதுக்கும் அதிகமான நகரங்களிலிருந்து சுமார் இரண்டாயிரத்து முன்னூறு மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் பதிவு செய்துள்ளனர். இதுவே ஒரு சாதனைதான்.

இன்க்லவ் சேவை தொடங்கப்பட்ட பத்து நாட்களுக்குள் அனிஷா - இம்ரான் இந்த சேவையில் பதிவு செய்து, பரஸ்பரம் அறிமுகமாகி பிடித்துப் போய் திருமணம் செய்து கொள்ள முடிவு செய்துள்ளனர் . முப்பது வயதாகும் அனிஷா பானு முல்தானி ஆறு ஆண்டுகளாக தனக்கு ஒரு துணை கிடைக்காதா என்று தேடிக் கொண்டிருந்தார். அனிஷா போலியோ நோயால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர். சக்கர நாற்காலி உதவியால் வலம் வருபவர்.

அனிஷா சென்ற ஆண்டில் மிஸ் வீல்சேர் இந்தியா அழகிப் பட்டத்தை வென்றவர். சூரத்தைச் சேர்ந்த அனிஷா இன்க்லவ் சேவை மூலமாக குஜராத் மாநிலத்தைச் சேர்ந்த கரானா இம்ரான் என்பவருடன் அறிமுகமாகி திருமணம் செய்து கொள்ள பரஸ்பரம் ஒத்துக் கொண்டுள்ளனர். இன்னொருவர் சாகர். பார்வையற்றவர். எந்தக் குறையும் இல்லாத நதியா என்பவரின் அறிமுகம் இன்க்லவ் சேவை மூலம் கிடைக்க ... இருவரும் திருமணம் செய்து கொள்ளத் தீர்மானித்துள்ளனர்.

வணிக ரீதியாகவும், மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கு வாழ்க்கை அமைத்துத் தரும் சேவையிலும் இன்க்லவ் வெற்றி பெற்றுள்ளது. வளர்ச்சி பெற்றுள்ளது. இந்த சேவையை சர்வதேச மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கும் சென்றடைய, தொடர்ந்து உழைப்பேன்'' என்கிறார் கல்யாணி.

கலசலிங்கம் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் வாய் பேசாத, காது கேளாத மாற்றுத்திறனாளி மாணவர்களுக்கு வேலை வாய்ப்பு இயக்குனர் சசிஆனந்த் தகவல்

13.01.2017, ஸ்ரீவில்லிபுத்தூர்,
பொங்கல் விழா
ஸ்ரீவில்லிபுத்தூர் கலசலிங்கம் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் சமத்துவ பொங்கல் விழா கொண்டாடப்பட்டது. வேந்தர் ஸ்ரீதரன், இயக்குனர்கள் அறிவழகி, சசிஆனந்த், அர்ஜுன் கலசலிங்கம், துணை வேந்தர் சரவண சங்கர், பதிவாளர் வாசுதேவன், டீன் ஆறுமுகம், மாணவர் சேர்க்கை இயக்குனர் லிங்கசாமி மற்றும் பேராசிரியர்கள், மாணவ–மாணவிகள் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

இதைத்தொடந்து இயக்குனர் சசிஆனந்த் கூறியதாவது;–

கலசலிங்கம் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் வேலைவாய்ப்பு மிகுந்த படிப்புகள் உள்ளன. மாணவர்களுக்கு இரண்டாம் ஆண்டு முதல் வேலை வாய்ப்பு பயிற்சி வழங்கப்பட்டு கடந்த ஆண்டு 1,450 பேர் வேலை வாய்ப்பு பெற்று ரூ.4.5 லட்சம் வருட ஊதியத்தில் பலர் பல்வேறு நிறுவானங்களில் வேலையில் சேர்ந்துள்ளனர்.

மாணவர்களை வேகம், மித வேகம், குறை வேகம், என பகுத்து வாய் பேசாத, காது கேளாத மாற்றுத்திறனாளி மாணவர்கள் பி.டெக். பிரத்யேகத்துறையில் சேர்ந்து மதுரை, சென்னை, பெங்களூரு கம்பெனிகளில் வேலை பார்த்துக்கொண்டு இருக்கிறார்கள். அவர்களை பல்கலைக்கழக வேந்தர் ஸ்ரீதரன் தலைமையிலான குழுவினர் பார்க்க சென்ற போது தங்களுக்கு மறு வாழ்வு கிடைத்ததற்காக மகிழ்ச்சியையும் நன்றியையும் வெளிப்படுத்தினர்.

சலுகைநுழைவு தேர்வில் முதல் மதிப்பெண்கள் பெறுவோருக்கு கல்விக்கட்டணத்தில் சலுகை தரப்படுகிறது. முதல் பட்டதாரி மற்றும் விளையாட்டுத்துறையில் சாதனை படைத்தோருக்கும் சலுகை வழங்கப்படுகிறது. சுற்றுப்புற கிராம மாணவர்களை படிக்க வைத்து ஜெர்மனி, ஜப்பான் நாடுவரை வேலை வாய்ப்பு பெற்றுத்தரப்பட்டுள்ளது. பழைய மாணவர்கள் சேப்டர்ஸ் மூலமும் தொடர்பு கொண்டு உதவி புரிகிறார்கள்.

