SHILLONG/Mawkyrwat/NONGPOH: For the first time in the country, Sign Bank titled Meghalaya SignBank – a mobile app – was launched on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Monday.
The app will prove useful in assisting persons with hearing disability and contains a list of approximately 3,000 words and a larger database of lexical entries is in the process of being added. To expand SignBank, attempts will be made to include more than 10,000 words.
Observed under the theme, “Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality in electoral process,” Additional Chief Secretary, Hector Marwein said that technology will help in making the lives of Persons with disabilities (PwDs) better.
“Persons with disabilities face barriers. There is a need to break down barriers and to fight against discrimination, neglect, abuse and violation of rights,” he said.
Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Kharkongor who attended the event as the guest of honour said that the Election Commission of India has declared 2018 as the year of accessible elections and assured that steps would be taken to improve the PwD’s opportunity to exercise their franchise.
He referred to the app as a Living Root Bridge between the PwDs and the larger world.
Meghalaya SignBank
The initiative to create Meghalaya SignBank was taken by the Office of the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Meghalaya in collaboration with the National Informatics Center (NIC), Meghalaya team led by T Dkhar, Deputy Director General and State Informatics Officer, NIC Shillong and Melissa G Wallang, Assistant Professor, North East Regional Institute of Education, Unit of NCERT, Shillong.
The app has been designed in a user-friendly manner, where English is used to access sign language which is one of the specific features of the app.
Each sign entry has been translated into Khasi and Garo to enable users to access signs through the language they understand.
Besides words, the English alphabet and numerals are incorporated into the app. If unable to sign, one can simply type a word in English and the word will be spelled out for the user.
Empowering PwDs
across the state
International Day for Persons with Disabilities was observed at Maharam Govt. Higher Secondary School in Mawkyrwat.
South West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo graced the occasion as the chief guest.
The programme was organised by the office of the District Social Welfare Officer, Mawkyrwat in collaboration with the office of the Block Mission Coordinator (SSA) Mawkyrwat.
Speaking on the occasion, Laloo said that the day was observed worldwide with a view to empower persons with disabilities through different assistance and sensitivity as well as to ensure inclusiveness and equality with others.
Others who spoke included L lyngkhoi, Block Resource Person on Inclusive Education, Mawkyrwat Block. W Syiemlieh from the election department also demonstrated sign language on EVM and VVPAT machines.
Meanwhile, the Association of Persons with Disability, Ri Bhoi District observed International Day of Persons with Disabilities at Grace Foundation School in Bhoirymbong.
Local legislator George B Lyngdoh graced the occasion as the chief guest while Nongpoh MDC Rona Khymdeit attended the programme as the guest of honor.
Ronald Malai, President of the Association for Persons with Disability, Ri Bhoi said that persons with disabilities should not be neglected by society and should be allowed to enjoy equal rights as guaranteed by the law of the land.
He also informed that the association was recently formed with the sole intention to fight for the rights of persons with disabilities.
