All India Deaf Magic competition-23rd/24th February in Udaipur

23.01.2019
The 5th All India Deaf Magic competition is taking place in Udaipur on 23rd and 24th February. The event will take place on Sukhadia Rangmach in Town Hall. The speech and hearing impaired magicians from around the country will participate in this competition.

As informed by Praveen Kumar, this is the first show of its kind to be held in Udaipur. The organisers for the show are Deaf Welfare Society and Deaf magician Society of India. Around 300 to 400 deaf and dumb magicians from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kerala, West Bengal and Maharashtra are likely to participate in this competition.

5O pc disability limit in hearing, visual impairment for judicial officer legitimate: SC

New Delhi, Jan 22 A limit of 50 per cent disability in hearing or visual impairment is a legitimate restriction for the post of judicial officer, the Supreme Court held Tuesday.

The observation was made by the apex court's bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice KM Joseph while dismissing a plea by advocate V Surendra Mohan who had applied for the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division) under partially blind category with 70 per cent disability.

"A judicial officer in a State has to possess reasonable limit of the faculties of hearing, sight and speech in order to hear cases and write judgments and, therefore, stipulating a limit of 50 per cent disability in hearing impairment or visual impairment as a condition to be eligible for the post is a legitimate restriction i.e. fair, logical and reasonable," the bench said.

The top court said it is well within the power of appointing authority to prescribe eligibility looking to the nature of the job, which is to be performed by holder of a post.

"The reasons as given by the respondent No.3 (Madras High Court) fully justified the requirement of disability to the extent of 50 per cent which is reasonable, just and fair. High Court did not commit any error in dismissing the writ petition filed by the appellant," it said.

"We, thus, came to the conclusion that prescription of disability to the extent of 40 per cent-50 per cent for recruitment for the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division) was valid and does not contravene any of the provisions of the Act, 1995 or any other statutory provision," it added. PKS SA

NEET 2019: Time running out, disabled medical aspirants remain in dark over eligibility criteria

22.01.2019
NEET 2019: While the draft MCI guidelines state that hearing-impaired equal to or more than 40 per cent disability are not eligible, a Delhi High Court judgment has allowed a 70 per cent hearing impaired girl to pursue MBBS at a medical college in Delhi.

The panicky father of a 40 per cent visually impaired boy arrived in the national capital from Kaithal in Haryana Tuesday morning to meet disability rights activists. Unwilling to give out his name, the man said he fears his son, studying in Class 12, might not be able to take the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) 2019 medical entrance exam in absence of final guidelines from the Medical Council of India (MCI) for persons with disabilities.
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“My son has been preparing for NEET for two years. Time is running out, I could no longer sit at home, so I packed my bags and came to Delhi though I have little clue about what is to be done. I will meet activists, maybe I will go to the health ministry,” he said.

As of now, draft MCI guidelines state that “40 per cent or more visually impaired (low vision and blindness) are not eligible for a medical course” even as a Supreme Court judgment last year upheld the claim of a medical aspirant with “low vision” to be admitted in an MBBS course in Gujarat.

Likewise, Rishabh Pal of Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, who is 45 per cent hearing impaired, has filled the NEET form but has no clarity about the eligibility criteria. His elder brother, Shubham, speaking to indianexpress.com, said: “We just don’t know where we stand, whether Rishabh can avail the disability quota or not for an MBBS course. He could lose a year and even a career option.”
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In this respect, while the draft MCI guidelines state that hearing-impaired equal to or more than 40 per cent disability are not eligible, a Delhi High Court judgment that has allowed a 70 per cent hearing impaired girl to pursue MBBS at a medical college in Delhi.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), which is conducting the NEET 2019, launched an online application process on November 1 last year – but with the old MCI guidelines for persons with disabilities.

After disability activists and guardians complained, the Health Ministry stepped in and directed NTA to issue a notification that medical aspirants with disabilities can fill NEET forms on the basis of draft guidelines that MCI has posted on its website.

Even that notification came barely three days before the deadline to submit the application form was to end on November 30. Around that time, the Supreme Court stepped in and extended the deadline for submission of forms by a week.

Till date, however, the draft guidelines have not been ratified and approved by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

On January 14, the NTA, for the first time, opened a correction window for candidates to submit corrections in their application forms. With that deadline too set to close on January 31, people like Bansal and Pal, who could have made corrections in their forms, if required, on the basis of final MCI guidelines, remain clueless.

Dr Satendra Singh, a disability rights activist, said: “I have never heard of any examination being conducted on the basis of draft guidelines. Every day has become crucial for medical aspirants with disabilities. The reason behind the delay in finalising the MCI guidelines, as I see it, is to give little time to candidates to take the legal route because draft guidelines are in violation of various rulings of the Supreme Court and high courts. They put unnecessary bars on disabled aspirants.”

“Besides, if candidates apply under the disability quota and it turns out later that they are ineligible, they will be disallowed from the entrance test. If they apply through the general quota, they then lose out the entitlement provided to them by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 (RPDA),” Dr Singh, who represents a pan-India body called Doctors with Disabilities, added.

Doctors with Disabilities has already termed the revised MCI draft guidelines for admission into MBBS courses under disability quota as “unfair, discriminatory and unlawful”.

Sources in MCI, meanwhile, said: “We are getting reminders from the Health Ministry. The guidelines have been finalised.”
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NTA chairperson Vineet Joshi, however, said: “We have absolutely no information about the revised MCI guidelines for MBBS courses. We haven’t received them yet.”

The medical test is scheduled on May 5, 2019.

மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் வேலை வாய்ப்பு பதிவு: சென்னை செல்லாமல் தர்மபுரியில் பதியலாம்

