Annual Report on Urban Poor Development through Community Mobilization

Project Identification:

 

 

1.1	Project Title	Urban Poor Development Program (UPDP) through Community Mobilization
1.2	BMZ - PN	DCV-BMZ 321-010/2014
1.3	Location	SXSSS
1.4	Reporting Period	January to December 2019
1.5	Target Area Details	35 Slums of Ahmedabad
1.6	Report Complied by	Core Group (Cluster Coord) & Fr Isaac -Director
1.7	Date of Report	30th Jan 2020

 

 

1. Introduction

 

“Smart City projects undertaken by us have been extremely challenging but we charted our own course and achieved a lot in a short span of three years. Safety and security of our citizens are paramount for us,”

Mukesh Kumar, Commissioner, Ahmadabad Municipal Corporation

 

Highlighting the importance of this inclusion, Kumar also said that this intervention is extremely important in the long run to make the poor people a part of the development process.

Emphasizing on the inclusion aspect, Gautambhai Navalchand Shah, Mayor, Ahmadabad also affirmed, “The primary aim of Ahmadabad Smart Cities Mission is to make our citizen’s lives better and ensure a sustainable development which are our ‘to work on principles’. Livable and Lovable is what our motto is.”

Over a billion people currently live in slums, with the number of slum dwellers only expected to grow in the coming decades. The vast majority of slums are located in and around urban centers in the less economically developed countries, which are also experiencing greater rates of urbanization compared with more developed countries. This rapid rate of urbanization is cause for significant concern given that many of these countries often lack the ability to provide the infrastructure (e.g., roads and affordable housing) and basic services (e.g., water and sanitation) to provide adequately for the increasing influx of people into cities. While research on slums has been ongoing, such work has mainly focused on one of three constructs: exploring the socio-economic and policy issues; exploring the physical characteristics; and, lastly, those modeling slums.

St. Xavier’s Social Service Society has been consistently focusing on a more holistic approach for the past nine years in mobilizing people and uniting their force in understating the issues and to bring about a solution by their collective efforts. By synthesizing the social and physical constructs, this report provides a more holistic synthesis of the problem, which can potentially lead to a deeper understanding and, consequently, better approaches for tackling the challenges of various slums at the local scales. The number of slum dwellers is projected to increase to 2 billion by 2030 and to 3 billion by 2050 if current trends persist. The presence of slums has regional and global implications, impacting areas such as education, health and child mortality, and political and social exclusion, among many other things.

 

 

1.1 An overview:

Gujarat is the western state of India and is considered as a model state of development by the Gujarat state and central government led by Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP). As per Census of 2011, it has 6.03 crore population. Gujarat is 10^th most populous state and 3^rd urbanized state. Urbanization has reached 42 % in Gujarat as per Census 2011.

 

Gujarat has become urbanized state in India. Urbanization in Gujarat is 11 % higher than all India urbanization (31.16%). It is expected that urbanization will touch 50 % by 2030. Due to higher urbanization growth Gujarat needs to build more houses in affordable segment. Members from marginalized communities have migrated and are migrating in cities from villages in search of livelihood. The living and land cost is too high in the cities, hence cannot be afforded by the poor and marginalized communities. Thus, they have no other option than to live in slums -often in sub-human conditions. Majority of these house-holds (HHs) belong to marginalized communities like Nomadic Tribes, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Muslims. Besides, they are compelled to live on the outskirts of the cities -on the river bank, open sewerages, near dumping sites etc. SCs and STs face severe shortage of basic amenities and services such as sufficient and potable water, roads, electricity, drainage and safety required for adequate housing and people living therein.

According to the 69^th survey  of National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO), Gujarat accounted for over 9% of all slums in the country with an estimated 2,923 slums. This includes 2,058 non-notified slums and 865 notified slums. The survey estimated number of households in slums in the state at 3.36 lakh.

As per study conducted by Center for Urban Equity, CEPT University, Ahmedabad, around 115 incidents were recorded of slum evictions by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). It had affected around 35,000 households during the period 2006-2015. Out of total 61% slum evictions were for roads expansion activities and 20% for river front in the city. Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) has no official data on how many households are rehabilitated but around 53 % of the total evicted did not get any resettlements from the civic bodies.

