Speech of Deepak Prasad Sahay, General Secretary of All India Federation of the Deaf (AIFD) at the VII National Conference of Delhi Foundation of Deaf Women organised by the National Foundation of Deaf Women from 27th to 30th December 2008 at Vishwa Yuvak Kendra and Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am thankful to have the opportunity to express my thought in front of you all.

Whenever I come to this platform, the first and foremost face that peeps up in mind is of late Renee Kuriyan, the founder of this organisation. She was the pioneer activist in the field for Deaf Women in India. It is very nice to see that after her demise, Ms Uma Kapoor is carrying out her torch efficiently.

I would like to share few opinions and information with you all regarding this field of hearing impairment with special reference to Deaf Women.

In India, as such the women community is deprived; it is more so about the Deaf Women. There are hardly 600 schools for the deaf of which 90% is of very low standard. Unless these schools are equipped with specially trained teachers with efficiency in Sigh Language, their levels can not be elevated and result poor education for all the deaf throughput India. Even in such condition, the number of the girls students is much less in proportion. And unless she is not found brilliant in the elementary education, her family does not pursue for her higher education by keeping her in home bound activities only. Thus she remains in her home without any future, thus destined to be ever dependent on her family. Today, awareness has been increased. Parents of Deaf should give equal importance for the future of the girls as given to other offspring.

It is not only the school education, the deaf girls should have equal exposure in extra curricular activities like Sports , Drama and other fields which will increase their horizons and all round development. These will definitely increase their employability too.

We have a very big problem about our sign-language. It is not uniform in India and interpretation service is very limited. AIFD is trying hard to evolve a common sign language all over India. It has already started a project of Sign Language development in MPTCD.

It is well known about the job reservation by Govt of India. It is sad to say, Deaf are mostly getting lower job categories due to lack of educational skill. Even for these lower jobs, at times their quotas are not filled, thus replaced by other kind of disabilities. Unless we can higher up our educational level, we cannot expect a better job situation. Also all deaf should enroll their names in Special Employment Exchanges. After some time, if proper jobs are not available, they can draw un-employment allowance, disability pension etc. All should convince their parents to give better support in effort to help them to find out jobs and to be close to the NGOs working in this field.

For the working deaf, it should be known about the employment perks and tax-benefit awarded by the state machineries. About the other benefit in recent, mention may be maid about better package for Railway Travel concession, easier approach to Disability Commission, Human Rights etc. Last but the least, Govt has sanctioned Provident Fund contribution for any employer employing deaf for the first three years.

My organization, All India Federation of the Deaf always keeps a very close tie with Delhi Foundation of Deaf Women. Before promoting DFDW, Renee Kuriyan herself was an active worker of AIFD. If you ever need any help from AIFD, you are most welcome to meet me and I promise all the possible assistance from my side.

THANK YOU.