Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, VP Singh Badnore on Thursday flagged off the Kalam Express, a mobile educational cum rehabilitation unit for children with special needs from Raj Bhawan here.
Indian Red Cross Society Chandigarh had launched its first mobile unit of Kalam Express in June last year with support of State Bank of India.
“Kalam Express”, named after country’s former President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, aims at promoting, developing and then maintaining the skills required for children with special needs to function in their homes and in a social setting.
Badnore said this would mainly benefit the children living in slums who cannot commute to schools for attaining education and also require different therapies because of their physical limitations.
He also said this mobile Educational cum Rehabilitation unit for Children with Special Needs living in slum, rural and rehabilitation colonies would give the children an opportunity to learn, experience besides interacting with each other and be a part of the mainstream.
During past one year, 260 children with Special needs have been identified that qualify for this assistance and is currently catering to 168 children in the adopted city slums.
MP from Chandigarh, Kirron Kher, Advisor to the Governor, Parimal Rai, Deputy Commissioner, Ajit Balaji Joshi and other officers of Chandigarh Administration were present in the function.