Besides, most of the resettlement sites not in-situ but built at the out skirts of the cities. That has severely impacted the lives of poor slum dwellers. The time, energy and money spent on travel from the rehabilitated place to the workplace are quite high. In the relocated places Civic bodies have not ensured potable water, sanitation, drainage, roads and electricity and other basic services like health and education to the poor masses. This has robbed people of their right to live a dignified life. Other serious questions faced by poor slum dwellers in the relocated places are of safety and security.

2. Project summary (objectives, planned measures / activities, target group, achievements)

 

To fulfil the objective in the initial stages the organization had foreseen the need of the welfare and provided services to the people affected in the natural and man-made calamities well as fulfilled other fundamental needs of the marginalized. In modern times to move along with world of change the organization gradually entered developmental change and acted as implementing agency of different projects and program to alleviate the marginable from the poverty related to fundamental needs. In this approach it has been busy with conscientizing people regarding the responsibility of the citizen and the state as far as the welfare or fundamental rights and needs of the people are concerned. In the process there is also sensitization of the macro level agencies (agencies and people in power) taking place. The organization has been inviting macro level agencies/authorities to build the capacity of the people towards the issues of concern of the state and the citizen. This approach is synergized with Welfare and Developmental approaches too once the organization had begun with in the past according to the situation, space, and timeframe.

 

2.1 Project goal and objectives:

 

Goal:

Poverty reduction by promoting self-determined social, economic and political organization and development of extremely marginalized population groups in urban slums of Ahmadabad city.

 

 

 

2.2 Objectives:

 

• 7200 Families are formed and strengthened into different community based organizations (CBOs) such as women, youth, and children etc.
• Peoples Federations functioning at different levels and enhanced capacities in community mobilization method such as social analysis, project management and networking for addressing their priority issues
• Networking / advocacy committees will function effectively in the city for achieving sustained collaboration and partnership with all stakeholders
• All staff members have enhanced analytical, organizational and facilitation skills for mobilizing the communities with common interest.
• All children in the age group of 5-17 living in the project area are enrolled in schools and continue their studies

Target groups:

The project location, slum pockets are surrounded by big buildings and posh houses been sandwiched between these buildings for more than 20 – 30 years, the dwelling in these slums are backward / unhygienic in conditions. This indicates the class difference. There are very rich people in the area as well as poorest of the poor co-existing yet keeping strict demarcation of master and servant. Population living in these slums basically consists of people from SNTs (Settled Nomadic Tribe known as Vaghris), SCs, STs and Minority communities. Most the communities have migrated from different parts of India for livelihood. Hence, they hardly come in the larger picture of developmental policies or infrastructure from the part of the government.

The total coverage of the project is spread over one district of Gujarat covering 70 slums under Municipal Corporation.  The random household survey shows that the project would reach out to total population of around 15,000 households belonging to twenty six election wards of operation, AMC.

 

Geographical outreach:

The total coverage of the project is spread over one district of Gujarat -Ahmedabad, covering 64 slums under Municipal Corporation.  The random household survey shows that the project would reach out to total population of around 15,000 households belonging to twenty-six election wards of operation, AMC.

Annexure 1 Area Wise List Of Direct And Indirect Beneficiary

 

 

Major activities implemented: (January to December 2019)

 

Collective Actions by people’s organizations (Lok Juths) at East Zone (Odhav, Saraspur-Gomtipur)

 

• Through Lok Juths (POs/CBOs) people have achieved following primary facilities in their respective areas:

Zone	Area	Details of primary Facilities
East	Gajrawadi	Drinking water
	Rajeevnagar	Stone paving
	Jalampuri	Stone paving
	Chartoda Kabrastan	Drinking water, Rain water disposal system
	Niranjan ni Chali	Stone paving

 

• As part of collective actions Medical Camps have been undertaken by the area leaders at various places, funded from their own resources.

