Programs

Madhya Pradesh

CBR – BDPO; Sausar and Pandhurna blocks of Chhindwara District

Since 2007, GASVS is playing a major role of a facilitator to help sensitize and build capacities of PwDS, their caregivers, teachers, school administration, public health workers and other government officials.  The organization promotes support and empowers PwDs and the community to realize their full potential and rights.

From 2013, this program was supported by Misereor (Germany) through CARITAS – India and CBR Forum (Bangalore).  Activities were carried out through the combined efforts of PwDs, their families, the communities they live in and have been provided generic services of health, social welfare and employment.  CBR is a strategy within general community development for rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities and social inclusion of all PWDs.

The phasing out of this program began in 2015 and their rights have been realized by strengthening DPOs (disabled people’s organization).  In these 04 phases (2007 – 2017), PwDs have been made aware of their own roles and responsibilities and are equipped to exercise their rights and play a proactive role in addressing the issues affecting their lives and that of their communities they live in.  With the support of our financial agencies, a model is created in Sausar block of Chhindwara district which has brought a sustainable, measurable impact in the lives of PwDs, their families and community by creating an environment that provides opportunities for them to attain a better quality of life and has empowered them to access and enjoy their rights.

As the CBR program in Sausar has been remarkably successful and in order to replicate good practices and help CwDs (children with disabilities) and PwDs (persons with disabilities); GASVS requested CBR Forum (Bangalore) to support a similar intervention in the adjacent Pandhurna block of Chhindwara district for delivering immediate and lasting improvements among the disabled and their communities.  The “Empowerment and Inclusion of PwDs/CwDs in Pandhurna Block” commenced in 2015.

Phase – 1 of the program has ended in 2016 and the phase – II in 2018 respectively.  Currently the project is being directly implemented by CBR Forum, Bangalore and GASVS is providing technical support as a local stakeholder in Sausar and Pandhurna  blocks respectively.  The overall impact visualized is that the people in the community especially PwDs/CwDs are considered equal members of the community and have space and opportunities to realize their potentials.  Pandhurna BDPO is established with a total strength of 25 VDPOs (village level disabled persons organization).

PwD Welfare Program

GOONJ, New Delhi, works to develop the most vulnerable sections of society and is currently involved with GASVS to achieve their full potential in Sausar block of Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh.  We are raising the level of awareness among people about cause, detection and early intervention, prevention of childhood disabilities and imparting information on various Acts and rights of PwDs (persons with disabilities).  For their welfare we are providing education, community-based rehabilitation, developing their skills through training and promoting games and sports among children with disabilities.

 BDPO

The Sausar block based BDPO is named ‘Chetana Disabled Persons Organization’.  It is a registered and structured cross-disability advocacy organization which works to change policies and ensure equal rights and equal opportunities for PWDs. This BDPO consists of 44 members of which 11 members are part of the management committee.  The BDPO is a platform which provides a voice of its own, identifies needs, expresses views on priorities, and evaluates services, and advocates change and public awareness.  It fulfils the role of a vehicle to represent the needs of PwDs to decision – makers and service – providers at the local, district and state levels.  Article 17 and Article 21 of UN – CRPD enshrines PwDs to express their opinions and to be part pf decisions in the better interest of PwDs/CwDs.

The BDPOs takes up issues and problems at their respective block levels (Sausar and Pandhurna) and advocates for it collectively.  It is a more powerful and legal body to promote and combat for the rights of PwDs/CwDs.  The BDPOs will be linked to their respective DDPO [district level disabled people’s organization] i.e. Chhindwara district to work at a broader level.

Community Mental Health Program – ‘Project Sanjeevani’

Mental health is a growing concern.  An estimated 1% of India’s total population (approx. 10 million) suffers from some form of mental illness.

In Madhya Pradesh; as per the NMHSI (national mental health survey of India – 2016) the prevalence of any mental illnesses among individuals > 18 years of age was 13.9%.  Lack of awareness and limited access to mental health care coupled with social stigma makes reaching out to PLwMI (persons living with mental illness) a tougher task.  In economically backward social groups, both urban and rural, PLwMI are subject to neglect, isolation, abuse and traditional forms of treatment; all of which have a negative impact on them.

