ONGOING FIELD ACTION PROJECTS
CHILDREN AND YOUTH |
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| Maharashtra FORCES (Forum for Crèche and Child Care Service), estd. 2000 TISS, Mumbai |
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| Objectives | : | • | To build a network of organisations to safeguard the survival and development of the young child. |
| • | To form pressure groups and lobby for policy and resources for holistic care service at the state level. | ||
| • | To collaborate with NGOs and other Networks. | ||
| • | To coordinate with National FORCES. | ||
| • | To look at inter-sectoral linkages. | ||
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Dr. Vrinda Datta and Dr. Rajani Konantambigi. | |
| Navchetna, estd. 1996 Pen, Raigad Dist., Maharashtra |
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| Objectives | : | • | To supplement government efforts to make education accessible to adivasi children. |
| • | To create a child-friendly, child-centred school system. | ||
| • | To effect policy changes for quality education. | ||
| • | To undertake capacity-building for parents, teachers, ashram shala staff, and village leaders. | ||
| Programmes | : | • | Meeting with teachers. |
| • | Familiarisation with children in the schools. | ||
| • | Visiting villages from where the children hail from. | ||
| • | Meeting activists and NGOs in the area. | ||
| • | Planning implementation strategy. | ||
| • | Commencement of programme activities. | ||
| • | Action-research inputs/activities commenced. | ||
| • | Field training of student social workers. | ||
| Project Staff | : | Mr. Vinod Manekar and Ms. S. Waghmore | |
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Prof. Vidya Rao and Mr. Daniel S.R. | |
| Muskaan: Child and Adolescent Guidance Centre, estd. 1937 Cotton Green (West), Mumbai |
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| Objectives | : | • | To serve as a resource centre for documentation, training, capacity-building, research and consultation in the areas of child and adolescent mental health. |
| • | To provide specialised clinical services through a multi-disciplinary team on issues related to emotional distress, sexuality and sexual abuse. | ||
| • | To create awareness about child and adolescent mental health. | ||
| • | To network with organisations working with children for influencing policy on child mental health and child rights. | ||
| Programmes | : | • | Mental health interventions with adolescents, teachers, health professionals and parents in Palghar, a rural area of Maharashtra, in collaboration with the M.L. Dhawale Trust. |
| • | Work with Lalit Kala Bhavan, Abhyudaya Education Society, Ahilya Vidya Mandir and NMK School. | ||
| • | Workshops for Family Court Children and community children at Jijamata Nagar. | ||
| • | Coordinating for FACSE programme. | ||
| • | Study skills for 10th Std. children’s group. | ||
| • | Sensitising about child trafficking. | ||
| • | Family therapy study group. | ||
| • | Parent effectiveness training in Mumbai. | ||
| • | Personal effectiveness for teachers and staff of residential home for street children. | ||
| • | Creativity workshops for children and parent effectiveness training in Mundra, Kutch. | ||
| Project Staff | : | Ms. Freny Italia, Ms. Kiran Bhosale and Ms. Megha Tendulkar. | |
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Ms. Shubhada Maitra. | |
CRIMINAL JUSTICE |
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| PRAYAS, estd. 1990 Mumbai and Thane Districts (Maharashtra), and Bharuch District (Gujarat) |
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| Objectives | : | • | To demonstrate the need for social work intervention in the criminal justice system such as police stations, prisons, courts and institutions for women. |
| • | To work towards the rehabilitation of persons coming out of or vulnerable to crime or prostitution. | ||
| • | To improve the access of citizens in the criminal justice system to their legal rights enshrined under the Constitution and to promote the use of the existing correctional laws to aid the cause of rehabilitation. | ||
| • | To identify issues requiring attention relevant to rehabilitation and to attempt to get these issues addressed at the policy level. | ||
| • | To increase awareness in the government and society about issues related to rehabilitation of persons affected by crime or prostitution. | ||