Zone	Area	Details	Participants
East	Saraspur Gomtipur	De-addiction Camp & Counseling Workshop	78
	Chartoda Kabrastan	Eye & Dental checkup Camp	98

 

 

• Women empowerment & Security

Zone	Area	Details	conducted by	Participants
East	Odhav	Women Empowerment & Security workshop	Mahila Suraksha Setu Project (Gujarat Govt. Project)	189

 

 

 

 

 

• Government ID proofs and cards to access government schemes were obtained either through individual or collective actions by leaders:

Aadhar Card	Election Card	RationCard	Aayushman Card	Ma card
166	182	12	222	90
Widow Pension	Vay Vandana	Janani Suraksha	Police Sahayak Card	Hawker’s License
11	21	13	17	63

 

•  1038 Ration Card holding households are added to the Priority List
  •   In Coordination with RDM (Rastriya Dalit Adhikar manch) two open public meetings were held in which issues like Shivam Flats reconstruction and allowing venders of Maheshwari market to conduct their business were discussed:

1^st one was held at Bhagat Singh hall where 470 people participated.

2^nd was held at Manmohan park on public place where 350 people participated.

The Shivam Flat issue was discussed during the above meetings.  As a result of that AMC has declared reconstruction of 1344 flats on 12^th Dec 2019.

• •  Municipal Council allotted INR 200’000/- help to create primary facilities at Gajarawadi
  •  Maheswari market’s 164 street vendors are able to sell vegetables, fruits, cutlery and other materials and earn their livelihood without any harassment.
  • Total 1610 families have received rent amounting to Rs. 72,000/- (for 12 months) under RR policy in the Odhav area as a result of the networking housing committee (leaders of Lok-Juth) formed by developers and AMC.   The committee members supervise the ongoing construction and guide the people who visit the Odhav area from the other RR policy declared areas about the benefits of the policy. AMC has declared such R R policy in 35 areas of the city.
•  Good rapport has been built with Mahila Suraksha Setu (Govt of Gujarat project) by Odhav women’s groups on issues of women’s Safety. 
•  The Jalampuri Chawl Peace Committee leaders undertook survey and started creating a fund through contributions of the local people which could be useful for legal work on the land issue in the near future. A team has been created and delegated the authority to manage the fund.
•  In Ajit Mill area local CBO Khawaja Garib Nawaz Trust coordinated with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation on the issue of cleanliness in the housing colony and cleaned the area.
•  The spoilt borewell was restarted by Khwaja Garib Nawaz Trust of Ajit Mill area by raising a fund of Rs. 85,000/- from the residents.
•  In Mariam Bibi Chawl the local CBO started tuition classes for primary school going children by coordinating with other Jamaat-e-Islam organization.
•  Anwarbhai a city level federation leader took leadership in Lalipara slum (outside our project area) which was affected by town planning scheme and intervened to get the RR policy implemented in the area. As a result of which 65 families of the area were given INR 72,000/- each to pay the rent as compensation due to eviction.

 

Collective Actions by people’s organizations at West Zone (Shahpur, Naranpura, Juhapura)

• Through collective actions Lok Juths -Peoples Organizations (POs) have achieved following primary facilities in their respective areas:

 

Zone	Area	Details of primary Facilities obtained under collective action
West	Nagori Kabrastan	Drainage Line
	Saurastra Shramjivi	Stone paving
	Ramapir Tekro	Drinking water
	Ode no Tekro	New road build
	Chandra Bhaga	Drainage Line
	Sanjaynagar	Stone  paving
	Sankalitnagar	Stone paving

                      

• Through collective actions Medical Camps have been undertaken by the area leaders at various places, most importantly funded from their own resources.