தர்மபுரி: 'மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் தங்களின் வேலைவாய்ப்பு பதிவை இனி, சென்னைக்கு செல்லாமல், தர்மபுரியிலேயே பதிவு செய்யலாம்' என, மாவட்ட வேலைவாய்ப்பு அலுவலக உதவி இயக்குனர் மகேஷ்வரி தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.
இது குறித்து அவர் வெளியிட்டுள்ள அறிக்கை: காதுகேளாதோர், கண் பார்வை தெரியாதவர், வாய்பேசாதோர் போன்ற மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் தாங்கள் கற்ற கல்வியை பதிவு செய்ய, சென்னை கிண்டியில் உள்ள மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் சிறப்பு வேலைவாய்ப்பு அலுவலகத்தில் பதிவு செய்து வந்தனர். அங்கு செல்ல முடியாதவர்கள், அந்தந்த மாவட்டங்களில் உள்ள வேலைவாய்ப்பு அலுவலகத்திற்கு சென்று மனுக்கள், சான்றிதழ்களை ஒப்படைத்துவிடுவர். பின்னர் அவை சரிபார்க்கப்பட்டு சென்னை அனுப்பிவைத்து, அங்கிருந்து ஒப்புதல் பெறப்பட்டவும் பதிவுகள் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டு வந்தது. நேரம், அலைச்சல் போன்றவற்றை கருத்தில்கொண்டு அந்தந்த மாவட்ட வேலைவாய்ப்பு அலுவலகங்களில் மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் சிறப்பு பிரிவை துவங்கி அங்கேயே பதிவுகள் மேற்கொள்ள அரசு உத்தரவிட்டது. அதன்படி, தர்மபுரி, கிருஷ்ணகிரி, கரூர், நாமக்கல், திருவண்ணாமலை உள்பட, 18 மாவட்டங்களில், மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் சிறப்பு பிரிவுகள் கடந்த வாரம் துவங்கப்பட்டது.

* தர்மபுரி மாவட்டத்தை சேர்ந்த மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் கடகத்தூரில் உள்ள வேலைவாய்ப்பு அலுவலகத்துக்கு நேரில் வந்து தங்கள் கல்வி சான்றிதழ்களை பதிவு செய்து பயன் பெறலாம். விவரங்களுக்கு, 04348-235006 என்ற எண்ணில் அலுவலகத்தை தொடர்பு கொள்ளலாம். இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறியுள்ளார்.

Hyundai Reveals New Technology For Hearing-Impaired Drivers

20.01.2019
Hyundai Motor Company has developed new technology which makes life easier for people with hearing impairment. The idea is to offer them a safe and a comfortable drive experience along with a means for hearing-impaired people to interact with their external environment. Hyundai has devised a means wherein people with hearing impairment can maximise their sense of sight and touch. The company has created a form of communication which translates internal and external sounds to tactile and visual elements. This technology utilises artificial intelligence which analyses sound patterns and uses two separate driver assist systems which are Audio Visual Conversion (AVC) and Audio Tactile Conversation (ATC). These two systems work in conjunction and help hearing-impaired people get a better sense of the world around them.

(There are multi-colour LEDs on the steering wheel which give driver
information about the external environment)

The AVC system uses visual portrayals of external sounds with pictograms on the heads-up display (HUD) of the car. These could include the sound of emergency vehicles, weather conditions and so on. Also, in this instance, the steering wheel is fitted with multi-coloured LED lamps which indicate navigational information while driving. As Additionally, Hyundai also developed an application that enables communication between passengers and drivers who are hearing-impaired.

(The Heads-Up Unit also shows pictograms which help the driver to
 understand sounds such as horns and sirens better)

Similarly, the ATC system uses vibrations in the steering wheel to give the driver information about the external environment. Hyundai demonstrated the technology in Seoul, with a hearing-impaired taxi driver, Daeho Lee. Hyundai also highlighted the technology through a documentary called the 'Quiet Taxi' which can be viewed on the company's YouTube channel.

This technology helps hearing-impaired drivers to overcome the problems of not being able to hear horns of other vehicles along with sirens of emergency vehicles. This also helps the driver to not only rely on his sense of sight, which otherwise could have caused fatigue quicker than that in an average driver.

தையல் இயந்திரம் பெற மா.திறனாளிகளுக்கு தர்மபுரியில் அழைப்பு

19.01.2019

தர்மபுரி: தர்மபுரி கலெக்டர் மலர்விழி வெளியிட்டுள்ள அறிக்கை: மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் நலத்துறை சார்பில் வரும், 24ல், இதற்கான நேர்முகத் தேர்வு நடக்கவுள்ளது. இதில், 18 வயது முதல், 45 வயதுள்ள, இயக்க குறைபாடு மற்றும் செவித்திறன் குறைபாடுடைய மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கு, விலையில்லா தையல் இயந்திரம் வழங்கும் திட்டத்தின் கீழ், மோட்டார் பொருத்திய தையல் இயந்திரம் வழங்கப்படவுள்ளது. மேலும், மிதமான அறிவுசார் குறைபாடுடையோர் மற்றும், 75 சதவீத பாதிப்புடைய நுண் அறிவுத்திறன் குறைபாடுடைய மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளின் தாய்மார்களுக்கு, மோட்டார் பொருத்திய தையல் இயந்திரம் வழங்கப்பட உள்ளது. எனவே, 45 வயதுக்குட்பட்ட மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள், தங்களது தேசிய அடையாள அட்டை, ரேஷன் கார்டு, ஆதார் அட்டை, தையல் பயிற்சி முடித்ததற்கான சான்று ஆகியவற்றை வரும், 24க்குள், மாவட்ட மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் நல அலுவலகம், மாவட்ட கலெக்டர் அலுவலக வளாகத்தில் நடக்கவுள்ள நேர்முக தேர்வில் பங்கேற்று பயனடையலாம். இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறியுள்ளார்.

செவித்திறன் உதவியாளர் பணியிடம் நிரப்ப நேர்காணல்

19.01.2019
விழுப்புரம்: கள்ளக்குறிச்சி அரசு மாவட்ட தலைமை மருத்துவமனையில் ஒப்பந்த அடிப்படையில் செவித்திறன் உதவியாளர் பணியிடம் நிரப்ப விழுப்புரத்தில் வரும் 21ம் தேதி நேர்காணல் நடக்கிறது.இது குறித்து கலெக்டர் அலுவலக செய்திக்குறிப்பு;கள்ளக்குறிச்சி அரசு மாவட்ட தலைமை மருத்துமனையில் ஒப்பந்த அடிப்படையில் செவித்திறன் உதவியாளர் ஒரு பணியிடம் நிரப்புவதற்கு தகுதியானவர்களிடம் இருந்து விண்ணப்பங்கள் வரவேற்கப்படுகின்றன.பத்தாம் வகுப்பு தேர்ச்சி மற்றும் 'டிப்ளமோ இன் ஹியரிங் லாங்வேஜ் அன்டு ஸ்பீச்' படித்திருக்க வேண்டும். பொதுப்போட்டி முன்னுரிமை பெற்றவர்கள் இனசுழற்சி பின்பற்றப்படும். தமிழக அரசு விதிகளின் படி வயது வரம்பு. மாத சம்பளம் ஒப்பந்த முறையில் ரூ.15 ஆயிரம் வழங்கப்படும்.தகுதியுடைய விண்ணப்பதாரர்கள் விழுப்புரம் அரசு மருத்துவமனை வளாகத்தில், இணை இயக்குநர் நலப்பணிகள் அலுவலகத்தில் வரும் 21ம் தேதி காலை 10:30 மணிக்கு நடக்கும் நேர்காணலில் உரிய கல்வி, சாதி, அனுபவம் சான்றுகள் மற்றும் ஆவணங்களுடன் கலந்து கொள்ளலாம்.இவ்வாறு அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

