The Indian government’s push for home-based education highlights its strong commitment to equity. Children with disabilities are now central to the education system, not left behind.
Inclusive Education Gets a Boost
In a significant step toward achieving equitable access to education for all, the Government of India has introduced home-based education for children with disabilities under the Samagra Shiksha scheme. This transformative move underlines the country’s commitment to inclusive education and aims to ensure that no child is left behind, particularly those with severe or multiple disabilities.
The inclusion of home-based education strengthens the government’s long-standing efforts that began with earlier programs like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), now integrated into the comprehensive Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
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Evolution of Inclusive Education in India
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and RMSA: Foundations of Inclusion
Launched in the early 2000s, SSA and later RMSA aimed at universalizing education from elementary to secondary levels. These schemes took an expansive view of inclusive education by integrating children with disabilities into the mainstream education system through a multi-option approach.
Key interventions included identification of CWSN, distribution of aids and appliances, therapeutic services, provision of accessible learning materials, and in-service training for teachers. The emphasis was on enabling all children, regardless of physical or cognitive ability, to access quality education.
The Right to Education Act: A Legal Mandate
The Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, was a landmark legislation that brought inclusivity to the forefront of educational policy. Section 3(2) of the RTE Act, especially after its 2012 amendment, ensured that children with multiple and severe disabilities could opt for home-based education. This legal framework legitimized the right to education for children who might otherwise be excluded due to severe disabilities.
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Samagra Shiksha: A Unified and Holistic Approach
Introduced in 2018, the Samagra Shiksha scheme merged SSA, RMSA, and Teacher Education into a single program aimed at providing quality education across all school levels (Classes I to XII). A crucial component of this scheme is the inclusive education strategy for CWSN.
Under this initiative, various student-centered activities are implemented, including:
- Identification and assessment of children with disabilities
- Provision of assistive devices and technologies
- Corrective surgeries and therapeutic support
- Development of accessible learning materials
- Training of teachers and special educators
- Support for girls with special needs through stipends
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Financial Commitments and Outreach
In the financial year 2018–19, a total outlay of ₹1023.50 crore was approved for inclusive education, targeting 21,00,918 CWSN across classes I to XII. Notably, 15,909 resource teachers and special educators were supported under this initiative. Additionally, ₹300 crore was allocated for the salaries of 11,865 resource persons at Block Resource Centres (BRC), Cluster Resource Centres (CRC), and Urban Resource Centres (URC), bringing the total number of specialized educators to 27,774.
These financial provisions demonstrate the government’s commitment to scaling inclusive education and ensuring a robust infrastructure for students with special needs.
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Objectives of the Inclusive Education Component
The objectives of the inclusive education component under Samagra Shiksha are multi-dimensional:
- Early Identification and Assessment: Schools are mandated to identify children with disabilities early and assess their educational and developmental needs.
- Assistive Devices and Appliances: Based on requirements, students are provided with aids like Braille books, large print books, hearing aids, wheelchairs, and more.
- Infrastructure and Accessibility: Schools are being made barrier-free by removing architectural obstacles and ensuring accessible toilets, libraries, and playgrounds.
- Customized Learning Materials: Teaching and learning materials are developed to cater to the needs of CWSN, including digitized and tactile formats.
- Vocational and Therapeutic Services: Schools collaborate with other departments to provide medical, vocational, and therapeutic support.
- Teacher Training and Sensitization: General educators receive training to adapt curriculum and teaching methodologies, ensuring inclusivity in regular classrooms.
- Support Services: Establishment of resource rooms, counseling sessions, and vocational training centers to provide comprehensive care and education.
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Promoting Home-Based Education
A defining feature of the Samagra Shiksha framework is the provision for home-based education, particularly for children with severe and multiple disabilities who are unable to attend school.
Expansion of Home-Based Education
From 2018-19, the scope of home-based education has been expanded to cover children till Class XII. In 2018-19 alone, 43,996 children received home-based education with a dedicated budget of ₹9.22 crore.