இந்தியாவில் எங்கு இருந்து வந்து சேர்ந்து படித்தாலும் கல்விக்கடன் வழங்க பல வங்கிகளுடன் புரிந்துணர்வு ஒப்பந்தம் செய்து வங்கிகள் தம் சேவையை பல்கலைக்கழக வளாகத்திலேயே தொடர்ந்து இயக்குவதால் பண பரிவர்த்தனை, கல்விக்கட்டண சலுகை இவற்றில் முதல் நிலையில் உள்ளது. இதனால் அந்தமான், நேபாளம், பூடான் மாணவர்கள் உள்பட இந்தியாவில் அனைத்து மாநில மாணவர்களும் அவரவர்கள் கலாச்சார பண்போடு படிப்பதற்கு உகந்த வகையில் பல்கலைக்கழகம் திகழ்கிறது. இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

Rajasthan govt mulling college for deaf students

Jaipur, Jan 11 (PTI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today said that the state government is in discussion with an organisation to open a college for deaf students of the state.

"We are working to establish a college for deaf students. This will be first of its kind in the country and discussions in this direction are going on," she said at a convention of college and university teachers at Rajasthan University here.

Raje informed that the state government is in discussion with an organisation for the project.

The Chief Minister also announced to change designation of college teachers and make necessary changes in rules of college education.

Raje also assured teachers that the government will look into their demands.

"Students share a very special bond with their teachers whose place is very sacred and high than that of parents. The values of Guru-Shisya parampara (teachers-students relationship) should be restored so that we can save our present and future generation," she said.

The Chief Minister highlighted achievements of the state government in the college education sector and asked teachers to focus on research.

Stating it was not possible to give government jobs to all, she informed that nearly one lakh people are employed in the government sector and her government had given skill development training to a large number of candidates and jobs in other sectors.

Raje said the marks percentage in government schools has improved and nearly 13 lakh students, who were studying in private schools, have joined the government schools.

After improving school education, the government is now committed to improve college education, she assured.

State Higher Education Minister Kiran Maheshwari and others were present in the function. 

Priest kidnaps girl in Suratgarh, held

11.01.2017
JAIPUR: The Suratgarh police arrested a 70-year-old sadhu (priest) for allegedly kidnapping a three-year-old girl from the area on Monday evening.

According to Rupa Ram, investigation officer in the case, the priest is a deaf and mute and couldn't explain as to why he took away the girl along with him.

"He said that that girl was playing outside of her house and was feeling cold, therefore, he offered her hot peanuts and blanket. After that girl followed her till the bus stand," Ram told TOI.

The cops said that they have also recovered the girl and probing the matter, "Sadhu told us that he used to beg in the locality where the girl lived with her parents, he doesn't know the name of his town and seems to be mentally challenged," cops said.

As the cops probe the reason of kidnapping, they have registered a case against the priest and began collecting information about him. On Monday, Shankar Lal, the father of the girl had come to the police station to register a case about her missing girl.

"The parents of the girl are rag pickers and didn't recognise the sadhu, we have found that abductor was under the influence of drugs and didn't even know that he was walking along with the girl," Ram said.

The police are on the job to establish the identity of the Sadhu who walked away with the girl. "He said that he was going to a nearby town for satsang he said that he didn't know the girl was sitting next to him in the bus, we would conduct a medical examination of the Sandhu to check if he is indeed deaf and mute," cops said.

நம்பிக்கை இருந்தால் சாதிக்கலாம் அசத்தும் மாற்றுத்திறனாளி DEAF மாணவர்

07.01.2017
நம்பிக்கை இருந்தால் வாழ்க்கையில் எதையும் சாதிக்கலாம். அதுவும் ஒரு மாற்றுத்திறனாளி மாணவன் கல்லுாரியில் உயர்கல்வி கற்று தொடர்ந்து சாதனை படைப்பது என்பது இன்றைய சூழ்நிலையில் இயலாத காரியம்.
இறைவனின் படைப்பில் தான் எத்தனை வகை படைப்புக்கள் உள்ளன. அதுவும் வாய்பேச முடியாமலும், காதுகேட்காத சூழ்நிலையிலும் மனம் தளராமல் வாழ்க்கையில் உயர்ந்து சாதித்துக்காட்டுவோம் என்ற மாற்றுத்திறனாளி இளைஞர்கள் தான் எத்தனை பேர்.