'காக்ளியர்' கருவி பொருத்தும் சிகிச்சை : தாலுகா மருத்துவமனைகளிலும் விரைவில் கிடைக்கும்

19.01.2019
''காது கேளாத குழந்தைகளுக்கான, 'காக்ளியர்' கருவி சிகிச்சை வசதி, மாவட்ட, தாலுகா மருத்துவமனைகளிலும், விரைவில் செயல்படுத்தப்பட உள்ளது,'' என, மருத்துவ கல்வி கூடுதல் இயக்குனர் செல்வராஜன் பேசினார்.சென்னை, போரூர் ராமச்சந்திரா உயர்கல்வி மற்றும் ஆராய்ச்சி நிறுவனத்தில், 'காக்ளியர்' சிகிச்சை பெற்ற குழந்தைகளுக்கான, கலை நிகழ்ச்சிகள் நேற்று நடந்தன.இதில், சிகிச்சை பெற்ற, 250 குழந்தைகள் பங்கேற்றனர். நிகழ்ச்சியில் பங்கேற்ற, மருத்துவ கல்வி கூடுதல் இயக்குனர், செல்வராஜன் பேசியதாவது:தமிழகத்தில், முதல்வர் காப்பீட்டு திட்டத்தில், காது கேட்காத, 3,000 குழந்தைகளுக்கு, 'காக்ளியர்' கருவி பொருத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்த சிகிச்சை வசதி, 17 அரசு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரி மருத்துவமனையில் வழங்கப்படுகிறது.இந்த சிகிச்சை பெறும் குழந்தைகளுக்கு, சிகிச்சைக்கு பின், கேட்பியல், பேச்சு, மொழி, பயிற்சி அளிக்கும் வசதிகளை அதிகப்படுத்தும் வகையில், சென்னை மருத்துவ கல்லுாரியில், அதற்கான பிரத்யேக பி.ஏ.எஸ்.எல்.பி., பட்டப்படிப்பில், மாணவர்களின் எண்ணிக்கை அதிகரிக்கப்பட உள்ளது.இத்துறையில், பட்ட மேற்படிப்பும் துவங்க திட்டமிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. மேலும், 'காக்ளியர்' கருவி சிகிச்சை வசதி, மாவட்ட, தாலுகா தலைமை மருத்துவமனைகளிலும், செயல்படுத்தப்பட உள்ளது.இவ்வாறு அவர் பேசினார்.ராமச்சந்திரா மருத்துவமனையின், காது, மூக்கு, தொண்டை துறை பேராசிரியர், ரவிகுமார் பேசியதாவது:உலகளவில், மண்டை ஓட்டிற்குள், 'காக்ளியர்' கருவி போன்ற, மிக சிறிய கருவி பொருத்துவதற்கான ஆய்வு நடத்தப்படுகின்றன. ஆய்வுகள் வெற்றி அடையும் போது, அதன் தேவை அதிகமாக இருக்கும்.இவ்வாறு அவர் பேசினார்.

சைகை மொழியில் குர்ஆன் பயிற்சி

Health Ministry Delay on NEET Criteria Leaves Disabled Students in a Lurch

19.01.2019
New Delhi: With time running out for applicants for medical college entrance exams this year, the health ministry says it is still deliberating on key guidelines which can affect the chances of candidates with disabilities.

In 2018, the Centre had issued a brochure on the NEET exam for medical college entrances. It explained that candidates with disabilities were eligible to apply, in keeping with the spirit of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

A number of candidates with disabilities applied to give the exam only to be told in mid-2018 that the terms for eligibility were different – the Medical Council of India had by then come out with draft guidelines which created a number of problems for India’s disabled community.

Even more inconveniently, disabled candidates who successfully clear the exam can still be rejected. The government wants their “functional competence” to be assessed only after they study, pay for, write and pass the exam.

Candidates only have until the January 31 to get their corrected applications in.

No clarity

But the Medical Council of India and the Union health ministry have yet to finish updating the guidelines.

Two MCI officials said they have finished updating the guidelines by taking feedback from various stakeholders who had objected to provisions in it. “MCI had a recent meeting on this. We have forwarded it on from our side to the health ministry,” said one senior official at MCI.

Another said that according to the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, “MCI is not supposed to finalise anything, we can only make recommendations to the Union government. It is not our responsibility.”

But two health ministry officials working on medical education said the MCI should speak up about whether the guidelines have been finalised or not. One official said that the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) is also reviewing the guidelines. More so, yet another committee was constituted to examine them.

These developments have led to panic for candidates with disabilities.

“The aspiring students do not know if they are at all eligible to sit for these exams in the general category or the disabled category,” says Dr Satendra Singh from the collective Doctors with Disabilities. “Thinking they are eligible, many of them had applied. The MCI’s guidelines are against the 2016 Act. Now the government is not clarifying their status.”

While the MCI has to draft the guidelines, factoring in much of the feedback from the public, it is the responsibility of the health ministry to finalise them. But with the government still taking its time over the guidelines, disabled candidates have been left in a lurch.

How do the draft guidelines discriminate against people with disabilities?

In 2016, the parliament passed the ‘Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2016.’ There were only seven recognised disabilities until then, but the new law expanded the number to 21. The new list included locomoter disabilities, dwarfism, mental illness, intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis and thalassemia. It also included acid attack victims and people cured of leprosy.

Although the NEET brochure for 2019 repeatedly says that people with disabilities specified in the 2016 Act are eligible to apply for the exam, the MCI’s guidelines have prescribed exclusions that activists see as arbitrary and unfair.

First, the guidelines exclude a number of people from being allowed to write the exam. For example, the draft guidelines say that people with a visual impairment, hearing impairment, dyslexia of more than 40% disability, will not be eligible to give medical entrance exams. It says people with blood disorders which give them a disability of more than 80% will not be eligible.

More so, those who do give the exam will be filtered once again upon clearing it.

Early intervention in hearing impairments matters. Here's why

19.01.2019
When it comes to disabilities, early intervention and early diagnosis plays a crucial role. In fact, with early intervention, many disabled people are able to overcome the limitations that come with a disability.

In India, which has a large deaf population, many from economically backward families, early intervention is often missed out on.

