The government schools in Uttarakhand have seen a decrease in number of disabled children due to the lack of special teachers in schools.  Although the high court had directed that every school must have one teacher for the disabled children, number of these children dropped from 22,903 in 2014 to 5,200 currently because special teachers were not appointed in these schools.

During a meeting held recently in the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR), the state coordinator of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Anjum Fatima informed that 95 special teachers were to be appointed in 95 blocks under the SSA but now only one teacher will be appointed for two blocks together for disabled children.

She also informed that the decision for the acceptance of 47 seats is being taken at the cabinet level.  She also said that 190 resource teachers were appointed for disabled children earlier under the SSA. Three teachers are working in three districts under the SSA at present, she added. The chairperson of the SCPCR, Usha Negi said that the seriousness of this matter needs to be understood and the required steps should be taken for the appointment of special teachers accordingly.

She also said that education minister and chief minister must intervene in this matter as it is about the future of these children. 

She said that whereas according to the decision of the high court, each school must have one special teacher; appointing one teacher for two blocks is a cause for concern. She said that thousands of children are deprived of basic education because of the lack of special teachers.