வறுமை எங்களை வாட்டினாலும் பரவாயில்லை; நாம் பெற்ற குழந்தைகளாவது வாழ்க்கையில் உயர்ந்த நிலைக்கு கொண்டுவர வேண்டும் என்று உறுதியான எண்ணத்துடனும், மாற்றுத்திறனாளியாக இருந்தாலும், அவனை உயர்ந்த நிலைக்கு கொண்டு வர, ஒரே வழி உயர்கல்வி கற்க வைப்பது தான் உறுதியான முடிவோடு, பெற்ற மகனை கல்லுாரியில் சேர்த்து அழகு பார்க்கும் பெற்றோரை நாம் பாராட்டியே ஆக வேண்டும்.
கோவை மாவட்டம் வால்பாறை பாரதியார் பல்கலைக்கழக கலை மற்றும் அறிவியல் கல்லுாரியில் ஏழை, எளிய மாணவர்கள் உயர்கல்வி கற்பதற்கு தேவையான அனைத்து உதவிகளையும் கல்லுாரி நிர்வாகம் செய்து வருகிறது. அந்த வகையில் பழநியை சேர்ந்த காதுகேளாத, வாய் பேச முடியாத மாணவனை சேர்க்க, பல்வேறு கல்லுாரிகள் முன்வராத நிலையில், வால்பாறை அரசுக்கலைக்கல்லுாரி முதல்வர் பழனிச்சாமி உத்தரவின் பேரில், மாற்றுத்திறனாளி மாணவனை கல்லுாரியில் சேர்க்க வைத்து, அந்த மாணவனுக்கு சிறப்பு வகுப்புகள் மூலம் பாடம் சொல்லி தருகின்றனர். 

பழநியை சேர்ந்த மாணவன் அருண்பிரகாஷ், வால்பாறை அடுத்துள்ள சின்கோனா (டேன்டீ) எஸ்டேட்டில் பணிபுரியும் பெரியப்பா அழகிரியின் வீட்டில் இருந்தபடி வால்பாறையில் உள்ள கல்லுாரியில், பி.காம்., இரண்டாமாண்டு படித்து வருகிறார்.
இது குறித்து கல்லுாரி வணிகவியல்துறை துறைத்தலைவரும், பேராசிரியருமான பெரியசாமி கூறியதாவது: இம்மாணவரை பல்வேறு கல்லுாரியில் சேர்க்க மறுத்தாலும், இக்கல்லுாரி முதல்வர் அவரை அரவணைத்து, அவருக்கு தேவையான அனைத்து அரசு உதவிகளையும் பெற்று இலவசமாகவே கல்வி கற்றுத்தருகிறோம். கல்லுாரியில் வகுப்பு நடைபெறும் போது சகமாணவர்களுடன் அமர்ந்திருப்பார். வகுப்பு முடிந்த பின் இந்த மாணவனுக்கு மட்டும் தனியாக வகுப்புக்கள் நடத்தப்படும்.

அப்போது செய்கை முறையிலும், எழுத்து மூலமாகவும் விளக்கி பாடங்களை கற்றுத்தருகிறோம். எந்த ஒரு பாடம் நடத்தினாலும் அதை எளிதில் புரிந்து கொள்ளும் அற்புதத்திறன் படைத்த மாணவன் என்பதால், அவருக்கு தொடர்ந்து அந்தந்த வகுப்பு ஆசிரியர்கள் தனியாக பாடம் நடத்தி வருகின்றனர். 

சிறப்பு கவனம் எடுத்து மாற்றுத்திறனாளி மாணவனுக்கு பாடம் நடத்துவது எங்களுக்கும் ஒரு பெருமையாக உள்ளது. படிப்பை தவிர செஸ் விளையாட்டுப்போட்டியிலும் இந்த மாணவன் மாநில அளவில் வெற்றி பெற்று பல்வேறு சான்றிதழ்களை பெற்றுள்ளார் என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.இவ்வாறு, பெரியசாமி கூறினார்.
மாணவன் அருண்பிரகாஷ் கூறுகையில், ''ஏழையாக பிறந்து, மாற்றுத்திறனாளியாக வளர்ந்த என்னை, உயர்கல்வி கற்க வைக்க அரும்பாடுபட்டுவரும் இக்கல்லுாரி முதல்வர், பேராசிரியர்கள் அனைவரையும் வாழ்நாளில் மறக்க மாட்டேன், இதே கல்லுாரியில் எம்.காம்.,படித்து விட்டு என்னை போன்ற மாற்றுத்திறனாளி மாணவர்களுக்கு சேவை செய்ய வேண்டும் என்பது தான் எனது லட்சியம்,'' என்றார்.

மாற்றுத்திறனாளி மாணவனின் லட்சியம் நிறைவேற நாமும் வாழ்த்துவோம்.

காது கேளாதோர் மேல்நிலை பள்ளியில் படித்துவந்த மாணவன் தற்கொலை!

10.01.2017

விருத்தாசலம் அருகே கோணான் குப்பம் காதுகேளாதோர் மேல்நிலை பள்ளியில் படித்துவந்த 8ஆம் வகுப்பு மாணவன் தூக்கிட்டு தற்கொலை செய்துகொண்ட சம்பவம், சக மாணவர்கள் மத்தியில் அதிர்ச்சியை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது.

கடலூர் மாவட்டம் கோணான் குப்பம் கிராமத்தில் காது கேளாதோர் மற்றும் மனநிலை குன்றியோர் மேல்நிலைபள்ளி செயல்பட்டு வருகிறது.

