Justice B V Nagarathna Advocates Reforms for Children with Disabilities

Justice B V Nagarathna, chair of the Juvenile Justice Committee of the Supreme Court, urges reforms for children with disabilities at the 9th Annual National Stakeholders Consultation. She emphasizes the need for accurate data, lifelong financial aid, inclusivity in education, and the enforcement of the Right to Education Act.

Justice B V Nagarathna, the Chairperson of the Juvenile Justice Committee of the Supreme Court, has called for significant reforms in the support systems for children with disabilities. Speaking at the 9th Annual National Stakeholders Consultation on 'Protecting the Rights of Children Living with Disabilities,' she highlighted the existing gaps in support and the urgent need for accurate data collection.

Justice Nagarathna emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and intervention, particularly through anganwadis, to ensure children with disabilities are not left behind. She also stressed that the Right to Education (RTE) Act must be actively enforced to provide inclusive education, backed by necessary infrastructure and resources.

In her appeal, she called for lifelong disability pensions and suggested leveraging Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds to supplement governmental support. She urged for a multi-stakeholder approach to create an inclusive society where children with disabilities grow up in nurturing family environments and receive the same legal protections as other children.

(With inputs from agencies.)