ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2021-22 Protisruti Charitable Mission of Begumpur
Health care & family welfare programme
Maternal and Child health care:
Healthcare and family welfare have been our focus areas since our inception. In this regard, maternal and child healthcare has been one of the main focus areas for the past many years. In this context, we have conducted several programmes in rural and slum areas of urban areas. During the year under review, the organization also conducted healthcare activities which include organizing health camps, counselling services, vaccination drives, referral services and advocacy support for the poor and needy people. During such activities, emphasis was laid on the health of women and adolescents in the areas of maternal health, personal hygiene, child spacing, right to information and sexually transmitted diseases etc. The organization sought the support of local health administrations and ICDS. In most of such initiatives, it was found that women from poor and deprived families generally suffer from nutritional deficiency and anemia. To address this problem, the organization sought medical advice and distributed nutritional supplements to the needy women. All the initiatives of the organization have received encouraging response not only from the beneficiaries but also from the local government officials and community leaders.
Family welfare initiatives:
The increasing rate of population growth is a matter of concern not only for the government but also for public interest organizations like PCMB. A general study conducted by the organization has shown that the population growth rate is higher in poor and deprived families. Illiteracy, poverty, child spacing and lack of awareness about sterilization options are the main reasons for the high rate of frequent pregnancies and births. Most of the pregnant women are found to be suffering from nutritional deficiencies, anemia and lack of medical care. The organization has initiated programmes to create awareness in the areas of such people and has been able to convince a large number of pregnant women to take remedial measures.
Counselling services were also provided to needy women to seek medical help at the nearest government hospital with the help of health care officials in the social meetings. In such meetings, health care officials and volunteers explained about the introduction of various health care schemes of the government like Janani Suraksha Yojana, Health Insurance Scheme, Free Birth Control Scheme and Permanent Methods etc. All these efforts have received encouraging response and there have been requests to repeat the same approach in some more cases in phases.
AYUSH promotion programme:
The organization has been engaged in promotion of Ayush for last many years. During the year under review also has conducted several programmes for creating awareness for importance of Indian system of medicine and treatment for the benefit of poor people in rural areas. The activities under promotion of AYUSH were able to benefit a large number of people in rural villages to popularize the Indian System of Treatment. It has also imparted training to practitioners and farmers on cultivation medicinal plants and demonstrated the utilities and properties of these medicinal plants. Yoga classes were also conducted among rural population and make them aware about the advantages of Naturopathy and Yoga.
Tobacco Awareness programme:
Protisruti Charitable Mission of Begumpur has been working for prevention and control the use of tobacco among students, youths and other involved in many districts since last many years. The programme basically focus to create awareness among youths with a focus to student of many schools for prevention of tobacco use and educate them about the dangers associated with using various tobacco products. The programme will also provide motivation and sensitization among the staff, teachers and parents to not use any tobacco products. Teach personal life skills, refusal skills, and media literacy in order to enable them to resist the influence of peers and tobacco marketers. It will also provide an opportunity to them who already use tobacco products to quit.
HIV/AIDS and other genetic disease awareness and its prevention:
HIV/AIDS and other genetic disease have been found spreading rapidly in slums of urban centers and rural areas also. A general study conducted by the organization has revealed that there has been lack of awareness in most of the cases and early diagnosis and treatment of the suspected cases have not been carried out. The victims turned to hospitals only when the stage became acute and survival is a question mark. It has been found that the disease is spread among people of floating population such as migrant laborers, truckers, slum dwellers etc. The organization had conducted awareness cum motivation.
camps in these areas where large number of such suspected cases have been encouraged to attend. The programme also focused on the general public as to the methods of contracting these diseases, its diagnosis and the facilities of treatment that are available in nearby hospitals. The efforts have been to educate the people about the preventives steps to be taken for avoiding HIV and other infections.
Covid – 19 awareness and prevention programme:
In view of the Pandemic COVID-19 and the associated guideline of State government and Central Government, the organization has initiated awareness progrmmes among poor and vulnerable people of many locations. It has also distributed masks and sanitizers for prevention of this Pandemic with limited resources to the people including road side vendors and shop owners. The organization is thus planning to continue this effort in coming months, soon after the declared lockdown period is over as per government guidelines. The activities continued during the FY 2021- 22 also to prevent the second wave of this pandemic. It will seek necessary support from various donor agencies and well-wishers to contribute in our initiative.
