The Ministry of Education announced the "#GoRedforDyslexia Campaign" marking Dyslexia Awareness Month. Union Secretaries Shri Sanjay Kumar and Shri Rajesh Aggarwal flagged off 'Walk for Dyslexia 2025'. Rashtrapati Bhawan and Secretariat in New Delhi were lit up in red, as thousands walked across India to spread awareness on Dyslexia.
The "Walk4Dyslexia" was co-organized by Changeinkk Foundation, UNESCO MGEIP, Orkids Foundation, and Soch Foundation on Saturday, October 26th, 2025, at Kartavya Path in New Delhi, and included more than 300 persons across age groups and included people from all walks of life.
Secretary of the Department of School Education & Literacy Shri Sanjay Kumar highlighted the importance of creating awareness and acceptance around Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs), particularly Dyslexia. He also underlined the role of PRASHAST 2.0, a mobile app based screening tool developed by NCERT.
The Department of School Education & Literacy under Samagra Shiksha Scheme has undertaken several measures to strengthen early screening, identification, and support for children with SLDs, including:
* Implementation of PRASHAST 2.0
* Inclusion of dedicated modules on inclusive education in the Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP)
* Customised Learning Support including Teaching Learning Material, Necessary Aids & Appliances/Assistive Devices, Accommodation and Therapeutic Support for Children with SLD (Dyslexia).
* Block-level screening and identification camps across States and UTs in coordination with the Departments of Health & Family Welfare and DEPwD
According to UDISE+ 2024–25, around 12.15% of all Children with Special Needs (CwSN) enrolled in schools have been reported to have Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs).
The Walk for Dyslexia 2025 concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to make classrooms more inclusive.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of School Education & Literacy: The primary entity responsible for implementing and overseeing policies related to school education and literacy, including initiatives for children with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs) like Dyslexia.
Samagra Shiksha Scheme: A scheme under which the Department of School Education & Literacy has undertaken measures to strengthen early screening, identification, and support for children with SLDs.
PRASHAST 2.0: A mobile app based screening tool developed by NCERT, used to help schools identify children with disabilities, including Dyslexia.
New Delhi: The location where Rashtrapati Bhawan and Secretariat were illuminated in red as part of the Dyslexia Awareness campaign and where Walk for Dyslexia 2025 took place.
National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT): The institution that developed PRASHAST 2.0, used to help schools identify children with disabilities.
Ministry of Education
#GoRedforDyslexia Campaign goes global to
mark the Dyslexia Awareness Month
Union Secretaries Shri Sanjay Kumar and Shri Rajesh
Agarwal flag off ‘Walk for Dyslexia 2025’
Rashtrapati Bhawan and Secretariat in New Delhi lit up in
Red, as thousands walk across India to spread awareness
on Dyslexia
Posted On: 26 OCT 2025 7:07PM by PIB Delhi
To spread awareness and promote inclusivity for all, Secretary of the Department of School Education
& Literacy Shri Sanjay Kumar along with Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with
Disabilities Shri Rajesh Aggarwal flagged off the ‘Walk for Dyslexia’. October is observed as the
Dyslexia Awareness Month every year while October 8 is recognised as the International Dyslexia
Awareness Day.
As part of a country wide campaign to raise awareness, which included more than 300 persons across
age groups and included people from all walks of life, the "Walk4Dyslexia" was co-organized by the
Changeinkk Foundation, UNESCO MGEIP, Orkids Foundation, and Soch Foundation on Saturday,
October 26th, 2025 at Kartavya Path in New Delhi.Speaking at the event, Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education &
Literacy, emphasized the importance of creating awareness and acceptance around Specific Learning
Disabilities (SLDs), particularly Dyslexia, which remains one of the most common yet misunderstood
learning differences among children.
“Every child learns differently. Dyslexia is not a limitation but a different way of understanding and
expressing knowledge. With early identification, support, and empathy, children with Dyslexia can
achieve remarkable success. Today’s walk is a walk for awareness, for compassion, and for
inclusion,” said the Secretary.
He underlined the crucial role of PRASHAST 2.0, a mobile app based screening tool developed by
NCERT, in helping schools identify children with disabilities, including Dyslexia, at an early stage.
He noted that early detection, coupled with greater awareness among teachers, parents, and the wider
community, can make a real difference in ensuring that every child with Dyslexia receives the right
support and opportunities to learn and thrive within an inclusive education system.
The Secretary also acknowledged the tireless efforts of civil society organizations such as the
Changeink Foundation, Orkids, and SOCH Foundation, whose initiatives have helped bring
visibility and support to children and adults with learning differences.Keeping the color of the walk as Red, for Dyslexia Awareness, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Secretariat, along
with several other historical monuments and government buildings across the country were also
illuminated in red on Sunday evening. The walk was not just symbolic, it has turned into a movement
of compassion and collective responsibility for acceptance, understanding, and inclusion about
awareness of Dyslexia.
The Department of School Education & Literacy under Samagra Shiksha Scheme has undertaken
several measures to strengthen early screening, identification, and support for children with SLDs,
including Dyslexia. These include:
Implementation of PRASHAST 2.0, a mobile screening app developed in collaboration with
NCERT, to help teachers and special educators in screening children with disabilities, including
SLDs, at an early stage.
Inclusion of dedicated modules on inclusive education in the Integrated Teacher Education
Programme (ITEP) to strengthen pre-service teacher preparation.
Customised Learning Support including Teaching Learning Material, Necessary Aids &
Appliances/Assistive Devices (Text-to-speech / reading tools etc.), Accommodation and
Therapeutic Support for Children with SLD (Dyslexia).
Block-level screening and identification camps across States and UTs in coordination with the
Departments of Health & Family Welfare and DEPwD to ensure timely diagnosis and certification.
According to global estimates, Dyslexia affects one in every five individuals globally. As per
UDISE+ 2024–25, around 12.15% of all Children with Special Needs (CwSN) enrolled in schools
have been reported to have Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs) which may include children with
Dyslexia. At the same time, several civil society organisations through their surveys, estimate that the
actual number of children with SLDs is likely much higher. This means that there are SLD children
outside the formal schooling, system, struggling silently, without support or understanding.
The impetus provided by India’s legal and policy mandates have helped gain momentum to help shed
light on many strengths of the dyslexic mind and mainstream their inclusion to help them not just
survive but thrive. Reflected in the NEP2020 reforms being implemented with increasing focus on
early identification, building teacher capacities, and providing support and accommodations to
students.
The growing support for the movement bears testimony to how individuals with learning disabilities
can not only be supported, but empowered to forge diverse paths to success, ultimately advancing our
society. After all, the next Nobel laureate, unicorn founder, or disruptive innovator may indeedemerge from the pool of differently abled minds in India.
The Walk for Dyslexia 2025 concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders’
government, educators, and civil society to make classrooms more inclusive, compassionate, and
responsive to the needs of every child.
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