Chandigarh, September 1: Students at Vatika Special School in Sector 19, Chandigarh, staged a protest lasting nearly three hours outside their school. The deaf-mute students raised their voices by making noise to express their demands for a pick-and-drop bus service and sign language training for teachers. The protest took place on August 12, 2026, and included former students and parents who joined the cause.
The school currently has an electric bus, but students reported that it cannot be used regularly due to a lack of charging facilities on campus. The school principal stated that efforts are being made to resolve the charging issue.
During the protest, police arrived to understand the students’ grievances, with assistance from the social welfare department. An official from the department listened to the students’ complaints, and the principal assured that solutions would be sought in collaboration with the department. Principal Kavita Sobti mentioned that the students had not previously submitted written complaints and that they would now work together with the social welfare officials to address the issues.
The school, which began in 1991-92 with just two rooms at Karuna Sadan in Sector 11-B, has grown significantly over the years. In August 2002, the Chandigarh administration provided a government building on leasehold basis in Sector 19-B to accommodate the increasing number of students and their needs. The school is an initiative of the Punjab IAS Officers Wives Association (PIOWA).
In addition to academic education, the school aims to prepare deaf-mute students for employment through Indian sign language and skill training.
This protest is part of a broader trend, as recent student movements have seen successful outcomes, including the government agreeing to demands in other protests.