A Brief Annual Report of the Social Work Activities in the Diocese of Jabalpur During

Annual Report 2008-09

A BRIEF ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SOCIAL WORK ACTIVITIES IN THE DIOCESE OF JABALPUR DURING THE YEAR 2008-09

1. PROFILE OF THE ORGANIZATION:

Jabalpur Diocesan Social Service Society {JDSSS} is a NGO and the social work wing of the Diocese of Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. It was established in the year 1979 to carry out the social works in the diocese. The society was registered in the year 1993 under the “M.P. Society Registration Act 1973” {JJ-1441}. The operational area of the organization is in 6 districts of M.P i.e. Jabalpur, Mandla, Dindori, Seoni, Narsingpur and Katni.

1. VISION: Building communities where all enjoy equal rights and opportunities and live in harmony with One another, Nature and the Divine.

2. MISSION:Empowering people, especially the vulnerable groups and communities, for sustainable development as well as for accessing rights and opportunities.

3. THRUST AREAS: 1. Integrated Human Development 2. Environmental Restoration & Promotion of Livelihood 3. Community Mobilization and 4. Promotion of Peace & Harmony.

4. DEPARTMENTS: 1. National Resources Management: watershed projects, Livelihood, Environment and Agriculture. 2. Community Health Care: RCH, CFCD projects, HIV/AIDS and DOTS. 3. Women and Child Development: Animation, SHGs, IGA Activities. 4. Animation and Advocacy: Good governances, Cooperatives, linkage with govt. departments. 5. Finance-All finance matters. 6. Networking and Public Relation.

5. ADMINISTRATIVE BODIES/COMMISSIONS: 1. General body with 24 members. 2. Governing Body with 8 members. 3. Project Selection Committee with 7 members. 4. Social work Commission with 7 members.

1. PROJECTS under the purview of jdsss:

In the diocese of Jabalpur there are many Institutions from which Fathers and Sisters are doing social works in different places to improve the condition of the life of the people with whom they are involved. And time to time JDSSS tries to coordinate all the project implementers in the diocese and provides help according to their need. This coordinating process helps every one to know about type and amount of social work the others are doing. If these type of coordination can be done regularly and seriously this can prove to be a good learning platform for every one.

1. Asha Kiran-Home for the Platform Children At Katni:

Children at railway station who are run away from home, orphans, abandoned by the family members, illegitimate etc., are taken and looked after in Asha Kiran, a home for the platform children. Here the children who are exploited and suffer in different ways in platforms are given homely atmosphere to make them to live the life with basic necessities of life and dignity. And the activities in Asha Kiran are mainly to create a society where in, every child of the platform can avail equal opportunities, proper environment, self dignity and are able to manage their own affairs. At present there are 26 children in the house and different programs are conducted for them during the year like: P.T. Yoga & meditation, Gardening, Counselling, Outing and Recreation, Education, Medical Assistance, Home Placement and Out reach. Apart from these regular activities there are also some special events organized for the children like Children’s day, different sports and games competitions. All the inmates are very happy with the homely atmosphere of which they are deprived of. Asha Kiran is looked after by the CMC sisters at Katni and helped by the Diocese of Jabalpur. Along with this there are also some voluntary organizations helping them in different ways.

1. Women Empowerment and Training of Village Health Workers at Bagdu:

The Project on “Women Empowerment and Training of the village Health workers” is run by the Holy Cross Sisters at Bagdu is completing its 3 years term. The major activities are: training of village health workers from 18 villages, nutrition programme for the malnourished children, conducting health awareness classes in the villages and schools, treatment of minor ailments in the villages, formation of SHGs, exposure for VHWs and SHG members and initiating them into IGP, promotion of herbal medicine and to have a network with the Govt. and other NGOs. At the end of three years there is visible change in the health, increase in savings and community participation, increased knowledge on the importance of eating well balanced diet, hygiene, preventable diseases like pneumonia, Diarrhea, malnutrition etc.. The fund support for this program is from the Mother House of the sisters.

1. Women Empowerment Program at Ghuttas:

The women empowerment activities like formation of women SHGs, literacy classes, training on herbal medicine, and nutritional program for the children health awareness camps, legal aid training program and exposure program for the animators is carried out by the FMM sisters at Ghuttas. Number of beneficiaries in the area is 1,115. The above mentioned women empowerment activities have given opportunity for women of the area for leadership, savings, approaching govt. officials for their problems. The achievement of one of the women group in Bada village is that this year they have received loan amount of Rs.1, 10,000/- from NABARD and they have started an IGP of buying and selling of the grains. Apart from the project activities they do celebrate common festivals, children’s & women’s day with lot of enthusiasm and participation. This program is supported by their congregation.

