The deaf shall not drive: Centre tells Delhi High Court

This definitely is not good news for the roughly five crore (50 million) hearing-impaired people in India. Two months after telling Delhi High Court that it was considering allowing the deaf in India to drive, the Centre did a U-turn on Wednesday. This time, the government told the court that, in the light of poor road manners in India and the frightening accident rate — the highest in the world — the hearing impaired cannot be given licences. Jyoti Singh, the counsel for Road Transport and Highways Ministry, said before a bench of Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice S Muralidhar that the decision was taken at a meeting of the special meeting of Central Motor Vehicles Rules- technical standing committee convened on December 9, 2009. The court is hearing a public interest petition by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) seeking a direction to quash the requirement of having ‘no hearing impairment for the issuance of driving licence’.
The archaic Motor Vehicles Act prohibits the deaf from obtaining a driver’s licence, saying they could be a ‘source of danger to the public’. NAD’s lawyer and human rights activist Colin Gonsalves had contended that the hearing impaired are allowed to drive in all but 26 countries.
He said, in the UK, Australia, Germany, Belgium, Thailand and Malaysia, authorities only insist on special double rear-view mirrors. In Malaysia and Sri Lanka, this category of drivers are to indicate the handicap by putting a sticker on the back of their cars, so that other drivers do not hoot. But they are not allowed to drive commercial or passenger vehicles. “Indian roads are far more hazardous than of those countries mentioned by the PIL,” the committee concluded.

N commandos to learn sign language at school for the deaf

Vivek Narayanan | TNN


Chennai: They have learnt combat from the US Marines and tactics from war veterans. Now, they will learn a vital mode of communication from a Chennai-based school for the deaf. Personnel of the Tamil Nadu Commando Force will take lessons from the CSI Higher Secondary School here on sign language to communicate with each other during anti-terrorist operations . The 40-day training will begin on January 18.
NSG commandos, like their counterparts in the US Marines and Navy Seals, have their own sign language , but each sign conveys only one word or an idea. The sign language of the hearing impaired, on the other hand, can be used to quickly convey meanings of long sentences , a vital attribute for commandos during high-voltage operation. For example, using sign language, it takes barely five seconds to convey the sentence you go upstairs, I will follow you with more ammunition.
We have shortlisted a vocabulary of 1,000 words, which the commandos will be trained in, said a senior officer.
The aim of the course is to evolve a common pattern of signs corresponding to various situations , which the force is likely to encounter during a terror attack. When a platoon tries to attack a terrorist base, we cannot use communication equipment as it might alert the enemy. This is where sign language comes in; members of the platoon will be able to communicate with each other on the positions of snipers, number of terrorists and the kind of weapons they have, said the officer. Incidentally, during the 26/11 attacks, the terrorists were unable to decipher the signs used by the NSG forces.
CSI School headmaster J Justin is excited about the training programme, especially since his students will have an opportunity to meet the special forces personnel. Our students will be motivated to see them. I conducted a one-day training for the commandos about 45 days ago. They grasped things easily and were keen on learning sign language.

News published by Times of India on 27/11/2009

Deaf may get licence to drive soon

The hearing impaired may get permission to drive in the country, the government told the Delhi high court on Monday. "We are considering issuing driving licences to hearing impaired people and thinking of amending our rules and regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act," additional solicitor-general AS Chandiok told the court.
Chief justice Ajit Prakash Shah and justice S Muralidhar allowed the Centre to take three months to come out with a proposal for and the modalities of the amendment. The Act prohibits the hearing impaired from obtaining a driver's licence as they could be a source of danger to the public.
There are about 50 million hearing impaired people in India. The judges were hearing a public interest petition by the National Association of the Deaf (Nad) seeking a direction to quash the requirement of having 'no hearing impairment' for the issuance of a driving licence.
Nad said the deaf are not allowed to drive in only 26 countries, including India."The only reason why India is not willing to issue licences is that Indian vehicles lack the special gadgets that vehicles in other countries have. But we are considering the same and hoping that we will be able to amend some rules," Chandiok said.
Medical experts say those who can hear up to 60 decibels with a hearing aid can be permitted to hold a driving licence for private vehicles, while those with a hearing level of up to 40 decibels with a hearing aid can be allowed to drive commercial vehicles.
Nad says even the Delhi Police website indicates that deaf people can drive: "There is no reason why a deaf person cannot drive a private motorcar. However, the possibility of additional rear vision mirrors may need to be considered."
This news is issued by DNA Delhi.

