There are 1.2 lakh special children in the State and initiatives have been taken to educate them, for which the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department in coordination with the other line departments has taken a number of steps.
This was stated by Women and Child Welfare Department and Mission Shakti Minister Prafulla Samal at a two-day State-level consultation programme on “Igniting Young Minds: State-level Dialogue on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), Odisha” organised by the Utkal University Department of Psychology in partnership with the UNICEF Odisha here on Friday.
Samal said the SSEPD Department has taken steps to provide facilities like creating pathways for physically-challenged, transportation for the students who are unable to come from their homes with a motto to eradicate illiteracy from the State in lineup with the other departments.
He said in Odisha, all Anaganwadi posts are for women while in other States the situation is not the same. During the discussions with the Anagawadi Workers while they were on agitation, it was mentioned to them that what the Prime Minister would pay to them the Chief Minister would pay rupee one more, he said.
Samal also said the State Government has an aim that nobody should be left without education as “Education is passport for future for children.”
UNICEF Odisha chief Yumi Bae said, “Children's rights to quality care and education are absolutely critical for full realisation of their inner potentials. The ECCE is not just about making children school-ready or ready for their role in society, it is also about making the society and the schools ready for children and helping them realise their lives’ potential.”
OSCPCR Chairperson Kasturi Mohapatra urged Minister Samal to felicitate the Ministers who are making their constituencies children-friendly.
Utkal University Vice-Chancellor Prof Soumendra Mohan Patnaik, former Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi Professor of Psychology Ajit Kumar Mohanty and Utkal University Psychology Department Head Bhaswati Patnaik also spoke on the occasion.
The meeting focussed on the elements and opportunities in the National ECCE Policy 2013, State initiatives and practices with family engagement and community participation, strategic plan for equitable implementation of quality ECCE, development of a roadmap and strategies for ECCE and related issues.