Raywelfare

Society, Business and Society | RAY WELFARE TRUST | Table of Contents Acknowledgements 3 Executive Summary 4 About Ray Welfare Trust 5 Major Projects 6 Problems with the Trust 18 Suggestions and Recommendations 18 Learnings 18 Journal 19 About Ray Welfare Trust The trust was formed in the year 1999 with the sole objectives to take up the development activities / Awareness Programs in urban / rural areas. Trust gave emphasis to work in rural / urban areas for the benefit of the target community. Ray Welfare Trust is working from the last 10 years in rural Livelihood, health, education & environment having a presence in three states viz. Delhi, Haryana, U.P. of India. The Trust has a vast experience in social sector having appreciation certificates from different departments for good performance of the project. Ray Welfare Trust has lot of experience to perform several types of social projects for up gradation of communities from weaker section and lower strata of society especially women & children of rural & urban areas. Many undergoing projects of Govt. & International NGOs are running in U.P., Haryana & Delhi states. The trust has fulfilled the objectives of all the undertaken projects. The sponsoring agencies (Central/ State Govts / International NGOs) of the Projects are appreciated the way of performing task of the Trust for their projects. Trust has rendered its services in various areas like Prevention of Environmental Pollution including water (river pollution), Sanitation awareness, awareness for use of Community Toilet Complexes, construction of private latrines and orientation about personal Health & Hygiene. SHG Formation training & its sustainability has been taken care of Trust of unserved/ underserved women of the society by empower them through socio-economic rehabilitation, formation of Self Help Groups, health care, advocacy etc. Trust has always tried to remove the poverty through awareness programmes and capacity building of the poor people of the society. The Trust is also trying to make 150 street children of Trilokpuri slum areas self dependant, who were engaged in working for survival. With the effort of our devoted volunteers and trained staff they left the jobs and placed into schools for education. Major Projects 1. UEE MISSION (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan) under Directorate of Education, Govt. of NCT of Delhi This project was concluded in 2006. The Trust operated 35 learning centres in Trilokpuri area of East Delhi. More than 7000 Children from weaker section had been benefited through this project, who never reached to the schools for education due to their family’s financial problem or their social condition. Slum children who had never visited a school or dropped out from the school were surveyed door-to-door by volunteers and staff members. The guardian/ parents of those children were motivated to bring them the learning centre for their study purposes. The trusts learning centres were found cent-percent attendance at the time of visit of nodal officers. This criteria was primary tools to judge the success of the project. Along with this Trust has proven its significance in the field of literacy to the out of school children. The trust received a Grade ‘A’ from Govt. of NCT of Delhi among the organizations working for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in Delhi. 2. YAMUNA ACTION PLAN-II a. SCHOOL HEALTH & HYGIENE PROGRAMME (PP&A COMPONENT) The School Health & Hygiene Programme under Yamuna Action Plan Phase-II is being carried out by the Trust in two towns of Haryana (Karnal & Yamuna Nagar) and two towns of U.P. (Vrindaban & Mathura). This project is being sponsored by Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) with the support of Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India. The Project Management Consultants (P.M.C.), New Delhi is monitoring/ evaluation agency on the National level. Where as U.P. Jal Nigam, Agra, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh & Water Supply & Sanitation Department, Yamuna Nagar, Govt. of Haryana are the Nodal Agency to look after the activities on State Level. 67 School Eco Clubs in Karnal & Yamuna Nagar, 35 School Echo Clubs in Vrindaban & 40 School Eco Clubs in Mathura have been selected to perform the activities for the first year. This programme is scheduled for a duration of three years. The main goal of this programme is to create awareness among schoolchildren through Capacity Building Workshops, Focused Group Discussion through various awareness techniques like as Painting Competition, Vatavaran Melas, Rally, Debates etc. on the issue. This programme began in October 2006 in Haryana State, and November 15th 2006 in U.P. State. b. The completed activities under this project are following : 1. Baseline Survey : The Baseline Survey (Rapid Assessment Survey) of The Schools & nearby Communities around the Schools has been finished in all the project towns where the trust has been given responsibilities to implement the project. This activity has helped the trust to design the assigned activities as per their need. The questionnaire has been developed to assess the health & hygiene problems lying in the schools and the communities from where students visit to the schools. This activity has been helped us to establish good network with PRI’s of the concerned Wards of the towns and Schools Administration for the support to the programme. 