India's deaf may get licence to drive

India is one of the few countries in the world where the hearing impaired are not allowed to drive. But this may change soon, with the government informing the Delhi High Court it is considering changing its rules.
“We are considering issuing driving licences to hearing impaired people and thinking of amending our rules and regulations,” Additional Solicitor General A.S. Chandiok informed a division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S. Muralidhar.
The court has granted the government three months’ time to take a decision and posted the matter for Dec 16.
At present, the Motor Vehicles Act prohibits the deaf from obtaining a driver’s licence on the ground that they could be a source of danger to the public. There are around 50 million hearing impaired in India.
The court was hearing a public interest petition by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), seeking a direction to quash the requirement of having no hearing impairment for the issuance of a driving licence.
According to the NAD, the deaf are allowed to drive all over the world except in 26 countries including India.
“The only reason why India is not willing to issue licences is that Indian vehicles lack the special gadgets that other countries’ vehicles have. But we are considering the same and hoping that we will be able to amend some rules,” Chandiok informed the bench.
According to medical experts, those who can hear up to 60 decibels with the use of a hearing aid can be permitted to hold a driving licence for private vehicles, while those with a hearing level of up to 40 decibels with hearing aid can be allowed to drive commercial vehicles.
According to the petitioner, even the Delhi Police website indicates that deaf people can drive and states, “There is no reason why a deaf person cannot drive a private motorcar. However, the possibility of additional rear vision mirrors may need to be considered.”
(Kanu Sarda can be contacted at kanu.s@ians.in)

Deaf may get Motor Licence soon

NEW DELHI: India is one of the few countries in the world where the hearing impaired are not allowed to drive. But this may change soon, with the government informing the Delhi High Court it is considering changing its rules. "We are considering issuing driving licences to hearing impaired people and thinking of amending our rules and regulations," Additional Solicitor General A.S. Chandiok informed a division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S. Muralidhar. The court has granted the government three months' time to take a decision and posted the matter for Dec 16. At present, the Motor Vehicles Act prohibits the deaf from obtaining a driver's licence on the ground that they could be a source of danger to the public. There are around 50 million hearing impaired in India. The court was hearing a public interest petition by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), seeking a direction to quash the requirement of having no hearing impairment for the issuance of a driving licence. According to the NAD, the deaf are allowed to drive all over the world except in 26 countries including India. "The only reason why India is not willing to issue licences is that Indian vehicles lack the special gadgets that other countries' vehicles have. But we are considering the same and hoping that we will be able to amend some rules," Chandiok informed the bench. According to medical experts, those who can hear up to 60 decibels with the use of a hearing aid can be permitted to hold a driving licence for private vehicles, while those with a hearing level of up to 40 decibels with hearing aid can be allowed to drive commercial vehicles. According to the petitioner, even the Delhi Police website indicates that deaf people can drive and states, "There is no reason why a deaf person cannot drive a private motorcar. However, the possibility of additional rear vision mirrors may need to be considered."

This news is issued by The Times of India....

