After almost two years of being forced to close down due to the Covid pandemic, districtKudumbashree Missionhas given permission for revival of six moreBudsschools.
These will come up inKochicorporation, Kalamassery , Edavanakkad, Varappuzha, Okkal andThiruvaniyoorgrama panchayats. The decision to grant permission was taken by the Buds district-level advisory committee under the districtKudumbashreemission.
As of August 2020, Ernakulam district had a total of 36 such institutions with 800 enrolled. This included 600 students above 18 years of age and 200 under the age of 18. Buds schools have been providing an opportunity to the mentally challenged children to have a school going experience in an inclusive Atmosphere. These schools work as day-care centres as well as training centres for mentally challenged adult persons in the local areas.
Meanwhile, in an interesting concept of using Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and Horticulture as a therapeutic relief for the differently challenged, the Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) andKottuvalli Krishibhavanstarted farming in the Koonammavu Chavara Special School.