2. Capacity Building Workshops: This is the main activity of the programme. The trust organized 88 capacity building programmes/ life skill workshops in this financial period. In which 30 Students of Eco Club, 3 Teachers of the School & 10 Pressure Group members were the participants in one workshop. The participants have trained about the environmental, personal health & hygiene and reduction of the various types of pollution like Air, Water, Waste etc. from our atmosphere. They also have been got training to conduct the Focused Group Discussions among the schoolchildren on the issues such as air pollution, water pollution, waste disposal and personal health & hygiene. The print & electronic media covered the programmes in all four towns. 3. Focused Group Discussions : This activity is essential for all the students by which the students of the schools have been taught about the Environmental & Pesonal Health & Hygiene issues. The trust had finished large numbers of Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) in this financial year in all four project towns to orient the school students in the subject. 4. Assembly Sessions : This activity helped target groups to understand the objectives of the programme. The professionals of the Trust were asked questions related to pollution in Yamuna River from the students and got answers then rectified their knowledge to orient them about this sensible issue during the Assembly Sessions in the all four project towns. 5. Seminar : In the 2nd year activity two Seminars were conducted in two project towns of U.P. i.e. Mathura & Vrindaban. Several govt. officials from the district administration, Principals, Teachers & students participated in the Seminars. The Seminars were sensitized to the participants on this burning issue. The print media also covered this programme. 6. Rally: Many Rallies has conducted at Yamuna Nagar-Jagadhri, Karnal (Haryana) & Vindavan, Mathura (U.P.) to aware the masses for prevention of river pollution and environmental up-gradation. The large numbers of students from various covered schools of these towns were participated in these rallies. The District Administration, Education Department, Water Works & Health Department were collaborated with the activities. Haryana Pollution Control Board was one of the partner in the rally at Karnal Haryana. 7. Painting/ Writing Competition: Painting & Writing Competition had organized at Karnal, Yamunanagar, Mathura & Vrindaban Towns to generate awareness amongst schoolchildren & teachers about the objectives of the programme. The suitable prizes and certificates for participation and excellence were provided to the students in a function by the chief guests of the function. The print Medias had covered the event. 8. Debate Competition: Several Debate Competition has been organized under this programme to generate awareness amongst schoolchildren & teachers about the objectives of the programme. The suitable prizes and certificates for participation and excellence were provided to the students in a function by the chief guests of the function. The print Medias had covered the event. 9. Wall Magazine: This activity has been finished in all four project towns. The Trust had provided Notice Boards & Stationary to the selected schools to conduct regularly this activity. 10. Feedback Boxes: Trust had been setup Feedback Boxes in all the selected schools of Mathura & Vrindaban during the financial period of 06-07. The students will place their curiosity/ advice/ feedbacks on paper in these boxes on the issues related to environmental and personal health & hygiene. The professionals of Trust in the towns will solve the each & every feedbacks time-to-time. 11. School Street Theatres: This activity is continuing in large numbers at Karnal, Yamunanagar, Mathura & Vrindaban Towns for awareness among schoolchildren in the schools on the issues.  12. Information Education & Communication (Development, Designing & Printing) : Trust had developed, designed, printed & fixed in the schools of Yamuna Nagar & Karnal towns of 4 types of posters related to issues for awareness generation among students. Trust had had supplied & fixed 2 flexi posters of 5’x3’ in all 100 schools of Yamuna Nagar Town & 64 Schools of Karnal town. 13. Development of Manuals for Capacity Building & Focused Group Discussion: The staffs of the Trust had developed Manuals for Capacity Building & Focused Group Discussion in Hindi & English. These manuals had been distributed in the selected schools for reference to conduct these activities by the Schools Eco Clubs among students. 