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{{Short description|Indian reseacher, writer, and disability rights activist}}
{{Short description|Indian researcher, writer, and disability rights activist}}
{{Multiple issues|
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{{Tone|date=June 2022}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}
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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix  = Dr.
| honorific_prefix  = Dr.
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| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|1943|03|27|df=y}}
| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|1943|03|27|df=y}}
| birth_place    = Kolkata, India
| birth_place    = Kolkata, India
| nationality    = Indian
| organization      = [[ADAPT – Able Disable All People Together]]
| organization      = [[ADAPT – Able Disable All People Together]]
| spouse            = [[Sathi Alur]]
| spouse            = [[Sathi Alur]]
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| known_for        = Starting services for people with disability in India
| known_for        = Starting services for people with disability in India
| occupation        = Educator, Disability Rights Activist, Researcher, Writer, Published Author
| occupation        = Educator, Disability Rights Activist, Researcher, Writer, Published Author
| URL              = {{url| http://www.adaptssi.org/home.html}}
| URL              = {{URL| http://www.adaptssi.org/home.html}}
}}
}}


'''Mithu Alur''' (born 27 March 1943 and usually referred to as '''Dr. Mithu Alur''') is the founder chairperson of The Spastic Society of India – now rechristened [[ADAPT – Able Disable All People Together]]. She is an educator, disability rights activist, researcher, writer and published author on issues concerning people with disability in India.
'''Mithu Alur''' (born 27 March 1943) is the founder chairperson of The Spastic Society of India – now rechristened [[ADAPT – Able Disable All People Together]]. She is an educator, disability rights activist, researcher, writer and published author on issues concerning people with disability in India.


Alur is a pioneer in the care and education of people with Neuro-Muscular and Developmental Disabilities,<ref>Encyclopaedia of Social Work in India, by India Ministry of Welfare. Publications Division, [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)]], 1987. Page 197.</ref><ref>[http://www.tatainternational.com/moresocialres.html Spastics Society, Bandra, Mumbai - Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204101204/http://www.tatainternational.com/moresocialres.html |date=4 December 2008 }} [[Tata Group|Tata]], www.tatainternational.com.</ref> like [[cerebral palsy]], [[autism]], [[Down syndrome]] and [[mental retardation]]. After her daughter [[Malini Chib]] was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, she realised that the care of people with conditions like her daughter was non-existent in India. Hence she trained in [[England]] and started the Spastics Society of India (SSI) in 1972. Many parents and friends of people with disability in India took inspiration and training from her and her institute to start respective spastics' societies in different states and today independent Spastic societies exist in 16 states in India with outreach to many rural areas as well.
Alur is a pioneer in the care and education of people with Neuro-Muscular and Developmental Disabilities,<ref>Encyclopaedia of Social Work in India, by India Ministry of Welfare. Publications Division, [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)]], 1987. Page 197.</ref><ref>[http://www.tatainternational.com/moresocialres.html Spastics Society, Bandra, Mumbai - Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204101204/http://www.tatainternational.com/moresocialres.html |date=4 December 2008 }} [[Tata Group|Tata]], http://www.tatainternational.com.</ref> like [[cerebral palsy]], [[autism]], [[Down syndrome]] and [[intellectual disabilities]].


==Early life==
==Early life and education==


Alur was born and raised in [[Kolkata]]. She did her higher education in Delhi in [[Miranda House]]. She acquired a bachelor's degree in English literature from the University of Delhi in 1963. In 1965, she married Ranjit Chib. A year later [[Malini Chib]] was born.
Alur was born and raised in [[Kolkata]]. She did her higher education in Delhi in [[Miranda House]]. She acquired a bachelor's degree in English literature from the University of Delhi in 1963. In 1965, she married Ranjit Chib. A year later [[Malini Chib]] was born.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}


Malini was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Finding that no proper school for children with disabilities exited in India, in 1968 she trained as a teacher in the field of special education at the [[Institute of Education]] (IOE), [[University of London]].
Malini was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Finding that no proper school for children with disabilities exited in India, in 1968 she trained as a teacher in the field of special education at the [[Institute of Education]] (IOE), [[University of London]].{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}


