Thrissur:
With the objective of positioning Kerala as the first constitutionally literate state in the country, a three-day Constitutional Education and Awareness Camp was organised from December 18 to 20, 2025, at the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) Headquarters, Thrissur, as part of the Constitution@76 initiative, with the active participation of KAPS.
The programme was organised under the leadership of KILA, the State’s premier autonomous institution for training, research and capacity building in local governance, functioning under the Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala. KILA plays a pivotal role in strengthening democratic decentralisation, civic awareness and participatory governance across Kerala.
Commemorating 76 years of the Indian Constitution, the camp focused on key constitutional themes including constitutional values, fundamental rights, civic responsibility, social justice and democratic accountability. Organised with the collaboration of KAPS, the programme was designed to equip Social Work students with the knowledge and skills required to promote constitutional literacy at the community level.
Students from Social Work colleges in Malappuram and Palakkad districts participated in the first phase of the awareness and training programme. The KAPS District Chapters of Malappuram, Thrissur and Palakkad provided active organisational support for the successful implementation of the initiative.
Academic sessions were led by faculty members and resource persons from the KILA – Centre for Human Resource Development (CHRD). Sessions were conducted by Dr. Vinod S. Nair, Smt. Anu R. Krishnan, Smt. Nimmi K. N., Dr. M. P. Antoni and Mr. Suresh Kumar O. P. through lectures, group discussions, case studies and practical exercises focusing on community-based constitutional awareness.
The initiative aims to disseminate constitutional education to the general public through trained Social Work students, with a series of constitutional literacy programmes planned across various regions of the State in the coming days.
The programme was coordinated and guided by
Fr. Lenin Antony, Vice President, KAPS Palakkad,
Prof. Lims, President, KAPS Thrissur Chapter, and
Suresh Kumar OP, SMC Member, KAPS Palakkad,
who played a key role in leadership, coordination and overall implementation.
such academic–community collaborations significantly contribute to strengthening constitutional values, democratic consciousness and civic responsibility, reinforcing Kerala’s commitment to participatory democracy.
