Cleft affected children get education rights

Mysuru: Health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Thursday said children with cleft-related speech disabilities are entitled to inclusive education and social benefits under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD Act), 2016.He was addressing a gathering of ‘Indocleftcon 2026', the 24th annual conference of Indian Society of Clef Lips, Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies organised at All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Mysuru.He added that landmark development in recent years has been made for the people with cleft lip and palate, particularly when associated with communication challenges, within the framework of disability rights. Under the RPwD Act, it ensures that affected individuals are not only treated medically but are also entitled to equal opportunities in education, employment, and social participation.Cleft lip and palate remain among the most common congenital anomalies worldwide. In India, one in 700 births see cleft conditions, translating to tens of thousands of cases yearly. "Without timely care, it impacts feeding, speech, hearing, facial growth and psychosocial well-being," he said.He appreciated the conference theme--‘Connect, Communicate, Collaborate', and stressed on multidisciplinary care involving surgeons, anaesthesiologists, orthodontists, paediatric dentists and speech therapists.The minister welcomed modern advances like virtual surgical planning, presurgical infant orthopaedics and specialised speech therapy training.The minister lauded Smile Train India for supporting over 7 lakh cleft surgeries across 150+ partner hospitals through a sustainable model that trains local surgeons. "Quality care is now reaching remote regions," he said.