Deaf Community of Nagaland urges use of Nagaland Sign Language in official events, citing inclusion and accessibility rights under national laws and policies.
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DIMAPUR — Calling for real inclusion, not tokenism, the Deaf Community of Nagaland (DCN) has urged authorities to adopt American Sign Language (ASL)/Nagaland Sign Language (NSL) in all official programmes.
In a public statement issued on Thursday, the DCN informed that the community in the state has relied on ASL/NSL for over four decades. Thus, it asserted, providing interpretation in any other form defeats the purpose of inclusion.
Access to information in a language people understand is a basic right, the DCN stated, citing provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the National Education Policy 2020, both of which call for accessibility and respect for local sign languages.
The organisation called on all government departments, institutions and event organisers to ensure that sign language interpretation—where provided—is delivered in NSL, the language used by the DCN.
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Drawing a parallel with spoken languages, the DCN explained just as English functions as an official language for the hearing population, NSL should be recognised as the official language of the deaf community in Nagaland.
It also cautioned against the growing tendency to treat sign language interpretation as a “visual prop” or token gesture.
“Interpretation should be provided in programmes and events where deaf individuals are expected to attend, and it must be delivered in the Sign Language used by those individuals to ensure genuine communication access. The purpose of interpretation is meaningful inclusion, not mere representation,” the statement read.
The DCN further recommended that all training programmes, workshops and capacity-building initiatives prioritise NSL to ensure effective communication and equal participation.
Asserting its role as the first and only registered body representing deaf individuals in the state, the organisation demanded that all policies and decisions concerning the deaf community be taken in consultation with it.
Failure to use appropriate sign language or engage with the community, it warned, risks creating barriers and undermining genuine inclusion.
Calling for immediate action, the DCN urged authorities to ensure that accessibility, representation and participation of deaf individuals are upheld in both policy and practice.