Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 18
The State Education department, in collaboration with Prodigals’ Home, on Tuesday organised a sensitisation-cum-consultation on issues of children with special needs (CWSN) at the GHSS Nagarjan to create awareness among school teachers on how to effectively and sympathetically deal with CWSN.
Director of Prodigals’ Home, K Ela, and assistant director Maong Jamir, the resource persons for the sensitisation programme, dwelled on the topics ‘Approaches in addressing issues of children with special needs’ and ‘Rights of disabled people’ respectively. Highlighting on the plight of CWSN and people with disabilities (PWD), Ela said society at large always harbours “discriminatory” and “judgmental” attitudes towards such people, thereby alienating them further from mainstream society.
Dwelling on the various approaches in addressing issues of CWSN, she said one major obstacle was the economic aspect where CWSN are viewed as “commodities” and not as unique individuals. The excuses put forth by society for neglecting these children include ‘CWSN are not worth investing’, ‘CWSN not productive, not affordable’ and ‘rehabilitation too expensive’, the director said.
She also said most people view CWSN as a “problem” and that these children cannot communicate, cope, or be included in mainstream society. The problem is further compounded by the “disabling world” in the form of lack of knowledge/skills on the part of teachers and others, fear of difference, segregation and institutionalisation, isolation and lack of support, etc., she added. On ‘education as the problem’, Ela said the impediments include “rigid methods/curriculum, teachers’ attitudes, parents not involved, lack of teaching aids/equipments, and lack of policy for CWSN.
Maong Jamir said the major step taken by the country to alleviate the plight of CWSN and PWD was passing of the Persons with Disabilities (equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation) Act 1995. This Act, which was passed by Parliament on December 12, 1995, fixes responsibilities of the Central and State governments and local bodies to ensure that services/facilities are provided to the PWD, he said. The Act also stipulates reservation of 3% seats in educational institutions, 3% of all poverty alleviation schemes and not less than 3% reservation in government sectors for persons with disabilities.
In addition to this Act, the National Trust Act (for the welfare of persons with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities) was introduced in 1999. In October 2007, India also ratified the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.
Earlier, District Education Officer for Dimapur, Kekosie Angami, in his address stressed on the need to do away with discrimination against CWSN, especially in educational institutions, and called for a joint effort from all sections of society to achieve this. Two female students from the Blind School, Notun Bosti, presented a special number on the occasion.