Empowering Girls with Disabilities
The stipend scheme for girls with special needs has also been expanded under Samagra Shiksha. Now, girls from Class I to XII receive financial assistance to promote enrolment, reduce dropouts, and encourage retention. The stipend is disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for transparency and efficiency.
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Inter-Ministerial Convergence: A Holistic Support System
Inclusive education is not the sole responsibility of the Ministry of Education. The government promotes a convergence model wherein various ministries and departments work collaboratively to support CWSN.
These include:
- Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
- Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
- Public Works Departments (PWD/CPWD)
- Ministry of Rural Development
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Ministry of Women and Child Development
- Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
- National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
These bodies work together to ensure:
- Non-discriminatory admission and equal opportunity
- Accessible infrastructure and campuses
- Reasonable accommodation for individuals
- Language and communication support for children with visual or hearing impairments
- Early detection of learning disabilities and corrective pedagogical measures
- Provision of transportation and attendant support for children with high support needs
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Innovative Teaching and Learning Materials
Barkha: A Reading Series for ‘All’
NCERT, under the Department of School Education and Literacy, has developed “Barkha: A Reading Series for ‘All’,” a supplementary early reading series designed for inclusivity. Aligned with the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, Barkha features:
- High-resolution, tactile visuals
- Accessible fonts and formats
- Availability in both print and digital versions
- Audio-visual introductions to each story in both sign and spoken language
This innovative tool allows children to read independently, revisit stories at their pace, and embrace reading as a pleasurable experience.
Digital Inclusion through ePathshala
In support of the Digital India initiative, Barkha’s digital edition is hosted on the NCERT website and ePathshala portal. This ensures that inclusive materials are accessible anytime, anywhere, and in formats that support multiple modes of learning.
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Inclusive Tools for Teachers
Teacher’s Handbook for Autism Inclusion
Recognizing the need for teacher training in handling children with autism (CwA), NCERT has published a comprehensive handbook. This resource:
- Builds foundational understanding of autism
- Offers curriculum-linked strategies for inclusive classrooms
- Suggests activity-based interventions
- Aligns with daily school routines to ensure usability
The handbook equips regular teachers with tools to support CwA in general education classrooms, ensuring meaningful inclusion.
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Monitoring, Accountability, and Progress
Inclusive education under Samagra Shiksha is backed by continuous monitoring mechanisms. The goals are to:
- Track progress in enrollment, attendance, and academic performance
- Ensure completion of education for every CWSN
- Periodically assess the effectiveness of interventions
- Adjust policies based on field realities and feedback
The inclusion of children with special needs is no longer viewed as a welfare issue, but a rights-based mandate rooted in constitutional values of equality, justice, and dignity.
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Impact and Way Forward
India’s journey towards inclusive education has seen measurable progress. With over 21 lakh CWSN covered under Samagra Shiksha and nearly 28,000 special educators deployed, the ecosystem for special education is expanding rapidly.
However, significant challenges remain:
- Bridging implementation gaps in remote and rural areas
- Reducing teacher shortages and enhancing training quality
- Making technology universally accessible for disabled learners
- Promoting social inclusion and acceptance among peers
List of Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Full Form |
|---|---|
| CWSN | Children With Special Needs |
| SSA | Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan |
| RTE | Right to Education (Act) |
| RMSA | Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan |
| NCERT | National Council of Educational Research and Training |
| MHRD | Ministry of Human Resource Development (now Ministry of Education) |
| IEDSS | Inclusive Education for Disabled at Secondary Stage |
| DBT | Direct Benefit Transfer |
| BRC | Block Resource Centre |
| CRC | Cluster Resource Centre |
| URC | Urban Resource Centre |
| PWD | Public Works Department |
| CPWD | Central Public Works Department |
| NCPCR | National Commission for Protection of Child Rights |
| CwA | Children with Autism |
| UDL | Universal Design for Learning |