1. Home for the Dying Destitute and Abandoned Children At Ghamapur:

The destitute and the abandoned children are looked after by the Missionaries of Charity Sisters. Their activities include (1).Home for the dying destitute: they give shelter to the old and the dying. The number of aged admitted and treated this year are 80. (2). Home for the abandoned children: there were 63 abandoned children who were provided shelter in the children’s home and among them 25 of them were given in adoption. There were also 28 malnourished children who are being treated. Along with this the sisters also visit the poor families and provide them help. During this year they have helped 1000 such families; they have also provided food grain support for 1500 on weekly basis.Time to time they provide help for the poor families to repair their houses and for medicine, this year they have helped 84 families for house repairing and for medicine. (3)Tailoring classes & Training: the missionaries of charity Sisters centre at Ghamapur provides also different skill trainings for poor girls. This year 100 girls are under going this training. (4). Mobile health care Program: the trained sisters in medical care regularly visit various slums in the area and provide health care and medicine for minor ailments and they are admitted in the hospital for major sickness. This year they have treated 10,359 patients for minor and common ailments. The centre has also helped 20 children for their education.

1. NavJyotiSpecialSchool for the Children at Rimjha:

Nav Jyoti special school at Rimjha, aims to encourage and assist the mentally challenged children to improve their mental and physical abilities and to make them self reliant and independent as much as possible. This scholastic year there 35 mentally challenged students who are regular in the school. They are given training for the day to day living activities. Individual care and attention is given to each child for their personality development through varies activities like yoga, P.T., music dance personal help skills social skills etc. The students are also taught pre-vocational activities like painting, greeting card preparation, candle making and art work etc. With the children and their parents various festivals sports day, picnic day are celebrated to encourage them. This year for the first time Nav Jyoti special students joined with the other 25 institutions for the disabled in the city, for the sports competitions held for them in December and won many prizes. This special school is looked after by the ASMI sisters and helped by the Diocese.

1. Shanti Dham-Shahdol:

Shanti Dham is a home for the Abandoned and terminally ill patients. Here the service is provided to the poorest of the poor abandoned helpless brethren of the society from all sections of the society. This year there are 18 inmates who are looked after with love and care. The names of the inmates are also registered in the municipality and collectorate. All the nursing care is given by two of Sister Nurses. Doctors from Shahdol regularly give free consultation and medicines. This home is run by the Nirmal Jyoti provincial house of CMC sisters. And Educational institutions in Shahdol and Amlai help financially for the running of the home. This year 8 inmates have passed away and they have been given funeral ceremonies according to their religious custom.

1. Jeevodaya Jagrati Home for the Platform children at Jabalpur:

Jeevodaya Jagrati Home for the platform children is run by the Sisters of congregation of St. Joseph of Baden & Chambery. This house tries to provide care to the abandoned children at platform and other places. At present there are 22 children who are residential and go to school everyday and also there are 20 more children who come to the centre day time for different service. And around 100 children have been placed back home who had run away from their homes. Follow up of these children are done by visiting their homes and by phone. There are different activities for the children like sports day, cultural programme and regular medical check up. The Jeevodaya Jagrati Home is helped by the Railways, RC UK-WWO and many individuals and families of the town.

1. Help for the Disabled Children and Youth under Stitching Liliane Fonds {SLF}:

1. Rehabilitation of the Disabled Children and Youth by Ghugri Sisters:Under the Stitching Liliane Fonds {SLF} Sisters in Ghugri render service to the disabled children and youth. It was started in the year 2003. The assistance is provided for education, corrective measures for disabilities, medical treatment, helping in vocational trainings, and help for starting different livelihood activities. This year they have 82 children who are helped by the program in different mission stations. Apart from these 4 disabled youth are helped for goat rearing and 2 girls for tailoring training. And one man was helped for fixing an artificial leg. The help provided by the Sisters are very helpful for the poor children for their education and youth for their employment through IGP and the disabled from the corrective measures provided to them. Sisters in Ghugri are also involved in empowerment activities of women and conduct different activities for them like formation of SHGs, conduction meetings and awareness programs on health and hygiene. They also conduct different cultural events to enhance the participation of women of the area.

2. Nirmala Convent-Lalipur: Sisters of Nirmala Convent in Lalipur are involved in helping the poor and the disabled children and the youth who are under the age of 25. This program began in the year 2001. This year they are helping 68 Children with the help of S.L.F. for their studies, medicine and corrective operations. So far 97 children and the youth have been helped by this program. The children who are benefiting from this program are from different mission stations of the diocese: Dullopur, Junwani, Sakwah, Kurela and Mandla. This service is very much appreciated by the beneficiaries and is very helpful for them. Coordination of the help and the activities are done by Sr. Elizabeth Francis of Nirmala Convent-Lalipur.

