Guv: Learn sign language to communicate with differently abled

Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, who is also the president of the Haryana Welfare Society for Persons with Speech and Hearing Impairment, urged people to learn sign language, emphasising that it would facilitate communication with the people with speech and hearing impairment and help them feel more connected to society. He further advocated for the inclusion of sign language studies at the university level.

The Governor was chairing a programme to celebrate Children’s Day at Mata Prakash Kaur Welfare Centre for Persons with Speech and Hearing Impairment in the city, organised by the Haryana Welfare Society for Persons with Speech and Hearing Impairment.

Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh, Superintendent of Police (SP) Ganga Ram Punia, Megha Bhandari, vice-president and chairperson, Haryana Welfare Society for Persons with Speech and Hearing Impairment, former Mayor Renu Bala Gupta, BJP district president Brij Gupta and others welcomed the Governor in Karnal.

Dattatreya also interacted with speech and hearing impaired students, addressing their concerns and assuring them that their issues would be resolved soon. He directed the Deputy Commissioner, as well as the society’s vice-president and chairperson, to organise an education trip for the children at the Karnal centre run by the society.

The Governor also inaugurated a new conference room constructed at a cost of Rs 25 lakh at the centre. He paid tributes to the first Prime Minister of the country, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, on his birth anniversary, highlighting Nehru’s deep affection for children and encouraging everyone to cultivate similar compassion.

The Governor praised the teachers at the centre for their dedication in educating such children, reminding attendees that speech and hearing impaired persons were integral members of society deserving respect and inclusion. Reflecting on his own political journey, he said that he advocated for the rights of such persons.

Dattatreya commended the Gurgaon centre’s sign language lab and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting sign language as a formal subject, encouraging everyone to learn it. He also urged such students to stay connected with modern technology and enhance their skills, hoping that they would eventually become self-sufficient and even create job opportunities for others.The Governor praised the digital lab at the Karnal centre, highlighting its role in connecting students to the world. He expressed pride in Haryana’s success at the recent Paralympic Games, where athletes from the state won four of the nine medals and encouraged speech and hearing impaired students to explore sports and other fields like fine arts and crafts.

During the event, Governor Dattatreya engaged in direct dialogue with the students, answering questions and addressing requests. He also discussed challenges related to studying and accommodation with such students.

Uttam Singh said Karnal centre, inaugurated on November 14, 1987, with just nine students, now served approximately 200 students and achieved a 100 per cent pass rate for Classes X and XII in the 2023-24 academic year. The centre offers hostel facilities, a sign language lab, classrooms, and staff quarters, regularly organising activities for the children’s physical and mental development and expressed gratitude to the centre’s donors.

Megha Bhandari highlighted the society’s achievements, emphasising the continuous progress of such children in academics and extracurricular activities. She highlighted accomplishments in sports, bringing pride to the state. She assured everyone that under the Governor’s guidance, the society would strive to meet the needs of these children.