Rally to promote disability children's education
Differently-able children taking part in a rally organised in the city recently.A rally aimed at promoting education for children with disabilities was kicked off at the District Collectorate here on Friday.Attended by more than 1,200 children from various schools for the disabled in the district, the rally stressed the importance of bringing children with disabilities to schools and making parents aware of the need to educate their children.Organised by the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) in partnership with the Tamil Nadu State Coordination Committee of Parivaar, the national body of parents of children with mental retardation and the District Rehabilitation Centre, it was flagged off by the District Collector, Neeraj Mittal.Similar rallies had been organised in Chennai, Krishnagiri, Erode, Karur, Dindigul, Tiruchirapalli, Tuticorin and Tirunelveli.Though reports indicate that nearly 20 lakh children with disabilities in India have been enrolled in general schools through Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, many still did not go to school, said MNG Mani, Secretary General, ICEVI. According to a report of the UNESCO released in 2006, one third of the 77 million children still out of school are those with disabilities, he added.Students of social work, representatives of parents’ organisations for persons with mental retardation, voluntary organisations and members of UDIS Forum, a network working for people with disabilities, participated in the rally.