Zone	Area	Details	Participants
West	Shahpur  Nagori Kabrastan	General Medical Camp	109
	Mahajan no Vando	Eye Camp	138
	Sanjay Nagar	General Medical Camp	103
	Sankalitnagar	General Medical camp	46
	Sikandarbakht	General Medical camp	73
	Ranip	General Medical camp	165

 

• Women empowerment & Security

Zone	Area	Details	conducted by	Participants
West	Shahpur	Women empowerment & Security Workshop	Mahila Suraksha Setu (Govt. of Gujarat Project)	46
	Naranpura	Women empowerment & Security Workshop	Mahila Suraksha Setu (Govt. of Gujarat Project)	42

 

 

 

• Government ID proofs and cards to access government schemes were obtained either through individual or collective actions by leaders:

Aadhar Card	Election Card	Ration Card	Aayushman Card	Ma Card	Hawker’s License
468	90	387	281	355	56
Widow Pension	Vay Vandana	Janani Suraksha	Police Sahayak Card	Gas Connection “Ujawala Scheme”
7	7	51	14	305

 

 

•  225 new bank accounts have been opened under Jan Dhan Yojna which in turn will have benefits from the government for girl child and women as per the schemes allotted
•  29 girls from Ambedkar Colony have opened bank accounts under Sukanya Scheme through linkages with State Bank of India.
•  The women leaders of Shankar Bhavan area led by Surajben and other 5 leaders visited the District Collector office to demand compensation and alternative housing arrangement for the people who were affected by the Metro Project. 105 people participated in the process.
•  1 CBO of Sabarmati area has registered as a trust and society in the charity commissioner office in collaboration of Vadaj Vikas Parishad in month of August 2019
•  3 CBOs of Naranpura area (namely Navanirman Sangh, Satya Seva Samiti and Poorpidit Ekta Samiti) organized motivational program for 8^th to 12^th std.  students.  All the 3 CBO’s organized the program through their own funds.
•  The Poorpidit Ekta Samiti of Ramapir tekro area has started tuition classes for the slum children by networking with Gyanshala (NGO – Working on Education issue).
•  2 CBOs of Sanjaynagar area (Jay Bhim yuva Group and Sanjaynagar Utkarsh Mandal) did networking and advocacy with AMC for stone paving work in Sanjaynagar Area.
•  PIL filed in the High Court by Vendors of Parasnagar (110) & Shastrinagar market (165) has got them permission to sell vegetables/fruits in the same place as before. The expense of the PIL was borne by the Vendors group… Each one of them had contributed towards the cause. In the light of this and other issue faced the people of Zone the concerned staffs of the Zone have personally met 2976 people
•  Workshops are conducted for Street Vendors, in dealing with their issues of license and permanent place for their daily business in the market yard.
•  94 families of Shanker Bhavan area affected by the Metro Rail Project have got alternative flats at Chandkheda & Dudheswar and received compensation about INR 50,000/- per family for earning their livelihood.
•  34 shop owners of Master ni Chawl and Shankar Bhavan had a dialogue with Metro Rail Authority, AMC Authority and Nodal Agency for alternative arrangement & compensation. As a result of this the Metro Authority has shown them an alternative place in Vadaj area.
•  New drainage line has been installed in the Marwadi ni Chawl of Nagori Kabrastan area in the month of November.
•  65 families of Kharivadi are living in same area at present because of status quo / stay order given by City Civil Court.
•  The local CBO of Sargara Seva Samiti of Mahajan no Vando area held an Eye Camp in the month of December. 138 people benefited from the camp.
•  Good rapport has been built with Mahila Suraksha Setu (Govt of Gujarat project) by Shahpur women’s groups on issues of women’s Safety. 
•  64 families of Lakhudi have got an order on 10^th December 2019 from the Gujarat High court as a response to (R/special civil Application No 8506 of 2016) to show their original entitlement to the AMC Housing Authority.
•  252 FGDs and meetings were conducted in which 1764 members had participated. These FGDs and meetings were held separately for youth, women, men etc.

For more details see Annexure 2 Details of Individual Initiatives

 

General Achievements:

Addressing the Larger Issues: Food security:

 

•  Some of the families at Charthoda Kabrastan are below the poverty line have been deprived of food from PDS in spite of having ration cards. Corruption in this system is a well-known fact. Shop keepers do not follow rules and regulations. They run the shops arbitrarily.  Members of the area had a meeting and discussed the issue. The committee members went to the PDS and demanded the grain as per the rules. The shop keepers realized the collective action of the people can put them into trouble. And with their efforts 50 families now avail their right to food.

