No ramps & handrails... Kids with special needs get short shrift in govt schools

EVEN as the last census highlighted that Karnataka has more than 3.30 lakh specially abled children aged 5-19, government data revealed that only 86,674 children with special needs—50,543 boys and 36,131 girls—are enrolled in government schools across the state.

- RISHITA KHANNA @Bengaluru

Experts said while the number of children with special needs must have increased, government efforts to include them in schools and prevent dropouts are nowhere to be seen and even when efforts are made, they are not uniform and fair towards all districts.

Between 2017-18 and 2022-23, the education department did not use Rs 137.95 crore (12%) of its funds, intended for the distribution of motorised vehicles. On the other hand, CSR funds for special education schools were heavily concentrated only in Bengaluru, with Rs 207.65 crore granted to just seven institutions between 2017 and 2022, sources from the department told TNIE.