Concept of CBR-

Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) is a community development strategy that aims at

enhancing the lives of persons with disabilities (PWDs) within their community. ... It
emphasizes utilization of locally available resources including beneficiaries, the families of
PWDs and the community.

Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) is a strategy within community development for the
rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities and social integration of all people with
disabilities. ... Examples include community development organizations, agricultural extension
services, and water and sanitation programmes. So poverty must be eliminated to achieve a
better quality of life for people with disabilities, hence one of the main objectives of any
community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programme needs to be to reduce poverty by
ensuring that health, education and livelihood opportunities are accessible to
people with disabilities.

MAJOR OBJECTIVE OF CBR-

CBR or community based rehabilitation is an approach to community development

that is applied for equalisation of the social integration & opportunities of people with
disabilities in India. This programme is executed through the CBR members, PWDs
and their families. CBR programme aims to provide support to people with disabilities
within the community with proper education, vocational training, health care services
& other sociological needs. In this blog, we will discuss the major objectives of
the community based rehabilitation programme in India.

Improvement of the life of people with disabilities in India

One of the main objectives of community based rehabilitation in India is to enhance

the quality of life of people with disabilities within the community.

Involvement of PWDs at every level

People with disabilities must be involved in the CBR programme at every level or
every stage that includes the initial part of the program & implementation. To provide
value to the participation, the people with disabilities within the community must have
basic decision making roles.

Making a positive attitude towards PWDs

Making a positive attitude towards people with disabilities is another major objective
of community based rehabilitation programmes in India. Community members should
be motivated to give support & encourage PWDs for involving the CBR activities.

Providing support to the PWDs who need special assistance

CBR members should provide support & guidance to the PWDs who need special
assistance such as sensory, mental support, psychological assistance, physical support,
etc. Moreover, old citizens, people with epilepsy & leprosy should be provided special
care and support from the community members.

CBR programme must be flexible

CBR programmes in India must be flexible so that they can be operated within local
conditions at any level. Community-based rehabilitation doesn’t have only one model
of the community. This is because socio economic contexts & other requirements of
individual communities may need several solutions. Flexible CBR programmes
always ensure the participation of the community. So, flexibility is important for
community based rehabilitation.

Should be sensitive to the women & girl child

All community based rehabilitation activities must be very sensitive to the women &
girl child. This is because women & girls are not equally treated in some communities
across Asia. The CBR members should take an initiative to take care of women &
girls with disabilities.
The importance of community based rehabilitation programmes in India is huge. The
approach of CBR programmes can be multi sectoral & it includes non-governmental
& governmental that provides assistance.