| • | To generate knowledge in the field of social work, criminology and corrections through the analysis of field experience. | ||
| Programmes | : | • | Work in the Prison: Prayas is presently working in the women’s sections of Mumbai Central Prison, Kalyan District Prison and Bharuch Sub-Jail; the young adult sections of Mumbai and Thane Central Prisons and Kalyan and Byculla District Prisons; and male section of Bharuch Sub-Jail. The work is primarily with an under-trial population. The services range from legal literacy, home visits, writing of applications to represent requests to the court, working with families and children with the objective of involving them in the rehabilitation process, and towards minimising the effect on children. In addition, counselling services, vocational and occupational activities are conducted for the prisoners. Through this process, Prayas attempts to establish a pro-social relationship with inmates, which has a positive effect on the post-release work of rehabilitation. |
| • | Work in Police Stations: An area of work in the police station has been counselling of minor girls and adult women vulnerable to sexual exploitation. The work in the police station has also addressed persons who, on leaving home, become vulnerable to anti-social forces and also victims of violent crimes. Presently, the work is being carried out at two police stations — at CST Railway Police Station with women in prostitution and minors/women vulnerable to trafficking, and at Bharuch ‘A’ Division Police Station with women, children and other vulnerable groups. | ||
| • | Work in Protective Institutions for Women: Prayas works in the government protective homes for women rescued by the police from brothels, beer bars, massage parlours, hotels, and so on, towards the repatriation of persons who wish to be reunited with their families, and to assist the resettlement of persons who have no families or whose relationship with their families seems to have degenerated beyond repair. | ||
| • | Development Centres: Prayas has set up Development Centres for women and youth coming out of crime or prostitution. These Centres provide an opportunity to persons released from various custodial institutions to avail of education and training based on their education and skill background and observations about them, while in contact with us. During this period, the person is given an opportunity to explore his/her interest with due consideration to their aptitude and the prevailing markets. In addition, the project runs a production centre where cloth-bound and jute-based stationery items such as files, folders and bags are produced towards income-generation for the project. | ||
| • | Aftercare: The post-release period in a client’s life brings up issues such as acceptance by the family, shelter, vocational and economic rehabilitation, psychological aspects, the absence of a support group, the pull of anti-social forces, peer pressure and societal stigma. These issues are addressed by our aftercare staff, while attempting to re-integrate them into society and re-channelise their anti-social tendencies. | ||
| • | Placement Programme: Based on the analysis of experiences of attempts to rehabilitate clients coming out of custodial and criminal justice institutions, the project has put in place a new programme called the NGO Placement programme towards the re-integration of clients through the NGO sector. Clients are placed with various NGOs for shelter, training and apprenticeship for periods ranging from a week to one year or more with a monthly stipend of Rs. 1,500/- per month. The objective of this programme is to help clients learn social and vocational skills in a protected space and supportive environment, which would help them re-integrate in society. Last year, around 20 clients have found jobs in the NGO sector through this programme. | ||
| • | Research and Documentation: As Prayas aims to understand issues and experiences gained within the criminal justice system, research projects have been undertaken in the areas of prostitution, children of prisoners, destitute women and institutionalised girls and women. This year, “A Study of Socio-Economic and Rehabilitation Needs of Women in Dance Bars” was conducted. | ||
