The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)’s initiative for encouraging the talents of differently abled children in schools, providing a venue for showcasing their talents, and promoting them through further training got off to a formal start in the district at SMV School here on Saturday.
The Cultural Organisation of Differently abled Children (Codac) has been launched as part of the State government’s General Education Protection Mission with the aim of bringing such children to the mainstream.
Mainstream
Corporation education standing committee chairperson S. Unnikrishnan inaugurated Codac. Mr. Unnikrishnan said the differently abled children need not be kept away from society. The government was taking up activities to bring such children to the mainstream. There was also need for society to understand the challenges faced by parents of such children in their care and development.
SSA State Project Director A.P. Kuttikrishnan said Codac was an attempt to provide a platform to exhibit the talents of special children, many of whom did not have access to prominent venues where such art and cultural programmes were held.
Instead of focussing on pain and suffering, parents of children with special needs should take the initiative to encourage their children’s talents and foster a positive attitude in them. “Only with parents’ strong backing can such children become part of mainstream society, be it in the field of education or arts or culture.”
SSA District Project Officer Sreekumar B., in his welcome address, said Codac would benefit children with special needs in 900 schools in 12 BRCs in the district. Meetings of Codac had been held in each BRC on June 27, Helen Keller Day. Saturday’s function was the first big platform facilitated by Codac for such children. Efforts would be made to identify more talents of such children through interactions with them, their teachers, and parents.
Poet and ViCTERS channel Director Murugan Kattakada released the Codac logo. Actor Kochupreman handed over a violin to two students to launch the distribution of equipment for training differently abled students. He said children with special needs were very gifted. A permanent platform for displaying their talents wass laudable.
Thiruvananthapuram North block development officer Harikumar presided over the function.
Cultural programmes were presented by 32 children from the 12 BRCs on the occasion.
