New Delhi, Sep 22 (IANS): The union cabinet on Tuesday approved the setting up of an Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, a government statement said.

The ISLRTC will be under the aegis of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It will be initially located at the Institute for Physically Handicapped in New Delhi, it said.

The decision taken at the cabinet meet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will help the five million deaf people of the country and provide the hearing-impaired an increased accessibility in education, workplace and other activities in public life, the statement said.

The centre will come up as a society consisting of a president and 12 members in the general council. It will also have an executive council.

"Development of sign language interpreters, research and development and new technology will be the focus area of the centre. It will provide equal opportunities to hearing impaired persons to fully participate in every sphere of life," the statement said.