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Sparsham - Special Initiative In Wayanad District For The Scheduled Tribe (ST) Population:
- Covid-19 – Mental Health Rapid Response Services for Persons with Disabilities
Probably the first of its kind initiative in the country to provide all disability-related services under one roof for PwDs among the ST population.
Wayanad is the district in Kerala with the maximum number of tribal populations. Majority of them live in isolated remote forest areas in difficultly accessible terrains. Services need to be delivered at their doorsteps. Though there are provisions for general welfare of the tribal population through the tribal department, hitherto no service delivery provisions were made available specifically for the differently abled population among the tribal.
CRC-K intiated an innovative model project named ‘SPARSHAM’ for the PwDs belonging to ST community in the Wayanad District, with the aim to facilitae medical board certificates, assitive devices, leagl gudianship certificate and UDID under a single umbrella, with the support of District ITDP Deaprtmnet, DLSA, DSJ Department, District Medical Office and Disrict Administration.
The offical inaguation of this project was done by Hon'ble District Judge Mr. K P John on 18th October at Panamaram. Smt. Sunitha, Sub-Judge, DLSA, Mr. Cheriyan, DPO, ITDP, Dr Roshan Bijlee, Director, CRC-K, Dr Renuka, DMO and Mr Pavithran, DSJ Officer attended the programme.
CRC-K took an extensive effort to study the situation among the tribal population. As an initial attempt, CRC-K in association with LSGDs and Tribal Welfare Dept. conducted following awareness / training programmes in the district:
- Awareness programmes: CRC-K organized an awareness programme on 'Various Schemes and Benefits for PwDs with special Emphasis on ADIP for SC/ST promoters working in Wayanad district with the Support of District Scheduled Tribes Department from 20th to 22nd June 2019 at SulthanBathery and Kalpetta, Wayanad.
Venue |
No. of beneficiaries |
District Panchayat Hall, Sulthan Bathery |
350 |
Seminar Hall, ST District Office, Kalpatta |
75 |
- Disability assessment and evaluation camps: CRC-K in association with LSGDs and Tribal Welfare Dept. conducted 23 disability identification camps exclusively among the tribal colonies in the Sulthan Bathery, Kalpetta and Mananthavady regions of Wayanad district. A total of 496 PwDs could be evaluated by this unique initiative. These camps revealed that none of the PwDs had undergone any specific disability therapeutic intervention measures till date and they were left unattended with their disabilities. Vast majority of them were not even in possession of a disability medical board certificate. Faculties from dept. of Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech & Hearing, Special Education, Prosthetic & Orthotic Unit and Social Work & Placement Unit were attended these camps:
Sl No |
Camp Place |
No. of Beneficiaries |
1 |
SulthanBatheri |
31 |
2 |
Noolpuzha |
30 |
3 |
Neymeni |
33 |
4 |
Ambalavayal |
13 |
5 |
Meenangadi |
27 |
6 |
Poothadi |
35 |
7 |
Pulpalli |
54 |
8 |
Mullankolli |
|
9 |
Padinjarethara |
10 |
10 |
Thariyodu |
14 |
11 |
Pozhuthana |
13 |
12 |
Vythiri |
8 |
13 |
Vengappalli |
22 |
14 |
Kottathara |
19 |
15 |
Kalpatta |
10 |
16 |
Meppadi&Muppanadu |
21 |
17 |
EMMAUS Villa |
11 |
18 |
Thavanjal |
26 |
19 |
Thirunelli |
46 |
20 |
Vellamunda |
12 |
21 |
Panamaram |
28 |
22 |
Manathawadi |
17 |
23 |
Edavaka |
16 |
Total no. of beneficiaries |
496 |
Covid-19 – Mental Health Rapid Response Services for Persons with Disabilities
As a very early response, CRC-K in association with Indian Association of Clinical Psychology (IACP) Malabar chapter had already started a 24x7 COVID-19, Mental Health Rapid Response Service’ (RRS) – dedicated helpline number.
Here, a) Emergency calls (which is only a minority). b) Service requirements/awareness creation requirements/clearing of doubts etc. c) Psychological/counselling service requirement calls are all attended. The 1st & 2nd categories are issues for which general awareness creation, clarification of basic medical queries, updating knowledge, settling of doubts etc. are required. Further needs may be a requirement of assistance in availing services from the District Administration, LSGD etc. These issues are attended by the Rehabilitation Officer. The 3rd category of calls which requires proper psychological support mechanism is attended by the Clinical Psychology department of CRC Kozhikode in association with Indian Association of Clinical Psychology (IACP) Malabar chapter, where the voluntary service of nearly 35 RCI registered psychologists are utilized.
Online, Video psychotherapies therapies, counseling services and follow up services are provided through Whattsapp, IMO, Skype etc.