Kayyethum Doorathu

Background

The basic document for persons with disabilities to avail government benefits is the Disability Certificate, issued by a Medical Board as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2016. However, a significant number of disabled persons in Kerala lacked this certificate due to awareness gaps and insufficient medical boards. A poignant incident where an old lady could not encash financial aid for her differently-abled son due to the lack of a Legal Guardianship Certificate, stemming from the absence of a Medical Board Certificate, moved District Collector U. V. Jose IAS. This prompted the Kozhikode District Administration to launch Kayyethum Doorathu, a district-wide initiative to streamline the certification process for Medical Board Certificates and Legal Guardianship Applications, aiming to address pendency and improve access to welfare schemes for the differently-abled.

Kayyethum Doorathu was initiated to address the critical issue of non-possession and delays in obtaining essential disability documentation for Kozhikode's differently-abled population. This "zero-budget initiative," led by the District Administration in collaboration with the Composite Rehabilitation Centre (CRC), involved a unique process to clear all pending applications for Disability Medical Board Certificates, their renewal, and Legal Guardianship Certificates. A comprehensive disability census in Kozhikode informed the outreach. The project organized numerous camps across the district, where a concerted effort by District Collector’s Internship Programme (DCIP) interns, "Campuses of Kozhikode" student volunteers (over 10,000 applicants registered), NGOs, and Local Bodies enabled efficient data processing and on-site medical assessments by specialist government doctors. This collaborative approach significantly reduced bureaucratic delays, ensured the processing of over 10,000 applications, and facilitated the issuance of 747 Legal Guardianship Certificates, ultimately improving access to essential services and promoting full participation in society.

Comprehensive Document Processing: Unique initiative to settle all pending applications for Disability Medical Board Certificates (including renewals) and Legal Guardianship Certificates.
Medical Board & Legal Guardianship Camps: Conducted 26 Phase-I and 16 Phase-II camps for certification, along with special sittings of the Local Level Committee for Legal Guardianship issuance.
Stakeholder Convergence: A pioneering "zero budget initiative" achieved through robust coordination among Central, State, and Local Self-Government bodies, volunteers, and civil society, including District Administration, CRC Kerala, Social Justice, Health, and Revenue Departments, Local Bodies, DCIP interns, "Campuses of Kozhikode" students, IPM, Para Legal Volunteers, and NGOs.
Extensive Volunteer Mobilization: Engaged thousands of student volunteers (e.g., 750+ hours of phone calls by DCIP and student volunteers alone) for data sorting, calls, and logistical support.
Publicity & Awareness: Wide media campaigns informed the public about registration and procedures, sensitizing a large scale of the population.
Data-Driven Approach: Pre-screening of impairments (hearing, mental retardation, IQ assessment by CRC, IMHANS, GMHC, audiometric evaluation by CRC) informed targeted medical board evaluations.
Efficient Process Methodology: Adopted new processes bringing all stakeholders together to streamline case handling, including house visit proformas and expedited attestation.

National Recognition (Skoch Award 2017): The District Administration received the national-level "Skoch Order of Merit 2017" and "The Skoch Award 2017" for this unique initiative, recognizing its exemplary leadership in bringing positive socio-economic change.
Successful Documentation Drive: Successfully issued thousands of Medical Board Certificates and Legal Guardianship Applications, clearing long-standing backlogs.
Pioneering "Zero-Budget Initiative": Achieved widespread impact without direct government funding, showcasing exceptional resourcefulness and community collaboration.
Chief Minister's Inauguration: Phase-I distribution of certificates was inaugurated by the Hon. Chief Minister of Kerala, Sri. Pinarayi Vijayan, on December 7, 2017, with around 3000 PwDs and their families attending.
Massive Volunteer Engagement: Sensitized over a thousand student volunteers who were instrumental in the project's execution.
Comprehensive Project Tracking: Developed a robust project tracker to monitor progress, particularly in SC and ST colonies.
Widespread Media Coverage: The initiative gained significant media attention for its positive impact on the differently-abled community.

District Collector's Internship Programme

Kayyethum Doorathu

Background

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