abhyudaya's introduction

ABHYUDAYA

Introduction

Abhyudaya, a Delhi based Non Governmental Organization, has been an effort devoted to bring relief, upliftment and empowerment to the most depressed section of unorganized workers. On a broader perspective, Abhyudaya focuses upon an all round development of this distressed, dejected and devalued segment of population. Initiated in 2005, Abhyudaya has targeted the Mehrauli region of Delhi, and established its hold in organizing the quarry workers at Bhatti Mines, and planning non-formal education classes for children in Kishengarh village and Neb Sarai. In both these cases, special care and emphasis was placed on the participation of women and children. The organization has steadily undertaken welfare initiatives at the community level, and pursued persistent advocacy at the national level for immediate results. Over time Abhyudaya has successfully expanded its coverage to a larger area of South Delhi and now established its roots in Neb Sarai, Bhatti Mines, Saket, Vasant Kunj, Kishengarh, Khanpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Sangam Vihar, Malviya Nagar, and Mehrauli.

History

Abhyudaya is a registered organization (registered in 2002 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860), which began its operations in 1999 under the leadership of Rati Singh. Recognizing poverty as the abiding reality of all third world nations, Abhyudaya had vowed to emerge as an agent of change for the sidelined majority in India. It aims to secure human rights, dignity and social integration of the marginalized and neglected workers.

Abhyudaya has been working in the Mehrauli region of Delhi since 1999, although the contact person has been active as a volunteer in the area since 1990. The Mehrauli region contains the northern limits of the Aravalli range, and it is here that the quarries and mines were located from which construction material was provided to the city of Delhi. Bhatti Mines lies at the southern outskirts of Delhi, within the forested highlands near the border of Haryana. Thus, a large labor force settled in this area to work in the quarries, with a total estimated population of 50,000. Many of the families had migrated from Pakistan at the time of Partition, and the two principal ethnic groups were of Kumhars and Oadhs. But in 1992 the mining was closed down on environmental grounds by the courts. An entire community was abandoned to unemployment, hunger, and growing poverty. To go a step further, this residential area of Bhatti Mines was declared a Ridgeland, and hence all construction as illegal. The village was declared a slum and the issue was dealt as one of land encroachment. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has bulldozed two of the three colonies there, Indira Nagar and Balbir Nagar. The third colony, Sanjay Camp, will be evicted any day now. Almost 4,000 families have been left homeless by the demolitions, while resettlement was provided to only 700 families - in Bawana and Holambi Kalan. The fate of the remaining 3,300-odd families is unclear.

Goals

· To allow justice and dignity to the target community. Special operation to unite the people of Bhatti Mines to fight for their rightful right on land.
· To provide employment opportunities in the target area, with special emphasis on women’s role and economy.
· Guarantee self-reliance to women through development of handwork and craft. This includes provision for professional training for the women for development of skills and efficiency of results.
· To provide adequate recognition to their work and provision for its remuneration.
· Literacy programs for children and adults, all ages, with special emphasis on women education.
· Train young women in health awareness, sex education, and AIDs to promote self-sufficiency.
· To fight against cases of exploitation against women, and make legal arrangements to guarantee them justice.
· Organize women into self-help groups that will encourage savings for the future through micro-credit schemes and an independent savings bank.
· In case of child labor Abhyudaya plans to fight for the rights of children, allow them their basic necessities and guarantee them formal or non-formal education. There will be provision for protection against hazards and injury due to the nature of their work. Exploitation of any type shall be dealt legally.

Campaigns and Movements

· Abhyudaya has associated itself to dilemma faced by the villagers of Bhatti mines and directed them to fight for their land. The remnants in Bhatti Mines have been unified in this fight, and till date they have not allowed the police and officials to go beyond the main road connecting their houses. Thus Abhyudaya’s effort has indeed been transformed into a people’s movement.
· The women in Bhatti Mines suffer from the double burden of earning a livelihood as well as looking after domestic chores. In providing a solution to this problem, Abhyudaya has successfully exploited the creative talent they possess in the skill of stitching and embroidery on cloth. Attractive patchwork from small pieces of waste cloth making different sizes of quilts and sheets, are excellent examples of their traditional arts and crafts from Sindh and Multan. In this manner the women are able to earn along with performing their household tasks.
· Abhyudaya has also been working to provide the necessary remuneration and recognition to the craft. Display of these items in exhibitions and popular outlets such as People Tree has been acknowledged and found a positive response.
· Abhyudaya has been consistent in spreading social consciousness among the people of Bhatti Mines. It has time and again encouraged people to embrace the necessities of education, employment and hard work for a brighter tomorrow.
· Women have often been exploited and discriminated for long in this area. Due to strict preservation of custom and tradition, women have lost their identity and dignity. Abhyudaya has been helping all such women, and provided them the necessary strength and platform to fight for justice.
· Educational programs for children living in shacks in Kishengarh village. Classes were held in shifts: 80 children taught in the morning shift, about 20 adolescent girls and adult women in the afternoon, and a group of 15 boys and male adults in the evening batch.
· Craft training for girls and women in Kishengarh introduced as home based income generation program.
· Literacy program for rag pickers in Neb sarai. A school for 50 children is being run very successfully with two young voluntary teachers living in the same locality.

Achievements

Women in Bhatti Mines have effectively realized a multi faceted development of skills, allowing them to be economically independent alongside carrying their routine household responsibilities.
Children of most families are going to schools. Many others are being helped by other NGOs. Young girls who don’t study have been given training in tailoring and embroidery to enhance their skills. They now do embroidery on duppatta, cushion covers, bed sheets, bags which have a large demand in the market.
Waste management of cloth has found a market for patchwork in bed sheets, belts and bags.
The Society had acted to restore peaceful living environ in some families, settling property disputes, and focused on the positive role of the Society.
Educational classes in Kishengarh resulted in admission of 50 children to regular MCD schools.


Plans for future

To fight for the rights of the people of Bhatti Mines and their lawful authority on their land.
To constantly upgrade the level and quantum of work so as to provide employment to all women at home.
To allow training in the area so that women are able to learn the skills and specialize in desired fields.
To ensure every child either goes to school or takes non-formal education through NGOs or other volunteers.
In case of rag pickers a program for overall development of children to educate them about their rights and their alternatives for future.
Development of mahilabadi – a system under which the government builds an institution, exclusively for women development, including hostel, training centers, school, crèches, guaranteeing them safety and justice. It is aimed to be a home for women in distress, where the needy are equipped with emotional and physical support to give a justifiable direction to her life.
The youth will be given vocational training in computers, and other technical trades, and also encouraged to participate in progressive cultural events.

Abhyudaya is not just an organization or a NGO, but a movement…a drive…a progression - aimed to make our world a place of equality and prosperity. The issues and complexities prevalent today have to be dealt by sensitizing the environment, and allowing space for one and all. Development can never be achieved at the expense of someone else…the mistakes of past need correction now, and this is what we vow to achieve as ABHYUDAYA.