Kerala: Apathy has special school teachers restart stir

Thiruvananthapuram: Four organisations working for the development of special needs schools will be staging a day and night protest before the Secretariat on Oct 31.  More than 3,500 children with special needs, their parents and teachers are upset at the LDF government denying aided status to 33 schools. After coming to power last year, the LDF cancelled the status the previous UDF government granted.  Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES) has called a statewide strike on Nov 1. But the Association for Intellectually Disabled (AID), Special Olympics Bharat (SOB), Special School Employees Union (SSEU) Parivar and Association for the Welfare of Special School Staff (ASWAS) are going ahead with the 24-hour protest.

Though the children, their parents and teachers staged a daylong fast there on Aug 13, the government turned a blind eye. Their petitions to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Governor P. Sathasivam, ministers, CPM secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, CPI secretary Kanam Rajendran - all in vain. Father Roy Vadakkel, director of Asha Nilayam Special School for Mentally Challenged Children at Ponkunnam in Kottayam district which has been functioning since 1979, told DC that despite calling on a slew of decision makers, nothing concrete had taken place.

“Former chief minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate the protest Wednesday. Since Oct 11, each district has been witnessing protests. In Kottayam on Thursday, around 3,000 protesters shouted slogans against the LDF government,” said Fr Roy Vadakkel.  As many as 70 protesters, five from each district, will observe fast while 10, 000 demonstrators will gather on the venue. Their demands include a festival allowance for Onam, free education, minimum wages for teachers, job reservation for those above 18, and lifelong care after their parents’ death, legislation against atrocities, stringent action against officials denying grants, pension and priority list ration card.