22 kids admitted to prestigious private schools Home-based education provided to 102 children An inclusive education programme launched for mentally-challenged children under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in Kota district of Rajasthan three years ago has started showing positive results by creating a favourable atmosphere, inculcating confidence among the children and motivating the parents to educate such children. While a total of Rs.9.63 lakh was spent on the programme during the past three years to benefit 2,058 children, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has formulated a scheme for benefiting 3,222 children with special needs at an expenditure of Rs.22.14 lakh during 2008-09. An official release here quoted the programme in-charge, Vidyadhar Vijay, as saying that 22 talented boys and girls were admitted to prestigious private schools as a result of training provided in the programme. Philanthropists contributed Rs.6 lakh for the education of these children during the period. Mr. Vijay said an arrangement for home-based education was made for 102 children who were not able to reach the Abhiyan centres because of their serious disability. Ten specially trained teachers took care of them at home. Besides, residential bridge courses were launched to connect 36 mentally-challenged, six visually impaired and 46 deaf and dumb children as well as 32 children suffering from multiple disabilities with regular education. Mr. Vijay said reference centres were established in all the six blocks in Kota district for providing help to children with special needs. The release said the programme had made a significant contribution towards bringing these children to the mainstream of education.