Chandel, Aug 6, 2025: As part of the Week-Long Mega Identification, Assessment and Aids & Assistive Devices Distribution Camp, Education (S) Secretary Naorem Praveen Singh distributed wheelchairs and hearing aids to children with special needs at Maha Union Government Higher Secondary School (MUGHSS) in Chandel district on Wednesday.
The initiative is being implemented across 35 educational blocks in Manipur with the objective of identifying, assessing, and supporting children with special needs by providing essential assistive devices. The programme also aims to create a comprehensive database that will help the government plan future interventions and improve educational support services for differently abled students across the state.
The camp has been organised by the Zonal Education Office, Chandel under the Samagra Shiksha initiative to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the National Education Policy 2020 as part of the Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam celebrations. The programme is being conducted in collaboration with the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), the District Health Department, and the Artificial Limb Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), Guwahati.
During the camp, specialist doctors from the departments of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Orthopaedics, and Psychiatry carried out detailed medical assessments of students from various schools in Chandel town. Based on these assessments, eligible children received assistive devices such as wheelchairs and hearing aids to improve their mobility, communication, and overall quality of life.
Addressing the gathering, Education Secretary Naorem Praveen Singh reaffirmed the state government's commitment to inclusive education and assured that special educators would be provided to schools to better cater to the educational and developmental needs of children with disabilities. He emphasised that every child deserves equal access to quality education and that the government is working to strengthen support systems for students requiring specialised care and assistance.
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Following the distribution programme, the Education Secretary, accompanied by officials from the Zonal Education Office and school authorities, inspected the infrastructure of Maha Union Government Higher Secondary School. He reviewed the availability of educational resources, checked stock registers and other institutional records, and interacted with school officials regarding measures to improve the overall learning environment.
Officials said the week-long campaign reflects the government's continued efforts to promote inclusive education under the National Education Policy 2020 by ensuring that children with special needs receive appropriate medical assessments, assistive devices, and educational support. The initiative is expected to enhance accessibility in schools and create a more inclusive learning environment for differently abled students throughout Manipur.
