Right to Special Education for Mentally Ill in Punjab: A Study of District Hoshiarpur

Special education is a form of instruction that is designed to meet the needs of children with disabilities so that they can learn the same skills and information as others. It not only enables them to utilize their right to education and to do their daily chores with ease; but also empower them to become more independent and self reliant. With the literacy rate being low in India, special education and skill training is the only way to make people economically independent and to enable them to earn either through self-employment or through wage employment. The children with disabilities (CWD) need this all the more, to supplement their differential talents so that they can prepare themselves for a happy, productive and useful life. Special education becomes all the more important for mentally ill persons as they are the most neglected section among differently abled too. The government in India has an attitude of neglect as far as special education needs of persons with mental disorders are concerned. This can be verified from the fact that though mental health disorders account for one sixth of all health disorders, yet India spends mere 0.83 per cent of its health budget on mental health. Hence, role of NGOs and charitable institutions becomes all the more important as far as special education opportunities for mentally ill persons are concerned. District Hoshiarpur lies in Doaba region of Punjab and it acclaims to have the highest literacy rate amongst all the districts of Punjab. However, as far as education for mentally ill persons was concerned, there was no government institute for the same. Hence, the present study has been conducted in Ashakiran, the only special school for Mentally Ill persons in District Hoshiarpur established by a charitable society. The present paper will critically analyze the facilities provided by the institute and will also recommend measures to improve the same.