NEW DELHI: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on December 6, 2024 launched India’s first round-the-clock sign language television channel, as part of the PM e-VIDYA initiative.
Run by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Channel 31 aims to provide comprehensive educational resources in sign language for hearing-impaired students, teachers, and educators.
Speaking at the launch of Channel 31, Dharmendra Pradhan highlighted the transformational outcome of expanding the list of recognised disabilities from seven to 21, saying that it has made the legal framework more comprehensive.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 gives the education of Children with Special Needs (CwSN) a priority, marking a paradigm shift towards an inclusive education system.
Sound is not the only medium of communication. Alternative forms, such as sign language, are critical for ensuring equal opportunities, the Union Minister said and called for developing Indian Sign Language (ISL) to global standards, envisioning its widespread adoption and urging more individuals to learn ISL to support the hearing-impaired population.
Dharmendra Pradhan described Channel 31 as a bridge to facilitate communication and unlock the potential of the differently abled, contributing to a more inclusive and progressive society.
The channel is part of the PM e-VIDYA initiative, which unifies efforts related to digital, online, and on-air education, benefiting nearly 25 crore school-going children across the country.
He urged stakeholders to popularise Channel 31 and ensure its nationwide reach, calling it a gateway for the world to Indian Sign Language.
Dharmendra Pradhan said the initiative sets a benchmark for emerging economies and reaffirms India’s commitment to constitutional rights by ensuring equal access to education and resources.
He emphasised that Indian Sign Language has the potential to set global benchmarks, create large-scale job opportunities, and lead India towards a more inclusive future.
PM e-VIDYA
Channel 31, an exclusive PM e-VIDYA channel, has been conceptualised to promote ISL both as a language and as a school subject. The channel will disseminate learning content for schoolchildren as per the central and state curricula, teachers, teacher educators, and other stakeholders.
It will also cover career guidance, skill training, mental health, communication skills, and the promotion of ISL as a language subject akin to Hindi and English. The content will also be available on YouTube.
‘Journey towards inclusivity’
Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, described the channel’s launch as a milestone in India’s journey toward inclusivity.
He noted that the People with Disability Act has been replaced by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, reflecting the government’s commitment to a rights-oriented framework.
He also highlighted efforts to standardise regional languages for ISL, noting that over 10,000 words have been standardised so far.
The Ministers and other dignitaries visited the exhibition stalls set up by ISLRTC, NCERT, Vidyanjali, and NIOS. Hearing-impaired students rendered the National Anthem in sign language and presented a skit. A short film on HI achievers was also screened at the event.
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