| Project Staff | : | Mr. Devchand Randive, Mr. Vikas Kadam, Ms. Pradnya Shinde, Ms. Sangeeta Gawali, Mr. Silvin Kale, Ms. T.S. Devayani, Mr. Sudhakar Babu, Mr. Shankar Pokharkar, Ms. Varsha Lad, Ms. Sharon Menezes, Ms. Pramila Madupuri, Mr. Suryakant Mane, Ms. Vasanti Jadhav, Mr. Murlidhar Jagtap, Ms. Babita Salvi, Mr. Vijay More, Mr. Sunil Mhaske, Ms. Salma Naik, Mr. Chandrakant Shinde, Ms. Vishakha More, Ms. Aruna Angre, Ms. Surekha Sale, Ms. Penelope Tong, Mr. Sadanand Dalvi, Mr. Vijay Johare, Mr. Bajirao Patil, Ms. Chandrani Ganguli, Mr. Shahnawaz Pathan, Ms. Jyoti Lokhande, Ms. Lata Ganage, Ms. Sujata Jagtap, Ms. Krupa Shah, Ms. Pooja Shrimali, Mr. Vithalbhai Solanki and Ms. Vaishali Jaiswal. |
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| Project Advisor | Dr. Sanobar Sahni | ||
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Mr. Vijay Raghavan. | |
DALIT AND TRIBAL ISSUES |
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| Shramik Adivasi Sanghatana — Lok Vikas Sahayog Trust Project: People’s Movement Against Exploitation and Corruption, estd. 2005 Betul & Harda Districts, Madhya Pradesh |
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| Objective | : | • | To empower tribal people and other disadvantaged sections of people to voice and fight for their rights and concerns. |
| Programmes | : | • | Regular village level meetings. |
| • | Filing of complaints against the police, the forest police and the landlords/business people who exploit tribals and other persons in the area. | ||
| • | Rallies/Morchas when there is inaction at various levels by government officials or when gross atrocities committed. | ||
| • | Representing forest and tribal issues at various fora. | ||
| • | Ideological camps and empowerment to become representatives of the people and civic bodies in the area. | ||
| • | Attempting a self-help group for the purchase and sale of mohua, the local flower which plays a key role in the local economy. | ||
| • | Tuition for high school and 12 Class students in English and Mathematics. | ||
| • | Bal Melas. | ||
| Project Staff | : | Mr. Anurag Modi, Ms. Shamim Meghani, Mr. Rajendra and Mr. Mangal. | |
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Dr. Rajani Konantambigi. | |
| Social Work Advocacy Alliance, estd. 2005 TISS, Mumbai |
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| Objectives | : | • | To assist and augment field practices of Dalit and Tribal Organisations. |
| • | To facilitate development of network of Dalit and Tribal organisations, nationally and internationally. | ||
| • | To organise various Dalit and Tribal groups into National Associations. | ||
| Programme | : | • | Initial preparatory work in progress. |
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Mr. Suryakant Wagmore, Mr. Daniel S.R., Dr. Bipin Jojo and Mr. Alex Akhup. | |
HEALTH |
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| Health Resource Centre, estd. 1999 Kakramba, Taluka Tuljapur, Dist. Osmanabad. |
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| Objectives | : | • | Dealing with women’s health issues through various programmes. |
| • | Creating database on health. | ||
| • | Capacity-building of women and key actors like health staff. | ||
| • | Creation of support groups. | ||
| • | Strengthening critical health services. | ||
| • | Publishing suitable documents. | ||
| Programmes | : | • | Work with Self-Help Groups (SHGs). |
| • | Revitalisation & monitoring of SHGs. | ||
| • | Library for children. | ||
| • | Counselling and referral of cases. | ||
| • | Networking with other NGOs. | ||
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Ms. Anjali Kulkarni. | |
| Turbhe Health and Development Project, estd. 1995 Turbhe Stores, Navi Mumbai |
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| Objective | : | • | To enable the community to understand their own health and social needs and empower them towards fulfilling these needs. |
| Programmes | : | • | Pre-school education (Balwadi). |
| • | Health and community development. | ||
| • | Maternal and child health. | ||
| • | Anti-tobacco programme. | ||
| • | Capacity development in community. | ||
| Project Staff | : | 5 teachers/community health workers and 3 helpers. | |
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Dr. Kanchan Mukherjee. | |
| Thane Health Project, estd. 1988 Thane |
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| Objectives | : | • | To strengthen the utilisation of the health care services by working with various health functionaries, as well as groups of women, children and low-income groups. |