இந்த பள்ளியில், அங்கேயே தங்கி 8-ம் வகுப்பு படித்துவந்த அந்தோணி ஜோசப் என்கிற மாணவன், நேற்று இரவு சாப்பிட்டு விட்டு அவருடைய அறைக்கு படுக்க சென்றுள்ளார்.

ஆனால், இன்று அறையை விட்டு அவன் வெளியே வராததால், விடுதி காப்பாளர் சென்று பார்த்துள்ளார்.

அப்போது அந்தோணிராஜ் தூக்கில் தொங்கிக்கிக் கொண்டிருந்ததைப் பார்த்து மங்கலம்பேட்டை காவல் துறையினருக்கு தகவல் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

பின்னர் உடலைக் கைப்பற்றிய போலீசார், மாணவனின் தற்கொலை தொடர்பாக விசாரணை நடத்தி வருகின்றனர்.

30 visually-impaired students get e-wallets

10.01.2017
PUNE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to go cashless has inspired over 30 differently-abled students to do just that.

Visually-impaired students of the Ahmednagar-based Anamprem institution, which has visual and speech and hearing-impaired students and the differently-abled, sought a workshop on e-payments, its secretary Ajit Kulkarni said.

A workshop on December 22 conducted by Vinayak Dhoot, a bank employee and an Anamprem alumnus, explained e-payments and a training session showed them the use of apps. Sixty-five students learned about e-wallets, Unified Payment Interface, and using debit and credit cards.

"I am visually impaired and have been using e-payment apps for a year so I could explain it to them," Dhoot told TOI. He also spoke about 'Talking ATMs' designed for the visually-impaired and the app to locate them.

At least 32 students have started making payments through their e-wallets.

Sambhaji Khilari, a student of New Arts College, started using Paytm after attending the workshop and found the app user-friendly.

"I used the app to make purchases on Flipkart and Amazon, and to buy daily essentials. It is similar to many other apps we use on our phones," the visually-impaired youngster said.

Khilari said extra care was needed while making payments. "I ensure that I have entered the right amount by listening in different languages. I also check more than once the account number of the person I am paying," he said. For listening to security features like one-time passwords, he lowers the volume or wears earphones.

Kartik Pandav prefers e-wallets to talking ATMs. "We have become a part of the drive against black money and corruption," Pandav said.

Demonetization took a toll on foreign entries at deaf film fest

10.01.2017
Since its inception four years ago, the India International Deaf Film Festival (IIDFF) has emerged as a powerful platform for deaf filmmakers and actors. Although the response — in terms of entries from different parts of India and abroad as well as event footfall — has been overwhelming over the past years, demonetization seems to have taken a toll on the number of movies registered by overseas artistes in the latest edition.Bangalore Times appraises the situation and also examines the future of silent filmsin India in the wake of the recently passed Disability Bill...

No-currency situation triggers fear

"Although arrangements were made to accommodate participants in hostels and hotels in the city, a sense of apprehension was noticed among those travelling from abroad to screen their films at the fest. This brought down the number of entries in the international films category in this edition, compared with earlier times. This also, in a way, hampered one of the primary objectives of the festival, which is to encourage and facilitate exchange of ideas among deaf filmmakers from different cultures and backgrounds," says festival coordinator Dr TR Ramakrishnan.

Execution of Disability Bill is crucial

According to jury member Sreejith Sreekandan — who is also a part of CBM, a non-profit-making organization which is associated with the festival — the biggest need of deaf people, or for that matter every differently-abled person, is to feel included in the society. "For many of them, filmmaking is a completely different world, which they are slowly exploring and through that giving a direction to their inherent talents. People should show their support and solidarity towards them, to keep them motivated and bridge the gap in communication. Several deaf youngsters are even making use of new-age technology and the internet to enhance their craftsmanship. The manner in which the norms comprising the new Disability Bill will be executed is expected to play a vital role in giving them a platform to express themselves as well as in their overall development," Sreejith says.

Curiosity about sign language

From the days of Charlie Chaplin's classics, when filmmaking was still at its nascent stage, to modern times, when a no-subtitles and no-voiceover movie can be as riveting and hard-hitting as its mainstream counterparts — silent films have come a long way, particularly in giving a voice to the creative geniuses of people who cannot hear. IIDFF, which solicits cinematic works of deaf directors and actors from across the globe, also aims to build interest among people about these creative pursuits as well as sign language.

"Let's not call them silent films. These shorts can actually speak volumes and hold the potential to make a strong impact in the creative world. The future of silent films in India looks bright. All they need is exposure and a little assistance," says sign language researcher Amaresh Gopalakrishnan, who was also a part of the jury panel.

This year's films have shown a remarkable improvement over the previous years' entries — in terms of cinematography, storyline and theme as well as acting skills. "It's been an overwhelming opportunity to be associated with such an initiative. The ideas put forth by the deaf artistes reflect the way they perceive the world. Even the props used are thought-provoking. In terms of awareness among people, there has an increase in the interest level regarding educational materials and modules about sign language over the past five years. Companies are also making efforts to provide information for deaf people, besides initiatives taken by NGOs to sensitize common masses. It is a positive change. We hope the trend continues and the recently passed Disability Bill helps to make life better for deaf people," Amaresh sums up.