==Spastics Society of India==
==Spastics Society of India==


Back home in India, she wanted to open a school in Mumbai, and contacted the then [[Prime Minister of India]], Mrs. [[Indira Gandhi]]. Mrs. Gandhi asked her to get in touch with actress, [[Nargis Dutt]]. [[Nargis Dutt]] became the first patron of The Spastics Society of India (SSI), which formally started on 2 October 1972.<ref>[http://www.nrcissi.org/aboutus/history.html History] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20050223043713/http://www.nrcissi.org/aboutus/history.html |date=23 February 2005 }} www.nrcissi.org.</ref>
Back home in India, she wanted to open a school in Mumbai, and contacted the then [[Prime Minister of India]], [[Indira Gandhi]]. Gandhi asked her to get in touch with actress [[Nargis Dutt]]. Dutt became the first patron of The Spastics Society of India (SSI), which formally started on 2 October 1972.<ref>[http://www.nrcissi.org/aboutus/history.html History] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20050223043713/http://www.nrcissi.org/aboutus/history.html |date=23 February 2005 }} http://www.nrcissi.org.</ref>


Later she set up the first-ever special school in India for children with cerebral palsy, "Centre for Special education" at [[Colaba]] on 2 October 1973, providing education and treatment facilities under one roof. It began with just three children – [[Malini Chib]], Farhan Contractor and Imtiaz. [[Nargis Dutt]] remained its lifelong patron. After her death in 1981, her mantle was taken up by her husband, [[Sunil Dutt]].
Alur later set up the first-ever special school in India for children with cerebral palsy, "Centre for Special education", at [[Colaba]] on 2 October 1973, providing education and treatment facilities under one roof. It began with just three children – [[Malini Chib]], Farhan Contractor and Imtiaz. Nargis Dutt remained its lifelong patron. After her death in 1981, her mantle was taken up by her husband, [[Sunil Dutt]].


The Spastics Society has since broadened its scope to include programs on teacher training, vocational training of young adults with [[cerebral palsy]], [[autism]], [[mental retardation]], multiple disabilities and [[learning disabilities]]. It also works in the field of advocacy and awareness and offers support to parents and other professionals.
The Spastics Society has since broadened its scope to include programs on teacher training, vocational training of young adults with [[cerebral palsy]], [[autism]], [[mental retardation|intellectual disabilities]], multiple disabilities and [[learning disabilities]]. It also works in the field of advocacy and awareness and offers support to parents and other professionals.


In 1999, Alur established the National Resource Centre for Inclusion (NRCI), in [[Mumbai]], to include disabled children from special schools into normal schools.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121106233733/http://www.hindu.com/2003/01/28/stories/2003012803180300.htm Focus on education for disabled children] [[The Hindu]], 28 January 2003.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.internationalforum.com/Text%20Pages/metaphores_for_leadership.htm|title=Examples in Leadership - Social Entrepreneurs|work=internationalforum.com}}</ref> The Spastics Society of India has since changed names and is currently called [[ADAPT – Able Disable All People Together]].<ref>[http://www.adaptssi.org Official Website of The Spastics Society Of India that is now called ADAPT]</ref> Many of the state level spastics societies under the aegis of The Spastics Society of India have also changed names since.
In 1999, Alur established the National Resource Centre for Inclusion (NRCI), in [[Mumbai]], to integrate disabled children from special schools into normal schools.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121106233733/http://www.hindu.com/2003/01/28/stories/2003012803180300.htm Focus on education for disabled children] [[The Hindu]], 28 January 2003.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.internationalforum.com/Text%20Pages/metaphores_for_leadership.htm|title=Examples in Leadership - Social Entrepreneurs|work=internationalforum.com}}</ref> The Spastics Society of India has since changed names and is currently called [[ADAPT – Able Disable All People Together]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=ADAPT SSI |url=http://www.adaptssi.org/ |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=www.adaptssi.org}}</ref> Many of the state level spastics societies under the aegis of The Spastics Society of India have also since changed names.


