Spandanam is a project jointly implemented by the Kozhikode District Panchayath and the Indian systems of Medicine in 2013 to address the health problems of children , with greater focus on Developmental disorders,Learning disorders, Delayed speech and language problems and Behavioural problems like Autism/ADHD. Since the inception of spandanam in 2013, approximately one lakh sixty thousand children and their families are found to be its beneficiaries till date. spandanam is a first-of-its-kind project in the public sector that has been designed with a vision towards setting up an inclusive child care set up in the public domain.Where the society is reluctant to accept children with disabilities,the concept of an inclusive care where you teach them to include such differently abled children alongside their peers in all spheres of social life and help them contribute to the society in their own ways, becomes extremely rewarding and humanitarian as well.

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The highlight of the spandanam approach is that it integrates Physiotherapy,Occupational therapy,Clinical Yoga,Speech therapy and Learning assessment and Remedial training(LART) with mainstream Ayurvedic treatment. The incorporation of supportive therapies along with classical ayurvedic treatment is decided upon by the doctor concerned in every single case.Regular follow-up visits ensure systematic assessment and recording of the child’s progress. The inclusive approach combined with the integrated treatment has gained spandanam wide recognition for being both an innovative and effective intervention.The recognition that spandanam and its team enjoys today also stands testimony to the fact that the project is culturally fair and hence can work out well in any global community. The project has its main base as A.C Shanmughadas Memorial Ayurvedic Child and Adolescent Care Centre(ACSMAC&ACC) at Purakattiri under Thalakkulathur Panchayath (Kozhikode district, Kerala).

The ACSMAC&ACC was established with funding from the Kozhikode district panchayat and Department of Indian Systems of Medicine. In addition, 9 subcentres of this project are functioning in various Govt.Ayurveda Hospitals under panchayaths of Calicut district. Doctor visit to these centres are limited to one per week while availability of supporting therapies will be on alternate weeks. The relentless efforts made by the Kozhikode District Panchayath towards ensuring adequate monetary support for the project by prompt release of annual funds along with their active utilization is a major reason for the successful journey of this project. A milestone achievement for the project came in the form of an appraisal from Kerala State Social Security Mission on the basis of an evaluation study conducted by its expert team. Based on the findings, they submitted a highly positive report regarding the services rendered by Spandanam project to the Additional Chief Secretary, State Planning Board ,wherein it has been suggested that the project be implemented in all the districts of Kerala thereby expanding its outreach.They also proposed the upgradation of Spandanam into a research project by setting up a research institute for the same in future. Spandanam project was unanimously selected as the best project in local self government Department project presentation category, held as part of International ayush conclave,2019.