26 Cross Disability Early Intervention Centres Established for Children with Disabilities

In a landmark move, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE), has launched an innovative initiative aimed at early identification and intervention for children with disabilities aged 0–6 years.

Under this scheme, 26 Cross Disability Early Intervention Centres (CDEICs) have been established across the country, including 8 national institutes and 18 composite regional centres, providing single-window early intervention services.

These centres aim to detect disabilities at an early stage and provide necessary medical, counselling, and therapeutic services, along with preparing children for formal schooling. The initiative ensures that every child with a disability gets a strong and inclusive start to life.

The step is being widely appreciated as a forward-thinking intervention that addresses the needs of children at the most crucial stage of development.