State to launch first model Assistive Village for children with disabilities in Malappuram

Higher Education and Social Justice Minister R. Bindu on Wednesday announced the launch of the State’s first Model Assistive Village for children with disabilities and their families.

The foundation stone for the project will be laid in Tirur, Malappuram on Thursday. The district, having the highest number of persons with disabilities in Kerala, has been selected for the first Assistive Village under the Integrated Rehabilitation Village scheme.

The ambitious initiative aims at the integrated rehabilitation of children with intellectual and development disabilities, along with the structured support for their parents. Envisioned as a residential village complex where families of children with disabilities can live together in a mutually supportive environment, the project is projected as the first time such a comprehensive model is being implemented by a State government in India.

Addressing a press conference here, Dr. Bindu said the residential complex will include assistive living homes for persons with intellectual disabilities, an extension centre of the National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH), early detection and intervention services, therapy and counselling facilities, special school, vocational training and rehabilitation services, day-care centres, playground and recreational spaces, parent empowerment programmes, and comprehensive rehabilitation institutions.

The total project outlay is ₹65.48 crore, and the government has accorded administrative sanction of ₹5 crore for the first phase, which includes administrative and vocational training block, day-care centre, horticulture area and internal roads.

The government had decided to establish three rehabilitation villages of global standards in the State. The Malappuram project marks the first of these.

The Minister also highlighted the successful completion of the first phase of the ‘Sahajeevanam Sneha Gramam’ project for endosulfan victims in Kasaragod.

Dr. Bindu also elaborated on other projects undertaken in Malappuram, especially the infrastructure modifications that have been undertaken under the ‘Barrier-free Kerala’ initiative to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities. As many as 33 ramps have been constructed and 14 disability-friendly toilets have been completed at the Malappuram Civil Station.