| • | To initiate and carry out need-based research to enable the Thane health system to respond more appropriately to people’s needs. | ||
| • | To initiate and demonstrate interventions in psychosocial aspects of health. | ||
| Programmes | : | • | Providing counselling and other services to women in distress and young people with issues in sexuality and relationship problems. |
| • | Awareness raising on women and adolescent issues within the hospital. | ||
| • | Helpline for adolescents and youth. | ||
| • | Networking with other NGOs. | ||
| • | Workshops with municipal school girls on sexuality, growing up and relationships. | ||
| • | Setting up of a Women’s Development Cell in collaboration with students of NKT College, Mumbai. | ||
| • | Long-term capacity-building programmes for 7th standard students of Municipal schools on peer group pressure, study skills, study habits, exam phobia, poor study habits, and others voiced by the students themselves. | ||
| • | Programme with ALERT-India for recreation and sharing of training experiences. | ||
| • | Women and mental health project. | ||
| Project Staff | : | Ms. Ida Dias and Ms. Evonne D’Souza. | |
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Dr. Surinder Jaswal | |
| Integrated Rural Health and Development, estd. 1986 Aghai Village, Shahapur Taluka, Dist. Thane |
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| Objectives | : | • | Ameliorative measures on health and education. |
| • | Utilisation and generation of local resources. | ||
| Programmes | : | • | Anganwadi/ Balwadis. |
| • | Curriculum development programme for anganwadis. | ||
| • | Income-generation for women through self-help groups, and sewing classes. | ||
| • | Construction of wells. | ||
| • | Health communication and mother and child nutrition programmes. | ||
| • | Implementation of government development schemes, SJRY and Community Polytechnic schemes. | ||
| • | Training centre and resource unit (documentation, research and staff development). | ||
| Project Staff | : | Mr. Datta Jadhav, Ms. Kalpana Nimse, Ms. Sunita Thakare, Ms. Sujata Vishe, Ms. Ranjana Sahare, Ms. Lata Gawli and Ms. Asmita Nimse. | |
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Mr. Parthasarathi Mondal (upto January 2006) and Prof. Vimla Nadkarni (from February 2006). | |
HIV/AIDS |
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| Nepal-India Safe Migration Initiative for Reducing Vulnerability to STI/HIV among Nepali Migrants in Mumbai, estd. 2004 Mumbai and Thane District |
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| Objective | : | • | Reduce vulnerability to STI/HIV and promote access to care and support services among male Nepali migrants in Mumbai and Thane districts of Maharashtra. |
| Programmes | : | • | Capacity-building and community need assessment. |
| • | Behaviour change communication activities. | ||
| • | Provide psychosocial support, referral for VCT and care and support. | ||
| • | Social mobilisation and advocacy. | ||
| Project Staff | : | 22 project staff and 40 peer educators. | |
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Dr. Kanchan Mukherjee. | |
| Cell for AIDS Research Action and Training, estd. 1993 TISS, Mumbai |
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| Objective | : | • | To undertake research, training, field action, advocacy, documentation and publications in the field of HIV/AIDS and other related areas. |
| Programmes | : | • | International Training Institute on ‘HIV/AIDS Counselling and Psychosocial Interventions’. |
| • | Capacity-building of organisations in Maharashtra funded by AVERT on counselling, care and support. | ||
| • | Training of Trainers Workshop for senior counsellors from Andhra Pradesh. | ||
| • | Consultancy to NGOs on psychosocial aspects of HIV/AIDS. | ||
| • | Curriculum development and training support to Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society. | ||
| • | Capacity of PLHA groups on Care and Support Issues. | ||
| Project Staff | : | Ms. Punita Gandhi, Ms. Yasmin Sayyed, Ms. Shweta Gurav, Mr. Kamlesh Mackwana, Ms. Meenakshi K.V. and Mr. Pavan Dilpak. | |
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Ms. Brinelle D’Souza. | |
HUMAN RIGHTS |
