In the 2000s, the Indian deaf community advocated for an institute focused on ISL teaching and research. The 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012) acknowledged that the needs of people with hearing disabilities had been relatively neglected and envisaged the development of a sign language research and training center, to promote and develop sign language and training of teachers and interpreters. The Finance Minister announced the setting up of ISLRTC in the Union Budget speech of 2010-11.
As a result, in 2011, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment approved the establishment of the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center (ISLRTC) as an autonomous center of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Delhi. The foundation stone of the center was laid at IGNOU campus on 4th October, 2011
Objectives:
- To develop manpower for using Indian Sign Language (ISL) and teaching and conducting research in ISL, including bilingualism.
- To promote the use of Indian Sign Language as educational mode for deaf students at primary, secondary and higher education levels.
- To carry out research through collaboration with universities and other educational institution in India and abroad and create linguistic records/ analyses of the Indian Sign Language, including creation of Indian Sign Language corpus (Vocabulary).
- To orient and train various groups, i.e. Govt. officials, teachers, professionals, community leaders and the public at large for understanding and using Indian Sign Language.
- To collaborate with organizations of the deaf and other institutions in the field of disability to promote and propagate Indian Sign Language.
- To collect information relating to Sign Language used in other parts of the world so that this input can be used to upgrade the Indian Sign Language.
Contact Us :
Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC)
Address :A-91, Pocket D, Okhla Phase II, Okhla Industrial Area, New Delhi, Delhi 110020
Telephone :011-26387559,011-26387558
Email : islrtcnewdelhi@gmail.com
Website : http://islrtc.nic.in/