Kerala government to provide free assistive devices for disabled ST members

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has launched an initiative to reach out to all persons with disabilities among the scheduled tribes, who mostly do not have access to proper healthcare, to provide them with modern and scientifically manufactured assistive devices free of cost.

In a novel initiative, the SC/ST and other backward communities development department has joined hands with Composite Regional Centre for Skill Development, Rehabilitation and Empowerment of Persons with disabilities, Kozhikode (CRC-K), a centrally-owned organization, to reach out to the remotest tribal hamlets and provide assistive devices for those in need.

The Kerala accelerated tribal ability development and inclusion initiative (KATADI Initiative) has been conceptualised to assist the persons with disabilities in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation.

"Persons with disabilities belonging to scheduled tribes face unique challenges that can significantly impact their quality of life. The lack of awareness and understanding of disabilities lead to discrimination and stigma that can further exacerbate social and economic marginalization. The government intends to address these issues through the new programme," minister for welfare of SC/ST and backward classes K Radhakrishnan said.

The key component of the initiative will be awareness generation on disabilities, focusing on 'early identification and early intervention and also on use of assistive devices'. It will be followed by distribution of aids and assistive devices under the assistance to disabled persons for purchasing and fitting of appliances scheme (ADIP scheme) of the Union ministry of social justice and empowerment through CRC-K in partnership with SC/ST development department. Individual house visits for evaluation, distribution, awareness generation and follow up will be the third and integral part of the project.

Local support in constituting medical boards, if required, shall also be made available. "The target for the first phase of providing free assistive devices has been fixed as 1,000 tribal PwDs, for which Rs 75 lakh has been earmarked under ADIP scheme," said Prasanth N, special secretary SC/ST and backward classes development departments.