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| HUM (Humanity United in M-Ward), estd. 2002 M-Ward, Mumbai |
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| Objectives | : | • | Provide opportunities for interaction between a variety of individuals and organisational representatives to dialogue on the issues /problems of the Ward. |
| • | To organise awareness and educational sessions on human rights for individuals and groups in the ward. | ||
| • | To bring about attitudinal change through the process of dialogue and reflection. | ||
| • | To facilitate collective actions planned by the groups for creating a human rights sensitive environment. | ||
| • | Promote attitudes of solidarity. | ||
| Programmes | : | • | Helping in the coordination of relief work in the Ward, post floods in July 2005. |
| • | Initial proposal for a disaster management plan for the Ward. | ||
| • | Intervention in Nimoni Baug for comprehensive area development. | ||
| • | Workshop on Human Rights for NGOs. | ||
| • | Formation of a Ward-level network of NGOs. | ||
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Dr. Lata Narayan and Dr. N. Rustomfram. | |
ORGANISATION DEVELOPMENT |
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| NGO Centre Programme, estd. 1999 TISS, Mumbai |
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| Objectives | : | • | To aid in capacity-building of NGOs. |
| • | To promote credibility and accreditation of NGOs. | ||
| • | To act as NGO clearing house. | ||
| Programmes | : | • | Database development of NGOs, funding agencies, corporate and other stakeholders of the social sector. |
| • | Developing virtual platform for networking among social workers, NGO professionals, third sector researchers, and so on. | ||
| • | Providing counselling services to NGOs and entrepreneurial individuals on launching and managing NGOs. | ||
| • | Act as a clearing house in the social sector. | ||
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Dr. Swapan Garain. | |
SUBSTANCE ABUSE |
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| EHSAAS, estd. 2005 TISS, Mumbai |
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| Objectives | : | • | To generate public awareness on alcoholism as a family disease and information about services available for its treatment and prevention. |
| • | Launch a 360 degree media campaign, including all methods of dissemination such as electronic, print and theatre. | ||
| • | Set up a telephone helpline. | ||
| • | Make services accessible through establishing a partnership network with existing service delivery facilities in the city. | ||
| Programmes | : | • | Workshop to establish the vision, mission and organisational objectives. |
| • | Prepare to update old Directories on De-addiction agencies. | ||
| • | Contacted 11 schools for the contact programme. | ||
| • | Setting up of a website for EHSAAS. | ||
| • | Initiated programme for school children through MESCO. | ||
| • | Initiated contacts with existing NGOs in de-addiction leading to a referral list. | ||
| Project Staff | : | Ms. Rizwana Nullwalla. | |
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Ms. Sabiha Vasi. | |
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT |
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| Tata-LAHDC Development Support Programme, estd. 2005 Leh, Jammu & Kashmir |
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| Objectives | : | • | To provide support to LAHDC to prepare multi-sector sustainable district development plan with people’s participation. |
| • | Assess training needs for capacity-building of government functionaries. | ||
| • | Facilitate preparation of people’s plan through micro-planning process. | ||
| • | Facilitate scaling up of various pilot initiatives in agriculture. | ||
| • | Review performance and prospects of selected sectors and make recommendation for sustainable growth. | ||
| Programmes | : | • | Diploma in Sustainable Development. |
| • | Data-base creation. | ||
| • | Micro-planning. | ||
| Project Staff | : | Mr. R. Vaswani, Ms. Foram Nagori and Ms. Arunima Nair. | |
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Prof. S. Parasuraman, Prof. C. Sengupta, Prof. Janki Andharia, Prof. Vidya Rao, Dr. B. Manjula, Prof. Vimla Nadkarni, Dr. D.P. Singh and Dr. A.K. Singh. | |
| Promotion of Peoples Initiative for Sustainable, Eco-friendly and Equitable Socioeconomic Development, estd. 2005 Tuljapur Block, Osmanabad District. |
