A medical assessment camp for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) was conducted by the State Project Office, Samagra Shiksha, in South Andaman on July 29. The initiative, held under the Inclusive Education component of the national education programme, targeted students from Anganwadi to Class XII under the Block Project Office (BPO), South Andaman.
The camp took place at the Girls Senior Secondary School Multipurpose Hall in Sri Vijaya Puram and saw the participation of students, parents, medical professionals, and education officials. The District Education Officer, South Andaman, attended the camp as chief guest and interacted with the students and the special educators present.
The assessment camp was facilitated by a multi-disciplinary medical team drawn from GB Pant Hospital, including specialists from ENT and Audiology. In addition, a support team from the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) and Composite Regional Centre (CRC), Brookshabad, comprising Prosthetists and Orthotists, Early Detection Professionals, Physiotherapists, and Rehabilitation Officers, were also involved in conducting evaluations and providing support services.
The primary objective of the camp was to identify the specific medical, educational, and rehabilitation needs of the CwSN population enrolled in schools under the jurisdiction of the South Andaman BPO. The comprehensive screening process included medical checkups, hearing assessments, mobility evaluations, and recommendations for assistive aids or interventions as needed.
Special Educators from Samagra Shiksha provided on-site support and documentation, ensuring that each child’s condition and educational needs were recorded for future follow-up. The findings from the camp will inform the development of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for each identified student, enabling tailored learning interventions in mainstream or special education settings.
This camp represents part of a broader drive under Samagra Shiksha to promote inclusive education and ensure equitable access to learning for all children, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities. The programme mandates the identification and support of CwSN learners across the schooling spectrum, starting from early childhood.
According to officials, the collaborative model adopted in this camp, with support from the health department and specialized institutions, marks a significant step forward in strengthening service delivery for special needs education in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. By involving experts from multiple domains, the camp ensured that students received thorough assessments and could be connected to services ranging from assistive devices to therapeutic support.
The presence of parents and guardians during the assessments allowed for real-time consultation and guidance, equipping families with knowledge and referrals to better support their children’s development. This participatory model also aligns with the vision of community-based inclusive development promoted by national policy frameworks.
Such camps not only help in identifying gaps in learning and health among special needs children but also aid in streamlining resource allocation, whether it be through teaching aids, medical interventions, or support staff deployment in schools. The success of the event has prompted education authorities to consider organizing similar camps in other regions of the Islands in the coming months.
The camp’s outcome reports are now being compiled, and recommendations from medical professionals will be shared with schools, parents, and the Samagra Shiksha monitoring team to guide the next steps. The Department reiterated its commitment to making inclusive education a reality by continuing collaboration with medical institutions, NGOs, and disability rights bodies.
