Sahamithra

Background

Sahamithra is a community-driven initiative led by the Kozhikode District Administration, under the leadership of Collector Snehil Kumar Singh IAS, focused on ensuring that Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) enjoy their Right to Equality and live with dignity. In Kozhikode district, where there are 78,548 differently abled individuals out of a total population of 31,90,413, this initiative directly addresses their critical need for empowerment and inclusion. Sahamithra strives to ensure equitable opportunities, accessibility, and full participation in society for PwDs.

Sahamithra aims to empower differently-abled individuals in Kozhikode by ensuring they have access to the essential documentation and services necessary to exercise their rights. The initiative includes a comprehensive disability survey, conducted with the help of Anganwadi workers and involving data collection for 58,000 individuals. With support from the Women and Child Development Department, the project organized 33 data entry camps for UDID registration and Thanmudra data collection. These efforts successfully registered over 12,000 individuals for UDID and 33,681 for Thanmudra, allowing them to access government services. Additionally, Medical Board certificates were issued based on the collected data, facilitating access to welfare schemes. Through IEC campaigns, the initiative raised awareness about disability rights and promoted social acceptance. DCIP interns played a vital role in supporting these efforts by assisting in data collection, organizing events, and coordinating camps to ensure PwDs' rights were upheld.

UDID and Thanmudra Enrollment: Successfully registered 12,000+ individuals for UDID and 33,681 for Thanmudra, ensuring access to welfare services and entitlements.
Medical Board Certification: Facilitated the issuance of 1284 Medical Board certificates, providing direct access to government welfare schemes and services for PwDs.
Comprehensive Disability Survey: Conducted a detailed survey across 58,000 individuals, capturing key socio-economic data to guide rights-based interventions and policies.
Data Entry Camps: Organized 33 camps with significant volunteer support, ensuring efficient documentation and empowering PwDs through proper identification.
Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Campaigns: Promoted disability rights and raised awareness through targeted campaigns, encouraging inclusivity and access to resources.
Advocacy for PwD Rights: Led campaigns to foster respect for PwDs and ensure their participation in societal processes, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights upheld.
Inclusive LSGIs: Encouraged active involvement of Local Self-Governing Institutions (LSGIs) in ensuring PwD participation and the protection of their rights.
Community Collaboration: Collaborated with NGOs, volunteers, and government departments, creating a multi-stakeholder approach to support PwD inclusion and empowerment.
Intern Contributions: DCIP interns were instrumental in organizing and executing key components, ensuring smooth operations and supporting outreach efforts.

Successful Documentation for Rights: Achieved significant number of registrations for UDID and Thanmudra.
Groundbreaking Rights-Oriented Survey: Completed a comprehensive disability survey in Kozhikode, providing crucial data for future rights-based planning.
Effective IEC Campaigns: Successfully raised awareness about disability rights, ensuring more inclusive participation in society.
Replicable Model for Inclusive Documentation: Developed an efficient, scalable model for documentation, which can be replicated in other districts to ensure PwD rights are upheld.
Strong Community & Volunteer Mobilization: Leveraged community efforts with extensive volunteer support from educational institutions, reinforcing collective responsibility for PwDs' rights.
Community Recognition: Gained recognition for its rights-oriented, community-driven approach to disability empowerment and inclusion.
DCIP Intern Contributions: DCIP interns played an instrumental role in organizing 13 Medical Board Camps, conducting comprehensive outreach to pending applicants, managing data collection, and facilitating community engagement, thereby driving the overall success of the initiative.
Media Coverage: Sahamithra was widely covered in the media, highlighting its impactful work in promoting the rights and welfare of the differently-abled community.

District Collector's Internship Programme

Sahamithra

Background

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