Community Ownership and Development - Towards Sustainable Livelihoods!

After a lot of planning, CSA in collaboration with its networking partner Sahajeevan Samaj Kendra and Sunshine Trust NGO decided to hold a medical campaign at Surya Niketan Hospital, Pali on 20 th Jan 2018 for the free detection of throat and breast cancer as well as create awareness on the issue. The campaign focused mainly on the men, women, and youth of Pali village. The director of Sunshine Trust contacted the doctors of Tata memorial hospital to give free checkup for the beneficiaries at Pali.   Before the clinical examination one of the doctors gave an awareness talk on throat & breast cancer. She explained, Cancer is one of the harshest diseases that a person can contract. It is extremely difficult to treat. The conditions in which people live, work, and their lifestyles, influence their health and quality of life. Avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy body weight, eating right, doing enough exercise and appropriate cancer screening tests can make a significan...

On 22nd Feb 2018 a core committee meeting was held at Manori. The first objective was to evaluate the follow up work done on open drainage issue, secondly to finalize on the next issue and lastly to plan and distribute the responsibilities for Women’s Day celebration.  After the previous minutes of the meeting was read the CCO staff explained the procedure of the Right to Information (RTI). A set of information lacking and questionnaires were prepared which needed an answer. For example, the approximate duration by which the drainage work would be completed, the sanctioned budget for this project, etc. One of the CC members took the responsibility to even find out the information of road repair through RTI. Villagers were requesting for the frequency of ferry’s to be increased between Manori to Bhayander. As this issue was majorly solved, the committee decided to take up the next issue that needed attention. The members commonly agreed to solve the issue of ‘insuff...

  As an input session on skill enhancement program, CSA organised a Home Nursing session for the domestic workers at Manori with its networking partner Savdhan Samaj Kendra. On 8 th February 2018, a team of 15 nurses from Hinduja Hospital visited the centre at Manori. Ms. Seema, field supervisor at Hinduja nursing interacted with the nine participants present. The nurses from general ward gave a First Aid demo on home nursing, ways to take care of sick patients at home, care for elderly, babies & young children. The Nurses explained simple tips like bandage & body massage techniques, taking medicines as prescribed by doctors, taking care of sick patients while shifting them on bed, checking the expiry before purchasing any medicines, the right method to put ear & eye drops, which can be easily practised  at home or on work place. It is our responsibility to educate and train grassroots ensuring that this knowledge helps in giving them basic health awarene...

The Core committee monthly meeting facilitated by CSA was held at Pali on 7 th Feb 2018 with 19 CC members & CCO present. The main objective was to plan, decide and allot responsibilities for women’s day, evaluate on three issues with the 3 subcommittees and allot responsibilities among CC members for ration camp. The meeting began with reading the previous minutes report and the agenda was discussed in detail with the CC members. 8 th March was decided as the day to celebrate women’s day. The theme chosen was based on the three main issues of Pali village in East Indian language namely “Dur karavachya Han aaplya gavachya adchani, pahilya ghetlyan smasysa ration, aarogya aani Pani”. It means To remove the difficulties of our village, by solving the issues of ration, health and water. The anchoring will be done by two CC members. The theme was decided on the three main issues of Pali village in East Indian language “Dur karavachya Han aaplya gavachya adchani, pahil...

CSA changes the life of 40 women with its Financial empowerment program (FEP) which began in November 2016 at Mumbai & Dharavi Island. The objective being to enable the marginalized & underprivileged women to understand the importance of savings. In order to encourage women to make their own decision for their personal & family growth and for the growth of the society at large, CSA in collaboration with its networking partners designed a module for the program. Engaging at the grass root level CSA conducted sessions every month at Poinsur, Bunderpakhadi, Goregaon & Uttan areas. Fifty women participated and understood the method of savings, the various types of bank accounts like Saving and Recurring Deposit(RD) and the procedure to open a simple bank account. Out of the 50 women, 40 completed their 12 months RD of Rs. 500 a month and decided to make an FD as well as restart an RD (of Rs.1000). A lady from Bunderpakhadi said, “After the FEP program I learnt to save m...

CSA facilitated a project review meeting between Misereor (a funding agency) and a farmers group of beneficiaries from Prerana (Community Centre at Dongri, Bhayander West) on 16th Feb 2017. During the review the farmers were advised on the need to preserve and promote their traditional seeds on the farms. One of the farmers Mr. Edwin Nunes took the recommendation seriously and went around various centres at the taluka and local area to meet farmers and discuss on the local varieties of grains grown. He approached CSA to identify sources from where he could find the seeds. CSA Staff guided him to approach an agricultural research centre in Dahanu Taluka. From here Mr. Edwin was able to obtain the 5 kilograms of the local variety of red paddy. He cultivated these seeds on a pilot basis on his own farm and has been able to harvest around 250 kgs of this rice from the 5 kgs. This local red paddy has high nutrient content as well as a high demand in the market and hence fetches a pr...

A session on Physical Exercise Yoga & Meditation was held on the 1 st Feb 2018 for 35 Bal Sansad children at Pali. The Input session for Bal Sansand group began with HathaYoga meditation for ten minutes by the resource person Sr. Nisha, CCO staff.  The objective of the session was to foster a serene and cultivate an awareness of the present moment in the minds of the children. The objective was also to help the children understand the importance of physical exercise as a part of life. The topic was briefly explained. The resource person emphasized on Physical exercise, its importance & benefits that Yoga is one of the best techniques and practices, which can help a person to integrate mind, body and spirit, to achieve a state of enlightenment with the universe. She focused on how Yoga can help improve their concentration. Sr. Nisha first explained the importance of physical exercise and its ten benefits. Daily Physical exercises can help to decrease fats in the bod...

After the interaction session on communal harmony the Bal Sansad children’s group decided to present a skit to the children of other faith on 27 th January 2018 at Manthanpada. These were the tribal children from the English Literacy Class.The objective was to spread the message of communal harmony amongst the villagers. The ideas on the topic were given and through guidance the children took the initiative and prepared a street play. With the prior permission of Manthanpada’s English Literacy Class, Balsansad visited the Bastis. They welcomed the thirty children gathered, and after a brief introduction on the topic the skit began. The children created awareness on harmony with one another through this skit. The play also gave the children from the village an opportunity to come as a group and witness the activity and performance of Bal Sansad. Children have become aware on respecting people from backgrounds of all faith and live in harmony.