==Academic career==
==Academic career==


Alur's research work has been instrumental in guiding government policy for people with disability. Her 1998 PhD thesis "Invisible Children – A Study of Policy Exclusion",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.252004|title=British Library EThOS: Invisible children : a study of policy exclusion|author=Alur, Mithu|work=bl.uk}}</ref> also published as a book in 2003,<ref name="google.co.in">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7HDaAAAAMAAJ|title=Invisible Children|isbn=9788176494373|last1=Alur|first1=Mithu|year=2003}}</ref> examined the Government of India's policy for the disabled. It followed the evolution of educational policy in India for disabled children with specific reference to the Government of India's pre-school programme called the [[Integrated Child Development Services]] (ICDS). Her research found massive exclusion of children and people with disabilities from services and even from Government programmes targeted at the vulnerable and weaker sections of society to the extent of nutrition being denied to children with disabilities. Her finding that over 90% people with disabilities, i.e. close to around 70 million people, are excluded from services of any kind provided the seminal statistics for those working in the disability sector to push for better care of people with disabilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raxa.com/user/2244|title=RAXA|work=raxa.com}}</ref>
Alur's research work has been instrumental in guiding government policy for people with disability. Her 1998 PhD thesis "Invisible Children – A Study of Policy Exclusion",<ref>{{cite thesis|url=http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.252004|title=British Library EThOS: Invisible children : a study of policy exclusion|author=Alur, Mithu|work=bl.uk|year=1998 |type=Ph.D }}</ref> also published as a book in 2003,<ref name="google.co.in">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7HDaAAAAMAAJ|title=Invisible Children|isbn=9788176494373|last1=Alur|first1=Mithu|year=2003|publisher=Viva Books }}</ref> examined the Government of India's policy for the disabled. It followed the evolution of educational policy in India for disabled children with specific reference to the Government of India's pre-school programme called the [[Integrated Child Development Services]] (ICDS). Her research found massive exclusion of children and people with disabilities from services and even from Government programmes targeted at the vulnerable and weaker sections of society to the extent of nutrition being denied to children with disabilities. Her finding that over 90% people with disabilities, or around 70 million people, are excluded from services of any kind provided the seminal statistics for those working in the disability sector to push for better care of people with disabilities.


==Media==
==Media==
Alur's writings, feature articles, opinion pieces, columns and research paper for books, have appeared in many national and international newspapers, magazines, portals etc. including The Times of India, The Indian Express, The Statesman etc. She has also regularly appeared on different news channels specifically NDTV<ref>{{YouTube|QS-cqRcRUYo|Celebrating Achievement on First World Cerebral Palsy Day}} at [[NDTV]]</ref> advocating the right of people with disabilities.<ref>{{YouTube|BXEW_pa9kjc|Do the disabled continue to be discriminated against}} at [[CNN-IBN]]</ref>
Alur's writings, feature articles, opinion pieces, columns and research paper for books, have appeared in many national and international newspapers, magazines, portals etc. including The Times of India, The Indian Express, and The Statesman. She has also regularly appeared on different news channels, specifically NDTV,<ref>{{Cite web |last=ADAPTMumbai |date=6 September 2012 |title=NDTV - Celebrating Achievement on First World Cerebral Palsy Day |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS-cqRcRUYo |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=YouTube}}</ref> advocating the right of people with disabilities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ADAPTMumbai |date=23 February 2012 |title=Pt. 1 - Do the disabled continue to be discriminated against (From CNN -IBN) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXEW_pa9kjc |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=YouTube}}</ref>


==Family==
=== Books ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2021}}
* ''Education and Children with Special needs – from segregation to integration'', with Seamus Hegarty, Published by Sage Publications, new Delhi, 2002.<ref name="sagepub.com">{{cite web |date=19 January 2023 |title=Author - Mithu Alur |url=http://www.sagepub.com/authorDetails.nav?contribId=523156 |work=SAGE}}</ref>
Alur has two children, [[Malini Chib]], a published author, and Nikhil Chib, from her marriage to Ranjit Chib. The two divorced in 1976. She is married to Sathi Alur since 1981.
* ''Invisible Children – A Study of Policy Exclusion'', Viva Books Private Limited, New Delhi, 2003.<ref name="google.co.in" />
* ''Inclusive Education – The Proceedings of North South Dialogue I'' (with Professor Tony Booth).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Alur |first1=Mithu |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m9qbAAAAMAAJ |title=Inclusive Education |last2=Booth |first2=Tony |date=January 2005 |publisher=UBS Publishers' Distributors |isbn=9788174765246}}</ref>
* ''Inclusive Education – From Rhetoric to Reality, The North South Dialogue II'' with Dr. Michael Bach.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inclusive Education - From Rhetoric to Reality |url=http://www.biblio.com/9788130901572 |access-date=28 January 2023 |work=biblio.com}}</ref>
* ''The Journey for Inclusive Education in the Indian Sub-Continent'', with Michael Back Published by Routledge, New York, USA, 2009.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Alur |first1=Mithu |title=The Journey for Inclusive Education in the Indian Sub-Continent (Routledge Research in Education): Mithu Alur, Michael Bach: 9780415988766: Amazon.com: Books |last2=Bach |first2=Michael |year=2010 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0415988766}}</ref>
* ''Inclusive Education Across Cultures: Crossing Boundaries, Sharing Ideas,'' co-edited with Vianne Timmons, Published by Sage, 2009.<ref name="sagepub.com" />


