Bhubaneswar, 23/9/2024 ( Odisha Samachar/Rajat Mohapatra)- The Government of Odisha, in partnership with Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech & Hearing Disability and Odisha Rising Foundation (ORF), officially launched the “SANKET – Mo Bhasha” project at AYJNISHD-DRC, Janla, in celebration of the International Day of Sign Language. The project aims to promote sign language and empower the hearing-impaired community across the state.
The ceremony commenced at 11:30 AM with a warm welcome address by Dr. Lanu Wanboy Aimol, Assistant Director of AYJNISHD-DRC Janla, followed by the Lighting of the Lamp by esteemed dignitaries, including Smt. Niyati Pattnaik, OAS, Director, SSEPD Department; and Shri Santosh Pradhan, Additional Secretary, SSEPD Department;
The event featured the official introduction to the “SANKET – Mo Bhasha” project by Shri Akhaya Sagar, Chairman of the Odisha Rising Foundation (ORF). This project is designed to promote awareness, provide training and create opportunities for the deaf community by offering sign language interpreter training and fostering a more inclusive society.
The event also included speeches by notable guests. Shri Santosh Pradhan, Additional Secretary of the SSEPD Department, outlined the government’s commitment to enhancing services for people with disabilities and supporting projects like “SANKET – Mo Bhasha.”
Smt. Niyati Pattnaik, Director, SSEPD, delivered an inspiring speech highlighting the department’s continuous efforts toward disability inclusion and the growing need for more sign language interpreters to bridge communication gaps. She also mentioned that in this first Phase we are going to Produce 100 Sign Language Interpreter and Training to More than 8400 Parents and Teachers in 55 Schools across Odisha.
A special segment of the event was dedicated to introducing the First Batch of Trainees enrolled in the Sign Language Interpreter Training Program, a key component of the project that has already garnered significant public interest following its advertisement.
This inaugural event has set the stage for a transformative journey to promote sign language in Odisha, addressing the communication challenges faced by the deaf community and creating pathways for greater inclusivity and social empowerment.