14. The Desk review of the ongoing programmes:  The teams of Trust in appointed in all four project towns had review the ongoing government supported programmes as per the objectives of this programme. They had arranged meetings with schools administrations & students. This steps was necessary to co-relate the programme’s objectives with ongoing programmes. Apart from these activities all the professionals of the Trust appointed in four project towns had conducted several orientation programmes, follow-up the activities, Rapport Building Programmes etc. time-to-time. The team also participated in environmental clean drives like polythene disposal campaign etc. Trust has covered 45000 students during the programme yet to make orient/ sensitize/ aware about the health & hygiene issues. 3. MONITORING/ EVALUATION (YAMUNA ACTION PLAN PHASE-II) Project Management Consultants (PMC), New Delhi is the PMU of the programme in India. The Consultants of PMC regularly assess the progress of the programme by organizing meeting at the local level as well as national level. PMC also evaluate/ review the programme status at local level for all four towns under Trust quarterly. Whereas Nodal Agencies like Water Supply & Sanitation Department, Yamuna Nagar, Govt. of Haryana is monitoring/ supporting to the programme implementation in Karnal & Yamuna Nagar of Haryana & Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam, Agra, Govt. of U.P. responsible for monitoring/ supporting to the programme implementation. These Nodal state departments have expressed satisfaction on Trust’s attitude to handle the activities ofg the programme. 4. GENDER RESOURCE CENTRE (GRC), SULTANPURI, DELHI. Trust has registered those women for providing facilities of GRC for their upliftment in the society and family by removing stigma & discrimination. a. The Objective to setup of GRC : 1. To evolve strategic/programmes for sustainable empowerment of women that is health, literacy, legal awareness and skill development. 2. Greater convergence of women welfare programmes and activities of Govt/other agencies. 3. Single window information & facilitation center for the community women to provide wider exposure of services available and better placement opportunities. b. The following activities have to be carried out by the Centre for providing services to its beneficiaries: 1. Health: * Regular check-up by Gynecologist and Physician through Trust’s GRC at Sultanpuri, Delhi. * To organize health camps for Eyes Check up. TB, HIV cases etc. as per schedule. 4 doctors has been appointed in these camps regularly. 2. Free legal counseling and assistance through DCW for women facing domestic violence, rape, intimidation and other legal problems. One Layer has been appointed for taking care the cases. 3. Information and facilitation Center and data bank to be operated by Social Welfare Department and Trust. 4. Vocational Courses: There are four trades of Vocational Courses are operated by the Trust in the Centre * Computer operation * Fabric Painting * Tailoring & Cutting * Beauty Culture. 5. Non Formal Education: Non Formal Education is a major activity of the centre. 6. Nutrition and health awareness programmes through Nutrition Board and Trust. Apart from carrying out the above activates at he district level, the GRC will also act as a sub-center for the villages/areas in the neighbourhood and carry out the following functions. * Promote micro crediting among women’s Self Help Groups. * To identify micro enterprises and encourage Self Help Groups to participate. * To carry out non-formal educational classes. * To organize legal counseling and legal awareness camps, Nutrition and Health education camps. * To organize camps for prevention and treatment of drug abuse. * To carry out skill development classes like computer courses, Fabric Painting, Beauty Culture & Cutting & tailoring. About 600 women have passed the final tests of Vocational Courses and awarded by the Certificates of Govt. of NCT of Delhi during 2007-08. About 60% women engaged in earning money through placement networking with other institutions of Trust. Some Groups have started their own business by the help of Bank Loans, institutional loans as micro credit. 10000 women have been benefited by the different outreach services and centre based services of GRC of Trust during 2007-08. 5. GENDER RESOURCE CENTRE (GRC), SAVDA GHEVRA, DELHI. In this financial year Trust had sent the Expression of Interest for Gender Resource Centre in North District of Delhi at Savda Ghevra to Social Welfare Department, Govt. of Delhi. Trust had got opportunity to start a GRC at Sultanpuri after selection from Social Welfare Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi. Mrs. Sheela Dixit, Chief Minister, Delhi has been inaugurated of the centre by the cutting of red ribbon on 24 March 2008. This area is coming under JJ Cluster of Delhi. The population of this area is unaware & illiterate. So the GRC has been decided to aware, care, skill development, health & hygiene awareness, health care of women, child & old persons, Nutrition awareness, Vocation Courses for youth (Women & men), Legal awareness, Advocacy, Counselling etc. to the community residing here. There are four trades of vocational courses has been started i.e. 1. Computer Course 2. Cutting & Tailoring 3. Art & Craft Making 4. Beauty Culture. Non Formal Education for illiterates is also providing by the Trust. One permanent MBBS doctor is attached with centre to look after the needy & poor patients. Health Checkup camps, Nutrition Camps are regularly organized with the help of team of doctors, nutrition experts, professionals & voluteers. 