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| Objectives | : | • | To integrate teaching and training with action at the grassroots. |
| • | Research and documentation, advocacy and networking. | ||
| Programmes | : | • | Micro-level planning. |
| • | Total sanitation campaign. | ||
| • | Land, water and sustainable agriculture. | ||
| • | Promotion of SHGs. | ||
| • | Education. | ||
| • | Health. | ||
| Project Staff | : | Mr. Satteppa Y.D. and Mr. Vasant Bhasra. | |
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Mr. Ramesh Jare. | |
| Utkarsh: Community Development Initiative, estd. 2004 Maval and Mulshi Talukas, Pune District |
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| Objectives | : | • | To provide better access to education, health, public distribution system, electricity, housing and water. |
| • | To enhance current livelihood options and suggest alternatives. | ||
| • | To protect and promote the interests of vulnerable sections, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward communities. | ||
| • | To work on gender issues at the village level. | ||
| • | To create awareness on rights and resources. | ||
| • | Strengthening and promoting community initiatives towards development. | ||
| • | To create an appropriate organisational structure to meet these developmental objectives. | ||
| Programme | : | • | Health and training of local health workers, education, livelihoods diversification, horticulture training, addressing caste and gender issues, creating local institutions and democratising existing institutions. |
| Project Staff | : | Mr. Chandanshive, Mr. Majumdar, Ms. Pallavi, Mr. Santosh Thakre, and a large number of community workers. | |
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Prof. Janki Andharia. | |
WOMEN |
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| Special Cell for Women and Children, estd. 1984 In Police Offices of 11 districts of Maharashtra |
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| Objectives | : | • | Rebuild violated woman’s self-esteem, self-worth and dignity. |
| • | Offer immediate services in cases of family violence and atrocities against women in the forms of : | ||
| • Police assistance in registering complaints. | |||
| • Placement in institutions or referral to family service agencies. |
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| • Counselling. | |||
| • Referrals to other services including medical, psychiatric, educational and vocational. |
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| • Legal Aid. | |||
| • | Be a liaison between police and organisations for women and children. | ||
| • | Create awareness about the humiliations and atrocities committed, particularly against women and children, amongst women themselves, amongst professional groups, and the general public. | ||
| • | Document the work of the Special Cell and develop training material for social work students and police personnel. | ||
| Programmes | : | • | The Special Cell has been given the status of a state programme and is funded by the Government of Maharashtra (GoM), since December 2005. A state-level steering committee for the same has been set up by the GoM. |
| • | Core work of psycho-socio-legal services for violated women and children continue. | ||
| • | Training programmes for Police officials, Zilla Parishad level counsellors, Help Lines workers and ‘Yuvati Mela’ for young adults on issue of Violence against Women at districts. | ||
| • | Review and Reporting meetings of the last three years of work with the District level police and WCD officials, women’s organisations and women themselves. | ||
| • | Organising and participating in programmes to understand the new Domestic Violence Act and develop rules for the same. | ||
| Project Staff | : | Ms. Trupti Panchal (Project Coordinator), Ms. Vandana Nanavare, Ms. Rajshree Ambare, Ms. Pratibha Jagtap, Ms. Nikhat Shaikh, Ms. Pragna Kasle, Ms. Divya Taneja, Ms. Deepa Gaikwad, Mr. Sanjay Telrandhe, Ms. Pratibha Kachewar, Mr. Sitaram Shinde, Ms. Archana Kale, Ms. Surekha Rankhambe, Ms. Ranjana Gaikwad, Mr. Suresh Suryavanshi, Ms. Anita Pagare, Ms. Deepali Mankar, Ms. Jyoti Sapkale, Ms. Renuka, Ms. Karuna Mahantre, Ms. Pratibha Gajbhiye and Ms. Amrapali Dalvi. | |
| Faculty-in-Charge | : | Ms. Anjali Dave. | |
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