•  People of Sikandarbakht & Mahajan vanda area have filed a Memorandum to the Zonal officer (food & supply department) for enrolment of the names of ration card holders in the  priority list.

•  123 committed leaders have been trained and motivated as a result of which now they address their local issues on their own.
•  1038 Ration Card holding households of the project area have been added to the Priority List
•  Birth Anniversary of Dr. B.R Ambedkar was celebrated in the Jantanagar, Shahpur, Shanker Bhavan, Halarnagar, Sanjaynagar, & Ambedkar Colony. 1400 people participated in the program. The local CBOs of the areas raised the funds as well as did networking with other NGOs, Municipal Councilors and MLAs. They organized a rally, sports event for children & a get-together program for the elders of the community.
•  During the year Sakhimandal (National Urban Livelihood Mission) was formed in our project areas through the collaboration of our organization and Urban Community Department.

 

Zone	Area	No. of Sakhimandals
West	Sankalitnagar	3
	Nagori Kabrastan	4
	Ramapir no Tekro	3
	Subhashnagar	2
	Gandhinagar tekro -2	1
	Total	13

 

 

 

 

Zone	Area	No. of Sakhimandals
East	Chunilal Jethalal Chawl	1
	Barasancha Chawl	2
	Jalmpuri chawl	2
	Chartoda Kabrastan	1
	Mariambibi Chawl	3
	Total	9

 

Towards healthier and cleaner living:

• Regular interaction with the leaders and the area have brought about the results of getting them involved into their own issues which have been part of their life and yet not looked at them as their reasonability. Quite a few people do take initiatives to keep their area and surrounding clean. There is a growing consciousness to live clean and healthy. Ajit Mill slum is one of the examples where we could achieve the garbage system to a greater extent, involving the local youth and the AMC for regular pickups. 

 

Towards formation and activation of groups at local level:

• Formation of the groups (Women, Men, Adults Girls and Boys) in the area is paying dividend now. Quite a few group initiatives have taken place in the project areas. CBOs are involved not only in raising awareness for clean surrounding and healthy life but also taking needed steps such as cleanliness drive, raising funds for repairing borewell, putting paver blocks for road in the slum, medical camps etc., People from Sanjay Nagar have collected about two lakhs of rupees to construct a community Hall, which is their one of the biggest achievements. They now have their common celebrations and get together and even weddings in the Community Hall and they are even renting it to outsiders, to raise income for future requirements.

Towards education for all, especially girl child:

• During the reporting year, as per RTE, we have managed to enroll 79 children from the project areas in private schools under the RTE act. Out of them 44 were girl children.
• Facilitated admission of 18 children to the primary school both at government and private schools -including Mount Carmel School run by a Catholic Nuns.
• 4 CBOs of project areas (Navanirman sangh, Satya seva samiti, poorpidit Ekta samiti and Rajeevnagar Seva Samiti) have organized motivational programes for 8^th to 12^th std. students promote the importance of higher education in the community with special focus on the girl child.

 Area level Development:

• Adarsh Charitable Trust, one of the CBOs  from  Charthoda  Kabrastan has filed Petition in High Court demanding for basic amenities. High Court in return has called for a hearing and ordered for a common Pipe line for the solution from AMC and also ordered that a water tank be provided until AMC does the needful.
• A petition was filed by the committee leaders of Maheshwari, Shastrinagar and Parasnagar markets in High Court. As a result, the honorable High Court ordered the AMC and police authorities to give license to 119 hawkers to do their business without any harassment. This success did not come without harassment. Due to a petition filed by Urban Faria, during this year, the hawkers of Maheshwari, Shastrinagar and Paras Nagar market were harassed from time to time by the police and Municipal authorities.
• 3 committees have been formed in the Parasnagar, Shastrinagar, Maheswari vegetable market in coordination with the local police station authorities. The leaders of the 3 committees are responsible for systematic monitoring of the street vendors and see that they do not disturb the traffic flow of the areas.

