DEPwD–Coalition of the Willing MoU for life-cycle empowerment of persons with hearing impairment

Key facts

• Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment signed an MoU with the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ on 12 March 2026 in New Delhi.
• The coalition includes 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 Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC).
• The partnership will design and implement interventions covering awareness, assistive technologies, early identification, education, skill development, employment, scholarships, Indian Sign Language digital content and sustainable livelihoods.
• The initiative aims to create an integrated life-cycle empowerment model for persons with hearing impairment from early intervention to social inclusion.