Shillong, 21 August 2026: The Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), in collaboration with Samagra Shiksha, Meghalaya, organised an Integrated State Review Meeting of District Officers, Special Educators (SE) and District IE Co-ordinators (DIECOs) at Shillong Club, Shillong, today. The meeting brought together key stakeholders to deliberate upon challenges, gaps and opportunities in strengthening inclusive education and support systems for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) across the State.
The programme was chaired by Smt. Richa Kulkarni, IAS, State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha, Meghalaya, along with senior officials, financial consultant Ms. Baila, District AI Coordinators, District Support Units (DSUs), Special Educators and representatives of ALIMCO.
The programme commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, followed by the felicitation of the distinguished guests. The Unit Head Shri North-East Region, ALIMCO, Shri Sengupta delivered the welcome address, setting the context for the meeting and highlighting ALIMCO’s commitment towards supporting persons with disabilities and strengthening accessibility and inclusion.
Addressing the gathering, Smt. Richa Kulkarni, IAS, State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha, Meghalaya, emphasised the need to move beyond the traditional medical model of disability towards a more inclusive social model of disability.
She said that disability should not merely be viewed as something that needs to be “fixed” or corrected in a child. Instead, the focus should be on adapting the surrounding environment, educational systems, technology and support mechanisms to meet the individual needs of children with disabilities.
She highlighted that inclusive education requires greater understanding and sensitivity from teachers, parents, peers and society at large. While infrastructure, textbooks, uniforms and other educational provisions are relatively straightforward to plan, supporting children with special needs requires a deeper understanding of their individual experiences and the barriers they face.
She further stressed the importance of consultations involving government officials, ALIMCO, Samagra Shiksha, Special Educators and district-level functionaries, noting that those working directly at the grassroots bring valuable lived experiences and insights into the actual challenges faced by children with disabilities.
Particular attention was drawn to the challenges posed by Meghalaya’s difficult terrain and gaps in digital connectivity, which can affect access to technology-enabled interventions and inclusive educational support in remote areas.
The ALIMCO team subsequently made a detailed presentation on its initiatives and interventions, followed by an extensive interactive session with District AI Coordinators, DSUs and Special Educators. The session provided a platform for participants to openly discuss several issues concerning Children with Special Needs under Samagra Shiksha, including accessibility, assistive support, technology, infrastructure, awareness, identification of needs and challenges at the field level.
The discussions emphasised that effective implementation of inclusive education requires continuous coordination between different stakeholders and a stronger feedback mechanism from the field to the State and national levels.
Over the last five years, a total of 3,085 Children with Special Needs in Meghalaya have been served through various interventions under the inclusive education framework. Across the North-Eastern region, approximately 30,000 Children with Special Needs have benefited during the period, reflecting the continued efforts towards expanding access to appropriate support and assistive solutions.
The meeting also underscored the importance of understanding the unique requirements of every district and community, particularly in geographically challenging regions. Participants shared their experiences from the field and identified areas where greater convergence, technological support, accessibility and awareness could further strengthen the delivery of services to CwSN.
The meeting reaffirmed the collective commitment of ALIMCO and Samagra Shiksha, Meghalaya, towards building a more responsive, accessible and inclusive education ecosystem where every child with special needs receives the support, opportunities and dignity they deserve.