Awareness about disabilities is also quite low. Experts point to the importance of early intervention for hearing loss because lack of right therapies can adversely impact the child’s language developmentin the future.

Hearing impacts the learning, language, speech and social skills of an individual. If not detected early, the child can undergo depression, have reduced socio-economic status and social skills during their formative years. That is precisely the reason why early intervention plays a major role in the life of a child with hearing loss.

Apart from private hospitals, government hospitals also have facilities for screening of children for hearing loss. But do parents really avail those facilities? Screening for hearing loss must be made mandatory in hospitals. Since the first two years of a child’s life is extremely important, parents have the duty to take precautionary measures to ensure that the child has a good quality of life.

If a child has neurological hearing problems by birth, then a hearing test will only do them good later on in life because speech development also depends on it. Doctors usually ask parents to do the test by the time the baby is one year old. The earlier the test is done, the better. Ototacoustic Emissions Testing (OAE) and auditory brainstem response (BERA) is done in most hospitals to check on the baby’s hearing. All our government and private hospitals have facilities for them. Even if authorities do not come forward to test, parents must tell them that it is mandatory-Dr Sabari Nath - ENT specialist
Today, there are expert therapists who can bring out the best in a child. The medical world is also much advanced in offering facilities like cochlear implants. But since this is very expensive, not every individual with a hearing loss can afford it.

Family plays a crucial role in improving the mental and physical well-being of a child with a hearing loss. Their support matters a lot. Most importantly, parents must be made aware of their child’s disability because gone are days when disabled children were considered to be a burden on their families. Today, we have thousands of deaf people who have created their mark in the society. Thanks to their families who played a pivotal role in providing them with right therapies and training!

So early intervention is not just for children. Even adults, who are experiencing hearing loss, must undergo early intervention and diagnosis at the earliest. Adults experience hearing loss due to many medical conditions. Diagnosing it early will only do them good.

“Earlier we had parents bringing their children when they were eight or nine years old. Now, they introduce them to therapies and training by the time they are three years old. Early intervention is a must because quality of the child’s life depends on it”, says Jessy Samuel, Principal, Sheila Deaf School in Bengaluru.

Hearing the deaf

20.01.2019
If you look from afar it seems like just another ordinary school; colorful posters adorn the walls, children sit on neatly arranged desks with their heads buried between books. Nothing seems unusual, except: there is no noise when someone scores a six, the little ones snap their fingers to a silent nursery rhyme and a marker screeching across the whiteboard can be heard down the hall. You have now entered a remarkable school and college for the deaf in Pakistan.

Located on main Korangi road in Karachi, ABSA School and College for the deaf is more than 50 years old and currently helps give over 300 deaf children the chance to lead a normal life. The school was started for Ayub Khan’s deaf grandson, by his mother, inside a small garage. The ladies would gather together every day just to help four or five deaf children play games. These children would make little pots of clay and draw pictures on paper, as there were no books and no concept of sign language.

It was 1987 when ABSA published Pakistan’s first sign language dictionary. This was then used as a module by our neighboring countries- including India, Sri Lanka, Iran and Afghanistan. Today ABSA’s students are able to attend universities like the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture to pursue their bachelors. Many even go on to gain jobs with designers and fashion companies like Gul Ahmed. And all it started because one mother with significant influence in places of power wanted to see her deaf son happy.

According to the Society for Audiological and Developmental Ailments (SADA) for every 1,000 children born in Pakistan, 7 to 8 suffer from loss of hearing. Currently an estimated 9 million people in Pakistan have some form of hearing loss. Given how small a percentage of the population this is(unless a family member suffers from hearing loss) many of us never come into contact with deaf persons in our daily routine. But the deaf do exist and their existence is marred by our society’s failure to acknowledge their needs.

Associating the word abnormal to a deaf child is very common in Pakistan. As a result of this, many parents chose to keep a deaf child hidden within their homes. The fear of ‘what will people say’ trumps the deaf child’s right to a healthy and happy live

For those of us blessed with the ability to hear it is difficult to imagine a silent life. You want to tell someone what you think and how you feel but nobody can understand you, so you are labeled as dumb- even though your IQ may be higher than the person standing before you. The deaf require spaces which can help them reach their potentials. Despite many schools like ABSA, less than 5% of the 1.25 million deaf children in Pakistan attend school. Consequently, without a proper education, they are limited to working low paid jobs like car valets.

Associating the word abnormal to a deaf child is very common in Pakistan. As a result of this, many parents chose to keep a deaf child hidden within their homes. The fear of ‘what will people say’ trumps the deaf child’s right to a healthy and happy live. Moreover, parents who are not ashamed of their child’s disability are gripped by the need to protect them from being mistreated by the world outside. Children with no hearing impairment find it much easier to exclude a deaf child from their fun and games on the basis that he or she doesn’t understand anything. And it is up to the parents and teachers of a child who can hear to correct this misconception.

The inability to hear by no means reduces a child’s ability to think, learn and participate in society; the children studying at ABSA are a proof of this. As I watched the students solve complex math equations and stitch delicate floral patterns, the silence surrounding them faded somewhere into the background. Their inability to speak ceased to define them. A sentence said to me by the school’s General Secretary Muleika Sayeed lingered behind: ‘Being deaf is not such a big handicap. After all, they are people with weak eyesight. They wear glasses.’

The deaf may not be able to speak but they do have a language. Through sign language they can communicate absolutely anything. However, there are very few people with the ability to hear who are familiar with sign language. This means those who are deaf are still trapped in nooks and crannies of society, never able to enter the center. Internationally the ability to speak more than one language is recognized as a valuable skill. Similarly, many schools in Pakistan highlight the importance of learning languages be it Sindhi or French. However, sign language hardly ever makes the cut and it is important to ask why not?

It is easy to take the ability to hear for granted. Being unable to communicate and partake in everyday activities can push an individual into a very lonely place. The deaf exist within our society but are often unable to be a part of it. Private and public schools should offer sign language as a subject (just as they offer other languages) to overcome this. Since the 18th amendment each province has control over its education system. If the relevant political parties push for legislation which makes it compulsory to offer sign language as a subject, thereby recognizing the hardships of others, we might just move towards becoming a more tolerant society.

India- Irbid Imam delivers Jordan's first sign-language translated sermon

15.01.2019
(MENAFN - Jordan Times) IRBID — For the first time in Jordan, a mosque held a sign-language translated Friday sermon (or khutba), allowing the deaf and mute community to take part.

'Everyone deserves to feel welcome in God's house,' said Director of the First Irbid Awqaf Directorate Ahmed Smadi.

