New Delhi:
The Right to Education Bill will finally be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday. But Disabled Rights activists are livid about changes in the Right to Education Bill. They claim the changes discriminate against them and go against the government's word. The Bill could be voted in in the Lok Sabha. In fact they want it stalled till the original agreement is back.
"What is our crime? Why are we not being included?" asked Malini.
Malini demands inclusion for the 20 million disabled children in the country.
Right to Education - is a hope for the disadvantaged children. But will it serve the disabled?
The ministry and the activists have differing opinions.
As per the bill all disadvantaged sections like SCs, STs, financial minorities and others will benefit but it doesn't specifically mention the disabled.
The HRD ministry says if the state governments decide, the disabled would also be counted as disadvantaged but activists say it's a clever move to keep the disabled out.
"In 1950 disability came under HRD and now it's being pushed back in time by being restricted to the social justice ministry. We have worked for years and now it's all useless," says Mithu Alur.
The HRD ministry says under Right to Education free and compulsory education would be provided to the disabled children, but the problem is the lack of faculty and while they train teachers, they will go ahead and pass the bill so that the other children can benefit.
The problem is - while the disabled get the right to education, without teachers practically it means nothing and training special teachers is under the ministry of social empowerment and justice. It's this sharing of the subject that has orphaned the disabled children.
"Do you want us to stay at homes? I've done two masters in England, not here," put forth Malini.
The bill is to be passed by Parliament on Monday. But will the promises in the bill remain just in letter or also in spirit?