Question : HANDICAPPED CHILDREN

(a) the number of identified handicapped children in various schools, State-wise;

(b) whether the human resource personnell in schools are well equipped to deal with these handicapped children, State-wise;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) the number of identified or not identified handicapped children not going to school, State-wise;

(e) whether the Government has any plan to identify such handicapped children and provide them specialised atmosphere so that they can blossom out well and contribute to nation building; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. D. PURANDESWARI)

(a) Under the scheme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), 30.28 lakh Children With Special Needs (CWSN) for the class I to VIII in 2010-11 and under the scheme of Inclusive Education for Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS), 1.39 lakh CWSN for classes IX to XII have been identified in the country in 2011-12. State-wise details are at Annexure-I.

(b) & (c) Under SSA, teachers are oriented to inclusive education so that they are equipped to deal effectively with the special needs of such children. Details of teachers trained under SSA through various modes are at Annexure-II. IEDSS provides for appointment of special teachers and training of general and special teachers through regular programmes run by the national Institutes/ Apex institutes of Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).

(d) As per Census 2001, there are 40.90 lakh CWSN in the country. State-wise details are at Annexure-III.

(e) & (f) The Scheme of IEDSS launched in April 2009 aims at enabling all students with disabilities, after completing eight years of elementary schooling, to pursue further four years of secondary schooling (classes IX to XII) in an inclusive and enabling environment.

Financial assistance is provided to the States/UTs for Government and /or Government aided schools under SSA and IEDSS for inclusive education of the CWSN in an enabling environment, which includes inter alia, making the schools barrier free, engaging special teachers, using appropriate teaching learning material as well as construction and equipping of resource rooms.