Underreported India: How India’s deaf community faces the stigma of being different?

Geeta, a 22-year old girl from rural Harayana came all the way to Noida with the aim to lead an independent life. Both her parents had died and she relocated to a city along with her younger brother. For a young girl from Haryana, notorious for its gender inequality, such a bold decision required a lot of courage, the case of Geeta is different, as she and her brother are both deaf. Fast forward eight years, Geeta works at Axis Bank and is leading an independent life, the one she imagined and worked hard for.

Her story was narrated by Ruma Roka, founder of the Noida Deaf Society, an organisation that works with the deaf community, imparts them with vocational training and helps them get a job. 

As per the 2011 census, there are 1.3 million deaf people in India. The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) pegs the number at 18 million, that is over 1.3% of India’s total population suffers from some degree of hearing impairment. 

Compare this to just 388 schools for deaf kids, throughout India. There is not a single college for deaf people and in normal colleges, there are no interpreters. There is one in Delhi University (DU) and hardly anywhere else, according to NAD. Interpreters are those who translate the common language into sign language and vice-versa.

In other words, they serve as a bridge between the deaf minority and the hearing majority. For a population of 18 million, there are just 325 interpreters, according to the Indian Sign Language Research And Training Centre (ISLRTC), that comes under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.

Even the Indian Sign Language (ISL) used by millions in the country isn’t standardised, which means different people use different signs for the same thing. With India’s numerous languages and dialects, deaf Indians from different states find it difficult to communicate. 

Looking at the figures, one can comprehend the dearth of resources that India’s deaf faces. Although the government has reserved seats in institutions and jobs for the differently-abled, the infrastructure at the primary level lacks immensely.

Also, the rural and remote regions of the country lack facilities for even sign language. Thus, with a lack of oral speech and unable to communicate in sign, numerous Indians remain isolated from the world, that often lead to mental health issues.

Also read: International Day of Sign Languages 2020: Theme, history, significance and importance

Bias against sign language

Even in regions where such facilities are available, parents are often reluctant to teach their kids sign language. Emphasis is more on speech. According to Ruma who has worked in the deaf community for over 15 years, the general thinking among guardians is that their deaf child is hearing impaired, but can still speak, which is untrue. 

After spending years and loads of money that parents realise that what their child needs is a language. “We’re now working with so many parents who’re now learning sign language,” Ruma says. 

When asked how deaf people see themselves, she said they don’t see them as speech impaired. They see them as a “linguistic minority”. 

Even doctors show reluctance for sign language. They say through it you’re further marginalising the child, says Ruma. 

Also, girls are at a greater disadvantage as traditional Indian homes wishes to see them getting married, often at a young age and thus invests less on skills required for them to lead an independent life.

Is their hope?

The National Education Policy (NEP) unveiled in July this year declared its intent to formalize and promote the use of ISL.

“Indian Sign Language (ISL) will be standardised across the country and National and State curriculum materials developed, for use by students with hearing impairment. Local sign languages will be respected and taught as well, where possible and relevant,” the policy document reads.

Although the NEP document is an initial feat achieved by the community, it’s an acknowledgment for which the community and those involved with them fought for years to seek recognition for the Indian Sign Language.

Also, the ISLRTC released an ISL dictionary in 2019 which contains signs for words of everyday use and their meanings on English and Hindi.