Kargil: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Sunday inaugurated Ladakh’s first Special School for Children with Special Needs (CWSN) and a state-of-the-art Automated Driving Testing Centre (ADTC) in Kargil.
Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, and Member of Parliament Mohmad Haneefa Jan were present at both events.
The Special School, the first of its kind in the Union Territory, has been established to provide specialised education, therapy and rehabilitation support to children with special needs. The facility features barrier-free infrastructure, accessible classrooms, assistive technologies, resource rooms and trained special educators to cater to the educational and developmental needs of students.
Addressing the gathering, Saxena described the inauguration as a milestone in Ladakh’s journey towards inclusive education and said the institution reflected the administration’s commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind irrespective of physical, intellectual or developmental challenges.
Referring to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, he said every child deserved equal opportunities to learn and reiterated the administration’s commitment to making government schools more inclusive through accessible infrastructure, assistive technologies and trained educators.
The Lieutenant Governor also called upon parents, communities, school management committees, civil society organisations and healthcare professionals to work together in creating an inclusive environment for children with special needs.
Later, Saxena inaugurated the Automated Driving Testing Centre at Kurbathang, developed at a cost of ₹2.48 crore under the guidance of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
The fully automated facility uses RFID-enabled identification, laser and infrared sensors, electronic driving tracks, CCTV surveillance, automated scoring software and integration with the VAHAN and SARATHI platforms to conduct objective and transparent driving licence tests.
Saxena said the centre would strengthen road safety by ensuring that only qualified drivers are issued licences through a fair and technology-driven assessment system.
Describing a driving licence as a responsibility rather than merely a legal requirement, he urged motorists to follow traffic rules, observe speed limits and use seat belts and helmets, saying responsible driving was essential for reducing road accidents and saving lives.
