PM e-VIDYA DTH channel for Indian sign language to be launched by Union Minister

PM e-VIDYA DTH Channel No. 31 for Indian Sign Language (ISL) will going to be launched by Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan on December 6, 2024, in New Delhi. The event will also be attended by Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Education, Jayant Chaudhary. It will feature the participation of Hearing Impaired (HI) children, achievers, special educators, ISL certified interpreters, and organizations dedicated to supporting the hearing-impaired community.

The new DTH channel is part of an effort to promote ISL as both a language and a school subject, making it accessible to a wider audience. It aims to provide educational content for schoolchildren, teachers, and educators, covering topics like career guidance, skill training, mental health, communication skills, and class-specific curricular content.

The channel will also focus on promoting ISL as a subject, similar to Hindi or English.

This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages the promotion of Indian Sign Language to create a more inclusive educational environment. As per NEP, ISL will be standardised across India, and materials for the curriculum will be developed for students with hearing impairments.

The policy also emphasises the importance of local sign languages, where relevant.

The launch of the PM e-VIDYA channel is a significant step in fostering an inclusive and accessible learning environment for the hearing-impaired community in India.