Child Welfare Initiative
Important activities under child welfare initiatives of the organization many focus to their health care, Nutrition and education. In line with the same during the year under review the organization has taken up many child welfare activities. Some of the important initiatives taken up by the agency during the reporting year are as follows:
Women empowerment and Livelihood promotion:
Protisruti Charitable Mission of Begumpur since its inception has been working towards women empowerment. The organization has through its various activities come to the conclusion that poverty and illiteracy are the basic causes affecting women empowerment. Once these basic issues are addressed, with the right training for capacity building and creating necessary awareness, women empowerment will be gradually possible. The activities undertaken by the organization in this respect are as under.
Women empowerment awareness programme:
As part its major emphasis for empowering women in various levels, the organization has also taken the issue of building women’s leadership at the grassroots level as part of civil society and strengthens their leadership qualities amongst elected women representatives in local governance. Protisruti Charitable Mission of Begumpur has also taken awareness programme to encourage women to take the benefit of the collective bargaining and management and up various activities such as awareness campaign, vocational training etc., to empower these women. The objectives of these programme are to the enhancement of the quality of life of poor women & youth through support for income generation activities and promotion of behavioural and attitudinal changes that allow them to equal partners in the family and the community.
Youth welfare programme:
The organization has also been working in the field of Youth welfare activities since its inception with the objectives to promote spirit of national integration, unity in diversity, pride in Indian-ness among the youth and to induce a sense of social harmony amongst the youth and to motivate the youths to act as focal point for dissemination of knowledge in the rural area and involve them in nation building process it has conducted several programmes which includes Cultural Programmes, Group discussions, Debates, Lectures, Essay and elocution competitions on the theme of national integration and communal harmony. The organization has also conducted Entrepreneurship development training for youths with the objective to build their capacity to undertake their own entrepreneurships through which make them self-reliant. The organization has also supported these beneficiaries to received loan from various banks and other financial institutions for starting income generation activities.
Children immunization programme
Health care of children especially their immunization is not a priority as far as the rural people are concerned. They are unmindful of the consequences. The organization has been trying its level best to educate the people and provide necessary facilities in rural areas for the last many years. It has been associating with the government programmes in rural areas. During the year under review the organization undertook immunization programme in several villages under it programme locations with a focus to localities of SC, ST, OBC and Minority concentrated areas. The volunteers of the organization were deputed to rural homes and slum areas to educate people about importance of vaccination among children under the age of 5 years. These efforts of the organization could produce tangible results as large number of children could be covered under this initiative.
Skill Training & Livelihood enhancement
Skill/Vocational training programme:
The organization’s one of another major objective is the economic empowerment of disadvantaged and destitute women and youths and the same is considered possible by providing skill/vocational training to them in various income generating trades. Such trades have been identified by the organization which the proposed beneficiaries will be able to absorb through the vocational training considering their calibre on physical, mental and intelligence level. Accordingly it has been conduction Skill/vocational trainings to a large number of women and youths were enrolled during the year under review and given extensive training. While selecting the beneficiaries special attention was paid to enrol people belonging to poor and marginalized families who are unable to find their livelihood, but expressed willingness to join the training programme for the purpose of generating own income and becoming independent. Priority was given in the selection process to socially excluded groups such as SC, ST, OBC, Minority and destitute Women and disabled people. The organization engaged experienced instructors for the purpose, instructors also explained various aspects of production, packaging, marketing and after sale service so that quality of workmanship was maintained and a customer oriented approach was developed by the trainees for sustainable activities on their respective trades. This has helped the trainees to pay special attention to each aspect of their activities and it is heartening to write that most of the trainees, after the training got over, have started their own self-employment ventures and have started earning their livelihood. They have become more conscious and responsible and in course of time they will in all likelihood generate surplus income to feed their families which will lead to a better standard of living. Beneficiaries of the training programmes appreciated the efforts of the organization in providing them a rare opportunity to build up their skill and capacity for generating livelihood through the training centres. The success of the vocational training had made an impact among the unemployed youths of the surrounding areas of the respective locations and demands have been generated from them to expand the coverage of the training so as to cater to a larger section of the Society. The organization therefore has the plan to conduct vocational training programmes in coming years also at various other places of the said districts considering the resources available to it.
Entrepreneurship development programme:
As in the previous years’ this year also, the organization has conducted several Entrepreneurship Development Programme in the project area. The aim of the programme was to provide supplemental support to develop/upgrade skill and business acumen of SHG members for starting entrepreneurship. The topics covered under EDP were Agriculture, Handicraft, and other village industry development trades. The programme was able to improve their capacity and skill for starting self-entrepreneurship and thereby improve their livelihood in a better way.
Handicraft training programme:
Handicraft development training and awareness for the benefit of poor and deprived artisans, who are traditionally engaged in production of various handicraft items is another important focus of the agency since last many years. Therefore during the year of reporting it has been able to setting up of many training centres for skill up-gradation of many crafts for the benefit of poor and deprived traditional artisans formed under SHGs in district North 24 Parganas.