3. Assisi Sachidananda Ashram Chabi:Sisters of Assisi Sachidananda Ashram in Chabi receive help from SLF and are involved in helping the children and youth for their studies, medical help and corrective measures. This program was started in the year 2000. So far 25 children have been helped by the program. The beneficiaries of the activities are from the villages of Chabi and Duhania mission centres. This year Sisters are helping 4 children. The project is looked after by Sr. Jincy.

4. Nav Udyan Kalyan Kendra at Chargoan: St. Joseph Sisters of Chembery of Nagpur Province are also involved in helping the handicapped children and the youth of the area with the help of SLF. This project began in the year 2003. The beneficiaries of the project are from 17 villages of Chargaon mission centre. At present Sisters are helping 40 physically handicapped children and youth for their Education, Boarding help, Medical help-corrective measure operations, Vocational training and IGPs for their families. The help by the project provides an opportunity for the handicapped children and the youth of the area to come up in their life. And many of the corrective measure operations help them to live their life normal and happy.

1. Jeevan Jyoti Handicapped Centre-Maharajpur:

Jeevan Jyoti Handicapped centre at Maharajpur is run by the CMC Sisters. It is established in the year 2003 in Shahdol and later shifted to Maharajpur in the year 2005. This centre aims at providing care and education for the handicapped children from all the section of the society. At present there are 10 children {6 girls and 4 boys} at the centre, and they all go to AmalJyotiSchool, Maharajpur for attending the classes. Along with their studies they are also provided opportunity to celebrate different festivals and special days like children’s day, handicapped day etc., during which they exhibit their talents with different cultural activities. The centre is helped by Stitching Liliane Fonds{SLF} through Ghugri Sisters and AmalJyotiSchool, Maharajpur.

1. Home for the Aged at Jabalpur:

The home for the Poor and the needy elderly is managed by the Little Sisters of the Poor. At this home poor elderly ones who require care and support are admitted and all the needs of them are provided free of cost. The home is completely run on the charity of the people. For this purpose everyday two sisters go around collecting the donations of the people in the town. This year there are 10 inmates in the house who are given care and support. This house is great support for the poor and the needy elders of the Diocese. The new house for the same purpose is under construction at Rimjha which has capacity of accommodating 100 inmates.

1. Sanjeevini Social Service Society at Usri:

Sanjeevani Social Service Society at Usri is continuing its effort of empowering the people by developing the human resources. It is mainly achieved by the self-help groups and village communities who are capacitated through different trainings and awareness meetings. At present they are working in 30 villages in the fields of education, health, agriculture, animation, SHGs, PRI, youth clubs, PTA etc. Activities undertaken taken during this year are: 1. Education- Sanjeevani Vidhyapeeth-for the rural students-along with the academic courses time to time leadership training, ecological training-nature club, skits and cultural programs based on the social themes like gramsabha, sanitation in the village are conducted in the school.2. Self Help Groups and their Federations: there are 75 SHGs of which 30 are women SHGs who have regular meetings and discuss about various issues.There is also a federation of these groups and 45 of them are members of it. This federation helps them for their inter-loaning, grading of the groups etc., Most of the women of the groups and others participate in different cultural activities including the the Women’s day celebration and put up different cultural activities. 3. Different competitions for govt. school children: 200 children from 5 surrounding village participated in different competitions like singing, speech, painting, clay modelling and Quiz on General Knowledge. These types of opportunities help the students to express their hidden talents and create interest in school and studies. 4. Animation: there is special animation program in 15 villages in which concentration is given to capacity building of village leaders, activate the parent-teacher associations, Gramsabha, Sarpanchs and Panchs of the area, youth clubs, conduct arts and sports competitions for govt. school students, different trainings on social issues and rights including the schemes of the government. 5. Watershed Activities: this program mainly focuses on water harvesting which includes the construction of the watershed structures like earthen check dams, gabion structures, stop dams and farm ridges etc., People are encouraged to have herbal gardens in their villages.

1. Sanjeevini Crèche centre by OSF Sisters-Usri:

The OSF Sisters run crèche centers in 20 villages to initiate childrenwho are in the age group of 05 to school. One of the ladies from the village is selected as the animator and given training for working as the crèche animator. Every day crèche is conducted from 9 Pm to 4 pm. Due to these efforts the village children get some basics for their schooling and do better once they enrol their names in the primary schools. It is also helpful for the mother to go for work as the crèche centres would take care of their little children.