Standing Tall Sign language is the basis of Deaf culture

For the uninitiated, let’s start with the rules: It is now politically correct to describe people with pathological hearing loss as deaf and people who are culturally so as Deaf (with a big D).
Culturally Deaf people include people who are deaf, hard of hearing, and families of the deaf. Deafness is no longer a disability, it is a different human experience and Deaf people see themselves as a socio-ethnic minority, with a fractured past but with a history and culture they are proud of.
For the initiated, Big D communities and Deaf pride, have opened up spaces and avenues that open with only great difficulty, and not without a great fight, for discriminated groups. Many Deaf people and researches allude to the close-mindedness exhibited by mainstream media and education which have shown little initiative in making entertainment or information accessible for the Deaf. Captions are largely absent in movies, television shows and news broadcasts; and learning for deaf children is usually in English or a spoken regional language, which they have to learn by lip reading, a way of life that continuously makes them aware of their incongruousness with the hearing world.
Therefore their own culture makes sign languages the touchstone of Deaf activities all over the world. Different sign languages are practiced in different regions and one is completely unintelligible to users of the other as Swahili is to speakers of Samoan. “Sign language is the core and spirit of Deaf Culture, reiterates Sibaji Panda of Mumbai-based Deaf learning organisation Ishara, which promotes Deaf education in Indian Sign Language and English.
As knowledge of signed languages is mandatory to be a part of the Deaf culture, Big D art and work is often exclusive. For instance, the punch in Deaf humour lies in the visual pictures created by signed languages, Panda explains, and will not be understood by those who cannot read it. In an eloquent turning of discrimination on its head, the Deaf also often poke at the hearing and at interpreters, the way blondes and Sardarjis are victims of literal humour.
While Deaf Culture in India had its origins in exclusive programmes begun by the British in schools, the first Deaf association was formed only in the 1950s.
The Deaf community comprising learning centres such as Ishara, Delhi-based The Deaf Way and NGOs such as the Coimbatore-based Deaf Leaders regularly produce magazines, organise exclusive cultural activities, and Deaf Expos.
While Deaf art remains a somewhat niche phenomenon in India, countries such as the U.S.A. have made a lot of headway. Deaf characters in Hollywood movies are played by deaf actors such as Marlee Matlin, who won the Golden Globe and an Academy award for her portrayal of a deaf teacher, Sarah Norman, in her debut film “Children of a Lesser God” (1986) and consequently appeared in other Deaf movies, and hearing sitcoms such as Seinfeld and soap operas like “Desperate Housewives”.
In India, the Deaf Kolkata-based theatre group, The Action Players (TAP), who assert themselves as a mainstream group, have been enthralling audiences with their adaptations of Bengali and English plays for over three decades. Dancer Astad Deboo, has been choreographing the Deaf for 20 years now. Deaf artistes perform to the vibrations of the music on the wooden flooring.
Deboo has also worked with the Clarke School for the Deaf, Chennai, whose student Krithika performed with him at the Deaf Way in Washington D.C., a conference that brings together about 10,000 Deaf people from 100 countries to exhibit Deaf art, strengthen bonds and further Deaf discourse.
Another defiant stand of the Deaf community is against cochlear implants and hearing aids, which they believe make deaf and hard of hearing people straddle two worlds without the benefits of either. They say that while professionals have always forced these artificial aids on them saying it is best for them, it is just one more exercise in making them feel different from the rest.
What lies at the heart of Deaf culture is the same life force that holds together communities elsewhere: the desire to belong.

Courtsy by Metro Plus of Hindu paper (01.10.2009)

BHEL HYDERABAD JOB FOR ITI

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After 15 Years of Stuggle, Deaf canditate get into IAS

NEW DELHI: Maniram Sharma has won a 15-year-old battle for justice. On Thursday, this deaf IAS candidate learnt he has made it to the service. With this, Maniram has not just won a personal battle but a milestone victory for disabled persons like him who have been kept away from the premier government service. Maniram's case has been highlighted by TOI over the past couple of years — how his efforts were thwarted on one ground or the other, till he finally went through surgery to make his aided hearing so good that he gave his IAS interview this time by the oral question-and-answer method. Despite this, his induction into the service was just not happening. While other successful candidates got their call on August 17, he didn't. Finally, on September 3 he was informed that he had cleared the exam on all counts but still had to wait for another month to get his appointment. ``I still can't believe it has happened. It has not sunk in. After suffering so many disappointments, it's difficult to imagine it has actually come true,'' Maniram told TOI. Maniram's IAS saga began in 1995 when he failed in his first attempt to clear the preliminary examination. He was then 100% deaf. Since then he has cleared the exam three times — 2005, 2006 and 2009. In 2006, he was told he could not be allotted the IAS as only the partially deaf were eligible, not fully deaf persons like him. So, he was allotted the Post and Telegraph Accounts and Finance Service. To improve his hearing, Maniram had a surgical cochlear implant, costing Rs 7.5 lakh that now enables him to hear partially. He appeared for the IAS again this year and cleared it, scoring the highest in the hearing-impaired category. Yet, he faced several more hurdles as the government put technical hurdles questioning his level of disability. Anyway, this story has a happy ending. And Maniram has no complaints. ``If I could wait for 15 years, I could surely wait for a few more months. But the uncertainty kept me on edge,'' he said without rancour. He is off to his village Badangarhi in Alwar district, Rajasthan, to convey the news to his family. ``I have decided to go in person to tell them. My whole village will celebrate.'' Maniram's Badangarhi is a remote village which doesn't even have a school. He started losing his hearing at the age of five, becoming totally deaf by nine. His parents, both illiterate farm labourers, could do little to help. Yet, Maniram continued trudging to the nearest school, 5km away, and cleared class 10 standing fifth in the state board examination and cleared class 12 ranking seventh in the state board. In his second year in college, he cleared the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) examination to become a clerk-cum-typist. He studied and worked during his final year and topped the university in Political Science. He went on to clear the NET (National Eligibility Test). He then gave up his RPSC job and became a lecturer. Not satisfied with that, he became a Junior Research Fellow and completed his Ph.D in Political Science during which time he taught M Phil and MA students in Rajasthan University. Having completed his Ph.D, Maniram got through the Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) and while in service he started trying for the UPSC.