==Current work==
==Current work==


For the last ten years, Alur has been involved with inclusive education and implementing [[Education for All]] (EFA) for all children who are not within the purview of mainstream education. She has been working in the slums of Mumbai and has recently finished a longitudinal research with [[UNICEF]] where she has created an Education For All model for 'all' children who are disadvantaged including the girl child, the disabled child and children in poverty, demonstrating that inclusive education can happen anywhere including the poorest places. This has been based on work in the [Dharavi]] slums of Mumbai covering a population of 30,000, working with 6,000 families and with community teachers who were trained to teach 'all' children. Today over 3,000 children have been put into municipal schools. Fourteen nurseries have been specially set up for all children within this population, both with and without disabilities. Models for intervention strategies at the family and community levels have been designed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teindia.nic.in/efa/Bio_Speakers_Lacture_Wise_asOn-25may2012.pdf|title=Teacher Education page|work= [[Department of Social Education and Literacy]], [[Ministry of Human Resource Development]], [[Government of India]]}}</ref>
For the last ten years, Alur has been involved with inclusive education and implementing [[Education for All]] (EFA) for all children who are not within the purview of mainstream education. She has been working in the slums of Mumbai and has recently finished a longitudinal research project with [[UNICEF]] where she has created an Education For All model for 'all' children who are disadvantaged including the girl child, the disabled child and children in poverty, demonstrating that inclusive education can happen anywhere, including the poorest places. This has been based on work in the [[Dharavi]] slums of Mumbai covering a population of 30,000, working with 6,000 families and with community teachers who were trained to teach 'all' children. Today over 3,000 children have been put into municipal schools. Fourteen nurseries have been specially set up for all children within this population, both with and without disabilities. Models for intervention strategies at the family and community levels have been designed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teindia.nic.in/efa/Bio_Speakers_Lacture_Wise_asOn-25may2012.pdf|title=Teacher Education page|work= [[Department of Social Education and Literacy]], [[Ministry of Human Resource Development]], [[Government of India]]}}</ref>


Alur, along with husband [[Sathi Alur]], is also currently involved in the Shiksha Sankalp project, an action based research project under the aegis of ADAPT and co-funded by [[Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung|BMZ]] ([[Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development]]), Germany and CBM ([[Christian Blind Mission]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2012/feb/190212-SoBos-dark-secret.htm|title=SoBo's dark secret|work=mid-day.com}}</ref> that aims to "formulate a protocol or blueprint for screening children out of school—especially the disabled ones—and to create a database which would help the (Indian) government to formulate curriculum according to the special needs".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Move-to-identify-special-kids-gets-UN-push/articleshow/16549000.cms|title=Move to identify special kids gets UN push|work=The Times of India}}</ref>
Alur, along with husband Sathi Alur, is also currently involved in the Shiksha Sankalp project, an action based research project under the aegis of ADAPT and co-funded by [[Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung|BMZ]] ([[Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development]]), Germany and CBM ([[Christian Blind Mission]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2012/feb/190212-SoBos-dark-secret.htm|title=SoBo's dark secret|work=mid-day.com}}</ref> that aims to "formulate a protocol or blueprint for screening children out of school—especially the disabled ones—and to create a database which would help the (Indian) government to formulate curriculum according to the special needs".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Move-to-identify-special-kids-gets-UN-push/articleshow/16549000.cms|title=Move to identify special kids gets UN push|work=The Times of India|date=26 September 2012 }}</ref>


