Social Action for Rural Community (SARC), India

SARC is a non-governmental, non-profit making, non-political development organization initiated by a group of pioneering youth having diverse expertise of Sambalpur region and later on joined by academician, development protagonists & professionals from different capacity; conceptualizing a substantial commitment to work for the upliftment of downtrodden & socially excluded-marginalized community of western part of Orissa, India.

We need funding support for implementation of four nos. of Day Care cum Counselling Center in Naxal affected area of Sambalpur District of Orissa, India.

Title of the Project:

“Day Care cum Counseling Centre for the Children and Adolescent of Naxal Affected Area (Care, Protection & Rehabilitation) of Sambalpur District in Orissa.”

Need of the Project: Orissa is one of the most affected state by Maoist since last decade. The region being underdeveloped, unapproachable and remote, it has further aggravated the situation. Another factor is that it is one of the states where majority of the tribal population are inhabited in forest and hilly villages, because of which the tribals of several areas are not able to mingle with the mainstream of development. There are several factors such as lack of access to communication, lack of education and lack of livelihood opportunities leading to grooming of Maoists in the region.

The amalgamations of these factors influenced severely the way of life of the tribal populations in Orissa in general and Sambalpur district in particular. The fringe villages of Sambalpur district is inhabited by several diverse and unique tribal populations such as Oram, Munda, Kisan, Goand having majority of the population. The baseline data indicate that some of the tribals even in the age of globalization and after 6 decades of independence has not entered into the arena of development. It is needless to mention here that certain inhabitation still are not connected with the all weather roads, do not have access to safe drinking water, no access to education, health, and  electricity, still in many cases they are not even able to obtain two square of meal a day. These are also some the reasons basing on which the Maoist misled the innocent tribal communities. Due to these factors they are not able to keep pace with the mainstream of development.

The proposed locations of the project area namely- Chakliabahal, and Tikiba comes under Integrated Tribal Development block of Jamankira under Sambalpur District of Orissa comprising of 18 villages of 2 Gram Panchayats with a population of 5,578. The ethnic composition implies that over 71% of population belongs to ST and SC category, 15% backward communities and 14% General respectively. From socio economic point of view the female literacy of the 2 Panchayats is below 30% and more than 90% of the people obtain their livelihood from minor forest produces and partly from agriculture. The dropout rate among the school going children is very high. Over the last six decades though India has achieved substantial socio-economic progress, a large chunk of the proposed area is still illiterate, uneducated, malnourished, and lack social infrastructure, productive assets and employment.

Objectives: To change the lives of the under privileged children and Adolescent in Naxal affected four villages by developing their fullest potential for making them a healthy, productive and responsible member of the society.

Justification of the Project: On one hand there is certain nature of under development of tribals, and inability to enter into the arena of development, entitlement and ignorance and on the other hand these mixed feeling of tribal population has been capitalized by the several forces. One of such forces is the extremist group such as maoist. Through their alternative thinking in the name of under development they influence tribals and drag them into the unconstitutional mechanism.

It is due to this dycotomy, tribal populations as a whole are misdirected by the Maoists movement. They are becoming instrumental in their fight against the state or government missionaries through unlawful means. It is further widening the gap between the state lead development and unlawful activity of social development, i.e. Maoists movement.

Victims:  The tribal populations who are in vicious circle of Maoists movement are not able to come into field of development. Generation to generation they are falling into the trap of the movement. Several villagers those who are even trying to come out of Maoists clutches are not able to do so, due to lack of education, awareness and employment opportunities.

Adolescent which account of 22.8% of the population according to the planning commission projection often been perceived as a group of adult mental process and a transition from socio-economic dependence towards relative independence. Adolescent has been often been perceived as a group of people with problems, disturbances and a rebellious streak in them. This opportunities is favorable for the extremists to influence the adolescent to drag them into the pray of moist and ultimately engaged them in unlawful activities against state/ Development.

In the circumstances the proposal Day Care cum Counseling Center not only provide security to the 0-6 years child for the working & ailing mother but also give right direction to the Adolescent by developing their special and distinct need for making them a healthy, productive and responsible member of the society. By giving proper counseling in a climate of positive stimulation and a condignly environment, adolescent not only can grow off healthy and responsible member of society but also not fall in to the pray of moist.

Child and Victimization: Maoists movement for their nafed strategy, recruit innocent children and there by children’s are falling into trap of the movement. They are breeding the children since the childhood towards the movement, against the state as a result of these the child is deprived from getting basic health, education and recreation.

Child and Education: Since there is no potential education facility for the tribal children they are following the path of Maoists in the several villages of Sambalpur mainly in Jamankira, Jujumura and Naktiduel Blocks. Due to lack of education and livelihood opportunities they are following the traditional tribal livelihood practices by collecting minor forest produces or remain as an unemployed. This reduces the traditional livelihood practice of tribals ultimately developing the insecurity crisis in their life due to fear of Maoists movement. The poor functioning of Schools and Anganbadi centres has aggravated the situation more.

