FAQ BUDS BRC

  1. When and where did the first BUDS institutionsestablish?

The first BUDs Institution established at Venganoor Panchayat, Thiruvananthapuram Districton 16th August 2004. The institution was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister Sri, AK Antony.

  1. What were the reasons behind the establishment of BUDS institutions under Kudumbashree?

BUDS School as a special school started for the children with mental and physical challenges. The conditions of such children in their home were not good. The parents went under great depression due to the inability of their child. The level of poverty of such families increased. As such children needed special care, the parents were not able to go for their works and that added hardship to their livelihood. So in villages and in poor families had many number of children with such disabilities. The study about such children and the hardship of their parents brought a revolutionary change in the form of BUDS School.

  1. What is the role of Kudumbashree in setting up the BUDS Schools and BRCs?
  • To evolve institutions to provide special education to persons with intellectual disability in rural areas where it is not available through LSGI. (BUDs Special Schools)
  • To evolve a community participation mechanism to enable LSGI in order to ensure sustainable support. (BUDs Development Management Committee)
  • To evolve community based organizations exclusively for mentally challenged (Special Neighborhood Groups and Special Area Development Societies)
  • To evolve a new system for the day care, training and rehabilitation of adult mentally challenged in a novel approach (community based participatory rehabilitation)
  1. What are the serious economical and emotionalproblems affected by the family of a Mentally Retarded Person?

Mental Retardation is felt as one of the serious problems affecting the family, economically and emotionally. Issues encountered by these individuals include:

  • Lack of health care services and guidance Neglect/discrimination in community Lack of special education and training Mobility
  • Lack of participation of the community
  • Lack of services for day care and rehabilitation of adult MR
  • Lack of employability training/vocational training
  • Lack of livelihood opportunities
  • No opportunity for art and cultural program/education
  • No income generation programs
  • No hope about future
  • No hope for family life.
  1. What is BRC and what were the motives behind the establishment of BRC?

BUDs REHABILITATION CENTER (BRC) More importance for the persons who are above the age of 18 who requires special focus in rehabilitation With the policy focus on inclusive and integrated education more and more mentally challenged children began to enroll in government schools. This has provided the mentally challenged children an opportunity for schooling in an inclusive atmosphere where they can learn upto the age of 18. However there was no institution to take care of the mentally challenged above the age of 18 especially in rural areas which became another problem and issue for the family. The neighborhood groups began to demand for day care and training for mentally challenged adult persons within the local areas. The panchayats also demanded for such an initiative. It was in these circumstances that Kudumasbhree mission came up with the concept of BRC and the Government of Kerala approved the proposal. Thus Kudumabshree decided to focus also on post school age group. The Government of Kerala accordingly approved the innovative model. Thus in 2015 BUDs Rehabilitation Center (BRC)9o’ was formed. The centre focuses on the rehabilitation, training and day care of these mentally challenged persons. It follows a unique rehabilitation approach which ensures the participation of all the stakeholders associated with it.

  1. What are the purpose and priority of BUDS Institutions?

BUDs as a project strongly asserts that adopting the capability approach for the intellectually disabled persons and the empowerment approach with their families could help them to lead a better life. In order to achieve the above, an environment needs to be created for the mentally challenged which involves provision of assistive aids and appliances, education, vocational training and assistance for employment.

  1. What are the major deficits that remain as challenges in front of the Person with mentally retardation?

Academic Skill

Deficit Skill

Behavior Deficit Problem

Behavior as a co-morbid condition Social Skill Deficit

  1. What are the support given by Kudumbashree to train the Teachers, Parents and others who related with BUDS institutions?
  • Training for LSGI presidents, standing committee members and CDS chairpersons
  • Induction training for Aayas
  • Training for LSGI presidents and teachers for preparation of application for PWD registration and grant - in - aid.
  • TOT for district level functionaries of Kudumbashree and resource persons at district level for organization and support of special NHG.
  • Induction training of rehabilitation workers of newly started BRC
  • Induction training of Aaya cum cook of newly started BRC
  • Review and training of teachers of BUDs special schools
  1. How early can one identify and tell that the child is mentally retarded?

Early detection depends upon the severity and the nature of mental retardation. Many genetic abnormalities can be identified before birth and immediately after birth. Some of the ways to identify are through sonography, fetoscopy, blood and urine screening tests and imaging techniques.Some conditions like Down’s syndrome, microcephaly (small head), hydrocephalous and other obvious congenital anomalies can be identified at birth with presenting features.After birth if the growth and developmental milestones are delayed and there is presence of neurological signs and symptoms, identification of developmental delay can be suspected within one year of age.

  1. How early can parents seek early intervention when their baby is found to be developmentally delayed?

As soon as it is recognized that the young child is developmentally delay, prompt treatment and intervention will help the child to reach his/her optimal level of development. The first 24 months of a normal child’s life have tremendous and rapid growth and development.

  1. Will my child walk and talk like other children if I send him to BUDS School/BRC?

Children with mental retardation do learn to walk, understand and speak to a large extent. However, how far and how quickly they learn depends on the extent of the brain damage, early identification and timely intervention.

  1. How are the funds for day to day activities in BUDS & BRCs met?

The ownership of the schools rests with the respective grama panchayath but the Kudumbashree mission acts as a facilitator, coordinating the functioning of the schools with other agencies involved in the project. Kudumbashree also helps in raising funds for the schools, apart from the budgetary allocation by the respective grama panchayath.

  1. What are some achievements of BUDS institutions?

The BUDS school Venganoor achieved Successful rehabilitation of helpless children by giving them education, Food, medical care, social exposure. This achieved in giving relief for parents- to go for work and earn. It also achieved in setting up livelihood centre for parents.

  1. What is the methodology that BRC adopted?

Community Based Participatory Rehabilitation (CBPR) is the methodology that BRCs have adopted. Internationally, community based rehabilitation (CBR) is the common methodology used. In Kerala’s case, CBPR methodology had been developed by bringing in local government institutions as sustainable partners, leveraging on the strengths of the Panchayat Raj system in the State.

  1. Can we send our child to a regular school for education?

There are some regular schools that offer special training/education to children with mental retardation. If that facility is available, then the child can be sent to the regular school. Otherwise, the child has to be sent to a special school for education. Special teachers are trained to teach children with mental retardation. They use special methods, techniques and material to teach children basic skills that are essential for independent living. More than 151 BUDS institutions are functioning under Kudumbashree and 200 more starting soon. So the child can be taken to those institutions.