Kudumbashree BUDS Institutions Are a Shining Model of Social Inclusion, Says Minister M B Rajesh

Thiruvananthapuram: Kudumbashree’s Buds Institutions are a shining example of social inclusion, and 100 such centres will be upgraded as Model Buds Institutions this year, Local Self-Government Minister M B Rajesh has announced.

The Minister said the government has sanctioned Rs 4.7 crore through Kudumbashree for infrastructure development and the provision of essential equipment for children in 29 selected Buds Institutions across the state. He also announced the launch of a health life insurance scheme this year for employees, including teachers and ayahs, working in Buds Institutions.

He was speaking at a function held at Carmel Tower, Vazhuthakkad, where he inaugurated the Kudumbashree Model Buds Institutions initiative, the adolescent-focused project “Chirakukal,” and the state-level Buds Employees’ Meet. On the occasion, he also released the revised guidelines for Buds Institutions, a status study report, and a poster prepared by the Oil and Sugar Board as part of the FNHW project implemented through Kudumbashree.

Highlighting Kerala’s development model, the Minister said inclusive growth rooted in social justice has helped the state secure the top position nationally in various human development indicators. Buds Institutions, he noted, represent a unique and socially committed intervention aimed at rehabilitation and skill development for children and adolescents with special needs.

As part of the first phase of the Model Buds initiative, institutions in Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Alappuzha districts are being upgraded, with ten centres already declared model institutions. In the second phase, 41 more institutions have been selected, and detailed project plans are being prepared in collaboration with the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD). The government aims to upgrade 100 Buds Institutions as model centres by June this year.

Under the scheme, Buds Institutions launched in the first phase have been allocated ₹2 lakh each to improve basic facilities, while newly established centres are being granted ₹25 lakh each. Additionally, 30 Buds schools have received ₹15 lakh each through Kudumbashree for the purchase of vehicles. In the previous financial year, ten institutions in the endosulfan-affected sector were also provided financial assistance for vehicle procurement.

At present, 405 Buds Institutions are functioning across Kerala, including 187 Buds schools and 218 Buds rehabilitation centres. A total of 13,895 trainees benefit from daily life training, rehabilitation support and job-oriented skill development through the project, which is implemented in collaboration with local self-government bodies.

As per the revised guidelines, a unified training model for teachers and ayahs will be implemented under Kudumbashree’s leadership. The Minister added that the “Chirakukal” project will play a significant role in enhancing practical knowledge and life skills among adolescents enrolled in Buds Institutions.