Strategy:

1. In search of livelihood in hilly and tribal regions, the parents are either going to forest, leaving their children and adolescent behind in the villages, for their subsistence.
2. Lack of education facilities, Counseling facility, lack of Pre School, Aganbadi centers and other educational facilities are leading to aimless life of children’s and adolescent in the tribal area.
3. Education is a lifeline for the all round development of the community which is not available to the children and adolescent of the movement area.
4. Childrens especially Maoist affected area are undernourished due to lack of sufficient food and livelihood opportunities, non functioning of Aganbadi centres and Schools, due to fear of the movement. Parents do not send their children to schools with the fear that children may be trafficked by the naxalites into their works. So neither they are willing to send their children to school nor putting them into mainstream of development.

Approaches:

Social Action for Rural Community (SARC) mission is to make a positive change with the lives of the disadvantage children and our vision is a society where each and every child, adolescent and young persons are supported to realize their potential. The organisation has been working in these areas since last ten years to keep pace with the social development process. SARC work as a catalyst to change the lives of village children and give them a better future through interventions that engage young children as well their parents and community. SARC strategy ensures that young children’s and adolescent survive and thrive that they are physically, mentally and emotionally healthy and intellectually curious and prepare them for going to formal schooling without any fear.

SARC will establish 4 nos of Day Care cum Counseling Centers in naxalite affected village of Jamankira Block. The day care cum counseling center will be run from 9 AM to 4 PM besides conducting daily counseling for the adolescent in time of need special adolescent counseling season will be held on every Monday from 2 PM to 4 PM by the foster mother cum counselor on life skill education, cycology counseling on. seven types, namely (i) Physical/health related (food & nutrition, psycho-somatic ailments, general health, physical exercise, etc.); (ii) Familial (understanding, sharing and security within the family); (iii) Financial (cost of education, health, recreation, etc.); (iv) Psychological (nervousness, lack of confidence, anxiety, etc.); (v) Social (friendship, sharing relationship with friends/teachers and coping with sexual drives); (vi) Emotional (anger/aggression, depression, loneliness, insecurity and feeling of guilt); and (vii) Academic (concentration, time-management, examination phobia, memory, study habits, etc.). Besides this quarterly sensitization camp for parents and adolescent will organize to address the need of the family on health, education and livelihood opportunities.

The day care cum counseling center will be in the following villages

1. Rakhibahal, Po. Tikiba, Block. Jamankira
2. Goelmunda, Po. Fasimal, Block. Jamankira
3. Kulunda, Po. Chakuliabahal, Block. Jamankira
4. Hatisal, Po. Chakuliabahal, Block. Jamankira

SARC believes that a few years of life from conception up to the age of 5 or 6 is the most crucial period of human life where the fastest and most critical change takes place in human brain and body. When the foundations of the health, intellect, personality and social adjustment are laid to enable every individual to grow to his/ her full potential and become a healthy productive and responsible member of society. The child’s basic needs at this stage must be met and failure to do so can lead to permanent and sometimes unalterable damages. The basic objective of the project is to meet the cognitive, social, emotional and physical needs of most vulnerable young children and adolescent in the naxal affected area. The above needs of the young child can be met through a clean and healthy environment, adequate and appropriate nutrition and loving and stimulating care, providing recreational facilities.

They will be assessed by the clinical psychologists and counselors who are trained on women and child development. It is clear that the family alone can no longer be expected to provide fully that is needed for the development of the child and especially in the movement area the state and society has a bigger role to play in the development of the child. SARC has also noticed that with the decrease in no.s of joint family system and the increasing number of nuclear family especially in the tribal families, working women need support in terms of quality, substitute care for day care services, which are not only required by working mothers but also women belonging to poor families. Poor Women require support and relief for child care as she has the struggle to cope with burden of activities within and outside the home.

To make the programme more successful from the planning stage community participation will be ensured.

Expected Outcome:

         The child parents will be relieved for child care and they can engage for income generation activity.

         The parental care and support towards the children will be increased.

         The girl child who were engaged in care of their younger siblings will go to school for schooling.

          Malnutrition will be reduced and all the childrens will be immunized.

         The percentage of children mainstreaming in the formal schooling will be increased.

         The drop-out rate will be reduced. 

         Health of child will be improved and regularly monitored.

         Prevent disruptive deviations and removed confusion in the life of adolescent.

         The adolescent does not fall into the trap of moist movement.

         The adolescent gain positive mental health and overcome stresses and strains of everyday life. 

         Childrens I.Q will be accessed and remedial actions will be taken.

         A peaceful environment will be created among the families of the villages and no. of people falling into the hands of the movement will be decreased.

CONTACT US

Social Action for Rural Community (SARC)

Sairam Nivas, Behind Nariseva Sadan

P.O./Dist.:Sambalpur, Orissa, India-768001

Phone: (0663)2412263

Cell No: +91 9937455878, +91 9439896264

Email: sarc6607@rediffmail.com