Envisioning to provide special care for the lonely old age people, Kudumbashree Mission has ventured into 'Harsham' Geriatric Care services. The programme was officially launched by Dr. K.T Jaleel, Minister, Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala by distributing ID cards to the selected care givers during the 20th anniversary celebrations being held at Swapnanagari, Kozhikode on 17 May 2018.
The Harsham programme will be implemented with financial assistance from the Kerala Academy for Skill Excellence, plans to provide jobs for around 1,000 women under Kudumbashree Mission this year. The project 'Harsham-Happiness Redefined', would ensure needed care for the old aged people. The aim of the programme is to form groups of around 100 volunteers in each district to help aged people who live alone or under adverse circumstances with least support, including those who are bedridden. To begin with, the 90 selected women from Kannur and Kozhikode will get trained in geriatric care. It is planned to get them job as bystanders in hospitals and care givers at houses.
The training programme will be extended to other districts in the near future. The working of the programme would be in the model of Micro enterprises. Those aged below 55 years, with good physical capabilities and an aptitude for serving the society are considered for the programme. The respective District Mission Co-ordinators would select the Geriatric Care executives in the districts.Training for them will be provided to the selected Geriatric care executives in two 30-member batches.The beneficiaries may avail the services of the Harsham Programme through call centres or online round the clock. The volunteers will collect the details of the people who have requested for services or care will later impart the services. The help of CDS-ADS members would be made used to gather information about the callers. The skill training for the geriatric care executives was inaugurated at Kozhikode on 30 April 2018.
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