The Charity Framework in India

Alur, M. (2001). Some cultural and moral implications of inclusive education in India--A personal view. Journal Of Moral Education, 30(3), 287-92.

•      “India is a nation of contrasts and contradictions beyond easy description and formula; her history, religions, philosophy and culture are a kaleidoscope of customs, languages, dress and diversity. Although India is a hierarchical society, its tradition of celebrating diversity is a long one. Socio-cultural diversity in India is inclusive in many ways. There is a built-in respect for divergence of views” (p. 288).
•       “Mahatma Gandhi shaped the socio-political power of free India. He believed in voluntary action leading to social change, and he conceived of revolution not in terms of political action but of social action, in terms of constructive social work. Gandhian social service was Lok Seva or “service to the people”. His ideas encompassed teaching and training people to act on their own in collective endeavours of small groups: harnessing people’s latent potentialities for self-help and managing their affairs by themselves, which was called Lok Shakti, or the force of a collective group of people” (p. 288).
•       “Reviewing services in India it is apparent that India still follows the old colonial charity framework relying on voluntary organisations to provide educational services for children with disabilities” (p. 289).
• The belief that people with disabilities should be provided for through primarily charity and volunteer work is a major deterrent to providing high quality special education.  Self-help is a good principle to live by, but taken to the extreme when talking about people with disabilities is dangerous.