The government today approved introduction of a bill in Parliament to amend the Right To Education Act to include disabled children under its ambit.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, gave the approval for introduction of the bill for carrying out amendments in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, which was passed by Parliament in July this year.
The Act provides for free and compulsory education as a fundamental right of every child in the 6-14 age bracket and earmarks 25 per cent of the seats to children from economically weaker sections in private schools.
The government decided to amend the Act keeping in view the demand of groups working for the disabled children. These groups have been putting pressure on the government to ensure that disabled children are covered by the Act.
The amendment will provide for special rights to pursue free and compulsory elementary education to children with disabilities as defined in the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni, said.
Keywords: RTE Act, disabled children, bill, Parliament, free compulsory education, economically weaker sections, Manmohan, Soni