They were given additional inputs on various techniques pertaining to new designing, multiple embroidery, craft making by engaging master craft persons and fashion designers. The programmes components comprising design, technology, techniques & process and formulation & publication of crafts design/ craft technology manual for training and dissemination of new design concepts and new technology to a large number of artisans for their skill up gradation, which shall cater market (Export) demand and trends for commercial as well as for exclusive class production purposes and make these artisans self-reliant.
Literacy and Education promotion:
Promotion of literacy and education has been one of the prime focus of the organization as the development of people depends on the same. The organization over the years has been taking painstaking efforts in this direction and it is a matter of satisfaction that the organization has been able to conduct many education promotion programmes including studies under National Education Policy. Motivation camps were organized to ensure children to be invariably sent to schools and there should not be any interruption in their studies. It has also advocated that all school drop outs children should be positively made to rejoin schools and continue in their studies without any break. There was encouraging impact and assurance from the parents.
Other social welfare initiatives
Road safety awareness programme:
Road safety awareness campaign is one of the continues efforts of the organization for the last many years. In this context, during the year under review also has taken up number of activities including workshops, drivers training and exhibitions with the help of traffic department at many districts. Road users were specifically told about the rules of the road, safety measures and traffic symbols etc. and emphasized on them the need for adhering them to avoid accidents etc. The road users were also explained its significance through sign boards, posters and pamphlets prepared for this purpose. Besides this the organization has helped in construction of link roads in rural areas of these districts with the active participation of community. It created awareness among the rural masses about utility of these roads and sought their cooperation in releasing the land for the road. While helping the department in construction of these link roads it took a special care for protecting the environment by doing plantation on both sides of the road so that longevity of the roads may be maintained and ecological balance preserved. It also helped the farmers in getting payment for the land acquired and redresses their grievances in this regard if any.
Surveys and studies:
Protisruti Charitable Mission of Begumpur has been conducting various studies and surveys in the project locations as part of programme planning and designing for the last many years. The study and surveys highlighted need assessment of beneficiaries, assessment of situations of health, infrastructural facilities and for identification of suitable beneficiaries to its various programme for the benefit of poor and hapless people. Necessary formats for feedback and data/information collection has developed with the support of subject experts engaged by the agency. In order to conduct the programme it has deputed staff and other consultant organizations to the field for generating such information. All the data and information so collected have been analyzed and compiled at the office for proper planning and preparation of necessary project proposals and for making various project reports to be submitted to the concerned.
Consumer welfare programme:
Consumer awareness programmes is another important areas of focus of the organization. In this direction during the year under review also it has conducted many awareness programmes for the welfare of consumers about various enactments, their rights and the remedies. It has adopted IEC methods under which meetings, workshops, wall writings, puppet shows, distribution of leaflets, display of posters etc. were carried out. Strategic places were identified where meetings are conducted with the involvement of subject experts who explained the various methods by which manufacturers and suppliers of goods and services are hoodwinking the general public for selling their items without taking care of the service aspects and complaints. It was explained that there were consumer protection laws in the country under which forums for redressal of grievances have been established in every district and consumers should take the benefit of the same. There were words of appreciations for the initiative from members of the public who wanted repetition of the same periodically.
Environment awareness and tree plantation campaign:
Conservation of environment these days is gaining more importance. The growing urbanization is compounding the environmental damage. The environmental damage is spreading fast to the rural areas also. Although the Government is taking whatever steps possible, the effort seems to be not producing the desired result. The organization has understood the necessity of playing a role in this field and has taken various steps to involve the people in the prevention of pollution and conservation of environment. It has organized mass awareness campaigns at various places in the geographical coverage of the organization during the year under review. A lot of people from the general public were enrolled for this purpose, given necessary guidance and motivation and were sent to different areas in groups with leaflets, banners etc. for campaign purpose. The result was quite encouraging. The organization considers it necessary that such campaigns and public awareness programmes should continue in future also so that the momentum does not peters out with the passage of time. As part of this campaign a tree plantation drive was also carried out at several places.
Sustainable agriculture and organic farming:
Sustainable Agriculture development and promotion of organic farming techniques is another important initiative of the organization since its inception. The farmers in the rural areas have hitherto been not prone to the development taking place in the agricultural sector nor there any efforts in making them aware of the same resulting in a situation where the productivity is low and the cost of production is high. Because of these there is a tendency among farmers to leave the agricultural field look for other sources of income. The organization would like to intervene and arrest their flow from Agricultural field and provide sustainable agriculture to the farmers which would generate remunerative income for them. The organization therefore plans to introduce multiple crop system, concentrate on earmarking a ratio of land for producing commercial crops vis-a-vis other routine produce, and impart training for development of bio-compost, provision of quality seeds at affordable prices and help the farmers to find buyers devoid of exploitation.
