Karnataka to Set Up DEIC Centres in All Districts to Support Specially-Abled Children

The Congress-led government in Karnataka has announced that District Early Intervention Centres (DEIC) will be established in all districts of the state by next year to support specially-abled children. The initiative will be implemented under the Rashtriya Bala Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), a national programme aimed at early screening and intervention for children with health issues and developmental disabilities.

State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao made the announcement in the Legislative Assembly while responding to a question raised by Congress MLA Prakash Koliwad.

According to the minister, the RBSK programme focuses on identifying health conditions, developmental delays and disabilities in children at an early stage so that timely medical and therapeutic interventions can be provided. DEIC centres play a crucial role in this effort by offering specialised services and treatment for children with developmental and medical conditions.

The proposed centres will be equipped with a team of specialists including paediatricians, staff nurses, cardiologists and ophthalmologists. Some centres will also have psychologists to provide counselling and behavioural support to children and their families. The government plans to expand the existing network so that every district in the state has access to these services.

At present, there are 17 DEIC centres functioning across Karnataka, and another centre is expected to start operations soon in Koppal. The minister said the government has now decided to extend the programme to all districts, highlighting that early intervention can significantly improve the long-term health and development of affected children.

Raising the issue during the Assembly session, MLA Prakash Koliwad stressed the urgent need to expand DEIC services, pointing to a large gap between estimated and registered cases of specially-abled children.

He said surveys indicate that around 6.3 per cent of children in Karnataka are specially-abled. However, in his constituency of Ranibennur, only 137 children are officially registered, while estimates suggest that nearly 18,000 specially-abled children may actually be living in the taluk.

Koliwad also noted that Haveri district currently does not have a DEIC centre and that proposals to establish one there have not yet been approved. He said the absence of such facilities makes it extremely difficult for many families, particularly those from economically weaker sections, to access proper medical care and therapy for their children.

“In the absence of DEIC centres, many of these children are neglected. I have personally seen cases where they are left struggling without proper care,” he said.

The MLA also shared that his own daughter is specially-abled, adding that the sector often remains overlooked despite the growing need for support services.

He further pointed out that under the RBSK programme thousands of children requiring medical and developmental support have already been identified, but many families are forced to travel long distances to cities such as Hubballi, Mangaluru and Shivamogga to receive treatment.

To improve access to services, Koliwad urged the government to introduce tele-therapy and tele-counselling facilities at the taluk level. He also recommended bringing specially-abled children under a digital tracking system so that their health needs can be monitored and addressed more effectively.

According to him, such measures would help the government identify children in need of care and ensure that they receive timely medical attention and rehabilitation support, ultimately helping future generations grow up healthier and more independent.