India is home to one of the largest Deaf and Hard of Hearing populations globally. While Census 2011 recorded approximately 5 million Deaf individuals, organizations like the National Association of the Deaf and the WHO suggest the actual figure likely ranges between 18 million and 63 million. These numbers prove that Indian Sign Language is not a niche accommodation; it is a vital national language.

Legal Recognition of Indian Sign Language

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act 2016 marked a critical shift in policy. Specifically, Chapter VIII, Section 42, identifies the need for the state to promote the use of sign language in official and public life. This legal framework finally validates Indian Sign Language as a primary language rather than a mere assistive tool. This distinction is vital because it shifts the focus from a medical “deficit” to a recognized linguistic minority with distinct cultural rights.

Standardizing a National Vocabulary

For a language to be effective in legal, medical, and educational settings, it requires structural consistency. The Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) has led this effort by developing a dictionary with more than 10,000 words. This standardization is essential for national communication. While regional dialects will always exist and should be respected, a unified foundation allows a student in Mumbai to access the same standardized resources as a professional in Kolkata.

Educational Reform under NEP 2020

For decades, the educational system forced Deaf students to rely on lip-reading and speech, which is an ineffective method for many. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has corrected this by introducing a bilingual-bicultural approach. Today, educational content from NCERT and CBSE is being translated into Indian Sign Language to align with how Deaf students actually process information. This transition ensures that students can master their first language before moving on to English or regional written languages.

Shared Responsibility and Professional Interpretation

Inclusion is only possible when the hearing community shares the responsibility of communication. The introduction of DISLI interpreter courses is a major step toward building a workforce of qualified professionals. Furthermore, organizations like ISLRTC and Signable now offer video interpretation services that facilitate real-time communication for Deaf employees. By establishing the primary status of Indian Sign Language, these services ensure that accessibility is a standard right rather than a special request.

Technology and the Future of Accessibility

The digital space has become a hub for Deaf-led content, where creators produce their own news and entertainment. Simultaneously, research institutions like IIIT Hyderabad are developing large-scale, annotated Indian Sign Language data to train AI systems. While AI is not a replacement for the nuance of human interpreters, it is becoming a powerful tool for real-time translation and automated captions, which significantly lowers the barrier to information.

Workplace Integration of Indian Sign Language at Dr. Reddy’s Foundation

At Dr. Reddy’s Foundation, inclusion is an operational standard. We actively hire Deaf trainers and integrate certified interpreters into every key forum, from HR sessions to town halls. This ensures that every team member has equal access to information and decision-making. By offering internal training modules directly in Indian Sign Language, we respect the linguistic identity of our workforce and promote a culture of genuine equity.

The journey toward full inclusion is ongoing. However, by treating this language with the respect it deserves, India is moving toward a future that values the dignity of Persons with Disabilities.

Author
B Keerthana | Assistant Manager, L&D