Govt signs pact for India’s first integrated support model for hearing impaired

The government on Thursday signed an agreement with a consortium of organisations to enhance support and opportunities for persons with hearing impairment.
According to an official statement, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has entered into a partnership with the “Coalition of the Willing” to accelerate empowerment and opportunity for persons with hearing impairment.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Secretary V Vidhyavathi, Additional Secretary Manmeet Kaur Nanda and other officials.
The partnership aims to pioneer an integrated life-cycle model of empowerment that supports individuals with hearing impairment from early intervention and education to skilling, employment and social inclusion, the statement said.
“By aligning institutional expertise, technological innovation and community outreach, the initiative seeks to create systemic change that improves accessibility, expands opportunities and strengthens dignity and independence for persons with hearing impairment across the country,” it added.
The ‘Coalition of the Willing’ comprises organisations working in technology, education and accessibility, including Yunikee (Gopalakrishnan Foundation for the Deaf), Blee Tech Innovations Pvt. Ltd., Training and Educational Centre for Hearing Impaired (TEACH), WinVinaya Foundation, Buddy4Study India Foundation, VCrop Technologies Pvt. Ltd., and the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC).
According to the statement, the collaboration will focus on expanding assistive technologies, strengthening educational support, promoting skill development and employment opportunities, facilitating scholarships and developing Indian sign language learning and digital content.
By combining policy support with technological solutions and community-driven initiatives, the partnership aims to ensure that persons with hearing impairment are able to participate fully and confidently in social and economic life, it added.