Inclusive Education - Challenges and Perspectives with Special Reference to India

Abstract

Inclusive growth requires empowerment of the disadvantaged and such empowerment can be best achieved through education. Education and the Human Development Index of a country are directly correlated. Education is one of the pillars on which rests the edifice of social sector reforms. However, the society will reap the benefits only if education is universalized and made inclusive. Inclusive education must bring into its fold students who are disadvantaged socially, physically or mentally. In this paper, the researcher seeks to establish the extent of ‘inclusiveness’ that is being practised in bringing visually impaired students to the mainstream of higher education; review the effectiveness of the tools of intervention that provide ‘equity’ towards ‘equality’; study the impediments in implementation of policies; present two cases that suggest methods that hone life skills and livelihood skills so that they are empowered to accept assignments that they are intellectually capable of.