As India preps up to celebrate its 80th Independence Day, a group of deaf and speech impaired school students in Chandigarh has drawn attention to a very different reality – one where children are still forced to protest for basic educational facilities.<\/p>\n
AI-generated summary, reviewed by editors<\/p>\n
The students reportedly came out in protest and gathered outside the office of Chandigarh's District Education Officer, carrying posters that explained the problems they face at school.<\/p>\n
The students were unable to communicate through spoken slogans, they tried to make themselves heard in the only ways available to them- through signs, written messages, placards and their presence outside the education office.<\/p>\n
\u091c\u094b \u092c\u091a\u094d\u091a\u0947 \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0938\u0915\u0924\u0947, \u0935\u094b \u091a\u0902\u0921\u0940\u0917\u0922\u093c \u0915\u0947 \u091c\u093f\u0932\u093e \u0936\u093f\u0915\u094d\u0937\u093e \u0905\u0927\u093f\u0915\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0915\u0947 \u0911\u092b\u093f\u0938 \u0915\u0947 \u0938\u093e\u092e\u0928\u0947 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u094b\u091f\u0947\u0938\u094d\u091f \u0915\u0930 \u0930\u0939\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902….
\n\u0935\u094b \u0905\u092a\u0928\u0947 \u092a\u094b\u0938\u094d\u091f\u0930 \u092a\u0930 \u0932\u093f\u0916 \u0915\u0930 \u092c\u0924\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u0940 \u0915\u094b\u0936\u093f\u0936 \u0915\u0930 \u0930\u0939\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902 \u0915\u093f \u0909\u0928\u0915\u0947 \u0938\u094d\u0915\u0942\u0932 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0915\u092e\u093f\u092f\u093e\u0902 \u0939\u0948\u0902…
\n>No – VBS on College
\n>No medical helpline
\n>No emergency helpline
\n>No Police Station
\n>No Govt\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/sMpfML7HJP<\/p>\n
Their protest raises an uncomfortable question: After nearly eight decades of independence, why are children with disabilities still having to demand basic access to education and essential facilities?<\/p>\n
The students have raised several demands linked directly to their education, safety and daily needs.<\/p>\n
A charging facility on the school campus so the existing electric bus can be used regularly
\nThese are not demands for luxury facilities. They are basic requirements that can directly affect the quality of education and the everyday lives of students with hearing and speech disabilities.<\/p>\n
\u091c\u094b \u092c\u091a\u094d\u091a\u0947 \u092c\u094b\u0932 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0938\u0915\u0924\u0947, \u0935\u094b \u091a\u0902\u0921\u0940\u0917\u0922\u093c \u0915\u0947 \u091c\u093f\u0932\u093e \u0936\u093f\u0915\u094d\u0937\u093e \u0905\u0927\u093f\u0915\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0915\u0947 \u0911\u092b\u093f\u0938 \u0915\u0947 \u0938\u093e\u092e\u0928\u0947 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u094b\u091f\u0947\u0938\u094d\u091f \u0915\u0930 \u0930\u0939\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902….
\n\u0935\u094b \u0905\u092a\u0928\u0947 \u092a\u094b\u0938\u094d\u091f\u0930 \u092a\u0930 \u0932\u093f\u0916 \u0915\u0930 \u092c\u0924\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u0940 \u0915\u094b\u0936\u093f\u0936 \u0915\u0930 \u0930\u0939\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902 \u0915\u093f \u0909\u0928\u0915\u0947 \u0938\u094d\u0915\u0942\u0932 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0915\u092e\u093f\u092f\u093e\u0902 \u0939\u0948\u0902…
\n>No – VBS on College
\n>No medical helpline
\n>No emergency helpline
\n>No Police Station
\n>No Govt\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/sMpfML7HJP<\/p>\n
What makes the protest particularly emotional is the way the students have tried to communicate their concerns.<\/p>\n
For children who cannot hear or speak in the conventional way, a protest itself presents an additional challenge. They cannot rely on slogans or speeches to draw attention to their demands.<\/p>\n
Instead, they have used placards, written messages and sign language to explain what is wrong.<\/p>\n
Their protest is a reminder that communication should never be confused with the ability to speak.<\/p>\n
A student may not be able to shout a slogan, but that does not mean the student has nothing to say.<\/p>\n
The students have specifically demanded Mathematics and Science classes from Classes IX to XII.<\/p>\n