Annual Report 2014-2015
During the period under review, the society undertook various activities in areas related to social and economic development, education, empowerment and health. Given below is a brief account of various activities CWS has carried out during the year under review. Activities of CWS are broadly classified in four segments:
CWS is running a number of programmes for the welfare of children from various slums. The main aim of these programmes is to facilitate the education and character building of children from slums.
a. Creches:
Presently CWS has four creches; Gopabandhupalli, Sector 2, Sheetalpara, Basanti Colony. Our creches cater to as many as two hundred and twenty kids. We have appointed two women each in every creche to take care of the tiny tots. Besides giving them food during the day, kids are taught alphabets, songs, dance, and disciplined behaviour.
b. Tuition Classes for the School going children:
Our interactions with children attending regular schooling reveal that many of them are not able to acquire the skills in reading, writing and basic mathematical calculations even after five to six years of schooling. Hence to facilitate the process of acquiring these basic skills in learning we have started tuition programme for children who are attending schools. We have four tuition centres where regular tuition programmes are conducted. Every tuition centre has approximately 65 children each attending the programme.
c. Centre for Drop-out children:
CWS is running non-formal schooling facilities for children in Sheetalpara and Jamtolli who have not attended any school or are dropouts from formal school. Objective of the programme is to enable them to join a formal school or to encourage them to appear for National Open School Examination. Presently the centres for drop out children have 50 children.
During the last one year a number of programmes were organised for the slum youth to foster unity and motivate them to become better and productive citizens. Some of them are:
a. Sports and Games:
In three places - Sheetalpara, Sector – 2 and Gopabandhupalli - youth were given opportunity to participate in sports and games programmes. In each of these places more than 200 girls and boys participated in the programmes.
b. Seminars and Workshops:
CWS organised three seminars for the slum youth; on leadership, personality development and career guidance. These seminars facilitated the formation of CWS Youth Committees in the slums. Now they participate and take leadership in each of the programmes that are organised by CWS in different places.
c. Cleanliness Drive:
A number of rallies and voluntary work programmes were organised to bring home the message, ‘cleanliness alone will facilitate good health.’ Along with this tree plantation programmes were organised in two places.
d. Spoken English Classes:
Presently knowledge of English is considered an essential qualification for gaining employment or conducting any business. Realising the importance of this aspect of market demand CWS has initiated teaching of Spoken English in three places: Gopabandhupalli, Sector-2 and St. Pauls School, Hamirpur. The duration of the course was three months. During the span of last one year three batches of students passed out. A total of 127 students were given certificate for attending the programme. We will begin classes for the new batch on 22nd June.
e. Tailoring Training Centres:
CWS has three tailoring training centres in slums; Gopabandhupalli, Sector 2 and Basanti Colony. A total of 147 girls and women are getting skilled in tailoring through these centres. Classes are conducted in two batches everyday for a period of six months.
f. Beautician Courses:
A Beautician course was organized in Sector 2 centre and two are in progress – one each in Sector 2 and Gopabandhupali centres – during this year. The course is conducted by qualified beauticians. The duration of each course is two months. 80 young girls from the slums got trained as skilled beauticians through this programme.
g. Youth Festival:
CWS organized a day-long festival for the youth from various slums of Rourkela on 19 April 2015 at D’Souza School Auditorium. 400 youth participated in this festival and showcased their cultural talents. It offered an opportunity to integrate the youth from different slums of Rourkela. The highlight of the Festival was a group dance competition with 22 entries.