GASVS Approach

The organization has been raising awareness in the society on the rights of PLwMI (people living with mental illness) since 2011 in order to facilitate policy activities aimed towards their integration into the society.  We started with the support of ‘The HANS Foundation’ and ‘SAARTHAK’ and provided rehabilitation services for this invisible population living in 80 villages of Sausar block whose rights were not widely recognized and respected.  The program has also raised awareness on mental health in the region.  Human rights violations have also been curtailed in the ‘Hanuman temple’ complex.  From February 2014, this initiative was supported by SRTT and NRTT (Mumbai) where the program was upscaled to another 33 villages.

‘Sanjeevani Community Mental Health Program’ has been operational since 2011.  It is being implemented in 80 villages of Sausar block, of Chhindwara district.  Since April 2020, it is also being implemented in 09 villages of Pandhurna block of the same district.

Project ‘Sanjeevani’ has 03 major components:

(1) Federation of caregivers of PLwMI in Sausar and Pandhurna blocks of Chhindwara district

(2) Mental Health Resource Centre and

(3) Community based services

The program focuses on causes of mental health issues, knowledge enhancement of general public about the mental health issues to reduce the stigma and acceptability of People with Mental Illnesses within the community. It also focuses on the overall engagement of stakeholders to boost the mental health of the community.

Community Mental Health and Inclusion Program

This program is being implemented in Pandhurna block of Chhindwara district since April 2020.  The vision of this program is to create psychologically sustainable communities.  The mission is to enable communities to be psychologically contained; their emotional needs met; being tolerant and inclusive of the mental health needs of a diversity of people, including those with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities.  Through concerted multi-level actions, GASVS is facilitating the creation of caring communities.  The Community mental health and inclusion program works on the inequalities PLwMI experience within communities.  The program works towards the goal of ‘community transformation’, planning the outcomes of inclusion and full participation of PLwMI.  The program works through community participation to enable full inclusion and participation of PLwMI.

DMHP (District Mental Health Program)

There is a lot of stigma and myths attached to mental illness and this is one of the key reasons, why it remains hidden.

To address this, GASVS has organized and organizes awareness programs in the form of street plays, discussions with community members, workshops and distribution of materials (IEC).  These programs take place in schools, colleges, PHC (primary health centre- village level), Anganwadi centre, Police stations, temples and dargahs.

The objective of DMHP is to provide community mental health services at the PHC level.  As a means to strengthen the DMHP; GASVS implements strategic IEC/BCC programs as a systematic process to understand people’s behaviour and influences.  A successful IEC/BCC plan helps in refuting myths and misunderstandings prevalent in the society and leads to a demand for various health services being provided thus bringing about a behavioural change among individuals and the community at large.

Posters; banners; stickers; pamphlets etc; were produced and distributed at the PHC levels.  Other activities such as wall – paintings and hoardings at important sites were carried out from time to time in the district and block levels.  The IEC team was also engaged in health and education and spreading awareness through mass media such as WhatsApp; newspaper and T.V.

C19 relief through project ‘UTTHAN’

COVID – 19 and the severity of its impact is most intense among the people who are most vulnerable.  They are the ones who are most likely to fall into further poverty and ill – health, if they are not able to access the provisions required for survival.

SAUSAR block

Through ‘Project Utthan’ with the financial support of PHF (Paul Hamlyn Foundation}, immediate medical assistance has been provided to 133 PLwMI (persons living with mental illness).  With the help of GOONJ, Reliance Foundation, MISEREOR and JIVDAYA Foundation, ‘GASVS’ has channelized and provided 2660 food kits with the coordination of local volunteers and village level DPO & Caregiver groups.

PANDHURNA block

Through Project ‘UTTHAN’, online counselling sessions through proactive calls; Mental Health helpline; distribution of nutrition kits; distribution of PPE (personal protective equipment) have been provided.  64 PLwMI/PwDs have been provided bus passes with 50% concession for traveling by bus.

