Children with Disabilities and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA): A Conceptual Synthesis

Santosh Kumar Mahto

Abstract: Children with disabilities constitute one of the most marginalized groups within the Indian education system, often facing persistent barriers to access, participation, and achievement. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), launched in 2001, represents a landmark national initiative aimed at universalizing elementary education with a strong focus on equity and inclusion. This conceptual synthesis examines the evolution, provisions, and challenges of SSA in relation to the education of children with disabilities, drawing upon policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and contemporary debates within inclusive education. SSA introduced significant interventions-such as early identification and assessment, home-based education for children with severe disabilities, teacher training in inclusive practices, provision of assistive devices, resource support, and community mobilization-to bridge educational gaps. While these initiatives marked a shift from segregated special schooling toward inclusive mainstream environments, the synthesis highlights persistent systemic constraints, including inadequate teacher preparedness, infrastructural limitations, fragmented service delivery, and socio-cultural attitudes that continue to impede full inclusion. The abstract also emphasizes the transition from SSA to Samagra Shiksha, noting continuity and reform in inclusive education priorities. Overall, the paper argues that although SSA laid essential foundations for integrating children with disabilities into the education system, achieving meaningful inclusion requires sustained policy commitment, strengthened institutional capacities, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and contextually responsive pedagogical models. This synthesis contributes to a deeper understanding of policy-practice interfaces and the ongoing need for inclusive, child-centered, and rights-based educational approaches in India.

Keywords: Disability, Child-centered, SSA, Mainstream Mobilization, Inclusion

How to Cite?: Santosh Kumar Mahto, "Children with Disabilities and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA): A Conceptual Synthesis", Volume 15 Issue 1, January 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1104-1107, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26117210307, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26117210307