Out of the estimated 6,300 mosques in the Kingdom, Al Hashmi mosque, in downtown Irbid, was the first to execute the novel idea, with its Imam, Zuhdi Smadi, saying he hopes 'other mosques, whose financial abilities are even better, will follow suit and build on the deed'.

'We first thought of the idea when a university student, who recently took a sign-language class, said he would like to translate the Koran tafseer [explanation] sittings to his hearing-challenged friend,' said the Imam. 'Before that, we had been completely oblivious to the fact that there are people who are left out from those sittings.'

He added that then they thought, 'why not go bigger?'

The sermon was attended by five hearing-impaired residents from the area, who had always prayed at the mosque, and others nearby, on Fridays, but were never able to understand the sermons.

Mohanned Yacoub, a university student residing in Amman who was born with a hearing impairment, told The Jordan Times, through his brother, that he could lip-read words like 'Allah', 'Mohammed' and 'Islam' during the sermons, but nothing more.

'He always asks me after the prayer what the sermon was about, and I would try to recount it as closely as I could,' said his brother, Salem.

The idea, just like Imam Smadi hoped, is already beginning to spread outside the Muslim community, as a board member of Irbid's churches' committee, Basheer Gammoh, said he plans to follow Al Hashmi's example and appoint an interpreter for his next sermon, on Sunday.

 

This Speech & Hearing Impaired Kozhikode women CEO charts Sign Next revolution

This Speech & Hearing Impaired Kozhikode women CEO charts Sign Next revolution

Punishment to IIT student in cheating case upheld by HC

13.01.2019
Ahmedabad:
The Gujarat high court has upheld the punishment meted out to a hearing-impaired student of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar for plagiarism and cheating in an exam.

Though the HC upheld the punishment set by the institute, it also gave hims some “draught” by asking the ministry of human resource development to shift him from IITGn to IIT, Mumbai, in his home town, at the student’s request.

The case involves second-year BTech student Aditya Tare, who has 64% hearing impairment but is a very good tennis player. He was suspended for two semesters and awarded rigorous social service and community work for six months. This punishment was meted out to him twice in one year’s time, first for plagiarism, as he copied some text in his philosophy assignment from sources on the internet in December 2017 and for the second time in November 2018 after he was caught cheating in an examination.

Tare accepted the punishment for plagiarism but challenged the punishment in the cheating case. After hearing the case, Justice J B Pardiwala deliberated on whether a court should interfere in the decision taken by academicians and educationists. Citing numerous judgments, he said, “I have reached the conclusion that I should not be wiser than the academicians and educationists…The authorities of the institute are responsible for maintenance of discipline in the institute. Such authority, being responsible for the welfare of the student, is the best judge…”

The court said, “The punishment imposed by the institute is not the end of his life. This is an eye opener for the writ applicant. In this type of matters, it would not be proper or even in accordance with law to show mercy or take a sympathetic view of the matter.”

However, the student did not leave the court disheartened. He requested for a transfer of college. Considering the pressure of studies and his hearing impairment, the HC said, “I am of the view that if he remains close to his family, then the family can keep a watch on his movements and problems including his studies.” The court quoted the famous 19th century novelist, George Eliot, “More helpful than all wisdom or counsel is on draught of simple human pity that will not forsake us.” For Tare, this draught came from the high court, which directed IITGn and the Centre to sympathetically consider his request to transfer him to IIT, Mumbai. “Some humane approach is necessary for the purpose of taking such kind of decision. If the writ applicant (Tare) goes back to his home, probably, it could be achanging point or a major turn in his life,” the court said.

Hearing and speech impaired woman held for pick-pocketing in Mumbai

 13.01.2019

Mumbai: The Kurla GRP officials arrested a 26-year-old hearing and speech impaired woman for allegedly stealing a debit card and using it to withdraw Rs 25,000 from an ATM and purchase two dresses and a gold ring. A special educator's help was sought to aid the police.

Shindu Mane, who works at Sion Hospital, filed a complaint with the GRP on January 9 after her purse was stolen while she was on a train between Kurla and Bhandup stations, according to a report in The Indian Express. The complainant received several text messages till the afternoon of January 10 notifying her of cash withdrawals and purchases made using the stolen card.

Sub-inspector R Sankpal, Kurla GRP, said that the accused, who was identified as Namrata Thorat, withdrew the cash from an ATM and used the card for shopping in Mulund. The police recovered the CCTV footage of the shop from where the accused had bought the ring and circulated her pictures among the informers.

Reportedly, Thorat was able to use the card as its PIN was written on a piece of paper inside the purse. The police was tipped off about Thorat's location after which she was arrested from Bhandup station on Friday.

It was suspected that the accused woman was faking her disability to avoid arrest. However, a tutor was called for her when it was confirmed that the accused was indeed hearing and speech impaired.

Thorat, who is a Class 10 dropout and had worked with an NGO, confessed to having committed the crime. A case has been registered against her under sections 419 (cheating by impersonation), 420 (cheating) and 379 (theft) of the IPC.

Bullet proof of mental strength in Dhanush’s battle vs hearing loss

13.01.2019
CHENNAI : Shooter Dhanush Srikant has been caught between the devil and the deep sea for a few years now. Born with a hearing impairment, he was forced to use a hearing aid. But every time he used it in practice or competition, the ear-splitting noise of the pellets being fired would get amplified to an uncomfortable degree.The Telangana boy, who began shooting three years ago, didn’t have a choice. “We asked him to use it because it was difficult during competitions. Sometimes he wouldn’t hear the sound of the shot too. So we convinced him to start wearing it during training and also during matches. Over the last few months, we have tried to develop that habit,” former shooter Neha Chavan, who has been working with Dhanush, said.

That habit bore fruit as Dhanush made headlines after winning the U-21 men’s 10m rifle final in the ongoing Khelo India Youth Games. He upstaged two-time junior World Cup bronze winner Arjun Babuta, after bettering his personal best with 629.7 during qualifiers and following it up with 248.9 in the final.

A product of the Project Leap programme run by Gagan Narang’s Gun For Glory (GFG), Dhanush had a cochlear implant when he was just one. Since then, gestures and sign language have been an integral part of his life. Narang is a delighted man and hopes that he can build on this inspiring display. “Very satisfied. He is a keen observer and used to watch me train. He has a long way to go. We will groom him slowly and provide him with whatever support is needed,” the London Olympics bronze medallist said. “There is a procedure that everyone needs to follow. It’s going to be tough but an exciting journey with him.”

