The construction of the International Institute for People with Disabilities (IIPD), a ₹100-crore project by the Different Art Centre (DAC), Thiruvananthapuram, will commence on Wednesday (September 10, 2025) at Madikai, near Nileshwaram, in Kasaragod.
The foundation-laying ceremony will begin at 10 a.m., marking the start of an ambitious initiative aimed at the holistic development of individuals with disabilities.
Spread across a 20-acre campus, the institute is modelled on DAC Thiruvananthapuram and will offer international-standard facilities, including training centres for arts and sports, advanced therapy systems, personalised assistive device units, vocational training centres, medical services, and rehabilitation infrastructure. Services will be provided free of cost, said a release.
The event will be presided over by Jiji Thomson, DAC chairman and former Chief Secretary. Eminent personalities such as Padma Vibhushan awardee and film director Adoor Gopalakrishnan, writer T. Padmanabhan, and lyricist-composer Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri will attend. Other dignitaries include district panchayat president Baby Balakrishnan, Madikai gram panchayat president S. Preetha, ULCCS chairman Rameshan Palery, Damodar Architects CEO K. Damodaran, and DAC founder and executive director Gopinath Muthukad.
Dr. Muhammed Asheel, National Professional Officer at the World Health Organization, India, will present the project’s details, which aims to become a centre of national pride.
Set to be the largest of its kind in India, the IIPD will have the capacity to train 1,000 individuals annually across diverse disciplines and support children from Kerala, including those affected by endosulfan exposure. The first phase is expected to be completed by 2026, with full operations by 2029, serving both national and international beneficiaries.
Published – September 09, 2025 04:48 pm IST
