Minister Bindu to Open Priya Home for Intellectually Challenged Women

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Minister for Higher Education and Social Justice Dr R Bindu will inaugurate Priya Home set up for the rehabilitation of mentally and intellectually challenged women at Veliyam in Kottarakkara in Kollam district on July 26, which is the first centre under the Integrated Rehabilitation Village Project of the Social Justice Department of the Kerala Government.

Finance Minister K N Balagopal will preside over the function, scheduled to be held at 11 am.

This was disclosed by Dr Bindu at a press Conference at the campus of the National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH) at Akkulam here, after attending a function for signing of MOU between NISH and APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University to collaborate in conducting an innovative entrepreneurial development training project for the differently-abled youngsters in the state.

Executive Director of NISH and Director of Social Justice Department, M Anjana, was also present.

Priya Home is set up on the land and building donated by Shri Kamalasanan and Smt Sarojini of Eranhipalam, Kozhikode, in the name of their daughter Priya, a mentally-challenged person. Priya is the granddaughter of veteran freedom fighter and Communist leader the late C H Kanaran.

“Parents of differently-abled children always live in great anxiety about the future of their children after their life time. The Social Justice Department has come out with novel projects to address this issue based on an integrated approach,” Dr Bindu said.

“The goal of these projects is to bring differently-abled people to the mainstream of the society by equipping them to participate in the development of the nation. This can be achieved only by promoting a socially-oriented development process, and the rehabilitation projects of the state government are based on this approach”, the Minister said.

The Integrated Rehabilitation Village has all facilities to take care the health, education, skill development and welfare of the differently abled persons. The project has been conceived and structured by the Social Justice Department with the objective of taking care of entire life of a differently abled child, Dr Bindu said.

The project covers the whole gamut of related activities, including early-detection of intellectual disability, extension of physiotherapy facility, surgical connection, special school and sheltered workshop. There will also be facilities for the stay of children.

The campus will be developed in different phases spread around a minimum of 3.5 acres of land. Initially, 15 persons will be admitted and the strength will be raised upto 100 in subsequent phases.