409 children benefit from home-based education

[sajiv]

Helping hand: An NGO representative teaching a child in Bijapur.

Bijapur: Efforts by officials of the Department of Public Instruction in the district have ensured that 409 physically and mentally challenged children have received education and physical fitness training under the Home-based Education System.

The system, which was introduced by the State Government to bring physically and mentally challenged children into the mainstream by providing them education through representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGO) and medical facilities, has been successfully implemented in the district.

Sources in the department told The Hindu that according to the directions of the Government, a team of officers conducted a survey in the district and prepared a list of physically and mentally challenged children. The list was sent to the Government for release of study material and equipment.

After that the team met the parents of these children and convinced them of the importance of ensuring that the children get an education. The team then invited applications from representatives of NGOs willing to train the students.Presently, there are 143 representatives to train the 409 children identified by the team.

Each representative of the NGO has to look after three children, visit their houses twice a week and train the children for at least two hours. They are paid an honorarium of Rs. 750 a student. The children with physical disabilities are taught a general syllabus whereas children who are mentally challenged are trained to do routine everyday activities on their own.The department has also reached an agreement with Dr. J.K. Hiremath Mano Vikas Kendra, Hubli, to treat mentally challenged children.

According to the agreement, the selected children are provided treatment for three months in the hospital at a cost of Rs. 100 a day. "There is 50 to 60 per cent improvement in the children after the treatment," sources added.

So far, the district has identified hundreds of students suffering from various physical and mental disorders. This year, the department distributed 202 hearing kits, 299 kits with equipment used to help mentally challenged children, 55 wheelchairs, six tricycles, 130 surgical shoes, 18 night splints, four dynamic splints and 11 MCR sandals, they added.