Coutersy: Times of India.

Can Deaf drive? HC wait to answer

Here's some good news for around 50 million hearing impaired people in the country.The Centre has submitted before Delhi High Court that it is considering allowing those suffering from hearing disability to obtain a driving licence. The archaic Motor Vehicles Act prohibits the deaf from obtaining a drivers' licence, saying they could be a "source of danger to the public". The court is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) seeking a direction to quash the requirement of having "no hearing impairment for the issuance of driving licence". A Bench of Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Manmohan on Friday recorded the statement by Additional Solicitor General A.S. Chandiok appearing for the Centre that they are considering all the relevant materials and will make appropriate recommendations on issuing driving licences to the hearing impaired. The process is set to be completed in four weeks. Road Transport and Highways Ministry counsel Jyoti Singh said medical experts are of the view that those who can hear sound up to 60 decibels with the use of hearing aid can be permitted hold a driving licence for private vehicles, while those with hearing level up to 40 decibels with hearing aid can be allowed to drive commercial vehicles. Singh said a specially constituted high-powered committee of the ministry will soon meet to discuss the issue. Delhi cops back plan The PIL also draws strength from views expressed by Delhi Police on its website that deafness does not render one incapable of driving safely. "There is no reason why deaf people should not be allowed to drive," the website says. But it suggests use of additional rearview mirrors by this category of drivers The NAD said the deaf are allowed to drive all over the world, except in 26 countries. In the UK, Australia, Germany, Belgium, Thailand and Malaysia authorities insist on special double rear-view mirrors. In Malaysia and Sri Lanka this category of drivers are to indicate the handicap by putting a sticker on the back of the car so that other drivers do not hoot at the driver. But they are not allowed to drive commercial or passenger vehicles.
"A deaf person with an international driver's licence is able to drive in India, then why should an Indian deaf national be denied this right? The Constitution demands equality for all before the law," he said.

Delhi Deaf People protest against RTO Offfice for issue of Licence for personal vehicle....

By Nilesh Nikade
Posted On Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 02:49:41 AM

Even as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is presently being heard at the Delhi High Court about issuing driving licences to the deaf, around 150 deaf persons marched four kilometres at a rally in Dombivli to highlight their predicament on Sunday, ‘World Deaf Day’.With placards screaming ‘We can drive too. Test us, if you have doubts,’ the rally had students from various deaf schools in Thane district and members of non-governmental organisation (NGOs) working for the welfare of deaf. They were protesting the Regional Transport Office (RTO) repeatedly turning them down from appearing for driving tests.

