Rajya Sabha takes up bill to include disabled in RTE

A bill to include children with disabilities in the ambit of the Right to Education (RTE) was taken up by the Rajya Sabha Tuesday.

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2010, adds children with disability in the definition of "disadvantaged groups" and will now be a part of the 25 percent reservation offered to these groups.  The bill also gives children suffering from autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities the benefit of choosing to study from home.

"They will also have the right to home based education. Parents will have the option to assure home-based education for these children. But it should not become an instrument for schools not wanting to take these kids in classrooms. It should just remain an option for parents," Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal informed the Rajya Sabha.

Extending support on the bill, BJP member Kaptan Singh Solanki said the amendment had made the bill complete.  "This provision should have been there since the beginning. I believe this legislation is now complete. Hence, we the opposition support and welcome it," Solanki said.

The Right to Education act makes it the state's responsibility to educate all children between ages 6-14.