Kohima, July 1 (MExN): The scheme of the Integrated Education for Disabled Children (IEDC) initially with 100 per cent financial assistance has been formulated by the Government of India during the early part of 1980s.
Analysis reveals that benefit of expansion of educational facilities during Post Independence period did not reach the Disabled Children to the extent it should have. The NPE envisage the need for making special effort to provide equal education for this disadvantage group of children synchronizing with the Universalisation of Elementary Education. Also, with the coming into force, the PW Disabilities Act, 1995, there is now a statutory responsibility on the part of the state government to ensure that all disabled children receive free education in an appropriate environment
The main thrust of the IEDC scheme is therefore to place the mild and moderately disabled children with general schools and also general community as equal partners, to prepare them for normal growth and face life with courage and confidence.
The scheme facilitates financial assistance in the form of books and stationary grant and allowances like Uniform, Hostel, Escort, Reader, Transport etc. Teachers training, both short and long term course, parents and community awareness programne form part of the scheme.
According to the annual administrative report of the department of school education, the IEDC scheme has been started in the state of Nagaland during 1985. Initially the scheme was operated at RD block level, developed in phase wise manner. However to have direct accessibility, later on DIS jurisdiction are taken up at educational blocks.
Till date over 5000 disabled children were given assistance as per the norm laid down in the scheme, the report said.
The scheme is now operating in all the 11 districts in the state, the report said.
Survey and identification and also assessment of the disabled children are in full swing. As of today, there are 1800 disabled children already integrated in the general schools across the state.
Teachers orientation and awareness programmes for identification and also to cater the needs of the disabled children are being conducted, the report said.
However, the report said, due to non-receipt of grants from the Ministry from 2005 onwards, the desired assistance and facilities could not be extended to the fullest satisfaction to those deserving children during the reporting period. Hence, the report said, the Government had already apprised the Ministry for timely release of the same.
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