Wheel chairs, hearing aids distributed to differently-abled students

Rs. 1.24 cr. allocated for Inclusive Education to such children

WITH CARE: Collector V. Arun Roy (third left) fixing hearing aid to a differently-abled student while distributing the welfare assistance at the collectorate on Monday. Photo: N. Bhaskaran

Collector V. Arun Roy distributed wheel chairs and hearing aids worth Rs. 6.72 lakh to 202 differently-abled students at the Collectorate on Monday.

The students studying in the government schools and day-care centres for the differently-abled children got the assistance through the Sarva Siksha Abiyan, a Centre-sponsored scheme. As many as 291 students were selected in screening camps conducted in the schools and day-care centres in all Panchayat Unions in the district in two phases. Of these, already 53 students were given the assistance in the first phase. In the second phase, 79 students were given wheel chairs and 123 given hearing aids.

M. Baskaran, Chief Education Officer (Sarva Siksha Abiyan), said that the government had allocated Rs. 1.24 crore for Inclusive Education to the differently-abled children in the district.

As part of the scheme, the SSA was running day-care centres in the Panchayat Unions, in which 217 students were studying.

Two Special Residential Bridge Course Centres were functioning at Subedharmedu in Krishnagiri and Pennangur in Thaly, ramp facility was provided in 30 schools at Rs. 2.40 lakh and toilets were modified in 35 schools using the fund.