Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 4
Twenty three schools from Kohima today joined a rally on ‘Include Vidya Campaign’ (IVC) here and extended solidarity towards the campaign for the inclusion of Children with Disability in Education in Nagaland.
A report of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in Nagaland revealed a total of 3,672 differently abled children, in which 2,904 children (79.08%) were going to regular schools and 409 (10.97%) children were going to special schools.
Addressing the rally, School Education Director, Wonthungo Tsopoe said that advocacy of this inclusive education is lacking in Nagaland. He stressed on the need to spread a mass awareness at the village level to ensure equal and inclusive education for all in the state.
He also challenged all the participants from different districts to show their solidarity so that “none of our children are neglected because of their disability.”
Dr. Atha Vizol, Disability Commissioner Nagaland meanwhile said that as per the 2011 census there were 29,631 persons with disabilities in Nagaland.
“Let us spread the news about disability. They are also human being like us. They have got the right to education. They have got the right to live among our society. They have got the right to be exposed not confined,” Vizo said.
Diethono Nakhro, Advisor Nagaland State Disability Forum added that the rally was not to protest against anything. “We deserve everything that everyone else deserves,” she said, further stating that all children deserve the same kind of equal education.
Hirohito Habib, Advocacy Coordinator, Regional Action on Inclusive Education (RAISE) from Guwahati expressed hope that everyone will come forward and make inclusive education a reality in Nagaland.
IVC, a nationwide campaign is initiated by Christofell Blinden Mission (CBM) India Trust to complement the Central Government’s flagship program- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) to achieve its goal of ‘Education for All’ with the objective that children with disabilities too have equal rights to access education.
Purnima Kayina, Director of Cherry Blossoms Society Kohima informed that apart from 23 schools from Kohima, the rally also witnessed participation of Care & Support Society Mokokchung, Grace Society Mokokchung and Prodigals Home, Dimapur.
On Saturday, Kayina through a press conference highlighted the grievances faced by the differently-abled population in Nagaland due to non-implementation of required policies.
The rally, which started from Mezhur HSS pedestrian bridge and culminated at the State Academy Hall, was organized by Cherry Blossoms Society Kohima in collaboration with SSA and Christofell Blinden Mission (CBM).
Later, performances by children, a talent show, inter school dance and a song competition also marked the day long programme.