Realizing the significant position of women and the role they can play in family and society at large CWS began its women’s empowerment programme way back in 1997. We have 14 women animators and three field supervisors implementing this programme effectively. Activities of this programme include:
a. Self Help Groups:
As part women’s empowerment programme CWS began the formation of Self Help Groups in 2002. Presently we have as many as 371 functioning groups. These groups enable women to attain financial security and create habit of regular savings. These groups are also a platform for women to come together and discuss their problems and difficulties. These SHGs function as support groups for women.
b. International Women’s Day:
On 8th March we had a grand celebration of International Women’s day. Approximately 3500 women from our target area attended the programme. It was a great time for people to come together, listen, learn and entertain themselves.
c. Income Generating Activities:
With the help of loans from SHGs, many women have explored the possibilities for self-employment. Such initiatives include setting up of small scale grocery shops, vegetable shops, food production units, tea shops, Poultry units, manufacturing of masala, paper bags and phenol, embroidery, tailoring, vehicle renting and mushroom cultivation.
d. Seminars for the Women in Slums:
Seminars for the Women in Slums: For any empowerment process to be effective, it is important to form the target group as an informed and knowledgeable one. Hence we in CWS pay a lot of attention in organising seminars and workshops for women in slums. The subjects for seminars vary from time to time. During the last one year we organised five seminars and a number of training programmes. Subjects for seminars were leadership, SHG record maintenance, role and responsibility of SHG leaders, role of women in society and formation of co-operative society.
From the very outset, CWS paid a lot of attention towards the health care of people in its operational area. Mobile clinic, medical camps, Sunday clinics in Gopabandhupalli and Sector – 2 Khariabahal Basti and finally the CWS Hospital in Jagda justify this claim. Here is a detailed account of CWS’s healthcare programme:
a. Sunday Clinics:
We have a total of three Sunday Clinics functioning; Gopabandhupalli, Malgodam and Sector -6. Here the Society acknowledges the contribution of all the doctors who spend their valuable time in caring for the patients in slums and thank them. In Gopabandhupalli doctors from IGH render their service and in Malgodam Doctors from CWS Hospital render their service. Sunday Clinic in Sector 6 Subhashpalli is sponsored by Carmel School, Hamirpur. During the last one year 2473 patients benefited from this programme.
b. Medical Camps:
During the year under review CWS has conducted six medical camps in slums and rural areas. The places are Gopabandhupalli, Malgodam, ,Kacharu, Birjapalli, Raiboga, Arba-Jhorabahal. 1556 people benefited from these camps.
c. CWS Hospital:
CWS Hospital with 120 beds at present is the most ambitious and visible project of CWS healthcare programme. During the last one year a number of facilities were added to the hospital.
i. Beginning of Phako- emulsification surgery for cataract in the eyes
ii. Addition of a second Auto analyzer in Bio-chemistry department
iii. Inauguration of a High Dependency Unit or Semi-ICU
iv. Starting of a Special Care Unit in Fist and Second floor
v. Introduction of a Digital X-Ray
vi. Introduction of a May I Help You Desk and token system for the patients
vii. Addition of a second Ambulance in the hospital
Conclusion
Activities of the Society have been successful on account of the help and co-operation received from various individuals and organizations. I would like to acknowledge and place on record our gratitude to all those who contributed towards the growth of the Society. I would like to mention some of them specifically. They are:
a. All the members of CWS old and new who support the organization wholeheartedly with their tangible and intangible resources.
b. All the members of CWS Executive Committee who make sure to attend meetings of Executive Committee and spent their quality time for its growth.
c. Rourkela Steel Plant which has given us the land for the hospital, quarters on rent for our staff to stay, and for ongoing co-operation and support.
d. NIT Rourkela which is very supportive of our organization and hospital. They have given us always a preferential treatment.
e. The media and press personnel which gave us always positive coverage for our programmes.
f. All the suppliers who promptly execute our orders.
g. Our Pharmacy, canteens and sanitation departments which are outsourced and are doing a commendable service by facilitating patient care in the hospital.
h. All the consultant doctors of the hospital who are very generous with their time and talent for CWS activities.
i. All the Staff of CWS and CWS hospital who work day in and day out literally to provide quality service to the poor in slums and patients in the hospital.
j. Society of the Divine Word, Handmaids of the Sacred Heart and Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit who support the organization by sparing their members to work in slums and hospital.
Once again on behalf of CWS family, I extend our gratitude to all those who have supported, helped and encouraged us in our endeavours.
Fr. Bennichan K Peter, SVD
(Secretary, Community Welfare Society, Rourkela)