Thiruvananthapuram: Gandhi Bhavan, inaugurated by Sukumar Azhikode in 2002, is completing 24 years. The year-long jubilee celebrations will commence on Tuesday, inaugurated by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.
Gandhi Bhavan runs numerous facilities including old age homes, children's homes, palliative care centres, psychiatry centres, centres for disabled people, AIDS patient centres, de-addiction centres, special schools, a village for disabled people, KELS legal aid centre, a centre implementing domestic violence prevention laws, district shelter homes for women, shelters for released prisoners, vocational training centres of the central and Kerala governments, and a driver's training centre of the motor vehicle department. It also serves as the nodal agency for the state's disability commissionerate.
The year-long programmes will include charity gatherings, social, cultural, literary and human gatherings, industrial transformation projects and startup consortiums with mass participation. Continuous awareness programmes through schools for nature conservation and substance abuse control will be organised during this period. It is planned to conclude the year-long programme with an inauguration by the President of India. The foundation stone for Gandhi Bhavan's project, People's Medical Institute, will be laid by the President in the concluding ceremony. People's Medical College will be a research centre offering free treatment, encompassing everything from traditional to modern medicine under one roof.
Sugathakumari National Environment Award, established by Gandhi Bhavan, will be presented by the governor to former Mizoram governor Kummanam Rajasekharan. The award includes a cash prize of Rs 25,000 and a sculpture.