A potpourri of creative pursuits

The short films at the festival were divided in one, five, 15 and 30-minute categories, projected on 35 mm digital format, with the theme being 'human relations among the deaf, hard for hearing and hearing'. Some 32 films from India were registered and 38 from other nations. The countries that participated include the US, the UK, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Iran, Austria, France, Afghanistan, Spain, Republic of Bolivarian, Ukraine, China, Portugal and Australia. Kerala bagged the maximum number of awards, followed by Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, while Italy, Austria and Iran remained prominent in the international category.

Meet Rajeev Bagga, the Indian badminton legend who was crowned Deaflympian of the Century

10.01.2017
Mumbai: With badminton taking off in India in a big way, few are aware of a legend of the game who not only won numerous medals for India globally, but was crowned as ‘Deaflympian of the Century’ by the International Olympics Committee’s sub-committee, CISS (Committee International des Sports des Sourds.)

Now a UK citizen, 49-year-old Rajeev Bagga is in India on a brief visit as a special guest for the Mumbai-leg of the Premier Badminton League (PBL). Born deaf, but with a genius IQ, Bagga had a supportive and sports-loving family, and his parents and sister Sangeeta constantly encouraged him to play sports.

In a candid chat with Firspost, Bagga revealed how, as a kid, he was into multiple sports – he played squash and carom apart from badminton – and that his father asked him to choose one. He said that though he played with both deaf and hearing badminton players and was sometimes bullied, he never got scared, though his parents were always worried about him.

Recruited by Hindustan Petroleum in Mumbai, at the tender age of 18 as a sports officer, it was a job that took him to various tournaments in India. He started his career in the hearing open category in squash, tennis and badminton, winning medals at the state (Maharashtra) level and national level.

It was only when he turned 18 in 1989 that he represented India at the World Deaf Games (that later went on to become the IOC’s Deaflympics) in Christchurch, New Zealand. He swept the men’s singles and doubles gold medals and put India on the top – a position that India would sustain for two decades. His debut at the Christchurch World Games opened up the avenue for deaf sports in India in a large way.

After beating Prakash Padukone at the Indian national championships, Bagga went on to reach the main stage of the 1990 All England Open Badminton Championships, defeating the Korean player Ahen Chang in the third round of qualification – the only deaf person to achieve this distinction. He won the national men’s singles title twice, in 1991 and 1992, as well as the men’s doubles in the 1990, he has been the captain of the Maharashtra badminton team during the 1990s, and has represented the Indian national team in BWF (Badminton World Federation) championships including the Commonwealth Games, Thomas Cup, All England Championships, Malaysian Open, Swedish, Swiss and Austrian Opens, Asian Badminton Championships. Overall he has made 60 appearances in the 1980s and 1990s.

“I had a tough time initially, but I remained positive, eager to move forward. I’m proud to be a deaf badminton champion and every time I won, I wanted to prove a point to my competitor that we are equal,” said Bagga.

Very few in India know that Rajeev Bagga is the only deaf elite sportsman to win laurels in both the international Open as well as the deaf circuit for a very long time. His record in Deafylmpics is staggering – four gold for India at the 1993 Games in Bulgaria, three gold at the 1997 Games in Denmark, three more gold in 2001 in Italy and two gold in 2005 in Australia.

He continues to be the only sportsman to have reigned at the top of a sport at the Olympics for 20 straight years. “I cannot imagine life without sports,” he confessed.

Experts of the game were astonished to watch a 42-year-old Bagga, now representing UK, playing his sixth consecutive Deaflympics in 2009 and later going down to a 20-year-old Russian player in a very close finals of the Deaflympics in Taipei. He continued to be the only deaf player in the 40+ Opens Veterans circuit who was a gold medal winner.

Asked about the existing badminton scene in India, the legend quipped, “India is on the verge of becoming a badminton powerhouse. I want to tell officials to reduce administration and focus on coaching of different kinds. Give incentives, fund the players and the results will come.”

A role model in the world of badminton, Bagga is a Chhatrapati Shivaji and Arjuna Award winner. Laurels are not new to this genial sportsman, who was at the helm of Indian badminton, winning prestigious events individually, as well as helping India reach greater heights at a time when badminton was not the high profile sports it is today.

“Technology has made me independent. Social networking, interpreters are very useful to deaf sportsman as they inculcate a sense of equality and helps them to excel,” added Bagga, who is now a certified badminton coach and lives in Coventry, coaching Great Britain as well as the Austrian national badminton teams.

However, Bagga continues to have a strong bond with India. Asked whether he is open to any role in training back home, Bagga quipped, “If I’m offered something good, why not? You never know!”

Good to Indian Sign Language

Hearing and speech impaired Sikh's hair cut; tension in Nahan

SHIMLA: Tension pervaded Nahan town of Sirmaur district in Himachal Pradesh on Friday evening after a local resident cut the hair of a hearing and speech impaired Sikh man, who is probably in his sixties.

