News

Volume 3 Issue 5 - March 01, 2005

Arjun Singh plans to introduce bill for education of disabled children

DNIS News Network - Due to the Minister’s initiative, the disability sector is hopeful of new horizons opening in the field of education in India.

A significant slice of education history in India is being rewritten. Education in the country is slated to now be restructured so that its disabled citizens can access the services and facilities so far denied them. The initiative comes from none other than the Minister for Human Resource Development, Arjun Singh, himself.

Speaking during a discussion in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister expressed his dissatisfaction over the efforts -- or the lack thereof -- by the concerned ministries, regarding disabled students. He made a commitment not only to come up with a comprehensive plan of action but also to table this plan in the Parliament in the present session. This time commitment is a very a positive development.

Singh emphasised that the government “will come out with a comprehensive plan of action, with the required financial backing in a State, where we talk of spending thousands of crores of rupees for this project and that project; I do not think it will be difficult to find that money also”.

The disability sector is hopeful of new horizons opening in the field of education in India.

(For details, see feature story, ‘Inclusive education – A vision come true?’)