The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Physically challenged students get aid under SSA scheme

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Thursday, Jun 26, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Physically challenged students get aid under SSA scheme

Special Correspondent

Over 100 children from 5 Educational Blocks received aid

Rs.3 lakh was spent on distributing the free aid
All over the district there were about 8,000 children with disabilities

— Photo: A.Muralitharan

Some of the children who received aid at a function in Chitlapakkam on Wednesday.

TAMBARAM: As part of attempts to ensure that no physically challenged child in the school going age was deprived of care, over 100 children from five Educational Blocks received aid at a function in Chitlapakkam near Tambaram on Wednesday.

The 110 children with different disabilities — visually-challenged, hearing impaired, cerebral palsy and orthopaedic problems and studying in government and government —aided schools, received their kits from K.Elumalai, Chairman of St. Thomas Mount Panchayat Union.

Officials of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan said about Rs.3 lakh was spent on distributing the free aid, designed by the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India, a Government of India undertaking under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The Ministry had borne 60 per cent of the project cost, while the State government contributed the rest through SSA, they added. Keelottivakkam Grama Sangam, that is implementing the Inclusive Education for Disabled’s programmes for SSA in Kancheepuram district, coordinated in identifying the number of children with disabilities.

All over the district, there were nothing less than 8,000 children with different disabilities. They attended schools like regular children, some others were taken care of in day care centres attached to government schools and many others received home-based training.

S.Gunasekaran, Supervisor of SSA in St. Thomas Mount Block (Rural), said they had special educators, resource persons and volunteers to train and take care of children with disabilities.

The distribution of kits was just to start with and events to cover every physically challenged child would continue. Parents and voluntary organisations who wish to receive help can contact SSA’s office in St. Thomas Mount Panchayat Union, Chitlapakkam. Phone: 2223 2936.

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