On coming to know of this, angry members of the community held a demonstration. To defuse the situation, the police arrested three persons within an hour of the victim identifying one of them. But this didn't quell the angry mob and some people hurled a petrol bomb at the house of the accused, injuring ASI Madan, in-charge of Gunnughat police chowki. He was hospitalized with 20% burns.

Sources said the victim was homeless and used to wash utensils and have food at the house of the accused once in a while. The accused told the police that they had trimmed the man's hair as he had complained of irritation in his scalp. As the victim can only communicate through gestures, the police have decided to bring in an expert to find out what happened.

Sirmaur SP Soumya Sambasivan said what occured would only come out after the sign language expert interacts with the Sikh man.She also said that a case of hurting religious sentiments had been registered against the accused. Sirmaur SP Soumya Sam basivan said five youths who had hurled a petrol bomb at the cops guarding the house of the accused too have been apprehended.

A case of rioting, attempt to murder, and assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty has been registered against those who attacked policemen on duty outside the house of the accused.

Rajeev Bagga delivers speech at an event organised by KC College, Mumbai

07.01.2017

€ˆtook the Indian badminton scene by storm in the '90s when he won the national men's titles in singles and doubles. At one of these championships, he also defeated his good friend, the indomitable Prakash Padukone. He captained the Maharashtra badminton team, and represented India at the All England Championships, Commonwealth Games and Thomas Cup, among many other international tournaments. Arjuna Award winner Rajeev Bagga has one more laurel to his credit - he achieved all this by competing in the open circuit, while he is hearing impaired.

At an interaction organised by the Department of Mass Media, KC College, yesterday, the genial sportsman, 49, addressed the students through an interpreter, using sign language, and shared with them how the sport defines his life.

"I am happy I was born into a sports-loving army family, where my parents and siblings constantly supported me and encouraged me to take up sports," Bagga shared. He began playing squash, but it was hearing-intensive, so he moved to badminton where eyesight would be more effective. While much has changed since then, competing in the open circuit (able-bodied players) three decades ago meant entering a non-inclusive playing field. Not only could Bagga not hear the umpire's calls (there was no provision for interpreters), there was often no display of the score and so, he had to keep a mental note. "When I beat players who could hear, many couldn't take it well," Bagga recalled with a smile, when a student asked him about being bullied.

Having competed in the open circuit since the beginning, it was only in 1989 that he represented India at the World Deaf Games, which later became the International Olympics Committee's Deaflympics. And there was no looking back. Bagga kept India on top of the world in men's singles titles for five consecutive Deaflympics. His feat received its due when in 2001, he was crowned the Deaflypian Of The Century by an IOC subcommittee.

A sports officer with Hindustan Petroleum since he turned 18, he quit his job, and moved to England after he got married in 2000, where he is a certified coach. It was the decades in which he was an active player - when badminton was not a high-profile sport in India - that somewhat obscured Bagga's achievements. Would he consider coming back to India if offered an opportunity to coach here? The towering man nodded in the affirmative.

HQ MEG Centre Bangalore Recruitment 2017 Civilian Posts (249 Vacancies)

HQ Madras Engineer Group (MEG) & Centre, Bangalore invites applications from Indian Citizens for recruitment of Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Storekeeper-III, Typewriter / Computer Mech, Civilian Trade Instructors, Cook, Boot Maker, Lascar, Multi Tasking Staff (MTS), Washerman, Barber and Tailor for filling up total 249 Vacancies. Eligible candidates apply within 27 days from the date of publication of this advertisement in Employment News Paper (dated 7th to 13th January 2017 Issue).

CLICK HERE ⬇⬇⬇ Details and Application Format >>>

HQ MEG Centre Bangalore Recruitment 2017 Civilian Posts (249 Vacancies) 

GAIL Recruitment 2017 Apply Online (12 Vacancies Opening)

CLICK HERE ⬇⬇⬇Instructions for Apply Online >>

Instructions for Apply Online

CLICK HERE ⬇⬇⬇Online Application Link >>

Online Application Link

Saran couple renews claim as Geeta’s parents

06.01.2017, CHHAPRA: Senior Saran officials on Wednesday visited the residence of Md Isha and Zulekha, a couple from Mirzapur in the district who had earlier claimed that Geeta, who returned from Pakistan after being separated from her parents over a decade ago, is their lost daughter Zubaida.

Principal home secretary Amir Subhani had recently asked Saran DM Deepak Anand to send a team of officials to the couple's residence to verify their claims. Geeta, the 23-year-old hearing-speech impaired girl, is presently lodged at a shelter home in Bhopal.

Marhoura SDO Sanjai Kumar Rai led a team of officials, including circle officer, to visit the couple's residence. The district administration is likely to recommend DNA tests of the Mod Isha, his wife Zulekha and Geeta. "The inquiry report would be submitted to Saran DM after proper scrutiny of the facts," said an official, adding that Md Isha had not lodged any FIR after the disappearance of his daughter in 1996. The couple has seven children, including missing Rubaida. Md Isha said he had visited Bhopal to identify the girl, but another girl was shown to him. Isha's son Md Shahabuddin too claimed that the structures which Geeta recalled are located near his house.

