Village Adoption - Dhyan Foundation

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Village Adoption

Introduction: Dhyan Foundation has adopted a village in an attempt to build a progressive self-reliant rural community. The approach is targeted towards the holistic development of the village by providing services in healthcare, sanitation, primary education, adult literacy, skill development and environment. Dhyan Foundation believes in adopting a scientific process while implementing these services. The first step is to sensitize the community of the program so that there is a certain level of acceptance by the villagers and they also become equal partners in this initiative. Acceptance and cooperation by the community is imperative for the success and sustainability of the project.

Dhyan Foundation has adopted Mandavne village in Raigad district in the Karjat Taluka, which is 96 Kms from Mumbai. This village has a population of over 2000 members. The dialect is Marathi and their primary occupation is farming. In other words, the villagers are rice cultivators.

Steps involved:

Need analysis - a rigorous exercise will be undertaken to understand the need of the villagers.
Customization of the program - based on the need analysis, programs will be customized.
Optimization of Delivery: An attempt will be made to understand the issues and challenges faced during the implementation of various initiatives thereby maximally optimizing the resources and ensuring successful outcomes.
Sustainability: Efforts are made to make the villagers self-reliant such that the project can then be taken up the villagers themselves.

A brief overview of the Initiative

Introduction of Drainage and Sewage System
Two water pumps for the adivasi schools
Medical assistance for the village. There is a monthly visit by a Doctor and the village is provided with medical supplies
Providing school uniforms to the adivasi children
Providing Educational toys to the Aanganwadi
Providing Notebooks, Stationery and school material to the children
Distribution of 500 free saplings to the village
Supporting Mid-Day Meals program for school children by supplementing it with fruits and vegetables.
Providing employment to the local population

Dhyan Foundation's focus areas and goals are as given below:

1	EDUCATION	Promote Universal Basic Education Promote Gender Equality Women Empowerment	Providing potable water Supporting Mid-Day Meals School Uniforms Providing Educative toys
2	HEALTH & HYGIENE	Reducing Child Mortality Improving Maternal Health Basic Medical Care	Monthly Medical Camps Monthly Health Awareness Talks
3	ENVIRONMENT	Expanding the green cover	Distribution & planting of saplings
4	SUSTAINED LIVELIHOOD	Employment & Livelihood	Provide employment to the locals within the framework of the program Provide fruit bearing saplings where possible
5	INFRASTRUCTURE	Eliminate flooding problem and improve overall hygiene	Developing public drainage system

Education: Education is the very foundation of the society and it is essential to ensure that the underprivileged students in rural areas have the basic amenities and incentives. This will not only attract students to the schools but also reduce the dropout rates. This applies especially to the female child whose education is not considered to be of importance in rural areas.
The education system in the village includes 3 schools at primary and secondary levels. Dhyan Foundation has identified 2 schools to offer assistance in various forms.

1 Water hand pump will be provided to each school to provide potable water.
One of the two schools, the adivasi school, will be provided additional assistance in the form of school uniforms and additional support to their existing mid-day meal program.

Aanganwadi: The village also has an elementary anganwadi providing day care to children. DF will provide basic educative and child development toys and accessories. Items will be replenished as and when necessary.

Healthcare & Hygiene:There is a complete lack of health/medical services in the village. The closest clinic is about 10kms from the village. This state of affairs is a major handicap to the well being of the local population. Health care facilities are essential for reducing child mortality, improving maternal health and providing basic medical care. Dhyan Foundation aims to achieve this objective by:

Organising monthly medical clinics: Arrangements will be made to send Doctors once a month to diagnose and dispense medicines for common ailments. Special cases will be referred to the closest hospitals. Frequency of visits by Doctors may be increased if deemed necessary in due course. The local Panchayat premises will be utilised for the visiting doctor’s make shift clinic.
Health Awareness talks: Talks will be arranged on a monthly basis on various aspects of health, hygiene and sanitation.

Environment:Emphasis will be placed on improving the environment by expanding the green cover. Plant saplings will be distributed to each household.
Saplings will be procured free of cost, as the donor has been identified.

Sustained Livelihood:The principle local economic activity is farming. Additional employment will be provided within the program activities to the local population to improve their economic well being.
Additionally, efforts will also be made to provide fruit bearing saplings to the households to improve their livelihood.

Infrastructure:In the absence of a public drainage system to manage rain water, the village faces severe flooding and hygiene issues during monsoons. DF intends to develop a drainage system to eliminate these deterrents to sustenance of a normal and healthy support system for the local population.

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