The Wayanad district administration has formulated the Healthy Wayanad project to study the problems faced by persons with disabilities, senior citizens, people with lifestyle diseases and members of Scheduled Tribe communities and draw up need-based development projects.

Agriculture Minister T. Siddique inaugurated a district-level consultation meeting of presidents of the three-tier panchayats and officials at Vengappally in connection with the implementation of the project on Saturday (October 10).

The initiative aims to scientifically assess the problems faced by vulnerable sections through systematic data collection and formulate effective development projects based on their specific needs.

The project will be implemented under the leadership of the district administration and MLAs, with the cooperation of local self-government institutions in the district.

Information will be collected through meetings at the grama panchayat and ward levels. The survey will cover all households in the district, with the participation of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Master of Social Work (MSW) students and various voluntary organisations.

Once data collection is completed, data dashboards will be developed to provide the district administration, MLAs and local self-government institutions with the information needed to plan interventions. This will help identify problems and requirements in each sector and prioritise development initiatives.

Officials said the initiative envisaged a comprehensive effort to improve the quality of life of the targeted groups by aligning local bodies’ development activities with people’s actual needs.

After identifying specific needs, suitable projects will be formulated using the plan funds of the local bodies. The projects will be implemented after approval by the respective local body committees and the District Planning Committee (DPC).

Usha Vijayan, MLA, presided.