NEW DELHI:
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Monday asked President Droupadi Murmu if she knew Kannada, during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) in Mysuru.
Addressing the gathering in Kannada, Siddaramaiah turned to President and asked: “Do you know Kannada?”
In response, President Murmu said, “I would like to tell the honourable chief minister that although Kannada is not my mother tongue, I deeply cherish all the languages, cultures, and traditions of my country. I hold great respect and regard for each of them.”
She went on to urge people to preserve their linguistic and cultural heritage.
“I wish that everyone continues to keep their language alive, preserves their traditions and culture, and moves forward in that direction. I extend my best wishes for this. And I will certainly make an effort to learn Kannada, little by little,” she added with a smile.
Speaking after inaugurating the diamond jubilee celebrations of AIISH at its campus in Manasagangotri, she stated that the use of the latest technologies will prove helpful in removing disabilities related to speech and hearing. "But for the latest technologies and devices to reach the common people, their development and manufacturing in the country is necessary. For example, to make devices like cochlear implants available at a low cost, we must become self-reliant in their manufacturing. Institutions like AIISH should play a leading role in this direction," she said.
"By promoting research and innovation in this field, AIISH can further strengthen its contribution to nation-building," she added.
Stressing the importance of collaboration to develop new technologies, she called upon AIISH to collaborate with well-known research institutions in the country.
The President said that, like other issues, speech and hearing-related issues also require experts to identify the symptoms and diagnose them in the initial stages.
"Society should be aware and have an attitude of cooperation and sympathy towards people suffering from speech and hearing issues," she said.
The President mentioned that the govt, through various welfare initiatives, is creating a barrier-free environment for the 'divyangjan' so that they can progress in their lives without any difficulty. According to an estimation, more than 6 crore people in India were suffering from hearing problems in the year 2023.
"In this context, the responsibility of AIISH as the nodal centre of the National Programme for the Prevention and Control of Deafness is significant. Like other problems, problems related to speech and hearing also require experts to identify the symptoms and diagnose them in the initial stages," she said.
Earlier, the President was welcomed at Mysuru airport by Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and chief minister Siddaramaiah.
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