Jamshedpur, 23 September 2026

On the occasion of the International Day of Sign Languages, SABAL, the disability inclusion programme of Tata Steel Foundation, organized a series of events in Jamshedpur to celebrate Indian Sign Language (ISL), amplify the voices of the Deaf community, and promote accessible communication as a fundamental right. The celebration forms part of a month-long campaign dedicated to creating awareness about Indian Sign Language and advancing inclusion for persons with hearing impairment.

On 23^rd September Sabal organized interactive session with the Deaf Community at Sabal Centre Jamshedpur.

The programme brought together members of the Deaf community, educational institutions, civil society organizations, employers, students, sports achievers, media representatives, and disability advocates at the SABAL Centre, Sakchi, Jamshedpur. The event featured panel discussions, cultural performances, ISL demonstrations, recognition of achievers from the Deaf community, and interactions with media and community stakeholders.

During the morning session, panel discussions focused on the aspirations, challenges, rights, education, and skilling ecosystem for persons with hearing impairment in Jamshedpur. Representatives from Deaf associations (Samiranlal, Nisha lal, Dilip and DN Jha) educational institutions (Carmel Bal Vihar, Sidheshwar School and Ashakiran), and persons with hearing impairment shared their experiences and perspectives on creating an enabling environment that supports equal participation and opportunities. The programme also included cultural performances, a storytelling presentation by students, a session on basic Indian Sign Language, and an ISL song presentation.

The afternoon session highlighted inspiring achievements from the Deaf community through a felicitation ceremony recognizing excellence in sports (Soni and Sanjay), education (Biswajit Laha, Sweety, Isha Kumari Gupta), employment (Amit and Jagriti), and the dance (Nazia Banno). 

Speaking on the occasion, Captain Amitabh, Head Skill Development, Sabal and Sports emphasized that “Indian Sign Language is not merely a communication tool but a language that carries identity, culture, and community. Greater awareness and adoption of ISL by families, educators, employers, service providers, and society at large can significantly enhance accessibility and inclusion for Deaf individuals”

Through SABAL, Tata Steel Foundation has been actively working to strengthen opportunities for the Deaf community by promoting ISL awareness, conducting basic ISL training, supporting education, facilitating sports initiatives, and creating platforms for participation and leadership. The programme also supports Deaf students through residential education opportunities and extends awareness efforts to rural communities across Jharkhand and Odisha.

The celebration aligns with the broader global observance of the International Day of Sign Languages and the International Week of Deaf People. This year's theme, “Declaring Deaf People's Human Rights,” reinforces the importance of sign language rights, accessibility, inclusive education, and full participation of Deaf persons in society.

SABAL reaffirmed its commitment to building an inclusive ecosystem where communication barriers do not limit participation, learning, employment, or leadership. The initiative continues to advocate for a society where accessibility is embedded in everyday life and where every individual, regardless of disability, can contribute and thrive.

About SABAL

SABAL is the disability inclusion programme of Tata Steel Foundation established in Noamundi in 2017. The programme works across Jharkhand and Odisha to promote rights-based inclusion, education, skilling, livelihoods, sports, accessibility, and community engagement for persons with disabilities, with a special focus on rural communities. SABAL aims to transform inclusion from an idea into an everyday reality by creating opportunities that enable persons with disabilities to realize their full potential.