Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, April 5

The government’s push to expand inclusive education for children with disabilities in Kashmir is drawing scrutiny, as officials acknowledge gaps in infrastructure and offer limited detail on how policies are being carried out on the ground.

In disclosures this week, the Social Welfare Department said that many areas lack dedicated facilities, including the absence of any designated special school in Kupwara.

While the government said it is “continuously taking measures” to strengthen inclusive and barrier free education, it did not specify what those measures entail at the district level, either in Kupwara or elsewhere.

Officials said children with special needs are being integrated into mainstream schools, supported by assessments, assistive devices and trained teachers. 

But the extent of that support – and how widely it is available – remains unclear.

Even the limited expansion plans cited by the government have yet to move beyond the planning phase. Two special schools have been proposed, one in Hadipora in Sopore and another in Dialgam in south Kashmir, but neither has been established.

The lack of a functioning special school in Kupwara, combined with the absence of clearly defined district-level strategies, has raised questions about the pace and effectiveness of the government’s efforts.

Authorities also said they are working with nongovernmental organizations to run inclusive or special education facilities. 

However, no specific institutions serving Kupwara or other districts were identified.

For families of children with disabilities, the gap between policy and practice remains pronounced, underscoring the challenges of translating broad commitments into accessible, on-the-ground services.