Learning the nuances of the game is hard, but doing that in sign language is even harder. For his coaches too, it was something new, a big challenge. “The other shooters at the academy can at least communicate their issues with us. On the other hand, he couldn’t do the same, share his emotions. So he would always complain and ask ‘why am I not getting 10.8 or 10.9?’. He always aimed for the best. So we would have to sit down and explain to him that 10.9 is not everything. Our challenge was to get him out of it,” Neha revealed.

Not so long ago, the 16-year-old, who trains in GFG in Trimulgherry, had shown promise during the national trials in New Delhi, finishing fourth among seniors. Neha, who has been associated with GFG for four-and-a-half years, said that communication is much smoother now. “Now, communication is not a big problem. So, we have been able to focus on the technical aspect and help him grow.”

Tributes pour in for deaf shooter Dhanush Srikanth after historic win

13.01.2019
Dhanush Srikanth is clearly the star in the ongoingKhelo India Youth Games 2019 in Pune, Maharashtra. Srikanth has become a sensation after winning the gold medal in rifle shooting.

16-year-old Srikanth, who is deaf, won a gold in under-21 air rifle shooting event. His performance in the final round awed everyone as he shot like a pro.

Srikanth has been trained by Neha Chavan of the 'Gun for Glory' shooting academy. He is from Telangana and is also a second degree Dan in taekwondo..The young player has won the hearts of sports lovers and have received praise from all corners.

Champion shooter was among those who praised him on social media.

"Whats special about him is that he cannot hear or speak. Shooting sign language had to be specially developed with the coach to make him understand technicalities of shooting. He uses a Cochlear implant to give him a sense of sound. Amazing", said Narang.

Another awesome performance came from Avinash Yadav in the under-17 air rifle event. Avinash is from Madhya Pradesh and he beat the final score of Divyansh Singh of Rajasthan by 0.2 point.

Avinash’s achievement is a major surprise as Divyansh Singh is all set to make it to the national team for the World Cup in New Delhi next month.

Divyansh had a lead throughout the event but in the finals, he could only reach to a score of 9.7 and was overshot by Avinash who scored a 10.4.

Disability Is An Important Issue, Especially In India: Arwa Imtiyaz Bhat

Sixteen-year-old Arwa Imtiyaz Bhat from Kashmir valley is an immensely talented Class 10 student who gives voice to players who can’t speak or hear. Daughter of an auto rickshaw driver, Arwa first grabbed headlines, last year, when she helped a group of hearing and speech impaired badminton players by becoming their voice. A master of the sign language and an avid learner, Arwa helps players communicate. She is often seen at tournaments or travelling across the country with the players who need her help. She doesn’t charge a fee for her work, she does it for sheer happiness. So far, she has played an active role in the J&K team winning four gold, three silver and two bronze medals in the National Games for the Deaf in Ranchi. Some edited snippets from our conversation with Arwa.

You are still a student and living in Srinagar. What inspired you to become the voice of the hearing and speech impaired sportspersons in the state?

My mom is specially-abled and when she used to talk to me through sign language, in my childhood, I used to not able to get her. Gradually, I started understanding her hand movements. So you can say it is because of my mother that I choose to be the voice of hearing and speech impaired people and yeah, I want to say that my mother is my inspiration and this is the job I want to do.

It is because of my mother that I choose to be the voice of hearing and speech impaired people.

You’re sign language savvy, which helps you communicate with specially-abled players. Where did you learn it and why?

​This is all because of my mother. I didn’t take any classes in sign language, I learnt this from my mother by seeing how she communicates with the help of hand gestures. I picked up the sign language with time and now I am well versed in it.

I didn’t take any classes in sign language, I learnt this from my mother.

You’re associated with the All Jammu & Kashmir Sports Association of the Deaf. How do you balance your study and work?

​I do both… I study because I am a student and I want to learn more and more in my life and on the other hand, I also help the people in need because I love my job.

For your work you have to travel across the country. At 16 how do you manage to do that?

In the beginning, it was very tough for me to balance both my family and studies because I have to travel excessively. But eventually I managed, now I understand the way I have to juggle it all. I also manage the time for my studies because in today’s world knowledge is what keeps us updated, informed and makes us wiser in our decisions.

The world only needs a well-educated person who is able to do anything with his/her own intelligence and hard work.

What are the major challenges you have faced so far? Do you also have to deal with any financial stress in the family?

​There are many financial challenges in my family. My father is an auto rickshaw driver, my mom is a housewife, my elder brother is also an auto rickshaw driver and my youngest brother is a student in Class 5. We suffer to make the ends meet as my father’s earning is as low as Rs 200 per day. And honestly some days, my father doesn’t get any money so we all sleep empty stomach and wait for the next day for him to earn some money. Sometimes, it makes me cry when I see the situation of my family… Even when I am travelling for the job my uncle pays the bills. I always think that one day I will become successful and make them happy and will fulfill their every dream.

When the teams win, how do you feel? What does this job mean to you?

​When I started doing this job my father, my grandmother and my paternal uncle didn’t support me because they believed it’ll hamper my studies. But I convinced them. My school and teachers are unhappy when I go off to tournaments across the country and miss my classes.

My love for this job is stronger and it’s growing on me every day.

What do you think India lacks in terms of being more inclusive for people with disabilities?

​Coming from a financially backward family, having missed out on most of the fun childhood activities, due to financial constraints, I am brought up in an atmosphere where people make fun of the disabled. Disability is an important issue, especially in a developing country like India. The society lacks conviction in appreciating the struggles of the differently-abled. I have seen my mother being made fun of because of her disability and people teasing her for her condition, it’s an everyday struggle.

Disability is an important issue, especially in a developing country like India.

My motto is to give back to the society and help as much as I can. My aim is to study medicine, but that’s far from reality we all know that. Hopefully, one day, I’ll be praised for my job and the struggle will end.

மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் ஆவின் பாலகம் நடத்த ரூ.25 ஆயிரம் மானியம் கலெக்டர் ராமன் தகவல்

10.01.2019, வேலூர்,
வேலூர் மாவட்ட மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் நலத்துறை சார்பில் நேற்று வேலூர் கலெக்டர் அலுவலகத்தில் சிறப்பு குறை தீர்வுநாள் கூட்டம் நடந்தது. மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் நல அலுவலர் செந்தில்குமாரி, சமூக பாதுகாப்புத்துறை தனித்துணை ஆட்சியர் காமராஜ் ஆகியோர் முன்னிலை வகித்தனர்.

