Administrator flags off Kalam Express unit for children with special needs

Chandigarh, 23rd  June, 2016: Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki, Hon'ble Governor Haryana, Punjab and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh today flagged off the KALAM Express, a mobile educational cum rehabilitation unit for children with special needs from Haryana Raj Bhawan. Sh. Parimal Rai, IAS, Adviser to the Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, Sh. Ajit Balaji Joshi, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, U.T., Chandigarh, Sh. Virender Chaudhary, Joint Commissioner, MC, Chandigarh and other senior officials of Red Cross Society, UT, Chandigarh were present during the occasion.

Addressing the media persons during launch of the mobile van, the Administrator said that the unit will cover these children in peripheral slums, rural and rehabilitation colonies. A team of physiotherapist and special educator has been appointed to help these children at their doorsteps.

He said that children with special needs, who cannot commute to schools for attaining education, will be covered under home based education and should be provided with all the necessary support services like therapies remediation and other rehabilitation services. In order to provide these services at the doorsteps of those, who cannot afford it and to make efforts to include them in the mainstream society, this mobile educational cum rehabilitation unit “Kalam Express” has been launched. He said that more mobile units of this kind will be provided in near future to impart such services for these children.

Giving detailed information about the project, Sh. Ajit Balaji Joshi, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, UT, Chandigarh said that this mobile unit will be equipped with Therapy equipments, educational toys etc. and supervised by physiotherapist, occupational therapist, special educators and caregivers etc.

He said that this mobile project will cover slum, rural and rehabilitation colonies including sector 26, Bapudham Colony, Mauli Jagran, Burail, Maloya, Palsora, Dhanas, Dadumajra, Kishangarh, Indira Colony, Kajheri, Colony No.4, Hallomajra and other areas in Chandigarh where there is availability of such children.

The mobile van will be available between 9 am to 4 pm from Monday toSaturday in following areas:

1.     Maloya  (Monday)

2.     Dhanas  (Tuesday)

3.     Manimajra       (Wednesday)

4.     Mauli Jagran   (Thursday)

5.     Bapu Dham     (Friday)

6.     Colony No.4    (Saturday).

In According to the provision of Right to Education act, all the necessary support services are to be provided to Children with Special Needs for completing the elementary grades. It further clearly defines that Children with Special Needs are entitled to all provisions and facilities as defined in People with Disability ( PWD) Act. According to which persons with disabilities ( Equal opportunities, protection and full participation) shall have the right to pursue free and compulsary elementary.
In addition to this, the amendment of RTE act provides for Home based Education to children with disabilities covered under National Trust act (1999) . The amendment of the RTE Act on the basis of National Act Trust states that " Children with multiple disabilities and severe disabilities such as Autism, Celebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple disabilities have right to opt for Home based education".
Keeping in view the provision of RTE Act it becomes mandatory that CWSN who cannot commute to schools for attaining education are to be covered under Home Based Education and should be provided with all the necessary support services like therapies, remediation and other rehabilitation services.