Nazim S.
Kollam
Summary
Senior public sector programme management professional with over 19 years of progressively responsible experience in disability-inclusive development, rehabilitation systems, public health, mental health, early intervention, social protection, assistive technology, and rights-based programme management. Currently serving as State Project Coordinator, State Initiative on Disabilities (SID), Kerala Social Security Mission (KSSM), Department of Social Justice, Government of Kerala, providing strategic leadership for statewide disability programmes through policy implementation, programme governance, systems strengthening, and multi-sector coordination. Demonstrated expertise in translating legislation, public policy, and technical standards into sustainable programmes that improve accessibility, quality, equity, and inclusion. Experienced in leading multidisciplinary teams, managing complex public sector initiatives, strengthening institutions, overseeing programme planning, financial and procurement management, monitoring and evaluation, and fostering strategic partnerships across government, healthcare, academia, local governance institutions, and development stakeholders. Although designated as State Project Coordinator, the role encompasses strategic programme leadership, technical advisory, and systems management responsibilities comparable to senior programme management positions within government and international development organisations.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
State Project Coordinator
State Initiative on Disabilities (SID)
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
01.2017 - 01.2026
- Provide strategic leadership for the planning, design and statewide implementation of ANUYATRA, Kerala's comprehensive disability management framework under the State Initiative on Disabilities (SID).
- Lead the translation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, national disability policies and international rehabilitation frameworks into operational government programmes adopting a life-cycle and rights-based approach.
- Drive policy formulation, programme expansion, annual action planning, government approvals, strategic reviews, institutional strengthening and cross-sector convergence to establish an integrated disability management system covering prevention, early identification, rehabilitation, inclusive education, social protection and community participation across the State.
- Serve as the nodal programme coordinator for disability initiatives involving the Departments of Social Justice, Health, Medical Education, National Health Mission, Women & Child Development, Local Self Government, Tribal Development, General Education and allied government agencies.
- Coordinate high-level interdepartmental meetings, technical committees, executive reviews, budget discussions and implementation monitoring.
- Prepare Cabinet and Government notes, policy briefs, administrative sanctions, audit responses, RTI replies, legislative submissions, technical reports and ministerial presentations while ensuring compliance with statutory provisions, financial regulations and government procedures.
- Lead the development and operational management of Kerala's integrated early intervention system through District Early Intervention Centres (DEICs), Regional Early Intervention Centres (REICs), Mobile Intervention Units (MIUs), Model Child Rehabilitation Centres (MCRCs), Special Anganwadis and community-based rehabilitation services.
- Provide statewide leadership for KATHORAM, Kerala's comprehensive hearing disability management programme adopting the internationally accepted 1–3–6–18–42 month intervention model.
- Lead strategic implementation of specialised rehabilitation programmes for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy and other neurodevelopmental disabilities through SPECTRUM, Regional Autism Rehabilitation and Research Centre (RARRC), Autism Centres in Government Medical Colleges, Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation initiatives, Special Transition Schools and Model Child Rehabilitation Centres.
- Provide programme leadership for disability prevention, newborn and childhood screening, developmental surveillance, congenital anomaly detection and community-based rehabilitation initiatives.
- Lead the planning, strengthening and expansion of inclusive education and specialised rehabilitation institutions for children with disabilities.
- Provide technical coordination for mental health rehabilitation initiatives, including establishment of the Family Short Stay Home at Government Mental Health Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.
- Lead innovative disability inclusion initiatives for tribal communities through convergence-based delivery of disability certification, UDID enrolment, social security pensions, assistive devices, Aadhaar registration, ration cards and rehabilitation services.
- Lead the digital transformation of disability management programmes through the development and implementation of Management Information Systems (MIS), beneficiary databases, disability registries, online monitoring platforms, screening software, cloud-based telecommunication systems and digital dashboards.
- Manage large-scale government-funded disability programmes involving annual budgeting, financial planning, utilisation monitoring, procurement, project implementation, grant management and infrastructure development.
- Lead statewide capacity-building initiatives for rehabilitation professionals, healthcare personnel, special educators, therapists, programme managers and community workers through development of operational guidelines, technical manuals, training curricula and service standards.
- Kerala Social Security Mission (KSSM), Department of Social Justice, Government of Kerala, India
State Programme Coordinator
KSHPWC
01.2013 - 07.2017
- Established State Resource Centre.
- Core team member in Disability Policy 2016, Kerala formulation.
- Coordinated State Disability Day Observations (2013–2014).
- Led job fairs, NPRPD supervision, and large-scale assistive device distribution.
- Drafted guidelines for state-owned rehabilitation programmes.
District Coordinator
NPRPD (Government of India)
Kasaragod
01.2009 - 01.2013
- Household disability surveys and database creation.
- Mobilisation of mandatory 5% LSGD funds.
- Designed Athijeevanam and Punarbhava livelihood models.
- Distribution of hearing aids, MR kits, wheelchairs, aids & appliances.
- Establishment of audiology units and newborn screening centres.
- Designed barrier-free housing schemes.
- Coordinated national seminar on endosulfan rehabilitation.
Psychiatric & Psychological Counsellor
01.2005 - 01.2008
- De-addiction Counsellor.
- Participatory Rural Appraisal & community mobilisation (Wayanad).
- Mental health research exposure – IMHANS, Kozhikode.
Education
Master of Social Work (MSW) - Medical & Psychiatric Social Work
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Physics with Computer Science
Skills
- Strategic Programme Leadership
- Public Sector Governance
- Disability-Inclusive Development
- Rehabilitation
- Rights-Based Programming
- Disability Policy
- Systems Strengthening
- Service Delivery Reform
- Early Identification
- Early Intervention
- Life-Course Disability Management
- Public Health
- Mental Health
- Community-Based Rehabilitation
- Social Protection
- Cross-Sector Partnerships
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Technical Advisory
- Programme Planning
- Project Management
- Budgeting
- Procurement
- Financial Stewardship
- Monitoring
- Evaluation
- Learning (MEL)
- Quality Assurance
- Evidence-Informed Decision-Making
- Institutional Capacity Building
- Organisational Development
- Workforce Strengthening
- Disability Information Systems
- Digital Transformation
- Data-Driven Programme Management
- Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DiDRR)
- Emergency Preparedness
- Resilient Service Systems
- International Disability Frameworks
- UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)
- Inclusive Development Principle
Custom
- Strategic Programme Leadership and Public Sector Governance
- Disability-Inclusive Development, Rehabilitation, and Rights-Based Programming
- Disability Policy, Systems Strengthening, and Service Delivery Reform
- Early Identification, Early Intervention, and Life-Course Disability Management
- Public Health, Mental Health, Community-Based Rehabilitation, and Social Protection
- Cross-Sector Partnerships, Stakeholder Engagement, and Technical Advisory
- Programme Planning, Project Management, Budgeting, Procurement, and Financial Stewardship
- Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL), Quality Assurance, and Evidence-Informed Decision-Making
- Institutional Capacity Building, Organisational Development, and Workforce Strengthening
- Disability Information Systems, Digital Transformation, and Data-Driven Programme Management
- Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DiDRR), Emergency Preparedness, and Resilient Service Systems
- International Disability Frameworks, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and Inclusive Development Principle
Timeline
State Project Coordinator
State Initiative on Disabilities (SID)
01.2017 - 01.2026
State Programme Coordinator
KSHPWC
01.2013 - 07.2017
District Coordinator
NPRPD (Government of India)
01.2009 - 01.2013
Psychiatric & Psychological Counsellor
01.2005 - 01.2008