The Ganjam District Deaf and Dumb Association, affiliated to the Odisha Association of Deaf and Odisha Sports Council of the Deaf, celebrated the 58th International Day of the Deaf here on Saturday. On the occasion, the association released a booklet on sign language and the impact of this indigenous language on the deaf people of the world. The booklet explains that Indian sign language (ISl) is not only a collection of words, but it has grammar and can be used to express any thoughts including dreams and complex psychological issues.
The ISl which has grammar and structure include signs, facial expression, body movements, body language, lip movements, and mime and so on through which a deaf can interact and share information, it added.
Celebrating the "International Deaf Day", the association also released its 13-point charter of demands which include implementation of the provision of filling up of 1 per cent vacancies from among the deaf and dumb through the "Special Employment Exchange for Physically Handicapped Persons(SEEPHP); engagement of deaf and dumb against all Class-III and IV vacancies in Government, NGO run special schools and in the office of the DSW; filling up of deaf and dumb against class-III and IV vacancies in the newly created districts out of 1 per cent quota according to the provisions of Disabilities Act,1995 amon others. Citing an example of Government apathy on deaf and dumb persons, the release said that during last 30 years not a single deaf person has got employment in the Odisha Secretariat which is quite unfortunate.