Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • Headlines
  • Coronavirus-News
  • Get-Hooked
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Parasports
  • Ask Bhavna
  • NHBrandView
  • Independent Living
  • Lifestyle
  • NH Videos
×
Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability Logo
  • Stories
  • Videos
  • Inclusive
  • NH Voice
  • Login
COVID-19 Notification by Government in Accessible Format

Accessibility Tools

Text Size:

Contrast Scheme:

  • C
  • C

Reset

  • Home
  • Employment
  • Staff from schools for disabled kids protest against government apathy in Kerala

Staff from schools for disabled kids protest against government apathy in Kerala

Employment December 15, 2018
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Caregiving and reaching out to a child is not an easy task. It requires oodles of patience, courage and empathy. This is the case even more so with a child with a disability.

However, teachers and support staff at schools for disabled children dont get the appreciation they deserve, and this is especially seen in government-run schools. They are paid meagre salaries and their demands go to unheard.

Fed up of this, over 4,000 teachers, special educators, parents and staffs members from schools for disabled children in Kerala marched towards the state assembly on to protest against the government’s apathy towards them.

There are over 300 schools for disabled children across Kerala. The previous Kerala government under the UDF had sanctioned and delivered Rs 15 crore to all the schools but the present government has cut the budget down to Rs 13 crore.

This has cut them deep given that the number of schools has risem and they are struggling to function. The insensitivity of the Kerala government towards the needs of schools for disabled children is being heavily criticised.

Disabled children have the right to a free education until 18 years of age. But our kids have to pay for this. When teachers and staff members from regular schools are getting paid above Rs 10,000, most of us are paid hardly Rs 4,000 a month. We do not have any government pension or allowances either. Why are our demands going unheard? Isn’t that unfair? –
Ashique CS, Teacher, Ansar School of Special Education

Protestors have also demanded a package with welfare schemes and pensions.

“There are over 6,000 people working in special schools across Kerala. All these years, we never came out to protest because we cannot leave the children behind at schools. But now we had to come out because we are unable to withstand the government’s apathy”, says Jayan Narayanan, who is the headmaster of a school in Malappuram.

“Special school staffs are definitely underpaid. Most of them are not even treated with dignity which is very disheartening. In India, we lack good quality teachers and special educators because they are paid very less salaries. So after completing their course in special education, they go abroad for jobs, which us sad”, says Seema Lal, a special educator.

If their demands are not accepted by the government, teachers and staff members are all set to go on an indefinite hunger strike from January onwards. Apart from renowned activist Daya Bhai, many politicians from the opposition party also joined the protestors.

ALSO READ: Deaf people are gathering at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for a common cause

Watch in Sign Language

Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today

We need your continued support to enable us work towards Changing Attitudes towards Disability. Help us in our attempt to share the voices of people with disabilities that enable them to participate in the society on an equal footing!

Contribute to Newz Hook

NH Videos

Healing pain through art - Dr. Anubha Mahajan, Founder Chronic Pain India

Contribue to Newz Hook |Disability news. Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today.

Newsletter

 Subscribe to our Newsletter

Want to feature disability stories or share disability news with the disabled community? Write to:

editor@newzhook.com

Newz Hook - Accessible News

Download App Now!

Videos

View More

Get-hooked

“Stay positive to beat all odds” - My Take by Jomy John Joseph, disability rights activist

Accessibility

A mothers contribution towards the cause of Down syndrome

Accessibility

Visually impaired kids at Ramakrishna Mission Blind Boys Academy bring to life Durga Puja magic in vivid ways

Get-hooked

Action for Autism marks 25 years, goal ahead is to focus on services for adults on the spectrum

Newz Hook Logo

About Newz Hook

Newz Hook | Disability News - media site focusing on Disability Stories and Changing Attitudes towards Disability globally. We highlight disability news, offer inclusive solutions and create accessible collaborations. Our focus is to have Inclusion Champions from across the globe who will share disability stories and news.
Lets come together to change attitudes towards disability!

Newz Hook is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Follow us on:

Related Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Partner with Newz Hook
  • Embed Newz Hook Timeline
  • Affiliate disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contribute to Newz Hook

Our Awards

Zero Project Award Winner 2018
Back To Top
© 2019 All Right Reserved. Inclusive News India Private Limited.

Ask Bhavna

All fields are mandatory unless specified as optional.