Mukul Wasnik opens sports meet of students with disabilities at Delhi University

NEW DELHI - Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik today inaugurated the Second Inter College Sports meet for the students with disabilities which began here today.

The meet has been organized by the Equal Opportunity Cell of the University of Delhi in which the students with disabilities are participating. Some of these students have participated in the international para sports events.

Speaking on the occasion, Wasnik said that the Central Government is committed to all-round development of the persons with disabilities and has been taking several initiatives in this regard.

Wasnik informed that to address the needs of persons with hearing and speech impairment, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has started the process of establishing an Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre.

“The aim of the Centre will be to promote the use and spread of Indian Sign Language in cooperation with native sign language users through research, teaching materials, curriculum development, outreach and awareness programmes,” he added.

Wasnik said a Task Force has been set up under the Director General, CSIR, to work out the details for the proposal of establishment of a National Centre for Universal Design and Barrier-free Environment (NCUDBE).

An assessment is underway of the existing status of the seven National Institutes working for the persons with disabilities which will lead to new measures to make these Institutes the ‘Centers of Excellence’. (ANI)