SOCIAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT

            "When you give a gift to a begger, don't shout about it as the hypocrates do.....

But when you do a kindness to someone, do it secretly, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing".

·      Jesus Christ

Enhancing Social progress:

            The social development initiatives sectors cover a range of activities in specific categories. Taken as a whole these activities are focused on enhancing rich areas of the social milieu and contribute to human progress in their respective fields. They include empowerment of women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and others.

Scheduled Castes:

            The Scheduled Castes, occupying the lowest stratum of the caste-oriented hierarchical society, have been traditionally subjected to socio-economic disabilities and other disadvantages symbolizing social inequality. The persisting problems of Scheduled Castes in terms of social discrimination, prevalence of social evils, like untouchability and other social disabilities/discrimination, practice of manual scavenging, increasing exploitation and atrocities committed against them are some of main impediments that frustrate the development efforts. Although education, health and employment are recognized crucial for empowerment of the socially disadvantaged groups, the achievements made so far through plan efforts still reflect their backwardness in these sectors. We aim to address following persisting sectoral issues with effective strategies and programmes not only towards reducing their ways of marginalisation but also for promoting awareness generation and enhancing their socio economic ability through the process of empowerment:

§      Eradication of manual scavenging and rehabilitation of scavengers;

§      Eradication of practice of untouchability;

§      Literacy, education, vocational training to equip them for suitable employment;

§      Reinvigorated and intensified poverty alleviation programmes to make a better and effective impact in their overall living conditions;

§      Skill upgradation and enhancing technological inputs and market supports for better earnings in their traditional occupations;

§      Fulfilment of basic needs viz. housing, sanitation, food, nutrition, water, health, education, employment and safe environment;

§      Protecting them from atrocities and exploitation; and

§      Social and economic rehabilitation of environmental victims.

           Utthan has initiated following schemes for the development of scheduled castes:

§      Identified villages in Kaushambi district mainly inhabited by the scheduled caste and started integrated development of these villages for poverty alleviation, education and vocational training, housing, sanitation, nutrition and safe drinking water supply;

§      Energy problems of these villages were resolved by raising of agroforestry plantation and cultivation of Jatropha , yielding biodiesel; and;

§      Health cards were prepared for all the beneficiaries and they were provided health facilities through a dispensary at Kotwa village.

Scheduled Tribes 

The Scheduled Tribes (STs) deserve categorical attention not only for the reason that they are ethnically distinct and live in isolation but also because of the fact that they are also vulnerable, poor, assetless and lack capacity to negotiate/cope with the consequences of their forced integration with the mainstream economy, society, culture and political system. ST grapple with these tragic consequences and the existing welfare and development programmes have little impact to prevent their pauperization, exploitation and disintegration. In view of the existence of certain specific unresolved and persisting issues that have been responsible for the persistence of socio-economic backwardness and increasing vulnerability of the tribals.

          Utthan started following programmes for development of scheduled tribes:

§      Utthan carried out, settlement and rehabilitation of tribal families in Kalpi and adjacent villages; which were submerged in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh due to construction of Bargi dam on Narmada river. 

§      Utthan started conservation and development programme of Baiga Primitive Tribe in Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh: and

§      In tribal villages started schemes for providing improved houses, sanitation, health, education, food, nutrition and safe drinking water facilities. (Whom?)

Educational development of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe minorities and others left behind:-

            Development and empowerment of socially disadvantaged groups is commitment enshrined in the constitution and education is the most effective instrument of social empowerment. Schemes for the educational upliftment of the SCs and STs have borne fruit, although the gap between the general population and SCs and STs is still high. The educational schemes in favour of these sections would therefore need to be continued with redoubled vigour. It is imperative to promote education, among other backward sections including minorities. Some minorities have fallen for behind the national average in education. It will be necessary to go to the root of the problem and examine the reasons for the decline so that remedial measures can be taken.

            One of the reason for not continuing the education, or dropping out of children of poor families is to work for the family as a child worker. NGOs around the country in the rural and urban areas have shown that child worker can be mainstreamed into education through camps that hook them on to good education after withdrawing them from work. UTTHAN is planning to start a residential school in regions of extreme poverty for keeping them there for special coaching and then putting them in the mainstream of education.