Alur started the Mithu Alur Foundation intending to create an inclusive village model in Maharashtra. The foundation aims to do so with schools, hospitals, medical services and livelihood through skills training programmes, women's empowerment,<ref>[http://liveearth.org/pt-br/liveearthblog/adapt-mumbai-about A Profile of ADAPT in LiveEarth.org]</ref> etc.
Alur started the Mithu Alur Foundation intending to create an inclusive village model in Maharashtra. The foundation aims to do so with schools, hospitals, medical services and livelihood through skills training programmes, and women's empowerment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 March 2002 |title=ADAPT, MUMBAI- ABOUT |url=http://liveearth.org/pt-br/liveearthblog/adapt-mumbai-about |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=Live Earth|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621135634/http://liveearth.org/pt-br/liveearthblog/adapt-mumbai-about |archive-date=21 June 2010 }}</ref>


She has been a vocal activist against the exclusion of people with disabilities and has written articles, books and papers propagating inclusion in society. Talking about the exclusion of children of disabilities under the [[Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act]] RTE Act from schools, she said:
She has been a vocal activist against the exclusion of people with disabilities and has written articles, books and papers propagating inclusion in society. Talking about the exclusion of children of disabilities under the [[Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act]] RTE Act from schools, she said:


{{quote
{{blockquote


|text=This is a flawed concept. Without meaning to, special schools end up excluding the children from society. Why should a child be treated differently just because a child needs to write with the help of a software instead of a pen?"
|text=This is a flawed concept. Without meaning to, special schools end up excluding the children from society. Why should a child be treated differently just because a child needs to write with the help of a software instead of a pen?"
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}}
}}


Alur has advocated inclusive education under the news provisions in the [[Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act]] RTE Act, stating that it will help every single kid, even those kids who are not seen to have any disability.
Alur has advocated inclusive education under the news provisions in the [[Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act]] RTE Act, stating that it will help every child, including children without disabilities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alur |first=Mithu |date=2012-06-21 |title=Huge learning curve ahead |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/huge-learning-curve-ahead/ |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
 
{{quote
|text=Inclusive education is not special education. It does not refer only to children with special needs, it refers to all children facing some sort of barrier to learning and participation in the classroom. Inclusion is improved access to education. Inclusive education is really education for all — children from poor socio-economic backgrounds (which the RTE is addressing), the girl child facing cultural barriers and children with special needs facing systemic institutional barriers. It is high-quality education individualised to each child's needs. Children are not seen as one homogeneous mass, but individuals with their own levels of functioning, who work at their own pace. It is an exciting concept, a new approach to teaching children. Here the belief is no child is a failure and each learner's challenge is special."
|sign=Dr. Alur writing in a column in the newspaper ''[[The Indian Express]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/huge-learning-curve-ahead/964602/0|title=Huge learning curve ahead|work=indianexpress.com}}</ref>
 
}}
 
Alur has been extensively quoted in books, articles and news reports for TV. She also lectured in many institutes across the world.


==Awards and honours==
==Awards and honours==


* In 1989 the Government of India awarded her with the '''[[Padma Shri]] Award'''<ref>[[Padma Shri Awards (1980–1989)]]</ref>
* 1989: [[Padma Shri]] Award<ref>{{Cite web |title=Padma Awards Directory (1954-2017) |url=http://mha.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/Year_Wise_main_25042017.pdf |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=Ministry of Home Affairs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209002842/http://mha.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/Year_Wise_main_25042017.pdf |archive-date=9 February 2018 }}</ref>
* In 2006 was presented the Paul Harris Fellow Award by Rotary International, USA.<ref name="indiavolunteerawards.com">[http://www.indiavolunteerawards.com/mithu.html Indian Volunteer Awards]</ref>
* 2003: Martha Forrest Rose Quartz Warrior Award
* In 2009 was awarded the EMPI – Indian Express Indian Innovation Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://innovation.empi.in/index.php?mact=Album,m5,default,1&m5albumid=4&m5returnid=86&page=86|title=Indian Innovation Awards|work=empi.in}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|__ixN_FOdBI|Video of Panel Discussion at the award ceremony}}</ref>
* 2006:Paul Harris Fellow Award; Rotary International, USA.<ref name="indiavolunteerawards.com">[http://www.indiavolunteerawards.com/mithu.html Indian Volunteer Awards]</ref>
* In 2009 was awarded the Woman of the Year Award for Outstanding Woman Citizen of Mumbai by the Indian Merchant Chamber.<ref name="indiavolunteerawards.com"/>
* 2009: EMPI – Indian Express Indian Innovation Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://innovation.empi.in/index.php?mact=Album,m5,default,1&m5albumid=4&m5returnid=86&page=86|title=Indian Innovation Awards|work=empi.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=empibschool |date=31 October 2011 |title=EMPI IE 2009 Panel Discussion Innovation Journeys |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__ixN_FOdBI |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=YouTube}}</ref>
* In 2010 was awarded the Woman of the Year – CNN IBN Super Idol Award.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044205/http://ns.ibnlive.in.com/superidols/announcement_release.pdf Press Release] at [[IBN-7]]</ref>
* 2009: Woman of the Year Award for Outstanding Woman Citizen of Mumbai; Indian Merchant Chamber.<ref name="indiavolunteerawards.com" />
* In 2003 she became the first recipient of the ‘Martha Forrest Rose Quartz Warrior Award’ in Canada.
* 2010: Woman of the Year – CNN IBN Super Idol Award.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044205/http://ns.ibnlive.in.com/superidols/announcement_release.pdf Press Release] at [[IBN-7]]</ref>
 
