Harnessing Community Energies and generating social consciousness
SIDUR's Integrated Slum Development programmes are in operation in the urban slums of Hyderabad right from the inception (1990). These programmes were developed from a theoretical framework to an implemenlable programme based on the personal experience and understanding the lives of slum residents, From an activist's viewpoint there was a greater concern; that slum residents themselves were internalizing this attitude, leading to decreased self-esteem and a diffident attitude. At this backdrop the Integrated Slum Development concept was developed assuming that the slum residents themselves were willing to be active participants in their own development process This programme was conceptualized and structured in 1991-92. Preliminary education and health activities were firslly carried out during early-1993 This provided an opportunity of knowing the slums residents better. fine-tuning the ISO programmes and designing appropriate learning/monitoring systems for ISO. From t ssa coweors. implementation of ISOWith fourfull-nedged programmes be9an. The programmes were: Community Health. Non Formal Education Skill Imparting and Community Organ~ation Programmes. Areview in mid-1996 showed that these programmes have established the foundation for more complex intervention in the urban slums of Hyderabad. In January 1998. the Savings and Credit Income Generation Programmes were launched.
Community health programme:
i) The Socio-economic and health surveys provided an opportunity to interact with a large number of residents, As a result, some women could be identified as potentia l local workers. Two women started working in the pre-ISO stage and two more joined in June 1993. These four women were trained as Community Health Workers (CHW). The activities taken up under the CHP were i) Medical campswhere basic health services are available.
ii) A comprehensive mother and child care programme consisting of gynecological care and immunization during pregnancy, enabling safer deliveries and postnatal care al'ld complete immunization of children
iii) Referrals to government and muncipal clinics
iv) TB Control
v) Awareness about preventive health methods.
It was believed that these three activities would start a Virtuous dynamic cycle of actions for development. The intervention would begin with improvement in skills and cececnes. that would lead to improvement in quality of life, that would enhance their self worth. whim would lead to critica l reflection and finally to more actions lor development. This framework provided design and structure 01 Integrated Slum Development. Based on that a Frame of Reference was prepared, The main components in this are: To address all development needs of health. education, economic betterment, physical up gradation and human aspirations
i) Slum residents would be participants by deciding and implementing
ii) Development processes would proactively benefit women.
iii) Partnerships with concerned institutions and individuals, and
iv) Values of integrity, quality, and sensitivity would be inherent.
Changes :
In order to make the women realize their inner strength and importance in the society. SIDUR has taken a pledge to illuminate their lives with Pride and Dignity Integrated Slum Development programmes have made a substantial difference. The quality of life in the intervention slums has changed for the better. There has been a measurable positive change in basic development indicators. Equally important is the change in attitude.
The earlier diffidence and helplessness has given way to a more positive dynamism where residents feel that they can affect and influence change.
Our Strategy includes:
Networking with civil solely organizations to sensitize people and communities on the issue of child labor and child rights. Organizing rallies, street plays and workshops to bring about awareness on the issue of child labour and discrimination. Making documentaries, signboards, slides and clipp ings through the electronic media to built public opinion against child labor, Forming positive pressure groups against child labor and other forms of oppression, Interacting with government on policies that have a bearing on child labor. Training programs for the youth on compute r training , personality deveiopment. life skills social and spiritual values, We have been providing consultancy services to several upcoming NGOs, mainly focusing on proposal writing, program development, and statutory mailers and fund raising.
Operational model :
Health Care :
Health care on wheels operates by taking well-equipped medical van along with scecereeo doctors, nurses, medical staff, equipments and medicines to the Identified slums in a systematic manner. Health care Mobile Medical van covers the slum areas where either no governmental health care facilities exist or the same is not sufficient for the population, Each day the van covers the vicinity of up to 25 kms from its centre and visiting 2-3 slums a day on a regular basis, various Health Awareness Programs are held at different times throughout the year to impart the prime aim; Prevention is better than cure
Girl child and women empowerment:
Gender-based discrimination and societal behavior leading to physical and psychological harassments, emotional violence bordering on cruelty is never scant in woman's basket of woes. Social evils begin at the womb with female feticides, infanticides, sexual harassment, rape and dowry related tortures putting an end to her misery only at the tomb, In order to make the women realize their inner strength and importance in the society, SIDUR has taken a pledge to illuminate their lives with Pride and Dignity. Self Help Groups are voluntary response of the poor to their marginalization, social , economic and political. Over the years, we now have many success steelesof families improving their livel ihood and well being via these SHG programs, Our Empowerment Policy for women aims at the following objectives:
Gender equality
Gender justice
Social Security
Elimination of discrimination against women in all walks of life.
Economic development and integration of women into main stream of economy estabshment of Self-Reliant Women's Self Help Groups.
Creation of confidence and awareness among members of SHG's regarding women's status, health, nutrition, education, sanction and hygiene, legal lights, economic enlistment and other social, economic and political issues.
Strengthening and institutionalizing the savings habit in rural women and their control economic resources.
Improving access of women to micro credit.
Involvement of women in local level planning and Convergence of services of DWCW and other Departments In addition to the regular programmes five specsr interventions are developed to address special needs and necessities of the most deserving children and youth in need of immediate support.
Objectives behind special interventions:
The initiative aims at reaching out to the most deserving children in special circumstances through relief or advocacy, Sensitizing privileged ct1ildren at an early age Sensitizing masses on Child Rights Children with critical needs on healthcare or education
Children in distress
Education :
Education for underprivileged children is the key whether we are addressing haalthcare, poverty, population control, unemployment or human rights issues. The educational initiatives for underprivi leged children include Non roemar Education (6-14 yrs non-school going and drop-outs), Functional Literacy [18-45 yrs women] and Family life Education for adolescent girls. These programme support more than 100 grassroots initiatives working for the education of very poor and underprivileged children in various slums of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and Ranga Reddy Districts.
SIDUR works with under-privileged children under diffIcult circumstances suct1 as child labour, children of poorest of the parents. children inflicted and affected With HIVIAIDS. street and runaway children, children with rare disability (Autism. Deaf & Dumb. Blind, and Spastic etc.) disasterstruck children and slum children etc.
Vocational training programme:
Under this component. vacational training centers and empowerment centers are run where street children and working children are gathered and provided opportunities for literacy, social awareness, health care, nutrition, entertainment and creativity
Accomplishment:
Total No. of beneficiaries: 1381
Adult education: 867
Non formal education (children): 305
Skill development: 136
Job placements: 73
