To provide skill development to people with disabilities and provide livelihoods opportunities, a Livelihood Resource Centre was set up at ‘Snehatheeram’, the BUDS Rehabilitation Centre of Mararikulam South Grama Panchayath associating with Leonard Cheshire Disability Project Nagapattinam as part of the ‘Access to Livelihood’ Programme, the flagship programme of Leonard Cheshire Disability to empower the Persons with Disability (PWDs).
After detailed planning and discussions with Kudumbashree, MoU was signed in the month of July 2016. As per the MoU, the project duration was 8 months from July 2016 to March 2017 and for utilizing the fund within the period, the programme was extended to March 2018. As per the agreement between Leonard Cheshire Disability Project Nagapattinam and Kudumbashree Mission, Satellite Livelihood Resource Centre of Leonard Cheshire Disability Project was opened at the Buds Rehabilitation Centre at Marairikulam South Grama Panchayath as part of the pilot study.
And as part of the initial activities, linkages were established with the local level skill providers by ensuring necessary accessibility features. Partnership with local employers and with the financial institutions was also set up to provide necessary employment support. For setting up businesses and a Livelihood Resource Map was created. After identifying the persons with disabilities in the locality, through need analysis and skill assessment, skill training was given to them. A total of 122 persons were identified with disabilities out of which 27 were from BRC. 10 were given training in paper making, 10 were given training in vermin compost making and mothers of 5 bed ridden children of BRC were given training and amenities for poultry farming. The other physically challenged identified from within the panchayath were given training for LED Bulb assembling as well.
With the help of Eksat training team, guidance was given to the children on making paper bags, tablet covers, shopping bags, gift cover, envelope, oven bags, files making, marketing techniques, packing etc which were included in the module and orders were received from Panchayath, Agriculture Department and other organisations. The 3000 notepads used during the 19th Anniversary programme of Kudumbashree Mission held at Alappuzha were made by the children of Snehatheeram BRC of Mararikulam South Panchayath. One vermi compost unit with four rings at BUDS School Campus with the technical guidance of Socio Economic Unit Foundation (SEUF).
Leonard Cheshire Disability (LCD) is an international NGO working through five regional offices in Africa and Asia, with an extensive global network of partners in over 50 countries. The key focus of our programmes is inclusive education, access to livelihoods, campaigning and advocacy, and research. The South Asia Regional office is based in Bangalore, India. Leonard Cheshire Project Nagapattinam (LCPNP) is the partner organization of Leonard Cheshire Disability implementing the ‘Access to Livelihoods’ Programme since 2008 in 4 locations– Nagapattinam, Thiruvallur, Cuddalore and Chennai- through established ‘Livelihoods Resource Centre (LRC) based in Chennai. The Main objectives of this model are to connect people with disabilities with opportunities to work, to act as a “one-stop-shop” by providing training, career guidance, and links to employers, who support people with disabilities in the world of work, to promote the choice and decision of people with disabilities in livelihood and to support confidence building in people with disabilities.
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