Regional Action on IncluSive Education for children with special needs is launched
Vibi Yhokha
Kohima | April 12
The Regional Action on IncluSive Education (RAISE) North East was launched on April 12 in a jubilant and emotional atmosphere of Children with Special Needs (CWSN) along with parents, teachers and stakeholders at Hotel Japfü.
“We need to move from the era of sympathy to the era of empathy,” said Bibhu Dutta Sahu, Director, RAISE NE while highlighting the objectives of RAISE stating that the background work for the project was done for two years.
The main motive behind RAISE is to complement the SSA to improve the quality education of children with special needs. “When it comes to quality education there needs to be change of attitude among parents, other children, teachers and agencies. We are dreaming a dream and within that dream what role can we play as stakeholders to provide inclusivity of the children?” asked Sahu.
RAISE aims to create a platform for making people understand disability where Sahu pointed out the need to understand one’s culture and how to engage the children with special needs within that culture. “Let the children be active stakeholders in this process,” concluded Sahu.
Present at the launch as the Guest of honor was Rovilato Mor, DC Kohima who shared his experiences as a parent of a special child. The Kohima DC, whose second daughter suffers from cerebral palsy, mentioned that the family does not use the words ‘disgrace’ or ‘unfortunate’. “We take it as a pride and special gift in our family. We make it a point to take her everywhere we go on social events and gatherings,” said Mor, asserting the need for inclusion of special children in society..
Mor’s daughter is tech savvy, brilliant and continues to score 100 marks in most of her subjects. Sharing the joys of parenthood with a special child, Mor mentioned that despite his daughter’s dependency, the family is dependent on her when it comes to fixing their electronic and technological gadgets. “She continues to be the light, warmth and centre of love and happiness in the family,” said Mor. He challenged the parents, siblings, teachers of children with special needs and other stakeholders to be responsible to provide all opportunities, assistance to develop their skills and talents so that the children become at par with the rest of the society.
“You have to believe in yourself. You can achieve so many great things in life,” said Dellirose M Sakhrie, IAS, Secretary, Social Welfare who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. As a representative of the government, Sakhrie also admitted her limitations and shortcomings but gave her commitment to give her best to any help possible.
There are over 29,000 people with disabilities in Nagaland, which form one of the larger groups that lack general education in the State as well as in the country. Despite policies, programs and schemes for disabled people, Sakhrie regretted that society has not been able to “pick up momentum to a desired level” while mentioning that both the government and society has failed people with disabilities.
A breakthrough has to be made, viewed Sakhrie, to give empowerment to the children with special needs by giving quality education, to integrate them in the mainstream society so that they become responsible citizens, and to make them assets of the society. “We have mindsets which are not changing and it is a grave concern. It is a wake-up call to all of us to right the wrongs which has stayed in our society for too long,” asserted Sakhrie. Testimonies were also given by parents of children with special needs.
Performing John Lennon’s famous song ‘Imagine’ in sign language, the hearing impaired children moved the crowd as the last lines resonated among the audience ‘You may say I’m a dreamer but I’m not the only one, I hope someday you will join us and the world will live as one.’
