Thrissur, 30 July 2025: Marking a significant milestone in the state’s healthcare education landscape, the National Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (NIPMR), an autonomous institution under the Department of Social Justice, Government of Kerala, celebrated the graduation of its first batch of Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) students. All graduates from this inaugural batch have secured placements in therapy centers across India immediately after graduation, according to NIPMR’s Executive Director, C. Chandrababu. He also noted that two students have been admitted to prestigious institutions for higher education—Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai and SVNIRTAR, Cuttack.

The graduation ceremony for the sixteen-member batch was inaugurated by Dr. R. Bindu, Minister for Higher Education and Social Justice. In her address, the Minister reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening higher education and enhancing rehabilitation services across Kerala.

Dr. Joseph Sunny, Secretary of the All India Occupational Therapists Association and Founder, Prayatna, Kochi, presided over the function. Key-note address was by Dr. K.S. Shaji, Dean of Research at Kerala University of Health Sciences, and Dr. Vijayalakshmi Amma, Academic Special Officer, NIPMR felicitated the graduates.

Endowment medals and cash awards, established in the name of NIPMR founder Mr. N. K. George to the students who demonstrated exceptional academic merit were also held as part of the event. The welcome address was delivered by Executive Director C. Chandrababu, while Principal Anna Daniel proposed the vote of thanks.

NIPMR holds the distinction of being the first institution in Kerala to offer the four-and-a-half-year professional degree program in Occupational Therapy, affiliated with the Kerala University of Health Sciences. NIPMR is also the first institution in Kerala to receive accreditation from the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.