==Books published==
* ''Education and Children with Special needs – from segregation to integration'', with Seamus Hegarty, Published by Sage Publications, new Delhi, 2002.<ref name="sagepub.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.sagepub.com/authorDetails.nav?contribId=523156|title=Author - Mithu Alur|work=SAGE}}</ref>
* ''Invisible Children – A Study of Policy Exclusion'', Viva Books Private Limited, New Delhi, 2003.<ref name="google.co.in"/>
* ''Inclusive Education – The Proceedings of North South Dialogue I'' (with Professor Tony Booth).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m9qbAAAAMAAJ|title=Inclusive Education|isbn=9788174765246|last1=Alur|first1=Mithu|last2=Booth|first2=Tony|date=January 2005}}</ref>
* ''Inclusive Education – From Rhetoric to Reality, The North South Dialogue II'' with Dr. Michael Bach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.biblio.com/9788130901572|title=9788130901572 - Inclusive Education - From Rhetoric to Reality : The North South Dialogue II by Mithu Alur - Biblio.com - 8130901579|work=biblio.com}}</ref>
* ''The Journey for Inclusive Education in the Indian Sub-Continent'', with Michael Back Published by Routledge, New York, USA, 2009.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Journey for Inclusive Education in the Indian Sub-Continent (Routledge Research in Education): Mithu Alur, Michael Bach: 9780415988766: Amazon.com: Books|isbn = 978-0415988766|last1 = Alur|first1 = Mithu|last2 = Bach|first2 = Michael|year = 2010}}</ref>
* ''Inclusive Education Across Cultures: Crossing Boundaries, Sharing Ideas,'' co-edited with Vianne Timmons, Published by Sage, 2009.<ref name="sagepub.com"/>


==References==
==References==
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* [http://www.adaptssi.org/home.html The National Resource Centre for Inclusion - The Spastics Society of India, Official website]
* [http://www.adaptssi.org/home.html The National Resource Centre for Inclusion - The Spastics Society of India, Official website]
* [http://www.karmayog.com/ngos/spasticsociety.htm The Spastics Society of India Detailed Profile]
* [http://www.karmayog.com/ngos/spasticsociety.htm The Spastics Society of India Detailed Profile]
* [http://doctor.ndtv.com/expert/ndtv/expertid/152/Mithu_Alur.html Mithu Alur’s Profile on NDTV]
* [http://doctor.ndtv.com/expert/ndtv/expertid/152/Mithu_Alur.html Mithu Alur's Profile on NDTV]


{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Social Work}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Social Work}}
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[[Category:People from Kolkata]]
[[Category:People from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Alumni of the UCL Institute of Education]]
[[Category:Alumni of the UCL Institute of Education]]
[[Category:Social workers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]
[[Category:Women educators from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Women educators from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Educators from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Educators from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Social workers from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Social workers from West Bengal]]
[[Category:20th-century women educators]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women educators]]

Latest revision as of 23:14, 8 February 2026


Dr.

Mithu Alur
Alur at the North South Dialogue IV, Goa in February, 2012
Born
Shoma Bose

(1943-03-27) 27 March 1943 (age 83)
Kolkata, India
OccupationEducator, Disability Rights Activist, Researcher, Writer, Published Author
Years active1972–present
OrganizationADAPT – Able Disable All People Together
Known forStarting services for people with disability in India
Spouse(s)Sathi Alur
ChildrenMalini Chib, Nikhil Chib
Websitewww.adaptssi.org/home.html

Mithu Alur (born 27 March 1943) is the founder chairperson of The Spastic Society of India – now rechristened ADAPT – Able Disable All People Together. She is an educator, disability rights activist, researcher, writer and published author on issues concerning people with disability in India.

