Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Nov 27: "The government does not show any interest when it comes to providing grants to the staff of differently abled student’s special school", said Vasanth Kumar Shetty, director of Saanidhya residential school. Hence the Karnataka State Association for Special educators and Supportive staff (ASESS) demands government to fulfill their long pending demands.

He addressed the media at a press meet held at the press club on Tuesday November 27.

Vasanth Kumar said that necessary grants have been given to the staffs in other states, but only in Karnataka, the government is ignorant.

"With this regard, we have contacted all the possible ministers including past and present chief ministers, but there seems to be no positive result for it", he alleged.

"There are 10 schools in Dakshina Kannada with more than 1000 students but there are no sufficient staff. This is mainly because of the government, as they do not provide the necessary facilities. There seems to be no difference in salary for the staff of special schools and that of other schools as equal salary is provided. Special schools under the aid of central government received a grant of Rs 3800 to teachers and Rs 2500 to other staff" said Vasanth.

The limited grants provided by the government are not at all enough to bear the expenses of the mentally able students, he said.

In this regard, if their demands are not fulfilled, then the Karnataka State Association for Special educators and support staff has decided to take the students at director office of mentally disabled and senior citizens at Bangalore on December 7.

The national day for the differently abled is on December 8, as it is a government holiday, they have decided to leave the students at the office on December 7.

Meera Sathish from Lions special school, Agnes Kunder, Sr Lilly Gomes among others were present.