6. KISHORI SHAKTI YOJNA Women & Child Department under Social Welfare Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi has given opportunity to handle 60 days short term Vocational Course in Embroidery Trade to 50 adolescent girls at Sultanpuri, Delhi. Trust has completed this responsibility during 2007-08. 60 Adolescent girls from lower strata of the society have been passed and got skill in the trade. About 50 percent of beneficiaries have been engaged in earning money to survive by the Trust’s placement networking and through small entrepreneurship. Trust have also covered 2000 adolescent girls for their health cause, legal cause, counseling, nutrition etc. There are two extraordinary statements about the education of women. First, that women's education is of greater importance than men's education and, secondly, that not until the equality of opportunity in education for the two sexes is established will the foundations of war be removed. 7. TRAINING PROGRAMMES Trust had arranged training programmes at its Head Office House no. 160 Tirlokpuri Delhi for orientation training to the professionals of the Trust mostly for professional related to School Health & Hygiene Programme under Public Participatory & Awareness Component of Yamuna Action Plan Phase-II. Trust had organized 3 one day training programme during April to March 2007 and 1 one day training programme in January 2007. The efficient resource persons from Trust had provided all the relevant information about the topic (environmental & personal health and hygiene) with satisfying feedbacks raised from the participants. All the selected professionals from four project towns were participated and had received training. Various projects run by trust are YAP-11, GRC, GRC Savda Ghewar, kishori Shakti Yojana etc. Apart from that Trust had also organized in-house training programmes time to time for capacity building of staffs in various related fields by hiring of renowned professionals of the fields at head office, Delhi as and when required. 8. AWARENESS GENERATION The social activists of Trust observed that the slum dwellers have no awareness of the Programmes implemented by Government for their Welfare with a need to take up development activities in slum areas and trust started working from unauthorized J.J. Clusters established in Trans Yamuna, Delhi East in which majority of population belongs to Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes migrated from different States has been residing. As per survey conducted by Trust it was observed that rehabilitated colonies like Kalyanpuri, Trilokpuri, Khicharipur, Kalyanvas, Mandawali, Ghazipur, Kondali etc. in which labour classes from Schedule Castes and Other Backward Classes were on higher side and working as Labour in factories, shops, restaurants, rickshaw pullers, coolies road construction, building construction etc. with minimum wages. The literacy rate among them was very low and hardly 20 percent or below. Trust started activities right from survey of selected resettlement colonies to identify the potential beneficiaries and identified unemployed youth including women and created awareness for the programmes of the Government implemented for the welfare of poor families for their upliftment like education, skill development Programmes, family welfare, institutional finance for self employment etc. The interested unemployed poor people were also motivated to form their groups to set up their work. 9. EDUCATION Education is the basic necessity for human development and the area was lacking in education. As in past years, the educational programme continued during the year with own established school at slum colony Khoda. The pattern was also kept same as in past year. This year 570 students of weaker sections were given education from 1st to Vth standards. The programme supports the development of early childhood and serves primarily children from low income families. Good start, Grow smart is the goal of education by our trust. 10. UNIVERSAL ELEMENTRY EDUCATION PROGRAMME Government of Delhi implemented the National Programme “UEEM” involving NGOs to implement the programme. The Trust has also established 35 learning centres under UEEM Programme with financial assistance from the Directorate of Education, Govt. of NCT Delhi during 2004-05, which continued during 2006-07 also. Education to school dropouts and in this context, education is being provided to school going educational aged children upto Vth standard. Trust covered 1600 children during the year 2006-07. Participation of community drop-out rate, development rate etc. are selected and encouraged by our trust. 11. ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS There is excess of J.J. Clusters in eastern part of Delhi in which neither public conveniences nor improper drainage system, accumulation of water, improper road/streets, increases in vehicles etc were available due to lack of such facilities there was excess of pollution and the slum dwellers were not aware of clean environment and its maintenance. Trust organized the youth from the localities and took up Shramdan for cleaning of streets, drains etc. Awareness was created to the local residents particularly females for cleaning/sanitation of houses, storage of water in the house and its use etc. Trust supplied lime and kerosene oil to avoid mosquito problem in the area. The awareness camps were also organized in local school to sensitize the youth about environment and motivated to work/ guide the people to maintain clean environment. By making small changes in your daily habits you can have a positive impact on the natural world. By making simple changes in our everyday lives, we can make significant strides to improve the planet we all share. To help, Earth Share provides free environmental action tips The Trust provides free environmental action tips, categorized by subject matter and season to save our earth from pollution. 12. DISPENSARY The medical services through charitable dispensary continued on the pattern of last years established at Trilokpuri to provide treatment facilities to the poor ailing residents. The financial resources of Trust were not very sound. To compensate the expenses. Trust charges Rs. 2/- per patient at the time of registration and provided treatment as the financial resources of trust was not very sound to compensate the expenses and medicines of routine nature were given free of cost. For costly medicines, the prescriptions were made to patients. 13. HIV/ AIDS AWARENESS CAMPS One AIDS Awareness programme was organized on 1st December 2007 to observe World AIDS Day at Sultanpuri, Delhi. Mr. Rohit Thakur, General Secretary, Ray Welfare Trust, Delhi shared the knowledge to aware the present gathering of approx 1000 peoples (men & women). He informed that The AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) virus destroys the body’s immune system against disease. The AIDS virus primarily infects certain white blood cells, including macrophages and T helper cells, that play major roles in the functioning of the body’s immune system. The virus reproducing in these cells, eventually, disrupting patients become susceptible to certain illnesses that do not normally occur or that normally are not serious. These clinically unhealthy persons are called opportunistic because they take advantage. Scientists have identified the four media in which the AIDS virus is transmitted. 1. Intimate sexual contact 2. Exposure to infected blood 3. Sharing of Syringe & needles and 4. Transmission from an infected pregnant woman to her foetus To prevent transmission of the AIDS virus, intimate sexual contact with anyone who is or might be infected with the virus should be avoided. The other preventive measure is to restrict sexual intimacy to one person. Medical and public health authorities have recommended that a condom be used every time there is sexual intercourse. AIDS disease is caused due to human infected virus, which has been discovered few years ago. The major cause of the disease is to have sexual relations with multiple partners. The poverty in slum areas forces the women to develop links with multiple partners to earn the money and heavy vehicle drivers in particular. The drivers visit the different states, develop sexual relations and get infected. The disease in communicable and the same transmitted to the others living in Delhi and around. Trust organized camps in slum areas and major transport centre of Delhi and provided awareness about the disease methods of communication and methods of taking/ observing safety measures to avoid the infection. 14. POLIO CAMPAIGN Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It invades the nervous system, and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours. It can strike at any age, but affects mainly children under three (over 50% of all cases). The virus enters the body through the mouth and multiplies in the intestine. Initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck and pain in the limbs. In the remaining polio endemic countries, poliovirus is mainly passed through person-to-person contact. Most people infected with the poliovirus do not develop polio paralysis or other symptoms of polio infection. However one in 200 people do have symptoms and can become paralyzed. The virus enters the environment through faeces of people infected then is passed to others especially in situations of poor hygiene. The poliovirus can also infect persons. There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented through immunization. Polio vaccine, given multiple times, almost always protects a child for life. Trust observed that slum dwellers are least bothered to take their infants-children up to age of 5 years to polio-booths for intake of polio drops. With a view to make the programme successful and save the children from polio, a campaign was organized in Kondli, Kalyan Puri and Khichripur rehabilitated colonies, made contacts with family heads and appraised/ motivated them about the usefulness of polio-drops in the life of children. As a result of motivation around 65 percent took their children to polio booths and took/ consumed drops. 