CRC Sikkim organized a 2-day training program on Indian Sign Language on the 3rd & 4th of July 2025

Press Release from Composite Regional Centre for Skill Development Rehabilitation & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities

Gangtok, July 05: Composite Regional Centre for Skill Development Rehabilitation & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities(Divyangjan), Under the administrative control of National Institute For Locomotor Disabilities, NILD Kolkata, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, DEPWD, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, MSJE, Govt. of India, organized a 2-day training program on Indian Sign Language on the 3rd & 4th of July 2025 at the conference hall of Women & Child Senior Citizens & Divyangjan Welfare Department(WCSDWD), Lumsey, 5th mile, Sikkim.
This was organized under the Awareness Generation Scheme & Publicity Scheme of DEPwD.
Ms Normit Lepcha, Secretary, Women & Child Senior Citizens & Divyangjan Welfare Department was present as the Chief Guest during the inauguration on the 3rd of July.
Resource Persons of the training were:
1. Shri Akhilesh Chauhan, Master Trainer, DISLI, Course CRC Sikkim &
2. Shri Vishal Biswakarma, Indian Sign language Interpreter, DISLI course, CRC Sikkim.
Participants of the training were provided by WCSDWD.
Ms. Normit Lepcha, Secretary WCSDWD, highlighted the importance of Sign Language for the Deaf community and that it was important for all to promote it for the welfare of divyangjan. She wished luck to the participants and wished to learn it herself.
Ms. Pushpanjali Gupta, Director CRC Sikkim, thanked Dr. Lalit Narayan, Director, NILD Kolkata for permitting CRC Sikkim to function smoothly at the state. She said that the under his guidance the centre is able to implement the commitment of the ministry to promote & propagate Sign Language in the state. She added that not only the Divyanjan but also the non disabled population should come forward and learn sign language as an important skill as it is going to be taught as a compulsory subject in schools in the near future. Citing the example of Shri Vishal Biswakarma, who is an interpreter in CRC Sikkim she said that Vishal is one of the most sought after professional now as he is being invited for most occasions for interpretation. Learning ISL not only makes a person skilled but also a proud professional as dignity of work is attached to it, Ms Gupta added.
Valedictory was marked by some amazing feedback from participants. They were overwhelmed as they enjoyed being introduced to a new skill and that they were eager to bring it to regular use both in school and outside. Some enjoyed it as ISL nurtured and brought out the creativity in them.