From institutions to community : the recent expansion of rehabilitation services in India

Abstract EN

Rehabilitation services in India have undergone an expansion during the last two decades from institution based methods to community based methods of service delivery.

The need for wider coverage in areas with no services, at an affordable cost, has been the main motivating factor for this expansion.

Contrary to popular belief, the present day community based rehabilitation services are neither cheap nor of a high quality, though coverage may have increased.

Unless adequate attention is paid to research and systematic planning, community based rehabilitation in India will be constrained to remain as unsustainable, small and isolated projects that are not replicable, instead of growing into a viable national programme.