New Delhi: With the number of differently abled school children in the country projected to be around 2.44 crore by this year, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal on Monday urged the states to reach out in dealing with such people.
Responding to a short notice question in Rajya Sabha, Sibal said the Centre assists differently abled children under various schemes, "dealing with the disabled is a state subject ...The actual reaching out has to be done by the state government."
The minister urged individual members to take up the matter of education of disabled children with respective state governments. "I hope the state governments take the responsibility," he said.
Sibal said that since the inception of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, 30,47,399 children with special needs (CWSN) have been identified, out of which 26,62,746 have been enrolled in schools.
He said that 61 per cent of the teachers have been trained to teach students with disabilities.
He said the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, provides the right to admission, attendance and completion of 8 years of elementary education to all children including CWSN.
PTI