 

Getting primary facilities:

 

• There was no drainage line in the entire area of Chunilala Jatalal, the group of Lok Juth got together and approached AMC and gave an application regarding improper drainage system. As a result the officials swung into action. Due to the efforts of the Lok Juth, the work was done in an effective manner in an emergency basis.
• The Lok Juth leaders of Chandrabhaga area had made an application for installation of drainage line in the area in the month of March.  The AMC has put the drainage line in the Chandrabhaga area.
• The following area development activities were done through networking and advocacy and collective actions of the local CBOs with AMC authorities.

 

Zone	Area	Details of primary Facilities
West	Nagori Kabrastan	Drainage Line
	Saurastra Shramjivi	Stone paving
	Ramapir Tekro	Drinking water
	Ode no Tekro	New road build
	Chandra Bhaga	Drainage Line
	Sanjaynagar	Stone paving
	Sankalitnagar	Stone paving

 

Zone	Area	Details of primary Facilities
East	Gajrawadi	Drinking water
	Rajeevnagar	Stone paving
	Jalampuri	Stone paving
	Chartoda Kabrastan	Drinking water, Rain water disposal system
	Niranjan ni Chali	Stone paving

 

Meetings and trainings:

• AMC and builders have not selected any member from Ramphir Tekra to be member of committee to overlook construction and participate in decision making process about RR Policy in their area. However, the area leaders have intervened and demanded their participation in decisions that require to be implemented and have not allowed the work to take off

• 3 trainings held at the premises of SXSSS & PAX Society, Odhav respectively for the parents, Animators and students on POCSO Act & Juvenile Justice Act where 130 participated in the Training.

For more details see annexure 3: List of Community meetings /trainings & 3.1 Issue Based Community Training Report

 

 

 

Inculcating values through celebrations:

 

We try to see that the celebrations are not restricted to any one particular community. Major religious festivals are celebrated at Loyola Evening School, PAX and in slums to inculcate the value of plurality in the students and elders. This is to help them appreciate our diversity at the same time remain united. We take the opportunity to educate on cultural heritage and the history of the practice and emphasize on the diversity that exists.

 

Freedom from Liquor:

 

• Mariambibi Khetarlal slum was terribly affected by the liquor sale in secrecy, though this land is declared as “Alcohol Free” being the land of Mr. Gandhi, the dark secrets still persists. In this area liquor dens functioned unabated and the women and unmarried girls used to be terrified to come out after 6pm. Through the initiative of our members in the area and their networking with Police Department, it was totally shut down and in fact, there are three cases of rehabilitation is evident with the help of de-addiction Centre and the safety to young girls is restored. Anti-social elements too are curtailed to the relief of everyone, including police department.

 

• During the year 2019 3 young men lost their lives due to consumption of spurious liquor in the Sanjaynagar area; because of that the local CBO of Sanjaynagar area had organized a Janta Raid (People’s Movement) sale of the spurious liquor in the area.  At present the liquor shop is closed.

 

•  A Powerful network is established with Municipal Councilors, Ward Officers, Collector, MLAs, various NGOs and GOs and with political parties and Police Department (5 MLAs, 7 Councilors ,17 NGO/PO

 

 

 

Loyola Evening School (LES):

This educational program is meant for slum children to make them feel accepted, respected and motivated to learn and to give their best as the most young children spend their day on filthy streets, exposed to crime, abuse, deprivation and malnutrition in sprawling Ahmadabad Slums.

It began with 70 children in 2007 and over the years, there are nearly 200 children who regularly attend the evening schools. They consist of 1^st standard to 10^th standard between the ages of 5 years to 15 years. They come from around nine to ten slum areas that are in and around SXSSS and St Xavier’s High School. The teaching activity is held in the classrooms of St Xavier’s High School, Loyola Hall. LES basically provide service to all the unprivileged children with special focus on the poorest of the poor living in the slums of Ahmedabad irrespective of the caste, culture, religion, race or language of the children. For more details see annexure 4 List of LES Students 2019

Gujarat Educational Board secured only 54% all over the State (Gujarati Medium) and LES is proud to secure five 10^th standard students out of six which is a huge victory for our efforts since these kids never even had the opportunity of attending any extra tuition classes like the rest of privileged ones.

