Educational centres for disabled planned

ISLAMABAD—Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education, Nawabzada Khawaja Muhammad Khan Hoti has underlined the need for establishment of 'inclusive education institutes' countrywide for the welfare and rehabilitation of special children.
Talking to APP here after a meeting with the senior officials of Directorate General of Special Education, the Minister said that he would also conduct surprise visits to monitor the performance of existing special education centres in the country.
Nawabzada Khan Hoti said that he directed the concerned departments to come forward with new initiatives aimed at bringing social revolution in the country. Besides, he said that "We would set up committee to monitor and release funds for NGOs engaged for the welfare disabled persons".
The Ministry would arrange teachers training workshops and courses for teachers as their active participation is necessary for rehabilitation of challenged persons, he added. To a question, the Minister said that Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal is playing a vital role to help deserving persons in the country.
However, he said that we would re-exam the performance and projects of Bait-ul-Mal to assist more deserving people. The ministry is planing to re-design Food Support Program of Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal which was launched in 2002-03, to facilitate more deserving persons countrywide, he added.
He also directed the management to re-check the database of Bait-ul-Mal to ensure transparent disbursement of financial aids, the minister added. Nazabzaba Muhammad Khan Hoti said Bait-ul-Mal is providing medical facilities to needy persons through government hospitals, adding, now We have decided to set up "Bait-ul-Mal's counters" at government hospitals to make this project more transparent.
He urged the civil society, NGOs and media to help the Ministry in the rehabilitation of disabled persons in the country and giving them a new life and better future. Earlier, Director General, Directorate General of Special Education, Khalid Naeem briefed the Minister about the efforts and achievements towards the welfare and rights of persons with disabilities.
In this regard, he said that formulation of first ever National Policy for persons with Disabilities 2002 is a major step. Khalid Naeem said it has been followed by a National Plan of Action to implement the National Policy for Persons with Disability.
This plan, he said aims at determining the extent of disabilities and it causes, improving the medical rehabilitation services, promoting inclusive education for children with special needs, reinforcing vocational training, arrangements of employmentand economic rehabilitation, developing legislative support for persons with disabilities and creation of barrier-free physical environment.
According to 1998 national census, 2.49 per cent of the country's population is disabled, the Director General said. About 530 Special Education Centres and allied institutions of provincial governments and NGOs are working for the rehabilitation and vocational training of disabled persons in various parts of the country.
Khalid Naeem said over 400000 (four-lac) children with different disabilities are getting education in above centres.
He said that our vision is: "to provide education and training to all children and persons with disabilities through special schools, training institutes and inclusive system."—APP