Geeta is believed to have been found by Pakistan rangers sitting alone aboard the Samjhauta Express at the Lahore railway station around 10 years ago. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had made fervent appeal to locate the family of Geeta. "There is a hospital at the end of the lane of her house. There are paddy and sugarcane fields. On the other side is a railway track and Durga Mandir. There is a rivulet close by where people do fishing. From what she has conveyed, she appears to be from Bihar or Jharkhand," Swaraj had claimed.

A Child with Hearing Disability Turned This Fashion Designer into a Certified Therapist

CLICK HERE ⬇⬇

A Child with Hearing Disability Turned This Fashion Designer into a Certified Therapist

4000 திருமணங்களை நடத்தி வைத்த தனி ஒருவன்..!

01.01.2017
தனி ஒருவராக இருந்து சுமார் 4000 திருமணங்களை நடத்தி வைத்துள்ளார் கர்நாடகாவைச் சேர்ந்த தொழிலதிபர் ஒருவர்.

கர்நாடக மாநிலம் பெங்களூருவைச் சேர்ந்த விஜயராஜ் என்பவர்,பர்னிச்சர் தொழில் செய்து வருகிறார்.பொது சேவைகளில் நாட்டம் உள்ள இவர்,கடந்த 15 ஆண்டுகளில் மட்டும் காது கேளாதோருக்கு இடையே சுமார் 4000 திருமணங்களை தன் சொந்த செலவில் நடத்தி வைத்துள்ளார்.

திருமண செலவுகளுக்கு பணம் வேண்டும் என்பதற்காகவே,தனது செலவுகளை குறைத்துக் கொண்டுள்ளது மட்டுமின்றி,சொந்த பங்களாவை விட்டுவிட்டு வாடகை வீட்டில் வசித்து வருகிறார்.கடந்த 2000-ஆம் ஆண்டு காது கேளாதோருக்காக சுயம்வரா என்ற அறக்கட்டளையை தொடங்கிய இவர்,தற்போது ஏழ்மையில் உள்ள காதுகேளாதோர் படிப்பதற்காக தனது அறக்கட்டளை மூலம் பள்ளி ஒன்றையும் துவங்கியுள்ளார்.

“நான் திருமணம் செய்து வைத்த அனைவருமே எனது மகன்,மகள் தான்.அப்படி பார்த்தால் எனக்கு கிட்டத்தட்ட 8,000 பிள்ளைகள்.நான் திருமணம் செய்து வைத்த அனைவரும் என்னை அப்பா எனவும்,அவர்களுடைய குழந்தைகள் தாத்தா எனவும் தான் அழைப்பார்கள்.இதைப் பார்த்து என் மகன் கூட பொறாமைப்படுவான்.”என்கிறார் விஜயராஜ்.

அவருடைய இந்த பொதுச் சேவைக்கு அவருடைய மனைவி பக்கபலமாக இருந்து வருகிறாராம்.

Breaking barriers: This dentist 'signs' off in style

02.01.2017
NEW DELHI: Awareness about oral hygiene is usually low among people. It is even lower among the hearing impaired due to a communication barrier.

Dr Sumbul Hashmi, a postgraduate student in public health dentistry at Delhi's Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Health Sciences (MAIDS), is making a rare attempt to fix this problem. To communicate to children with special needs, the 27-year-old has learned sign language.

"Earlier, I would try to infer the ailment of a hearing impaired patient on my own but I realised it isn't the ideal way to diagnose and treat. So I learned sign language," Hashmi told TOI. Sign language involves manual communication-hand gestures or facial expression-to convey meaning instead of sound patterns.

Dr Hashmi said she sees no more than two hearing impaired patients at the hospital. But she visits schools and NGOs to create awareness about oral hygiene among disabled children.

"Children with special needs are sharp and they give feedback. But communication is a big barrier if you do not know sign language," she said.

Pooja (12) was born with a cleft lip, which affected her speech and hearing. Her condition made her prone to dental caries and other oral health problems but she always found excuses to avoid visiting a dentist. "She never felt comfortable with the doctor because of inadequate communication. The fact that Dr Hashmi knows sign language helped her calm down and now she is undergoing treatment here," her father Rajpal said.

In India, 0.4% of 1065.40 million children are either deaf or hard of hearing. Experts said more doctors with special skills are required to deal with such children.

Also, there is a need for a separate instruction manual to help create awareness about oral hygiene among such people.

According to Dr Mahesh Verma, director and principal of MAIDS, the hospital plans to set up a separate clinic for children with special needs in its upcoming block.

UAE doctors help deaf Indian girl hear

02.01.2017

Sharjah: An Indian girl born with hearing difficulty is now able to hear after doctors here conducted a cochlear implant procedure on her successfully, the media reported.

Eight-year-old Nafiya and her parents couldn't be happier when the implant was activated for the first time after two weeks of recovery from the operation, the Gulf News reported.

This was the first cochlear implant procedure at the University Hospital Sharjah, which was performed by surgeons - Ahmad Munzer Al Waa and Faheem Tadros.