Alur is a pioneer in the care and education of people with Neuro-Muscular and Developmental Disabilities,[1][2] like cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities.

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

Alur was born and raised in Kolkata. She did her higher education in Delhi in Miranda House. She acquired a bachelor's degree in English literature from the University of Delhi in 1963. In 1965, she married Ranjit Chib. A year later Malini Chib was born.[citation needed]

Malini was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Finding that no proper school for children with disabilities exited in India, in 1968 she trained as a teacher in the field of special education at the Institute of Education (IOE), University of London.[citation needed]

Spastics Society of India[edit | edit source]

Back home in India, she wanted to open a school in Mumbai, and contacted the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. Gandhi asked her to get in touch with actress Nargis Dutt. Dutt became the first patron of The Spastics Society of India (SSI), which formally started on 2 October 1972.[3]

Alur later set up the first-ever special school in India for children with cerebral palsy, "Centre for Special education", at Colaba on 2 October 1973, providing education and treatment facilities under one roof. It began with just three children – Malini Chib, Farhan Contractor and Imtiaz. Nargis Dutt remained its lifelong patron. After her death in 1981, her mantle was taken up by her husband, Sunil Dutt.

The Spastics Society has since broadened its scope to include programs on teacher training, vocational training of young adults with cerebral palsy, autism, intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities and learning disabilities. It also works in the field of advocacy and awareness and offers support to parents and other professionals.

In 1999, Alur established the National Resource Centre for Inclusion (NRCI), in Mumbai, to integrate disabled children from special schools into normal schools.[4][5] The Spastics Society of India has since changed names and is currently called ADAPT – Able Disable All People Together.[6] Many of the state level spastics societies under the aegis of The Spastics Society of India have also since changed names.

Academic career[edit | edit source]

Alur's research work has been instrumental in guiding government policy for people with disability. Her 1998 PhD thesis "Invisible Children – A Study of Policy Exclusion",[7] also published as a book in 2003,[8] examined the Government of India's policy for the disabled. It followed the evolution of educational policy in India for disabled children with specific reference to the Government of India's pre-school programme called the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). Her research found massive exclusion of children and people with disabilities from services and even from Government programmes targeted at the vulnerable and weaker sections of society to the extent of nutrition being denied to children with disabilities. Her finding that over 90% people with disabilities, or around 70 million people, are excluded from services of any kind provided the seminal statistics for those working in the disability sector to push for better care of people with disabilities.

Media[edit | edit source]

Alur's writings, feature articles, opinion pieces, columns and research paper for books, have appeared in many national and international newspapers, magazines, portals etc. including The Times of India, The Indian Express, and The Statesman. She has also regularly appeared on different news channels, specifically NDTV,[9] advocating the right of people with disabilities.[10]

Books[edit | edit source]

  • Education and Children with Special needs – from segregation to integration, with Seamus Hegarty, Published by Sage Publications, new Delhi, 2002.[11]
  • Invisible Children – A Study of Policy Exclusion, Viva Books Private Limited, New Delhi, 2003.[8]
  • Inclusive Education – The Proceedings of North South Dialogue I (with Professor Tony Booth).[12]
  • Inclusive Education – From Rhetoric to Reality, The North South Dialogue II with Dr. Michael Bach.[13]
  • The Journey for Inclusive Education in the Indian Sub-Continent, with Michael Back Published by Routledge, New York, USA, 2009.[14]
  • Inclusive Education Across Cultures: Crossing Boundaries, Sharing Ideas, co-edited with Vianne Timmons, Published by Sage, 2009.[11]

Current work[edit | edit source]

For the last ten years, Alur has been involved with inclusive education and implementing Education for All (EFA) for all children who are not within the purview of mainstream education. She has been working in the slums of Mumbai and has recently finished a longitudinal research project with UNICEF where she has created an Education For All model for 'all' children who are disadvantaged including the girl child, the disabled child and children in poverty, demonstrating that inclusive education can happen anywhere, including the poorest places. This has been based on work in the Dharavi slums of Mumbai covering a population of 30,000, working with 6,000 families and with community teachers who were trained to teach 'all' children. Today over 3,000 children have been put into municipal schools. Fourteen nurseries have been specially set up for all children within this population, both with and without disabilities. Models for intervention strategies at the family and community levels have been designed.[15]