Rural development initiative:
Rural development activities are also one of the main thrust areas of the organization. As in the previous year this year too, the organization enlisted the support of rural people in many areas for various developmental activities such as construction/reconstruction of rural roads, plantation of trees, solid waste management, water conservation and sanitation. The volunteers created awareness in respective localities due to which the participation of the masses was encouraging as the efforts were directed for their own benefit. It was emphasized that personal hygiene and rural sanitation were very important in maintaining good health and for the prevention and control of communicable and other diseases. The volunteers along-with the rural people went around various localities and helped the people to remove accumulated garbage and filth to faraway places. This also was very much appreciated.
Seminars and workshops:
The organization has been conducting many Seminar/Workshops and other awareness programme for the welfare of poor and deprived sections in the society. The major topics of these programme was include women safety and empowerment and cognizance about their rights and entitlements, leadership development of minority women, health care, road safety, water and sanitation, promotion of culture, Indian arts and crafts etc. In all these programmes a large number persons participated and the organization has always taken care to bring important personalities/subject experts of the areas and they addressed the audience sharing their views and motivating and sensitizing the beneficiaries/delegates to derive advantage of welfare schemes of the government and other agencies.
Safe Drinking Water and sanitation programme:
The organization has been devoting its attention towards promotion of Water and Sanitation for both rural and urban areas. The people are generally pay least attention towards conservation of water or the pollution caused to water or water bodies. Indiscriminate running of tube well is an abuse in the rural areas. People are prone to use contaminated water for drinking purpose regardless of the harm it might cause. The organization therefore has conducted several awareness programmes for the benefit of people to prevent water pollution and conservation of ground water.
Welfare of SC, ST, OBC and Minorities:
The organization has been giving more preference to the welfare of people belonging to socially ignored especially the SC, ST, OBC and Minority women. Under this effort the agency has taken up several activities with an emphasis to generate awareness among these section about their rights and entitlements, availing benefits of many government schemes and programmes. During these programmes hundreds of persons from the Backward category and Minority community participated and they were told about various programmes being run by different government departments and other development agencies. It has also made special provision for admission of such categories in different vocational training, literacy and health care services undertaken by this organization. The programmes could properly guide and counsel for the various governmental schemes for the benefit of such category people.
National Days and promotion of art and culture
Cultural events/function:
As in the previous years, the organization has conducted several cultural programmes in different locations of its project areas. Special effort was made to design these programmes. A team of profession artists including Music, Plays and Dance was contracted for the purpose, several rounds of discussions were held with them for the purpose of articulating the various topics including promotion of Indian art/culture and heritage, social maladies directing the cultural programmes so that when these programmes were finally staged, the attention of the public was easily caught. The organization took special care in fixing the venues of the cultural programmes where the targeted audience could be easily mobilized and necessary work for mobilization was also done prior to staging of these cultural programmes. Wherever the programmes were conducted, the response from the public was very encouraging as the Indian art and culture, social maladies were central themes of these programmes and the message was easily sent home.
Staff training
The organization has been regularly conducting refresher training and orientation of its staff, consultants and volunteers. Wherever good such trainings and workshops are conducted relevant to the field of activities of the organization the personnel of the organization are sent for participation. This has enabled the organization to improve the performance of its activities and also ensured commitment of the staff. During the year under also several such trainings and workshops have been conducted.
Celebration of national festival/events:
In the hectic life of these days, people scantly pay regard to the national days. National Festival days such as Republic Day, Independence Day etc. provide an occasion for celebrating the resurgence of the country and the commitment of the people to defend, protect and hold together national spirit. These are occasions for celebrating our unity and integrity considering India being a state of unity in diversity. In this context the organization has also promoted patriotism and national integration by organizing flag hosting, playing of national anthem and song, arranging cultural programmes highlighting our freedom struggle, the role of martyrs etc. School children, youths and general public took part in celebrations. Programmes like quiz competitions, poster competitions etc. were conducted and the best entries have been adjudged and prize distribution was also conducted. The celebrations received encouraging response from the areas.
Conducting Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav:
A one-day programme was organised to celebrate ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ highlighting a theme ‘Freedom Fighters’ Perspective on Conservation of Resources/Nature’ in various districts of West Bengal, where seminars/conferences including drawing/painting/poster making and essay writing competitions were organized among the students of Bah Block and other general public of various districts of West Bengal.