(From left) Sandhya Srinivasan, Sridhar Rao and Sreela Bose with hearing-challenged student Sanjay (in red shirt). Picture by Rashbehari Das

On the occasion of World Disability Day on December 3, Vodafone Essar launched Sambhav, a prepaid card for people with hearing and speech disability.

“Deafness is an invisible handicap — studies suffer and thinking suffers. The major problem is communication and communication is one factor that helps human relationships. The gap can be plugged through surgery or hearing aids, but both are expensive tools,” said Sreela Bose, technical consultant, International Deaf Children’s Society (IDCS).

What has become an important medium of communication in recent times is the mobile phone. All that the phone needs is the SMS feature and a vibrator to alert the deaf. “The deaf find the mobile phone very useful and this technology should not leave them behind like the normal phone,” hopes Sandhya Srinivasan, communications officer, IDCS, India.

The card comes with 500 local messages and validity for a month. It also has an in-built talk time of Rs 10 in every card. “It’s a small step for us and we will work closely with IDCS to monitor and modify as and when changes seem relevant,” said Sridhar Rao, CEO, Vodafone Essar East Limited. The use of the card is not restricted to the hearing-impaired. “If someone feels he wants a completely text-oriented tool, then it’s okay, but the initiative has been made for people with speech and hearing disability,” adds Rao. The card is priced at Rs 151.