Alur, along with husband Sathi Alur, is also currently involved in the Shiksha Sankalp project, an action based research project under the aegis of ADAPT and co-funded by BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development), Germany and CBM (Christian Blind Mission)[16] that aims to "formulate a protocol or blueprint for screening children out of school—especially the disabled ones—and to create a database which would help the (Indian) government to formulate curriculum according to the special needs".[17]

Alur started the Mithu Alur Foundation intending to create an inclusive village model in Maharashtra. The foundation aims to do so with schools, hospitals, medical services and livelihood through skills training programmes, and women's empowerment.[18]

She has been a vocal activist against the exclusion of people with disabilities and has written articles, books and papers propagating inclusion in society. Talking about the exclusion of children of disabilities under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act RTE Act from schools, she said:

This is a flawed concept. Without meaning to, special schools end up excluding the children from society. Why should a child be treated differently just because a child needs to write with the help of a software instead of a pen?"

— Dr. Alur as quoted in a Hindustan Times article[19]

Alur has advocated inclusive education under the news provisions in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act RTE Act, stating that it will help every child, including children without disabilities.[20]

Awards and honours[edit | edit source]

  • 1989: Padma Shri Award[21]
  • 2003: Martha Forrest Rose Quartz Warrior Award
  • 2006:Paul Harris Fellow Award; Rotary International, USA.[22]
  • 2009: EMPI – Indian Express Indian Innovation Award.[23][24]
  • 2009: Woman of the Year Award for Outstanding Woman Citizen of Mumbai; Indian Merchant Chamber.[22]
  • 2010: Woman of the Year – CNN IBN Super Idol Award.[25]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Encyclopaedia of Social Work in India, by India Ministry of Welfare. Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), 1987. Page 197.
  2. ↑ Spastics Society, Bandra, Mumbai - Profile Archived 4 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine Tata, http://www.tatainternational.com.
  3. ↑ History Archived 23 February 2005 at Archive.today http://www.nrcissi.org.
  4. ↑ Focus on education for disabled children The Hindu, 28 January 2003.
  5. ↑ "Examples in Leadership - Social Entrepreneurs". internationalforum.com.
  6. ↑ "ADAPT SSI". www.adaptssi.org. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  7. ↑ Alur, Mithu (1998). British Library EThOS: Invisible children : a study of policy exclusion. bl.uk (Ph.D).
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Alur, Mithu (2003). Invisible Children. Viva Books. ISBN 9788176494373.
  9. ↑ ADAPTMumbai (6 September 2012). "NDTV - Celebrating Achievement on First World Cerebral Palsy Day". YouTube. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  10. ↑ ADAPTMumbai (23 February 2012). "Pt. 1 - Do the disabled continue to be discriminated against (From CNN -IBN)". YouTube. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Author - Mithu Alur". SAGE. 19 January 2023.
  12. ↑ Alur, Mithu; Booth, Tony (January 2005). Inclusive Education. UBS Publishers' Distributors. ISBN 9788174765246.
  13. ↑ "Inclusive Education - From Rhetoric to Reality". biblio.com. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  14. ↑ Alur, Mithu; Bach, Michael (2010). The Journey for Inclusive Education in the Indian Sub-Continent (Routledge Research in Education): Mithu Alur, Michael Bach: 9780415988766: Amazon.com: Books. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415988766.
  15. ↑ "Teacher Education page" (PDF). Department of Social Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.
  16. ↑ "SoBo's dark secret". mid-day.com.
  17. ↑ "Move to identify special kids gets UN push". The Times of India. 26 September 2012.
  18. ↑ "ADAPT, MUMBAI- ABOUT". Live Earth. 19 March 2002. Archived from the original on 21 June 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  19. ↑ "Let education not be special". hindustantimes.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012.
  20. ↑ Alur, Mithu (21 June 2012). "Huge learning curve ahead". The Indian Express. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  21. ↑ "Padma Awards Directory (1954-2017)" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Indian Volunteer Awards
  23. ↑ "Indian Innovation Awards". empi.in.
  24. ↑ empibschool (31 October 2011). "EMPI IE 2009 Panel Discussion Innovation Journeys". YouTube. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  25. ↑ Press Release at IBN-7

External links[edit | edit source]

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