Horticulture therapy mooted in government homes

KOZHIKODE: The agriculture authorities have suggested "horticulture therapy" for 28 more government children’s homes, 13 women’s homes and 11 Nirbhaya homes. Harithodayam comprises agriculture-related vocational training and cultivation, and it received overwhelming feedback when piloted at Govt Special Children’s Home and women’s home in Pathanamthitta. “Farming, gardening and vegetable cultivation had brought in welcome changes in the behaviour of inmates. Their traumatised minds were refreshed through the sprouting of lush green saplings and nurturing,” says Pathanamthitta district child protection officer (DCPO) A.O Abeen.

Following this, a meeting was convened in agriculture minister V.S Sunil Kumar’s chamber that decided to draft the proposal with the technical advice of the agriculture department and submit to the principal agricultural officer concerned.
Elder children could benefit, he said, if an aftercare programme comprising of manufacturing of value-added products, operating agri-equipment and maintenance of nursery units were also added. Vegetables and mushroom cultivated under the project could be used in the mess of these homes, and the excess could be sold off.

“The meeting has also decided to expand the project to those schools having ORC (our responsibility to children) project and do not have other agriculture-related activities,” he added. Govt Children’s Home at Thrissur is selected to be a comprehensive model. Additional agriculture director A.M. Sunil Kumar has suggested it as a part of the Institutional Cultivation Programme which aims vegetable cultivation in institutions.