Wayanad

Wayanad, the only district of Kerala that borders both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, has a total area of 2131 sq.km., of which 37% consists of forest. Wayanad is considered as the bio-diversity hub of the Western Ghats. 700m to 2100m above sea level, the district has many tourist attractions like Edakkal caves, Kuruva island, Soochippara waterfalls, wildlife sanctuaries, Pookkode lake, Banasura and Karappuzha dams.

The magnitude of problems of the differently-abled of Wayanad is the same, if not higher, when compared to their counterparts elsewhere. The total differently-abled population of the district is 23122 according to the 2015 Census, of which 9256 belong to scheduled tribes and 1600 are bedridden. The total PwIDD comes to 5382.

 

Wayanad Parivaar is in fact indebted to the great leader Shri P B George who, inviting parents to participate in the national meet to be held at Ernakulam, emphasized the importance of forming a district organization of parents of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. On his invitation, Shri P J Antony and Shri Alex Cherukattoor participated in the national meet of parents held at Ernakulam in 1999. Imbibing the spirit of togetherness, Shri Antony and Shri Alex started spadework for bringing up a district association of parents. Initially, the work revolved around special schools. Parents of Kalpetta, Vythiri, Chulliyode, Bathery and Mananthavady were contacted. They got seamless support from well-wishers like Dr Jose of Kalpetta. A meeting was held in 2000 at Kalpetta Municipal Townhall which was attended by about 100 persons including parents, teachers and well-wishers. Parents Association for Intellectually Impaired came into life with Adv Narayanan as President and Shri P J Antony as its Secretary. State leaders like Shri P B George, Philip Simon, Ramachandran Mash and T T Rajappan also contributed to the growth of the organaisation through their visits instilling confidence in the parents.

 

The Association adopted the present name, Wayanad Parivaar, along with other district committees, consequent to the renaming of the state apex council as Parivaar Kerala. Wayanad Parivaar got registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 in 2011. Its original bylaw was amended in 2014 to give legal sanctity to committees at Panchayat, Block and Municipal levels. This has helped us in making deep inroads in all grama panchayats and municipalities of the district. With regard to the formation of committees, Wayanad Parivaar has attained 100% results with committees in all 23 grama panchayats and 3 municipalities.

 

The District Committee consists of 21 members @ 3 from each of the 4 block and 3 municipal committees.

 

Wayanad Parivaar has been established and groomed up by leaders like Shri P J Antony, Shri Alex, Smt.Eliyamma George, Shri A.D.Thomas, Rev.Fr.Baby Isac, late Shri P.T.Joyson, Shri C.Moideenkutty, Shri Jacob Philip and Shri M Sukumaran. The second line of leadership has already taken up the reins.