Calicut University project for disabled children to be expanded

The Community Disability Management and Rehabilitation Project (CDMRP), run by the University of Calicut in collaboration with the Department of Social Justice, will be extended for another five years.

The pilot project, the Extension Center for the Department of Psychology, was launched in 2015. Children under the age of 18 with developmental disabilities are provided comprehensive evidence-based disability management and rehabilitation services, including prevention, early intervention, treatment and psychosocial rehabilitation, through a community-based approach. Education and training are also ongoing.

Currently, there is an advanced disability management clinic on the university campus and six clinics in Kannur, three in Malappuram and one in Kozhikode. The project has helped thousands of children so far. The authorities highlighted this as “Best Practices 1” during the visit of the National Council for Assessment and Accreditation.

According to sources, the decision to extend the project was taken at a recent meeting chaired by Social Justice Minister VE Abdul Gafoor in Thiruvananthapuram and attended by senior university officials. It was convened against the backdrop of a delay in the release of a grant for the project. Sources said the funds were pending for the last 10 months. Mr. Gafoor promised the university authorities that the pending funds would be released soon.

In the meeting, sources said, a proposal was made to link the project with the Mobile Response Unit of the Kerala Social Security Mission and extend it across the state. For this purpose, the department would prepare a detailed project report. The university would act as the nodal agency for its implementation.

Published – 02 Sep 2026 19:56 IST