15. DRESS DESIGNING TRAINING With a view to improve the socio-economic status by raising income through employment or self-employment as skilled worker, utilization of under utilized women labour and other unemployed youth, Trust started training in cutting and tailoring of garments for a period of six months duration and overall 100 uneducated poor weaker sections women/girls were trained during the year on the same pattern which was taken up in past years. 16. HANDICRAFTS TRAINING The lowest involvement, interest of unemployed youth and the past experience of training encouraged trust to continue the training as the demand for handicrafts in local markets increased and provided training in preparation of handicraft items. Trust provided training to poor unemployed weaker sections youth in preparation of handicrafts items covering 80 youth each year in two batches for a period of six months. Trust observed that the poor beneficiaries are not in a position to procure the raw material and market the finished items due to poverty, they were assisted through linkages with dealers who supplied the raw material, purchased the finished products and paid the remunerations as per quantum of work they performed or prepared the items. 17. COMPUTER TRAINING The employment potentiality for computer operators forced Trust to continue the computer training on the same pattern as it was conducted in past years. The duration of the training was 12 months to cover all the modules. Emphasis was laid to cover weaker sections educated youth. Trust provided training to 60 youth during the year and charged Rs. 50 per month per trainee. 18. APPLIQUE WORK TRAINING The training programme continued this year by covering 100 poor women/girls in applique work for a period of six months in Seelampur area and trained 50 women/girls per batch during the year. Trust assisted beneficiaries for development contacts with garment dealers; the beneficiaries collected samples, raw materials and provided the finished products to the dealers for sale. The remuneration was paid to the beneficiaries according to their work or the garments prepared by them. 19. WEAVERS TRAINING With a view to develop the entrepreneurship of traditional weavers training was conducted to improve the quality and quantity of the products. The traditional weavers were organized in-group and provided training in weavering on improved looms. They were also assisted to develop market linkages for marketing of items they prepare. 20. COACHING PROGRAMME With a view to encourage the educated youth to compete in state/ national/ institutions level examinations for service and to appear in entrance examinations of banks, railways, postal services, PCS (State Level) and Central Administrative Services continued during the year on same pattern as it was in past years. Overall 80 weaker sections educated youth were imparted education during the year 2006-07. Problems with the Trust The problems stated below are some that I recognized during the field visit: 1. Lack of proper scheduling and organization of the training program 2. Lack of Volunteers to assist in day-to-day activities 3. Lack of participation in campaigns organized by the trust 4. Lack of skilled faculty to assist in classes. Suggestions and Recommendations 1. They should try to get media involved in their campaigns, so that the trust gains popularity and is able to conduct the events in an effective manner. 2. Promotion of the events will help ensure increased participation during the events. 3. The trust should gather a database of volunteers; so that events can be easily organized also there would be a helping hand for the trust. 4. Amongst the volunteers, the trust needs to identify volunteers who are knowledgeable in a certain area, who may be able to assist the trust in assisting the training sessions. 5. More administration staff should be employed to effectively schedule the activities and training programmes held in the trust. Learnings The whole process imbibed me with great experience and knowledge about the functioning of an NGO. It was a great learning experience when I came in direct contact of poor children and the management of the organization. I came to know about the various problems faced by the poor students. I found that the main problem along with the poverty was that parents of such children do not want their children to study; rather they would like him to work and earn something. Another problem was the number of children in such families. Generally there were 4-5 children in a family with little earning by the head of the family. Looking at their condition was really an eye-opener. Their access to education, hygiene, civic facilities and basic infrastructure is very limited. This makes them typically suspicious and guarded in their interactions with outsiders. Ray Welfare Trust employs a tactic of befriending or taking into confidence the villages among them and making them their Peers. This is again a concept from Management that we saw put to practical use. Several OB lectures and sessions have been devoted to explaining how ‘Teams’ have greater accountability and how ‘Distributed Decision-Making’ fosters acceptance. I understood its real significance only when I saw the functioning of the trust. I would wish to remain attach to an NGO in future so that I could add something positive to the society.