For all round development of the children LES conducts numerous activities. A brief report of different activities conducted by LES during the reporting year is included in annexure 5..

For more details see annexure 5: List of Events and Programs 2019

INNED Classes:

The objective of INNED is to motivate and support students in a creative way. Innovative methodology is an important aspect of the INNED. Activities like games, competitions, outings, drawing, singing, films, paper work, clay work, reading and writing have proved to be very important tools to create an interest among students for education. This program focuses on education of children of the slums along with their overall development. it also attempts to reach out to the dropouts, child labourers and other teenaged slum children, trying to focus on their problems and possibilities by which they can overcome.

For more details see annexure 6: List of INNED students

• Members of Creative Bharat Group conducted three days’ workshop for LES students on dance. Mr Vikas and Devang taught the children the steps for Zumba and hip-hop dance. 63 students of LES from class V to class 10^th took part in this workshop. The students not only enjoyed this workshop but also learnt new dance techniques. It was very clearly evident in their performance during the cultural programs on the occasion of Children’s Day and then later during the Annual Establishment Day Celebration of LES at Diamond Jubilee Auditorium at St Xavier’s High School campus. The techniques learnt during the workshop has instilled confidence and removed stage fear from the minds of the children. Their performance in front of others has made their parents proud.

 

PAX (Promotional Action of Xavier Society): Always aimed at over all development and promotion of slum dwellers and residents of Ahmadabad and other areas. The entire area is being utilized very constructively for various skill development activities and promotion of human rights of the people from the neighboring slums. 

 

Skilled Education:

Round the year activities like tailoring, beauty parlor course etc are conducted for the school drop outs, young women who are married and unmarried. These skill development programs are aimed at making women self-reliant and live a dignified life. They are able to handle their economic situation with their trainings and be independent of their earnings.  They also participate in other activities like celebrations, competitions, dancing, acting, cooking etc for better able to deal with their married lives and its preparation.

 

Issue based Mobilization:  Number of slums in this area where SXSSS is actively involves conducted various mobilization programs for leaders, members apart from children and the young women in the center.  Self-help groups, Sakhi Mnadals, awareness camps, medical camps etc are conducted.

 

Moral Education: We have witnessed Hindu and Muslim women tying Rakhis to one another on Rakshabandan Day in the areas where seemingly there is communal tension. Various festivals and moral classes on different themes create feeling of unity among the girls and young women coming from various regions and castes.  

 

NIOS -National Institute for Open Schooling

Total New Admissions in 2019

Grade/Std.	Boys	Girls	Total
10th	35	19	54
12th	21	15	36
Total	56	34	90

 

For more details see annexure 7: List of NIOS students

 

Other Comments

 

New Director: From its inception in 1976 by Fr. Erviti Ramiro SJ, there have been number of Directors who have been responsible for its growth and progress into very many lives of the marginalized, particularly, the homeless and helpless ones of Ahmadabad slums. This year June 2019, after being at the helm of affairs as Director Fr Rajeev C sj, is transferred to Anand, to a Social Service Centre known as “Asha Deep” which is rather close by, as an Assistant Director.  Fr. Isaac Rumao SJ is the New Director who took over from Fr Rajeev in the month of June 2019. He’s also the Coordinator of Social Work in Society of Jesus’ Gujarat Province. Besides being the Director of SXSSS Fr Isaac is appointed as Secretary of Human Development and Research Centre (HDRC) earlier known as Behavioral Science Centre (BSC). At this juncture I wish to put on record my sincere gratitude for the invaluable services rendered by Fr Rajeev to the people of Ahmedabad and wish Fr. Rajeev the best in his future ministry. We also thank Sr. Manju for her services to the Institute and particularly for being the Project Manger of BMZ, who is now transferred to Nepal.   

