Jammu: Samagra Shiksha under the aegis of School Education Department, J&K organized very impressive function and a cultural event on the eve of International Day of Persons with Disabilities at Teachers’ Bhawan today. Principal Secretary School Education Department, Alok Kumar was the Chief Guest on the occasion and Sheetal Nanda Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department was a Special invitee.
Project Director Samagra Shiksha, Deep Raj, Director School Education Jammu Ashok Kumar Sharma, Special Secretary Kanta Devi, Special Secretary Anu Behl, JD SED, Subha Mehta, graced the occasion besides, other officers Deputy Director Planning Bilal Rashid, CEO Jammu, Jagdeep Padha, Deputy Director (P) Mamta Sharma, CAO Monika Bhandari, attended the cultural event showcasing the extra ordinary talent of Specially abled children drawn from schools functioning across the UT.
The programme started with National Anthem, by the Specially abled children in Sign Language which mesmerized the audience with a patriotic emotion. Project Director, Samagra Shiksha-presented the welcome address, wherein he briefed about the different initiatives taken for welfare of Children with Special Needs under Inclusive Education scheme of Samagra Shiksha.
He said that, efforts are being made to encourage students to attend the School and Special Educators /Resource teachers are working tirelessly for imparting Education to these children. He said that, Braille Books have been got printed by the Samagra Shiksha and stands shared with the concerned stakeholders. Presently 21000 Childrenwith Special needs are enrolled in various schools across the UT and getting benefits under Inclusive education, he informed. He also intimated that, Special Exposure Tours and Sports activities have been organised for the CWSN in the current year across the UT and reiterated that Department encourages the Non-Governmental Organizations which are genuinely working for specially abled children, by offering admissions to such children in Government Schools.
Sheetal Nanda, Commissioner Secretary Social Welfare Department, felt very emotional in her address and said that, specially abled children are having lot of potential, which depicts from their performances in the cultural event. School Education Department and Social welfare Department jointly taking several initiatives for upliftment of Specially Abled Children who are enrolled in Government Schools, she maintained. She also made aware the audience about the welfare schemes being implemented by the Social Welfare department, J&K and urged the stakeholders to let avail the benefits by the CWSN across the UT. She said that, parents and Students should show courage and come forward for the education in Schools under Inclusive education. Teachers as mentors can do miracles in the life of children with special needs by supporting them and they are doing at their best, she maintained.
Addressing a large gathering at Teacher Bhawan, Principal Secretary, School Education Alok Kumar lauded the specially abled students for performing, with their best talents on the stage including folk dances, folk music, contemporary dance, Singing and Mimes.* He also reiterated that, the aim of IDPD is to encourage the specially abled students and further added that, these Specially abled students must be renamed as Specially Talented students, who performed at par with Professional people. He maintained that, all the facilities, shall be provided under Inclusive Education, so that the students may excel in their life and may fight with the challenges they face. The skill development courses shall be made available for these specially abled students, so that they may earn their livelihood. He said that, awareness needs to be imparted to general public, about the rights, security and development of Children with Special Needs as mentioned by the Commissioner Secretary Social Welfare Department. While mentioning the role of School Education Department, he said that, under Samagra Shiksha 64 fully equipped Resource Rooms have been constructed wherein 83 Special Educators/ Resource Persons are working for providing educational as well as therapeutic support to Children with Special needs (CWSN). He also added that Assessments Camps are being organized in all 188 Zones and free Aids/Appliances are distributed among the CWSN. As a remarkable achievement, 4990 Children, have been provided Assistive devices under Samagra Shiksha in the current year in collaboration with ALIMCO.
More than, 2.35 Crores have been disbursed to CWSN on account of allowances during current year through DBT Mode. Besides, 550 CWSN Toilets have also been constructed in the Government Schools for the facilitation of CWSN. He lastly congratulated the Samagra Team headed by Deep Raj, Project Director, for making their continuous efforts, for the betterment of Children with Special Needs. Felicitation of children, in the field of academics, fine arts, Sports or other fields was also part of the event.
Vijay Singh, State Coordinator (IE) presented vote of thanks and expressed gratitude to all participants. Prominent among others, who were part of the event were State Coordinators Prem nath, Girja Challu, Ashwani Kumar, Ajeet Sharma, Sarika Gupta, Oneel Bhat, Adm. Officer Jaideep Singh & ASCs Dr. Imran Bukhari, Sajad Ahmed, Dr. Naveen katoch, Shamim Akhter, besides Principals, Lecturers & HoIs from different institutions.(CNI) Current News of India