The Kudumbashree Mission has handed over ₹25 crore to local self-government institutions across the State for starting 200 Buds schools, which cater to mentally challenged children.
An amount of ₹12.5 lakh will be given to a Buds school as the first tranche to get it off the ground. The money can be used to arrange study material, ramps, besides recreational facilities such as television and computer, printer, and therapeutic equipment.
Nineteen Buds schools will be launched in Thiruvananthapuram, 20 in Kollam, nine in Pathanamthitta, 13 in Alappuzha, 12 in Kottayam, three in Idukki, 22 in Ernakulam, 12 in Thrissur, 19 in Palakkad, 22 in Malappuram, 18 in Kozhikode, 10 in Wayanad, nine in Kannur, and 12 in Kasaragod. Now, 182 Buds institutions function under Kudumbashree, with local bodies entrusted with their operations. Mentally challenged children in the 5-18 age group attend Buds schools, while those above 18 attend Buds rehabilitation centres where they are given job training too. As many as 3,331 children attend Buds schools, while 2,834 attend Buds rehabilitation centres.
The Buds institutions comprise teachers, non-teaching staff, therapists, vocational trainers, cooks, and drivers. Mothers of physically challenged children who are unable to go to work, since they have to look after the children, can pick up self-employment training at centres attached to the Buds institutions.