Sirsa DC orders facility upgrade, student survey at special schools

Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sharma has directed officials to ensure that all essential facilities are provided to students at the Prayas Mentally Challenged Children’s School and the Helen Keller School for the Visually Impaired, in Sirsa. He also stressed the need to re-enrol children who have dropped out and to conduct a comprehensive survey to identify such children across the district.

These directives were issued during a meeting held via video conference at the Mini Secretariat on Wednesday, in which the DC participated as part of a state-level review session chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Dr G. Anupama of the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment, Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes Welfare and Antyodaya (Sewa).

The meeting was also attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Virender Singh Sahrawat, District Social Welfare Officer Satyawan Dhilod and school principal Rajendra Singh.

DC Sharma instructed that solar power systems be installed at both schools and that the process be completed without delay. He further underscored the importance of surveying the enrolment status of children with disabilities to expand their access to educational services. He added that every student should be issued a Unique Identification (UID) and suggested the organisation of regular medical and health camps for students.

District Social Welfare Officer Dhilod stated that the Haryana Government has taken over seven special schools under the Divyang Kosh (Disability Fund). These include two schools in Sirsa, two in Rohtak and three in Hisar, all now operating under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

He further noted that the Helen Keller School, previously run by the Red Cross, currently serves 33 visually impaired students, of whom 20 are residential. The Prayas School, operational since 1992, currently educates 99 mentally challenged students and also provides vocational training. Students are taught skills such as chair weaving, candle making, snack preparation and packaging, with the aim of helping them become self-reliant.