The State government will form a network of self-help groups of the differently abled and their families for their comprehensive empowerment and rehabilitation.
The network named Sushakti will be modelled after the Kudumbashree that increased the presence and visibility of women in Kerala society and provided them with a means of livelihood, Minister for Social Justice R. Bindu said at a press conference here on Thursday. The preliminary activities of the self-help groups (SHGs) will be implemented through Kerala State Differently Abled Welfare Corporation Ltd. The registered office of the network will be the corporation’s Poojappura office.
For social inclusion
The Minister said Sushakti was aimed at social inclusion of the physically, mentally, and intellectually challenged and ensure they achieve social, financial, emotional, and cultural self-sufficiency. It will also help achieve aims of schemes for the differently abled quickly.
Sushakti will involve in activities of the Union and the State governments, local self-government institutions, and other agencies with the goal of financial development and social justice. These include empowerment of the differently abled, creating a differently abled-friendly environment, local economic development, poverty alleviation, and social justice.
Each Sushakti SHG will comprise 10 to 20 women, men, or people from the transgender community who are permanent residents of the area where the SHG will operate and have 40% or morephysical, mental, or intellectual disability.
Governing body
It will have local development societies as the apex body at the panchayat/municipal/Corporation level. The Sushakti district level team will have a maximum of 15 members. It will supervise the activities of the local development societies and the SHGs, review the SHG activities and those for protecting the rights of the differently abled and provide bank linkages to the societies or the SHGs. At the State-level, the executive committee will be headed by the Minister for Social Justice. There will be governing body too.
One of the aims of Sushakti is to ensure quality of products made by the SHGs and individuals, brand them, and improve their marketing. Support will also be given to the SHG members to engage in income-generating activities, the Minister said.
It will make the differently abled familiar with latest scientific and technological developments so that limitations can be overcome and turned into possibilities, the Minister said.
Published – October 23, 2025 09:11 pm IST
