Tribal Village Empowerment
Name of the NGO: K.E.M. Hospital Research Centre, Pune
Title of the project (as used by the NGO) : "Comprehensive Tribal Model Village Development Program"
Project location (State, district, block, and village) : Maharashtra, Pune, Khed
Period of support: Feb 2019 to Mar 2022
Ongoing Project : Completed
What problem does the project try to address?
The tribal population primarily inhabits rural and remote areas and is among the most vulnerable and marginalised section of the society. They lag behind other social; groups in various social health and development indicators. As per 2011 census the tribal population in India constituted 8.6% of the country's population having diverse cultural and life practices. Hence the project looks at addressing various indicators with a focus on health and poverty alleviation. The target group being women considering their gender vulnerability and the area replete with cultural taboos and customs. The lacunae were noted were minimal health service provision, poor access, community mind set, no or limited education and poverty.
How does the project mitigate such problems? What makes this project unique from other projects from the same domain?
The project looked at various intervention to address the above issues. These included- health awareness, nutrition education, mobile van services, training od ASHA workers as Bare Foot Doctors, formulation of Village Committees, Rain water harvesting, kitchen gardens, menstrual hygiene and addressing anti natal and post-natal care.
Training ASHA workers as Bare foot doctors to address issues of health access and health care. In addition, formulation of health post (Arogya kuti) at village level to address basic primary health care needs of the population and appropriate referral. Also, formulation of village committees to ensure sustainability and community involvement from the beginning makes the project unique.
What makes this project unique in comparison to other projects from the same domain?
Same as above
| Output of the Project | Outcome of the Project |
| Health Awareness | Increase in knowledge on various health issues |
| Training of ASHAs |
ASHA's trained as Barefoot doctors to enhance the health status of the tribal population |
| Skill building course for women and adolescents |
Empowring women and adolescents through capacity and skill building addressing alleviation poverty Village committee takes ownership of the project ensuding sutainability
All the above outcomes would create a sustainable and replicable model of triabal village development to address health and empowerment with a focus on women and adolescents |
Happy story/Case Story
Case Study: - Skill Building Course Beneficiary
Name: Suvarna Anil Supe
Age: 22 Years
Education: 10th
Address: At Khopewadi, Parsul Post Ghotwadi, Block Khed, District Pune
Suvarna introduced herself saying "I am Suvarna Anil Supe living at Khopewadi, Parsul. Parsul village is situated in a remote and mountainous valley in a tribal area. There are no business/ career opportunities for girls and women in this village. In my family I have a husband and two children. The main occupation of my family is agriculture. Everyone in my family is dependent on agriculture. In such a situation, I have to take care of children and help in farming. In addition to agriculture, there are no other means of income to meet the needs of the family. There was a great desire and curiosity in my mind to do something".
Background: -.
She further expressed that under KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune, it had been decided to start a Tailoring Course to enhance the skill and capacity building of tribal women by imparting vocational training to adolescent girls and women so that they can stand on their own two feet.
The work of KEM Hospital Research Centre Pune is being carried out in remote tribal areas and mountain valleys. I realized that if the project provides us with this opportunity to enrol in a tailoring machine course at Khopewadi through the organization, we can get an opportunity through to meet the financial needs of the family.
She continued to say "I contacted the project representative to join the course. I was looking forward to Project's cooperation to stand confidently on my own feet. For this, a meeting of adolescents and women was organized in a Arogya Kuti one day". In this meeting, information was given about the sewing machine course. It was told that there is a three-month Tailoring course and it will be taught by a trained person. For this, the attendance of the participating beneficiaries should be 80%. She further said "I will get the certificate after completing the course training and it will be beneficial. A list of interested beneficiaries was prepared and 10 members registered for the batch".
She said "I got a business opportunity at the village level. Women from Khopewadi are coming to me to do their sewing. They used to do sewing outside in the village. But as it became available at the village level, women started sewing in the village itself" and getting financial support with the help of "Shilaikama" to take care of the household chores and gradually started to meet the needs of the family through this skill. This provided an opportunity for me to develop and empower myself financially and I was satisfied with it.
She said "On behalf of all women and adolescents' I would like to thank KEM Hospital Research Centre Pune and Bajaj CSR for providing me the opportunity for this course and also for all the other women and girls in the village.
Case Study: - Bare Foot Doctor
Name: Mrs. Suvarna Subhash Darekar
Age: 37
Education: 9th
Address: At Shendurli, Post Shendurli, Block Khed, District Pune
In Shendurli village Suvarna resides with her husband (38 years) and they have 2 children. They mostly depend on agriculture which is climate dependent. Her financial condition is poor therefore it is difficult for them to manage household expenses.
She said "One day I heard that the KEM Hospital Research Centre Pune is working in village Shendurli through the financial support of Bajaj CSR. This project focuses on pregnant mothers, nursing mothers and adolescent girls to get proper health care, health education and overall comprehensive development of the village."
She further expressed "I got opportunity to work as a Bare Foot Doctor. I was initially trained by a panel of experts on various health topics focusing on pregnant mothers, breastfeeding mothers and adolescents and handling various diagnostics equipment's like Hb, Sugar, B.P. Temperature and medicines to treat common illness. In addition, we were provided with a First Aid Kit, how to refer patients etc., She continued to say that
although I have no previous experience in this field, but I have received regular refresher trainings related to the duties and responsibilities of the BFD post. As a Secretary in Village Health Committee and other various documentation to be maintained. This project has helped me to reach out to all beneficiaries on the various issues of village development including health and the benefits of different government schemes, Management of Mobile Health Check Up Clinics and issue of integrated village development with continuous mentoring support and motivation by project staff.
Today, I have gained more knowledge and confidence in self-reliant training and health care services and other schemes.
On behalf of all BFDs, I would like thanks entire project team. This gives me happiness, satisfaction and proud feeling to work as "Bare Foot Doctor"
