37 SRP centres to help 4,470 differently abled kids in Udupi

15 IRTs have been appointed for training the specials kids

The School Readiness Programme (SRP) initiated under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is a ray of hope for the physically challenged children, who otherwise can not enter the portals of the schools owing to the disability.

The programme aims at bringing in changes in the lives of the students and making them self-reliant.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, SSA Project Deputy Coordinator Nagraj said that there are 4,470 CWSN (children with special needs) in Udupi district as per the available data.
There are nine to ten categories in which the disabilities are assessed. Here only severe disability is taken into consideration. Earlier, the department was concentrating on home based education with one volunteer for nearly ten children with special needs. However, now the government has come up with School Readiness Programme (SRP) to support disabled kids. As many as 37 SRP centres have been opened in the district, he added.

The children between the age group of six and 14 will be included in the programme. The SRP centre is set up in a room adjacent to the normal schools. Identified special children are trained for skill based professional activities. As many as 334 special children are in the age group of six and 14 in the district. As many as 54 children will be offered home based education for two years. As many as 18 volunteers have been appointed for the purpose and they will be paid a remuneration of Rs 3,000 each.

The CWSN who will be brought to school readiness programme will be given Rs 300 per week for transportation.

The children will be undergoing physiotherapy along with learning skills, at the centre.
Integrated Research Teachers (IRTs) have been appointed in SRP centres. For one block, there are three IRTs and in the district, as many as 15 IRTs have been appointed for the purpose of training the specials kids. Besides, two specially trained teachers are appointed in each block. There are as many as five to six SRPs in each block. The educational blocks in the district are Udupi, Karkala, Kundapur, Baindur and Brahmavara.