New Delhi, March 13, 2026: In a move aimed at strengthening accessibility and inclusive development, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the “Coalition of the Willing” to create an integrated life-cycle support model for persons with hearing impairment in India.
The MoU, signed in New Delhi on March 12, 2026, marks the beginning of a collaborative national framework that brings together government institutions, civil society organisations and technology innovators. The partnership aims to develop a comprehensive ecosystem that supports individuals with hearing impairment from early intervention and education to skill development, employment and social inclusion.
The agreement was formalised in the presence of Smt. V. Vidhyavathi, Secretary, DEPwD, Ms. Manmeet Kaur Nanda, Additional Secretary, Pradeep A., Director DEPwD, and Shri Kumar Raju, Director, Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC).
The initiative aims to strengthen accessibility and opportunities for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community by aligning policy support with technological innovation and community outreach. Through this partnership, stakeholders will work towards building sustainable solutions that enhance independence, dignity and participation for persons with hearing impairment.
The Coalition of the Willing is a consortium of organisations working in areas such as technology, accessibility, education and social empowerment. Members of the coalition include Yunikee (Gopalakrishnan Foundation for the Deaf), Blee Tech Innovations Pvt. Ltd., Training and Educational Centre for Hearing Impaired (TEACH), WinVinaya Foundation, Buddy4Study India Foundation, VCrop Technologies Pvt. Ltd., and the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC).
Under the collaboration, the partners will work across multiple priority areas including awareness generation, expansion of assistive technologies, strengthening early identification and educational support systems, and promoting skill development and employment pathways. The initiative will also focus on scholarship facilitation, development of Indian Sign Language learning and digital content, and enabling livelihood opportunities for persons with hearing impairment.
Officials said the initiative represents an example of public–private–civil society collaboration aimed at addressing accessibility and inclusion challenges. By combining digital innovation, training systems and community networks, the partnership seeks to develop scalable models that can benefit persons with hearing impairment across both urban and rural India.
The collaboration aligns with the government’s broader efforts to strengthen accessibility and ensure equal opportunities for persons with disabilities. Through initiatives such as this, DEPwD aims to promote an inclusive environment where technology, education and partnerships work together to remove barriers and expand participation for Divyangjan across the country.
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