Oppam Initiative' for Upliftment of Differently-Abled Persons

The District Administration's 'Oppam Initiative' project has commenced to uplift differently-abled persons in Malappuram district. The 'Oppam' project is being implemented to provide special training and support to the differently-abled, ensuring their safety and well-being.The 'Oppam' project was developed as the first phase of Access (Association for Disability Care, Compassion, Education, Support, and Services) Malappuram. It begins with the view that the comprehensive development of the differently-abled is a public responsibility and that society's main duty is to keep them together. Empowerment programs for the differently-abled will be conducted as part of the 'Oppam' project. The differently-abled will be prepared for various competitive examinations like Kerala PSC, SSC, UPSC, etc., by imparting expert training. Along with this, steps will be taken to find employers in the private sector and provide suitable employment for the differently-abled. Suitable job fields for each disability will be identified by collecting information from private institutions separately.Measures to start self-employment by imparting job skills to differently-abled persons in various fields are also being devised as part of the 'Oppam' project. Schemes of free coaching for competitive exams and free chess coaching in association with the District Sports Council have already been initiated. The 'Oppam' project office is set up in Malappuram Civil Station Compound. The office will also act as a 'Different Ability Service Centre' to provide services to the differently-abled. The office has been set up in collaboration with the Kozhikode-based NGO, Prajahita Foundation.