Kudumbashree/Kerala

BUDS OF HOPE Experience of Venganoor Panchayat

The physical and mental challenges, faced by the disabled children, heighten the hardships of poverty in the families and in society. The members of the families feel terribly depressed and pessimistic. Consequently, their creativity is lost. Poverty denies the children opportunity for medical treatment and education. The effectively address this problem; we need to develop holistic approaches in poverty eradication.

A project called ‘BUDS’ initiated by Kudumbashree in Venganoor, a remote village in Thiruvananthapuram District to address this crucial issue, is one of the best examples of successful convergence of CBO initiatives with Panchaytiraj institutions in the State of Kerala. Background Venganoor is an agricultural village, located on the banks of the Vellayani fresh water lake, 15 kms from the State Capital. Venganoor, known all over the world as the birth place of Ayyankali, the great social revolutionary and champion of the cause of the oppressed, has ever remained and under developed village. The introduction of the decentralised planning made a real difference in the fate of the village. Realising the potentials of people-centred development approaches, under the Tenth Five Year Plan, the Panchayat gave priority to poverty reduction projects.

INNOVATION Some of the findings of the socio-economic survey conducted by the Kudumbashree volunteers were shocking. The survey brought out the fact, for the first time, that within the boundaries of this tiny Panchayat, measuring barely 6 sq. kms, there are as many as 72 children suffering from physical mental handicap, who, neglected by everybody, led a lie of utter desolation and despair.

The prolonged discussions and deliberations, conducted in the Kudumbasree units, led to the chalking out of a plan for addressing this issue in a sustainable manner. The plan envisaged the setting up of a Rehabilitation Center by the Panchayat. This innovative programme, the first of its kind in India, conceived under the inspiration of Mahatma Gandhi’s adage that social justice and development become a reality only when the last member of the community gets justice, was given the name “Buds”.

The special school was launched on 16 August 2004 and inaugurated by A.K. Antony, the then Chief Minister. This project, aimed at finding sustainable solution to the psychological and economic hardships of the families of the differently-abled and neglected children, was also a demonstration of how imaginatively and creatively, a committed PRI leadership can make use of the powers and opportunities provided to the Local Self-Governance Institutions.

Initiative

Buds started functioning with 41 children with different disabilities in the 2-20 age range. In course of time some dropped out, while new children joined. Currently there are 40 children in the school, including 16 girls, suffering from disabilities, including mental retardation, cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, speech impairment and blindness.

Inspired by the success story of Venganoor Grama Panchayat, within a short span of seven years the Venganoor Model was replicated in as many as 71 Panchayaths under the joint effort of Kudumbashree Mission and PRIs

Areas of Convergence

 Kudumbashree Mission: Idea, Financial assistance, mobilizing public support

 ADS, CDSs of Kudumbashree: Survey, awareness programmes, voluntary work

 Gram Panchayath: leadership, coordination, administration, resource mobilisation  Gramasabha: selection of beneficiaries, awareness programmes

 Govt Hospitals: medical check-up, treatment

 Social Welfare Department, Cheshire Home & State Handicapped Development Corporation: financial aid, transportation (providing buses) of children

 Child Development Centre- Tvpm, Adarsh vidyalaya-Kochi and NISH: Special Training and consultation

 LSG Department: Legal and legislative support, encouragement

 Managing Committee (with GP Chairperson as Chairperson) Administration, monitoring, resource mobilization

 Voluntary organizations: voluntary support, donation and sponsorship

Main Achievements:

 Successful rehabilitation of helpless children  Mobilisation of local resources  Food, medical care, social exposure, education  Relief for parents- to work, earn and socialize  Blossom- a livelihood centre for parents Learnings

 The success of Buds proves that need-based projects, designed and implemented on the basis of the felt real needs of the community, will merit high social acceptance, recognition and support.

 If there is strong political will, sincerity and commitment, then the PRIs can surmount any obstacles and succeeded in their endeavors.  The experience from Buds, tells us that mobilising local resources is not a problem in the case of transparently implemented community welfare projects. There are, in our midst, resourceful and generous individuals and institutions, who will rise to the occasion in the face of a challenge like this.  Loving care and encouragement will boost the self-esteem and capacities of the children. Improvement in children will be reflected in improvement in the members of the concerned families. learnings

 Yet another learning is that Kudumbasree can become a rallying point and a resource base for effectively tackling many a community problem.

 Even as we recognise it as a model project, it is important to analyse the constraints faced all each stage and the strategies used for addressing them. When we look deeper in the process, it becomes clear that the obstacles could be overcome, mainly because of the unity and team spirit of the Panchayat Council, expressed irrespective of party affiliations as well as petty personal interests.

The Buds experience teaches us that income generation schemes alone cannot adequately address the issues of rural poverty; we also need to incorporate elements that will eliminate the factors that undermine the creativity of the community.

Ajith Venniyoor [email protected] 09895603170