Thiruvananthapuram: The special school representatives will stage a three-day fast before the secretariat during Onam from September 9 raising various demands. Over 5,000 participants consisting of students, parents, teachers and management association representatives will take part in it.
The LDF government, in its progress report, had claimed that Rs 14 lakh had been sanctioned for the teachers working in the BUD schools (67) and special schools (284). It promised to ensure social care to all autistic students under the Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme under the National Trust Act.
In five medical colleges, autism centres have been functioning to treat autism spectrum disorder under the 'spectrum' scheme started by the social justice department.
But Father Roy Vadakkel, chairman of the Association for Intellectually Disabled (AID), told DC that the special schools were yet to receive the Rs 13-crore grant against the Rs 40 crore promised by the government.
"When Malayalis celebrate Thiruonam, we will observe a fast in protest against the government's apathy towards us", said Fatther Vadakkel who is also the director of Asha Nilayam Special School for Mentally Challenged Children at Ponkunnam in Kottayam district.
The LDF government had categorised special schools under A, B & C categories. 'A' category has 100 students, 'B' category 50 and more and 'C' over 25 students. It was promised that each category will be given a maximum of Rs 83.05 lakh, Rs 51.55 lakh and Rs 19.48 lakh respectively. But the promise has remained on paper so far.
