The Union HRD Ministry actively demonstrates its commitment to providing access to schools for disabled children through the effective implementation of the centrally sponsored Samagra Shiksha scheme, Minister of State for Education Annpurna Devi revealed in a statement to Parliament recently.

Samagra Shiksha is a centrally sponsored, integrated scheme for school education under the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education.

It encompasses the entire educational spectrum, from pre-primary to senior secondary levels, explicitly including children with special needs.

Within Samagra Shiksha, a dedicated component for inclusive education for children with special needs (CwSN) has been established.

Various provisions are in place to address the educational needs of differently-abled children, encompassing aids, appliances, assistive devices, teaching-learning materials (TLMs), as well as support for transportation, escort, and scribe allowances.

The inclusive education component includes annual block identification and assessment camps, ensuring timely recognition of the needs of differently-abled children.

Stipends are allocated specifically for differently-abled girls, aiming to support their access to schools and facilitate the successful completion of their education.

The scheme actively addresses physical accessibility within schools by providing ramps with handrails and differently-abled toilets.

According to UDISE+ 2021–22 data, a significant number of schools have been equipped with these facilities, including ramps for handrails and differently-abled toilets for boys and girls.

Adequate funds are allocated to States and Union Territories (UTs) under Samagra Shiksha based on their annual proposals submitted as part of the annual work plan and budget.

The overarching focus of Samagra Shiksha is on providing inclusive education to Divyang (differently-abled) children.

The approach encourages children, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, to participate and learn together in the same classroom, fostering an enabling educational environment for all students.

In summary, the Education Ministry's schemes, particularly Samagra Shiksha, demonstrate a concerted effort to ensure that disabled children have equitable access to education. Through a multifaceted approach that includes financial support, infrastructure development, and inclusive education strategies, the ministry aims to create an environment where all students can thrive and learn together.