Priority was given to the development of AI-based platforms for training healthcare professionals in the effective use of AI models in clinical practice. Plans include involving start-ups and setting up dedicated facilities in key hospitals to speed up this integration, says Sunita Verma, ‘G’ scientist and group coordinator for R&D Division, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India.
Highlights
MeitY prioritizes the development of artificial intelligence platforms for effective use in clinical practices, the scientist says
IIT Dharwad director proposes use of AI-based tools for diagnosis, assessment and treatment of speech and hearing impaired
After inaugurating the two-day international symposium on ‘Frontiers of Research in Speech and Music (FRSM) 2025’ at the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) in Mysore on November 13, Ms. Verma addressed the gathering through video conferencing. She spoke about the initiatives of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to develop AI-driven technologies for the masses.
“Our group is committed to improving access to healthcare through technologies that are accessible, sustainable, indigenous and inclusive. However, the main challenge in this direction is cost-effectiveness,” she explained.
She urged FRSM 2025 delegates to discuss and shortlist several areas where technological development is needed to be addressed at the national level.
Ms. Verma also highlighted that her group in the ministry is enabling the research ecosystem with the right public policy push, supporting a range of research activities – product-oriented, translating results into commercially viable products and so on.
In his speech, SRM Prasanna, Director, IIIT Dharwad, highlighted the need to use AI-based tools for diagnosis, assessment and treatment of speech and hearing impaired people. The expertise of AIISH faculty and doctors can be used by engineers and technologists to develop AI tools, he said.
He said the collaboration of a team from IIT-Guwahati with experts from AIISH Mysuru has resulted in the development of several automated tools for assessing the severity of speech disorders.
He hopes the symposium will open up many more such collaborative projects.
The symposium aims to draw attention to the current state and trends of research and applications in the field of speech and music. It is jointly organized by Sir CV Raman Center for Physics and Music, Jadavpur University, Kolkata and Center for Rehabilitation Engineering, Acoustics and Biomedical Engineering (CRAB), AIISH, Mysuru.
After 2007 and 2014, this is the third time AIISH, Mysuru is organizing the symposium.
The symposium is partly funded by the Anusandan National Research Foundation, the Government of India and the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
The central theme of FRSM 2025 is “Frontiers of Artificial Intelligence Research in Speech Hearing and Music Recognition Systems”. As many as 97 scholars and researchers from 29 institutions from India and abroad have contributed their manuscripts and are participating in the symposium.
Participating institutions include IITs, NITs, IIITs, Central, State, Deemed Universities, National Institutes, Engineering Colleges, Medical Colleges, AIISH and other speech and hearing institutes. Delegates include speech and hearing professionals, musicologists, technologists, researchers, scientists and engineers working in the fields of speech and music.
Participants included Shankha Sanyal, Jadavpur University, Kolkata and Chair of the FRSM 2025 Symposium and Ajish K. Abraham, Convener of the Symposium. The event was presided over by P. Manjula, Director (In-charge), AIISH.
Published – 13 November 2025 15:53 IST
