Students afflicted with learning disability are facing awkward situation, as from 38 clinics opened across the State for diagnosis, about 24 have shut down owing to non-availability of clinical psychologist. The facility in city was available at GMC, IGGMC and AIIMS of which, the one at IGGMC is not working since last five to six months, bringing the sorry condition to the notice of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Soham Foundation and Educational Development Society was instrumental in rollout of LD clinic across the State, which also said that necessary steps are needed to restart the clinics at the earliest. In Vidarbha, the LD clinics at Akola, Buldhana, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Wardha, Washim and Yavatmal are not working due to non-availability of Clinical Psychologist. At other places in Maharashtra, the situation is more or less same, said Awchat.

 

 

He further pointed out that at some places, the psychologist appointed lacked the necessary training in evaluation of LD among the children, as they need to be trained in handling Nimhans Scale, as without it, the diagnosis is not foolproof. In such situation, the LD-afflicted children are the soft targets as schools driven by goal of cent per cent results, often pressurise such low-scoring students who invariably drop out. With stress due to studies increasing, the student community is succumbing to peer pressure and more than that, the symptoms are not visible quite early, and now, the closure of LD clinics has put them at a severe disadvantage. The issuance of LD certification too has come to halt as without it the students afflicted with Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia are not getting the benefit of extra time in exams. Also, based on LD certificate, students are entitled to UDID and now, Central Government has notified separate 1 per cent quota in Government jobs for them.

 

The clinic was also helpful in assessment of intellectual disability and post State-wide rollout, the schools working with the psychologist were able to guide such students to gradually improve and cover the gap with other regular learners. Sanjay Awchat was part of the 3-member committee, which was set up by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to study the issue of LD clinics which led to establishment of such facility in each of the districts in State in 2018. However, as the Clinic Psychologist is appointed on contract, the moment they get better opportunity, most move out for greener pastures. In absence of Psychologist, the evaluation of students and their diagnosis comes to a standstill, affecting the functioning of LD clinics. The Learning Disability clinics started way back in 2018 at behest of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in all the Government Medical colleges and public hospitals.

 

The decision was widely welcomed in education sector, as previously, the LD clinics were functioning only at three State-run hospitals in Mumbai. So parents from other districts need to reach Mumbai, and prior to issuance of LD certificate, the psychologist needs to work with the children for three to four sessions. Apart from the logistic issue in Mumbai, the frequent trips to State capital was a financial drain on the parents. The LD and Intellectual Disability clinics worked well from 2018 to 2025 and only from start of the year 2026, the psychologists have started resigning from Government hospitals. Now psychologists are in great demand and particularly in big cities, private practice too has soared as citizens grapple with high expectations and the associate struggle to keep afloat in highly competitive sectors.