The Government will take steps to enhance the assistance being provided to children with intellectual disabilities, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.
The Government is also devising schemes for the skill development and rehabilitation of these children, he said, while chairing a high-level meeting held here on Monday to discuss the issues faced by children with intellectual disabilities.
Services of therapists
The families of these children are being provided an assistance of ₹28,500 annually through the local bodies. It should be ensured that this assistance is being given to deserving families. Steps will be taken to provide the services of speech, physio and occupational therapists with the help of Social Justice Department.
The Chief Minister directed that persons who were skilled in the care and management of children with intellectual disabilities should be found and their services should be made available to such children in private institutions also. When BUDS schools were given the aided status, the employees should also be protected.
Mr. Vijayan also directed the Secretary, Social Justice, to discuss the issues faced by children with intellectual disabilities with other departments and to submit a report within a month.
The Social Justice Minister, K.K. Shylaja, the Aditional Chief Secretary (Health), Rajeev Sadanandan, the General Education Secretary, Usha Titus, the CM’s Principal Secretary, V.S. Senthil and the Secretary, Social Justice, Biju Prabhakar, also attended the meeting.