கலெக்டர் ராமன் தலைமை தாங்கி கூட்டத்தில் கலந்துகொண்ட மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளிடம் கோரிக்கை மனுக்களை பெற்றார். மேலும் ஒருவருக்கு சக்கர நாற்காலி, 3 பேருக்கு காதொலி கருவி ஆகியவற்றை வழங்கி பேசினார்.

அவர் பேசியதாவது:–

மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கு கடந்த 5–ந் தேதி நடத்தப்பட்ட தனியார் வேலைவாய்ப்பு முகாமில் 2,400 பேர் பங்கேற்றனர். அவர்களில் 1,065 பேர் தேர்வாகி உள்ளனர். இதுவரை நடத்தப்பட்ட குறைதீர்வுநாள் கூட்டத்தில் 829 மனுக்கள் பெறப்பட்டு அதில் 159 மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கு நலத்திட்ட உதவிகள் வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

தற்போது மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் 4 வகையான தொழில் தொடங்கி வாழ்க்கையில் முன்னேற அரசு புதிய ஆணை வெளியிட்டுள்ளது. அதன்படி ஆவின் பாலகம் நடத்தவும், ஆவின் உற்பத்தி பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்யவும் ரூ.25 ஆயிரம் மானியம் வழங்கப்படுகிறது. இதற்கு மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் இடம் தேர்வு செய்து, ஆவின் நிறுவனத்தில் அனுமதி பெற வேண்டும்.

மேலும் சிறுதொழில் தொடங்க மற்றும் பெட்டிக்கடை வைக்க கூட்டுறவுத்துறை சார்பில் ரூ.25 ஆயிரம் மானியம் வழங்கப்படுகிறது. இந்தியன் வங்கி மூலம் 10 மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கு ரூ.1 லட்சம் வீதம் கடன் வழங்க இருப்பதாக வங்கி அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர். அதேபோன்று பிரதம மந்திரியின் வேலைவாய்ப்பை உருவாக்கும் திட்டத்திலும் மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கு உதவித்தொகை வழங்கப்படுகிறது. இந்த திட்டங்களில் மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் பயன்பெற்று தொழில்தொடங்கலாம்.

இவ்வாறு அவர் பேசினார்.

அயனாவரம் சிறுமி பலாத்கார வழக்கில் 16 பேர் மீதான குண்டர் சட்டத்தை ரத்து செய்தது உயர்நீதிமன்றம்

11.01.2019

சென்னை: சென்னை அயனாவரம் சிறுமி பலாத்கார வழக்கில் 16 பேர் மீதான குண்டர் சட்டத்தை ரத்து செய்து உயர்நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. சென்னை அயனாவரத்தில் உள்ள அடுக்குமாடி குடியிருப்பில் வசித்து வந்த காது கேளாத 12 வயது சிறுமியை அங்கு பணிபுரியும் ஊழியர்கள் பாலியல் வன்கொடுமை செய்தனர். இந்நிலையில், அவருக்கு திடீர் உடல் நலக்குறைவு ஏற்பட்டது. இதைத் தொடர்ந்து அவரை, அருகில் உள்ள மருத்துவமனைக்கு பெற்றோர் அழைத்துச் சென்றனர். மேலும் சிறுமி மன ரீதியிலும் பாதிப்படைந்திருந்தார்.

இதைத் தொடர்ந்து அவர், சிலர் தன்னிடம் பாலியல் ரீதியிலான தொந்தரவில் ஈடுபட்டதாக அழுது கொண்டே பெற்றோரிடம் தெரிவித்தார். இதைக் கேட்டு அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்த பெற்றோர் உடனடியாக அருகில் உள்ள அனைத்து மகளிர் காவல் நிலையத்தில் கடந்த ஜூலை 15-ம் தேதி புகார் தெரிவித்தனர்.

காவல்துறை விசாரணையில், சிறுமி வசித்து வந்த அடுக்குமாடி குடியிருப்பில் வேலை செய்து வந்த காவலாளி, லிப்ட் ஆபரேட்டர், பிளம்பர் என அடுத்தடுத்து 17 பேர் சிறுமியிடம் பாலியல் அத்துமீறலில் ஈடுபட்டது தெரியவந்தது. இதைத் தொடர்ந்து பாலியல் ரீதியாக வன்கொடுமை செய்த அடுக்குமாடி குடியிருப்பில் லிப்ட் ஆபரேட்டர்களான 4 பேர், காவலாளிகளான 4 பேர், பிளம்பராக உள்ள 4 பேர் உட்பட மொத்தம் 17 பேர் கைது செய்யப்பட்டு புழல் சிறையில் அடைக்கப்பட்டனர்.

இதனையடுத்து அவர்கள் 16 பேரையும் குண்டர் சட்டத்தில் கைது செய்து சிறையில் அடைக்கப்பட்டனர். குண்டர் சட்டத்தை எதிர்த்து 16 பேர் சென்னை உயர்நீதிமன்றத்தில் மனுத்தாக்கல் செய்தனர். இதனை விசாரித்த உயர்நீதிமன்ற நீதிபதிகள் ஆலோசனைக்குழு உரிய காலத்தில் விசாரணை நடத்தாததால் குண்டர் சட்டத்தை ரத்து செய்து உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

Madras HC quashes detention of 16 accused in gang rape of minor girl

11.01.2019
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court Friday quashed the detention of 16 accused in a case relating to the gang rape of an 11-year-old hearing impaired girl in Ayanavaram here last year, under the Goondas Act.

A division bench of Justices C T Selvam and R Hemalatha passed the order as police failed to pass the detention order within 30 days of arrest.

The matter relates to the rape of a minor girl by a group of 17 people working at an apartment complex in Ayanavaram locality here, like plumbers, housekeepers, security guards and lift operators.

The girl was allegedly sexually assaulted several times by the accused over seven months. All 17 were first arrested and then detained under the Goondas Act. The Goondas Advisory Board also confirmed the detention of 17 people under the Act.

Assailing the detention, 16 accused approached the high court.

Claiming that the allegations against them were false, the petitioners said it was "very strange" that the minor girl was still alive despite the claim of her having been "raped" on multiple occasions.

Noting that they had no bad antecedents, the petitioners alleged that all of them have lost their jobs and were forced to vacate their house by the landlords.

The case came to light after the victim, a class 7 student, narrated her ordeal to her elder sister.

The sister informed their parents about it following which the girl's father lodged a police complaint on July 15 last year.

The arrested persons were attacked by some lawyers in the court when they were produced on July 17.

Otolaryngologists’ meet exhibits India’s prowess

11.01.2019
Kondapur: Dr B Karunakar Reddy, the Vice-Chancellor of Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences, has lauded the efforts of the doctors in organising a international conference which served as a platform of great learning.