Financial Literacy Program

GASVS launched its ‘Financial Literacy Program’ for underprivileged youth to facilitate their financial inclusion and teach them the optimum utilization of available financial instruments.  The module includes the basics of banking; investment management; the Indian economy; the global financial crisis; features of various financial instruments and the risk associated with each instrument.

Chhattisgarh

DDRC

The DDRC is a scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.  It basically seeks to provide comprehensive services to PwDs at the grassroots level through creation of infrastructure and capacity building at district level for awareness generation, rehabilitation, training and guidance of grassroots level functionaries.  GASVS was invited in January 2017 to be the implementation agency in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh State for providing services like identification of PwDs, awareness generation, early detection, therapeutic services such as physiotherapy, speech therapy etc and facilitation of disability certificate, bus passes and other concessions or facilities.

The key services provided by DDRC include:

1. Awareness and counseling services to the PwDs and their families.
2. Education services for the cognitive and social development of PwDs.
3. Physiotherapy and occupational therapy services to reduce the limitation and restriction of disability among the PwDs.
4. Developing convergence and linkages with the government schemes and programs.

Child Line

GASVS has just initiated a child Line in January 2022 for Sukma District.  It is a project of the Ministry of Women and Child Development of India in partnership with Corporates and NGOs.  It is a 24 – hour free of cost emergency service provided by CHILDLINE INDIA FOUNDATION.  Any child who is in any crisis or any person who is aware of such a child can dial 1098 for immediate professional assistance 24 – hours a day.  We work with children up to 18 years of age for ensuring their basic rights.  In special circumstances the Child Line also assists girls and boys up to 25 years of age.

C19 relief

GASVS has done teleconsultations, provided counselling on loss and grief, and worked with PwDs and has offered them mental health awareness, self-help and tools to deal with anxiety. We have used social media platforms to raise awareness of Covid-19, answered questions and encouraged our beneficiaries to use mask and maintain social distancing.

…………………Ration Kit

 

Other Campaigns

Surakshit Dada – Dadi; Nana – Nani Abhiyan

This campaign was launched by NITI Aayog to take care of senior citizens and ensure their well-being amid C19 pandemic.

GASVS with the help of social welfare department and the district administration has implemented this campaign in Sukmadistrict of Chhattisgarh.  More than 100 volunteers were engaged in this campaign.  They have contacted about 10000 senior citizens of the district through phone calls by taking their contact details from the district administration.  They have inquired about their health and have provided information of C19.  They have also helped them to fulfil their essential requirements such as medicines; ration; or work related to ration cards.  It is worth mentioning that the volunteers with the help of the district administration have provided the required help to 7750 senior citizens of the district.

Surakshit Tum – Surakshit Hum

NITI Aayog has launched the ‘Surakshit Tum; Surakshit Hum Campaign’ in 112 aspirational districts to assist district administrations in providing home-care support to C19 patients who are asymptomatic or are having mild symptoms.  This campaign is part of a special initiative where local leaders, NGOs and volunteers work with the district administration to address the emerging problems across key focus areas.  This campaign is led by the District Magistrate in partnership with GASVS which has trained 100 volunteers in Chhattisgarh district of Madhya Pradesh to connect with patients through inbound/outbound calls This campaign is a significant initiative that responds to immediate needs and provides long – term support to the poorest of the district by addressing the lasting impact of C19.  GASVS has mobilized 100 volunteers to provide home-care support to those affected on the guidelines of the ‘Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’.  The volunteers are trained to support affected families; educate caretakers to follow C19 protocols; provide psychosocial support; and timely updates of the patients to the administration.

 

Maharashtra

Financial Literacy Program – District Amravati

This program is designed to give low-income families the knowledge and tools they need to save safely, reduce financial risk and make informed and intelligent financial decisions.  At Amravati district level, it is a program that empowers women to make well informed financial decisions.  It also enables them to have access to the wide range of financial products and services that are available in the market.  The program teaches women cash-inflow; income & expenditure; budgeting; savings options; and debt management.  Women are taught to differentiate between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’, to negotiate their debt; understand the mechanics of loans/EMI components, and the use of bank account facilities such as ATMs; SMS alerts and cheque books.  Many of our beneficiaries have opened savings account and have inculcated the habit of saving and they now manage their savings better.