"More similar operations will be conducted as there is an increasing number of infants who are born with hearing impairments," said Tadros. The procedure was very delicate and took a couple of hours.

Discussing the procedure, Munzer said: "An electrode is implanted in the inner ear where the child is able to hear sounds for the first time. Gradually, with the help of special software, sounds are adjusted to near normal level.

"This would eventually help Nafiya hear all the sounds and cope with the communication demands," he added.

Sharjah TV sponsored the cost of the procedure for the Indian expatriate girl. A cochlear implant costs about $40,840.

"Now my daughter can hear us speak. She will listen to music, the birds sing and all the sounds of the world. This is a special day for our family and is one we will never forget," Nafiya's father was quoted as saying.

With a deaf community of millions, hearing India is only just beginning to sign

Safran Khatoon (L) and Muneer Ahmad, both of whom are deaf and mute, use sign language to communicate in Dadhkai Village in the Doda district, 162 miles north of Jammu, on June 18, 2009. In their sleepy village nestled high up in the Himalayan mountains, the majority of residents are either deaf or mute.

In September, Rupmani Chhetri sat in a circle of people in a park in central Delhi. As she signed rapidly, those around her practiced the basic words they had learned over the last few months.

“People can easily listen to and learn other languages, but they don’t try to learn sign language,” signed Chhetri, who is deaf. “Every communication I have with hearing persons is very short because the interpreter also has trouble communicating as quickly.”

There are only about 250 certified sign language interpreters in India, translating for a deaf population of between 1.8 million to 7 million. (The wide range in population estimates exists because the Indian census doesn’t track the number of deaf people — instead, it documents an aggregate number of people with disabilities.)

Chhetri and other deaf and hearing volunteers are looking to bridge this gap, one sign at a time.

Every Saturday since April, Chettri and 15 to 20 others have met in Delhi’s public parks to teach and learn basic sign language for free. They call the gatherings “Finger Chats.”

“Both my parents are deaf, and Indian Sign Language is my mother tongue,” said Sarah Sharma, who volunteers at Finger Chats sessions. “It makes me happy to see all of these people signing and learning.”

Sharma is also part of a society called Children of Deaf Adults (CODA). While members of CODA are fluent in Indian Sign Language and often in American Sign Language as well, they cannot be certified interpreters without completing a mandatory nine-month diploma training.

But the mainstreaming of Indian Sign Language faces many more roadblocks, the biggest one being the lack of official recognition.

“We are a multilingual nation, and we need to look at the deaf community as a linguistic minority,” says Ruma Roka, the founder of the NGO Noida Deaf Society. “ISL needs to be accepted as another Indian language, and the effect of that recognition would percolate to schools, universities and parents.”

In December, a revised bill on the rights of persons with disabilities was passed by both houses of parliament. Among other things, the new law reserves 4 percent of government jobs and seats at educational institutes for people with disabilities. But the law does not include specific measures for the deaf, nor does it mention Indian Sign Language or its promotion.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment does oversee the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre, which is currently compiling a crowdsourced ISL video and print dictionary. The ministry’s Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities runs programs like a job search portal for the hearing-impaired, and a program for the prevention and control of avoidable hearing loss. Currently, there are close to 400 government-funded schools for the hearing-impaired across the country.

However, over 12 years of work with the deaf community in India, Roka has found a troubling pattern at schools as well as in society. Often there’s an emphasis on training the deaf to accommodate the hearing community — by forcing speech therapy, written communication and lipreading — while discouraging sign language. Unaware of how they sound and conscious of the reactions of hearing people, many deaf students are too uncomfortable to attempt speech. Language ability is also often stunted, as the deaf are forced to communicate in a language they know only partially.

“Since we have systematically created barriers in their way, the onus also stays on us to break down those barriers,” says Roka.

“Deaf kids go through 12 years of school without learning anything,” she continues. “The education system urgently needs to be updated to make the development of social and life skills easier as well.”

And this is before factoring in India’s high illiteracy rates — close to 26 percent according to the 2011 census — and the many villages short on public services.

“I met a boy who is deaf and who didn’t even know any sign language, he had no method of communication,” says Vishnu Soman, who works with the nongovernmental organization Enable India on improving deaf people’s access to the workforce. The boy was brought to an outreach program when his relatives learned that he could get a job through the organization.

According to several social workers, deaf Indians who cannot access formal education learn signs primarily when they meet other deaf people. As Indian Sign Language is not formalized or widely taught, however, the signs themselves vary widely across regions and states.

This group is chatting in Bangalore.

“The way there are so many different dialects in oral language, sign language has a lot of variations,” says Aparna Dass, who has worked with Enable India for 14 years. “A sign I use at home may not be used outside, but ISL can allow people to communicate across the country.”

For now, government programs focusing on skill development for people with disabilities, and the improvement of physical and workforce accessibility are seen as steps in the right direction. However, Dass emphasizes the need for awareness campaigns to make India’s deaf community known to the hearing majority.

“People at the policy level should be exposed to places where the deaf are working and learning,” says Dass. “National organizations for the deaf are limited to Delhi and Mumbai, but they need to be scaled up and replicated across the country.”

-PRI