Speaking as the chief guest at the 14th Asia Oceania ORL HSN Congress and the 71st National Conference of Otolaryngologists of India, Dr Karunakar said it was a great platform to learn from live surgical workshops.

Dr Karunakar, who is also a surgeon, recalled how by watching experts in the respective fields, he learnt laparoscopy which is a recent advancement.

He said the Telangana government has initiated the ENT screening programme for whole of Telangana people, which was laudable as it wouldrecord the data of its population in the ENT area of the entire State and steps to take for their wellness.

The 14th Asia Oceana ORL HSN Congress and the 71stNational Conference of Otolaryngologists of India meet began on January 9. Besides performing live surgeries, discussions on the latest advancements made in the ENT were held.

To create further awareness on pollution titled ‘War Against Pollution, “A Walkathon from Hi-Tec to Hitex venue was organized on Friday which was flagged off by Cyberabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar, who was the chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion, he expressed gratitude to the organizers and NGO Sanofi for taking the lead in war against pollution. He urged the ENT surgeons to initiate many more programmes to prevent pollution and promised all support to help them from the department of police.

The walkathon was organised to raise awareness on the need to fight pollution. According to Dr Manish Gupta, organising treasurer, the conference showcased at least 10 surgeries related to ear, nose and throat specially in the area of cochlear implants for the deaf, mute and children.

Dr D Dwarakanath Reddy, convener, 14th Asia Oceana ORL HSN Congress, in his welcome address, said it was laudable effort for holding the conference in India as the organizers can showcase to the world how much India has developed since the last Congress and also to demonstrate high level of academic skill which Indians have known for. Such types of conferences are a major glory of the intellectual life of the nation.

On the occasion, they recalled the contributions of Dr. LHL Hiranandani and Dr S K Kacker that led to the second Congress being held in India at Hyderabad after 1987 Asia Oceania which was held in New Delhi. The participants included a lady from Thailand, who attended the conference 13 out of 14 times. Theconference is held once every four years.

Dr Sheng Po Hao, Taiwan President, Asia Oceania ORL HNS, Dr Kaushal Sheth, Dr Chen Chi Wng, Dr D Dwarakanath Reddy, Dr TV Krishna Rao were also present.

மாவட்ட வேலைவாய்ப்பு அலுவலகத்தில் மாற்றுத் திறனாளிகளுக்கான சிறப்புப் பிரிவு

காது கேளாத வாய் பேசாத சிறுவனை மீட்ட போலீசார்

 07.01.2019, காரியாபட்டி:

காரியாபட்டி அருகே நான்கு வழிச்சாலையில் தனியாக நடந்து வந்த சிறுவனை ரோந்து போலீசார் பிடித்து ஆவியூர் போலீசில் ஒப்படைத்தனர். சிறுவனுக்கு காது கேட்காது, வாய் பேச முடியாமல் இருந்ததால் விசாரிப்பதில் சிக்கல் இருந்தது. கை விரல் ரேகை கொண்டு ஆதாரில் உள்ள முகவரியை கண்டறிய போலீசார் முயற்சி செய்து முடியவில்லை. வாகனத்தில் ஏற்றிச் சென்று சைகை மூலம் வீட்டு முகவரியை கண்டறிந்தனர். மதுரை ஜெய்ஹிந்த்புரத்தை சேர்ந்த மதியழகன் மகன் மணிமுருகன் என்பதும், தந்தை திட்டியதால் கோபித்துக் கொண்டு வீட்டை விட்டு வெளியேறியது தெரிந்தது. இதன்பின் ஆவியூர் எஸ்.ஐ.,கள் மகேஷ்வரன், பிச்சைபாண்டி, கலைச்செல்வன் மற்றும் போலீசார் சிறுவனை பெற்றோரிடம் ஒப்படைத்தனர்.

Participation of 'Divyangjan' is important to fulfil the dream

Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar Thursday said participation of 'Divyangjan' is very important to fulfil the dream of Digital India.

Inaugurating a two-day National Conference on Disability here, the minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment said: "In this age of internet and technology, the dream of Digital India will not be possible without the participation and inclusion of Divyangjan".

Gurjar said that through the use of technology the lives of Divyangjan can be made easier and they can be made self-dependent.

"Ministry of social Justice and empowerment has taken the issues of Divyangjan of North East as a challenge. Technology can play a great role in facing this challenge. It is felt from long time that awareness on this issue are very much needed in this region and so the ministry has decided to organise such conference here", he added.

The National Conference 'Disability and Social Inclusion - The Role of Technology' was organised by National Institute for Locomotor Disabilities (Divyangjan), (NILD), Kolkata at IIT-Guwahati.

The minister further said that government has launched a new scheme "Accessible India Campaign" (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan), a nationwide campaign to enable persons with disabilities to gain universal access, equal opportunity for development, independent living and participation in all aspects of life in an inclusive society.

"Under this scheme government is providing cochlear implant to deaf children. Government is importing these devices. But if these devices can be produced here, it will give more life to Divyangjan. This is a big challenge and IITs have all the capability to fulfil this Challenge", he added.

As the Guest of Honour, IIT-G Director Gautam Biswas said that miracles of science and technology has changed the lives of people including 'Divyangjan'.

This Man Speaking In Sign Language Over Video Chat Shows Just How Technology Is Changing India

Technology is cool and everything, after all it gives us neat gadgets to play with and more convenient ways to do things. But one aspect of technology that's unfortunately sidelined far too often is how it can enable people to do things they never could have before.

And right here is a perfect example of that side of technology. Indiatimes' own Abhishek Saksena caught this heartwarming exchange in a bus in the NCR region. This gentleman is communicating with his friend through sign language, over video chat.

Think about that for a second. Video calling to you is just like a bonus. You've been able to call people for decades, and you would have encountered mobile phones in India even 20 years ago. But for a deaf person, all of those varieties of phones have been useless.

Eventually, we got Skype in the early 2000s, which was a step up for someone hearing impaired but it still glued you to a desktop. It was only much later that our phones and VoIP technology became advanced enough to support efficient video calling. Then we had apps for it.

Yet, that would have been just for the upper and middle class. For everyone else in India, a smartphone would be far too expensive. But not anymore.

That's why, a man waving his fingers in patterns in front of his phone on the bus, a blind person making their way with better navigational skills than ever before, a person unable to stand now walking again, all of these are how you measure the progression of technology. Not in how easy life becomes for all of us, but how much it can reduce the difficulty for those that already have it rough.