AI SummaryKerala Sruthitharangam Scheme (Cochlear Implantation Scheme) gives children free cochlear implant surgery and full follow-up support for hearing loss. State Health Agency (SHA), Kerala is now the department handling this scheme, and applications are accepted through empanelled hospitals across the state.
Under Sruthitharangam, eligible children get free cochlear implantation surgery, Auditory Verbal Habilitation (AVH) therapies, yearly maintenance of the implant's spares and accessories, and speech processor upgrades. The scheme started in 2012 under Kerala's Social Justice Department and was initially handled by Kerala Social Security Mission (KSSM). From financial year 2023-24, State Health Agency (SHA), Kerala manages the scheme, and the official details are published on the SHA Kerala website.
Kerala government's Sruthitharangam (Cochlear Implantation Scheme) aims to help poor families whose children have hearing loss. The old socialsecuritymission.gov.in download route is no longer used for fresh applications. Now a family has to take the child to an empanelled hospital and the hospital completes the rest of the process. Sruthitharangam (Cochlear Implantation Scheme) has details on the scheme page for anyone looking for a quick summary, and the same Kerala govt. category lists other state schemes.
Kerala Sruthitharangam Scheme 2026 Application Process
There is no direct online form for the scheme now. The application is submitted through any approved hospital in the official list. Application steps are given below, along with the list of empanelled hospitals.
STEP 1 - First visit the official Sruthitharangam scheme page on the State Health Agency website at sha.kerala.gov.in. Read the short scheme note at Sruthitharangam scheme PDF to know the current benefits and rules.
STEP 2 - Once the child is found with severe or profound hearing loss, go to any hospital empanelled under the scheme with the child's medical reports. The hospital team checks the medical condition and confirms if the child needs a cochlear implant.
STEP 3 - Fill the prescribed application format at the hospital with the child's personal details, family income details and medical reports. When the completed form is ready, the hospital submits it for approval.
STEP 4 - The empanelled hospital forwards the application to the State Level Technical Committee. The committee goes through each case, and once approved the hospital completes the surgery and treatment in cashless mode.
STEP 5 - The applicant gets a letter about the committee's decision through the post. The claim process for the approved cases runs on the online portal used for the Arogyakiranam Scheme.
Kerala Sruthitharangam Scheme Highlights
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Sruthitharangam (Cochlear Implantation Scheme) |
| Launched By | Govt. of Kerala (Social Justice Department, 2012) |
| Managing Department | State Health Agency (SHA), Kerala since 2023-24 |
| Beneficiaries | Children with hearing loss in Kerala |
| Benefits | Free cochlear implant surgery, AVH therapy, spares and accessories maintenance, processor upgrades |
| Yearly Maintenance Support | ₹50,000 per beneficiary per year (with local body support) |
| Application Mode | Through empanelled hospitals |
| Official Website | sha.kerala.gov.in |
Benefits Covered under Sruthitharangam Scheme
The scheme covers four types of support for children who already have hearing loss. Families do not have to pay cash for any of these services at approved hospitals.
- Surgical assistance for cochlear implantation - The entire cost of the implant surgery is covered at an empanelled hospital once the technical committee approval is given.
- Auditory Verbal Habilitation (AVH) therapies - These speaking and listening therapies are done after surgery so the child can learn speech normally.
- Maintenance of spares and accessories - The processor and its accessories are maintained every year with support of around ₹50,000 per beneficiary per year. Local self-government institutions help provide this amount.
- Speech processor upgrades - Children who have had surgery under this scheme get support for processor upgrades up to the age of 25 years.
Eligibility Criteria for Kerala Sruthitharangam Scheme 2026
The beneficiary should be a resident of Kerala. Families of Central or State government employees and income tax payers cannot avail the scheme. The age-specific rules for the different benefits under the plan are given below.
- Cochlear implantation surgery - The child should be within 3 years of age ideally. The technical committee can extend this with special approval up to 5 years on a case to case basis.
- Post-meningitis hearing loss - Children who lost hearing after meningitis can be considered without any age restriction.
- Post-lingual hearing loss - Cases above 5 years of age can also be looked at by the technical committee, and approval depends on the committee decision.
- Speech processor upgrade - Eligible up to 25 years of age.
- Maintenance of spares and accessories - There is no age limit for upkeep of the processor.
The scheme also extends maintenance and processor upgrade benefits to children who got surgery through schemes other than Sruthitharangam, or through self-funding or crowd-funding, provided the above eligibility is passed by the technical committee.
Like other KSSM-linked welfare plans, the Kerala Snehapoorvam Scholarship Scheme gives monthly study support to children who have lost a parent, and it is also handled by the Kerala Social Security Mission.
Empanelled Hospitals List under Kerala Sruthitharangam Scheme
Below is the list of hospitals and centres empanelled for the implementation of the current scheme as published by the Health Department of Kerala. Most of them do the surgery, while NISH is empanelled for therapy sessions only.
- Govt. Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram
- KIMS Health Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram
- National Institute of Speech and Hearing (therapy sessions only), Thiruvananthapuram
- Govt. Medical College Hospital, Kottayam
- Dr. Noushad's ENT Hospital, Ernakulam
- Medical Trust Hospital, Ernakulam
- Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Ernakulam
- Ascent ENT Hospital, Perinthalmanna, Malappuram
- Govt. Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode
- Dr. Manoj's ENT Super Speciality Institute and Research Centre, Kozhikode
- Baby Memorial Hospital, Kozhikode
The complete list of empanelled hospitals is also given on the State Health Agency empanelled hospital list page.
Contact Details
For any query related to eligibility, surgery or the application process, the applicant should contact the empanelled hospital where the child is being treated. The hospital coordinates with the State Level Technical Committee for approval of Sruthitharangam applications.
Detailed scheme information is published on the Kerala Health Department article on Sruthitharangam and the official State Health Agency website at sha.kerala.gov.in.
FAQ's
Is Sruthitharangam Scheme still available in 2026?
Yes. Sruthitharangam Scheme continues to accept applications through empanelled hospitals in Kerala. The scheme is now managed by the State Health Agency (SHA) from financial year 2023-24.
Can a child above 5 years of age get the implant under Sruthitharangam?
In normal cases the surgery is done for children within 3 years of age, and the technical committee can extend this up to 5 years. Children with hearing loss caused after a certain injury like post-meningitis can be considered without age restrictions.
Which website has the official details of the scheme?
The official details are published on sha.kerala.gov.in. The main Sruthitharangam page of the State Health Agency and the Kerala Health Department article are the two reliable sources for updates.