A rally of deaf persons at Phadke Road inDombivli (East)“We are not asking them to issue licences without tests. Our driving skills should be tested, and we can have the handicap symbol on our vehicles to indicate our disability,” said Amit Sarpotdar, one of the deaf persons attending the rally.Asha Kulkarni, Principal, K C School for Deaf, Ulhasnagar and an organiser of the rally said, “We face a lot of difficulties, and basic rights such as driving licences are being denied to us. So, Sunday being World Deaf Day, we thought we could create awareness about at least one issue.” Members of Omkar Karn Badhir Vikas Sanstha had earlier sought permission from the Kalyan RTO to apply for driving licences. However, officials said they needed to consult with the government, as the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 prohibits the deaf from procuring a driver’s licence, stating they could be a “source of danger to the public”.After the PIL, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways at the Centre had shown its support for changing this rule. It also told the court that medical experts opine that those able to hear sound up to 60 decibels with hearing aid can be permitted to hold a driving licence for private vehicles. Those with hearing up to 40 decibels with hearing aid can be allowed to drive commercial vehicles.A senior RTO official said, “Drivers with hearing disabilities will not be able to respond to horns and warnings from other drivers. The option could be considered for partially deaf people. However, the matter is sub judice, and we cannot comment further.”

What the rules are around the world In UK, Australia, Germany, Belgium, Thailand the deaf are allowed to drive with special double rear-view mirrors. In Malaysia and Sri Lanka, this category of drivers must indicate the handicap with a sticker stating this on the back of the car, so that other drivers are aware they cannot hear the honking. However, none of these countries allow them to drive commercial or passenger vehicles.

Swine Flu has spread in Chennai

Swine Flu in Chennai!

Hello Deaf Friends,

Swine Flu is a HiNi Virus has spreaded fast in Chennai and you should be follow prevent method from the virus..........
Deaf Students who those knowing to read tamil then you click as below......

This is good information....

http://abidheva.blogspot.com/

STATE BANK Of INDIA (SBI)

STATE BANK Of INDIA (SBI)

Central Recruitment & Promotion Department (CRPD) Corporate Centre, MumbaiAdvertisement No. CRPD/CR/2009-10/04Recruitment of 11000 Clerical Staff in State Bank of India (SBI)
Central Recruitment & Promotion Department, State Bank of India, Corporate Centre, Mumbai invites Online applications from Indian citizens for appointment of 11000 Clerical Cadre posts in State Bank of India between 01/08/2009 and 15/09/2009.
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Application Fee : Rs. 250/- (for SC/ST/PWD/XS Rs.50/- only) to be deposited in any branch of SBI by a prescribed deposit slip and get receipt. Details of the payment should be entered in online application form. How to Apply : Apply Online at SBI website between 01/08/2009 and 15/09/2009.
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For more information, please visit the recruitment page at SBI website http://www.sbi.co.in/ i. i.e. http://sbi.co.in/viewdetail.jsp?lang=0&id=0,15,110&dcd=2865&did=1249103274265 at and Apply online at at http://registration.sifyitest.com/sbi/

Bangalore Job for HI or PH pls forward to all deaf

LEADING BPO - VINDHYA E-INFOMEDIA PVT LTD : REQUIRES 400 DISABLED MAN POWER (HI OR PH)

BANGALORE BASED VINDHYA E-INFOMEDIA PRIVATE LIMITED WILL RECRUIT 400 DISABLED PERSONS

Vindhya E-Infomedia an leading BPO in Bangalore would like to recruit 400 disabled people to fulfill their manpower utilisations.
Those who interested may contact me with re-sume by e-mail : kodakkal.s@rediffmail.com or contact directly with VINDHYA E-INFOMEDIA by
Phone No.Thammaiah G C
Vindhya E-infomedia Pvt Ltd.,
PH: 080-41279201
Mbl: 9845490346, 9379215746


About the recruitment process, please read the detailed message as below: Dear Mr. Kodakkal Shivprasad,
Thanks for the effort which you have taken in the last Recruitment.
As you aware Vindhya as growing Company and we are in need of at least 400+ resources (either PH or HI) in the next 3-4 months.
I really need your help in addressing this requirement. The resources we need should have basic computer knowledge (need not be excellent)
and academics around 10+ should be fine. We will train them for a period of 1-2 months before we put them into process. We will also pay them
stipend during training and after that job will be for 3500+ incentives with a great earning potential.

We need not look at only experienced candidates of yours as earlier.

Pls you forward the above message to all deaf friends and disables people.......................