User:The Peace Gong

Right to Education for Children with disability…?

Peace Gong Bureau in Jammu & Kashmir and Assam

For a large number of children with disability in India there are very little opportunities whether in education or skill development. Poor facilities in majority of the schools and educational institutions ensure that these children either never reach school or have to leave school in early stages. Illiteracy rates are one of the highest amongst children with disability.

To understand the concerns of their friends in their neighbourhood, some members of Peace Gong did a survey of the children to find out the facilities available. While in general it was found that the drop-out rates were the maximum amongst children with disability, it is reflected by one of the reporters of Peace Gong itself.

One of the writers of this story, Samina, who comes from Chuchot-Yokama, Leh doesn’t find accessible spaces in her neighbourhood. It is for this reason her movement is restricted. One of her biggest worries is whether she would be able to continue her education after high school. “The main problem is that after high school I have to join a new school where I can continue my further studies. But there is no option for my parents because it is not possible for them to often take me to school. There is no one in the family except my father who can take me to school but he is too busy in his work. He has to work for all of us to survive.”

There are lakhs of friends like Samina who are forced to drop-out of school for lack of accessible facilities. They are unable to even reach school. And even if they reach, they are not treated equally by not only other children but also the teachers.

Talking to a large number of children, The Peace Gong team felt there is lack of awareness on how to facilitate smooth education for children with disability. In many areas there are no school for children with visually impairment. Existing neighbourhood schools did not have any idea of how to take in these children.

The Peace Gong reporters of Guwahati who are also part of the Surovi Shishu Panchayat did some research on the right to education of children with disability. It found that as part of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan every child with special needs, irrespective of the kind, category and degree of disability, should be provided education in an appropriate environment. The Abhiyan aims to adopt zero rejection policy so that no child is left out of the education system. But the ground reality seems to be different.

The Guwahati Bureau interviewed 11-year old Suman Das in Gandhinagar Village under Panikhaity area, about 16 km away from the city of Guwahati. Suman lost both her arms in a freak accident two years back. Coming from a family which is below the poverty line, Suman cannot go to school anymore. She has not got any government facilities. Besides she is no longer treated properly even by her friends.

In a similar case, the Guwahati Bureau interviewed Safeena, a 17-year old girl from Amgaon in Chandrapur Block in Kamrup Metro. Her father, who is a tailor by profession, is unable to facilitate her education and other facilities. “Due to my condition I face difficulties to travel in public transport; and we cannot afford private vehicles. This ensured that I am unable to go to school. Initially when I managed to go to school, students in my class used to make fun of me. Besides the teachers did not treat me properly,” Safeena said. She has severe deformity in her right legs as a result of which she is unable to move properly.

The Peace Gong Bureaus- both in Kashmir and Assam- feels serious efforts needs to be taken to create awareness on the rights of children with disability. The Right to Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, passed in 2009, makes education compulsory for children between the ages of six and 14. Unfortunately many children like Suman and Safeena are unable to attend school due to their disabilities. Major initiatives are needed to ensure education for children like these and should be a priority for the policy makers.