‘Nambikkai Illam’ to be set up along Girivalam path in Tiruvannamalai

‘Nambikkai Illam’, a centre for persons with intellectual disabilities, will be coming up on the Girivalam path near Arunachaleswarar temple in Tiruvannamalai town as revenue officials have identified land for the new facility.

Along with health and revenue officials, Collector Vandana Garg and District Revenue Officer (DRO) A. Siva Subramanian has identified land near Government Arts and Science College along the path in the town.

The ‘Nambikkai Illam’ initiative was announced by State Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson during the presentation of the Annual Budget for 2026-27 on Wednesday. “The new government facility will be a model one stop centre where all facilities and training for persons with intellectual disabilities will be provided. The identified land is located along a bus route and can be accessed easily,” M. Saradha, District Disabled Officer (Tiruvannamalai), told The Hindu.

Officials of Welfare of Differently Abled Persons Department, which will maintain the facility, said that the new centre will provide special education, early intervention services, including physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and vocational training for children aged three and above. “The new government centre in Tiruvannamalai town will be the largest facility in terms of space with modern facilities,” Ms. Saradha said.

Officials said initially, the new facility would function as a day school between 9. 45 a.m and 5 p.m on all days, except Sundays. On an average, around 50 students would be enrolled at the centre which would have 13 staff led by the chief coordinator. Around 20 cents of government land have been identified for the purpose with a budgetary allocation of ₹4 crore.

At present, persons with intellectual disabilities, including children are taken care of in government-aided homes in the district. Officials had undertaken door-to-door visits to identify persons with intellectual disabilities and around 53,000 persons with disabilities have been identified in the district.

Officials also said that other Panchayat Unions such as Arani, Chengam, Kilpennathur, Vandavasi, Cheyyar, Polur, Jamunamarathur, and Chetpet would have small centres for persons with intellectual disabilities in the coming months. These small centres would mostly operate at government hospitals in the area. Under ‘Nambikkai Illam’ initiative, similar centres would be set up in Thanjavur, Salem, Cuddalore, and Virudhunagar districts.