 

Challenges:

• Some NGOs -especially the ones taking up government projects practice dolling out approach (providing money for the day if taken part in training thereby attracting the local community to benefit from the workforce)
• Local politics, Ideology of the ruling Party (municipal councilor, officials with anti-communal mindset in administration)
• Extreme Corruption for any work to be done by the Government officials
• Biased Political Leadership and Government authorities: It has been observed that in recent times the poor and unorganized street vendors selling vegetables, fruits and other articles have been evicted forcibly through the orders of the Municipal Commissioner and Commissioner of Police by saying that they are nuisance and block the smooth flow of the traffic.
• Creating collective and value leadership: Though we have been relentlessly making efforts to instill unity and solidarity and communitarian and collective good approach in leaders we do encounter few leaders looking forward to their individual gain rather than the entire community. Until now the leaders have been seen to be involved in organizing for the solution of their problems, as they receive orders from the court in their favor, they stop to engage in issues concerning others or community.
• Leaders tend to look at the short-term benefits rather than long term. Selfishness and self-centeredness
• Keeping leaders in the group / organization for a long time. For some time these leaders are actively engaged in the organization with dedication, with dedication, but their participation in other issues is reduced to success.
• Ethical differences with other NGOs
• Mindset of the people on the issues like cleanliness, Shramdhan,
• Oppression of the marginalized
• Land acquisition and its implementation
• Gender inequality
• Constant Migration from neighboring states like Rajastan, Uttar Pradesh and Mandhya Pradesh
• Social Media Influence: 3050 POCSO Cases have been registered in one-year Gujarat alone
• Current Political Situation
• Casteism, regionalism, and religion mainly in the Slums

 

 

 

 

Key Learnings: -

• If the problem is faced by all then the community is united and are seen quite willing and enthusiastic to fight till end -till they have obtained the result in their favor.
• Social workers need to increase their knowledge and keep their skills up-to-date.
• Need to prepare leaders who can analyze well the social situation of the day, develop conceptual clarity in others and prepare a strategic action plan to overcome the problems

Understand the problem, identify the concerned stakeholders, raise funds from the community and build the needed network with various stakeholders and collaborate with one another to respond to the problem situation

 

Project reporting period and information on the preparation of the report (People involved in the reporting, sources of information used for the report, project monitoring system, baseline, internal assessment/evaluation, external evaluation, secondary data, etc.)

 

The Narrative report of 1^st January 2019 to 31^st of December 2019 is prepared collectively by the field staff, Zonal In charges, coordinators of various Zones and area leaders. The members were involved to collect necessary information and facts for annual report.

 

The system of daily reporting on SXSSS Core group on WhatsApp (photos with a short write up of the activity held via WhatsApp), weekly and monthly reporting in Clusters / Zones and monthly staff meeting at SXSSS, quarterly and six-monthly narrative reports have been a big help for preparing this annual report.

 

The monthly staff review meetings held at SXSSS help us to take stock of the things happening and evaluate the progress of the project and helps in sharpening the focus. This exercise has improved the effectivity of the people working on the project. It has deepen their skills to analyze and strategies new methods for interventions.

 

Changes project framework and implementing organization:

Has the project been implemented as planned? Have there been any changes in the concept (target group, project location, core problem to be addressed by the project, etc.)?

 

There are no changes in the Project Frameworks and implementing organization. The project has been implemented as planned by the funding agency. There are no changes in the concept and efforts are made to address the issues and problems of the target communities at the project location. The regular visits of the Consultant Mr James has helped the team to sharpen its understanding and helped them to make effective interventions. The involvement of the local community leaders in analysing, identifying and addressing their issues has grown immensely.

 

Changes of the project context (e.g. change of political and/or legal framework during reporting period)?

 

India’s polytheistic / pantheistic religion with great diversity allows little space for deeming any religion as deviant. However, secularism and democracy have become a source of schism, of the virulent kind that produces lynching’s, fear and threat especially in Gujarat.

Rights activists who dare defend the victims of such violation are slapped with serious charges of sedition, termed as antinational or anti-development and at times put behind bars, where they languish without bail. The absolute certainty that the State knows best and that individual citizens who question the state are traitors. The space for voicing out ones decent is shrinking day by day. India ones known for its religious pluralism and diversity and tolerance now finds itself in the realm of growing intolerance and majoritarianism. 

There is a lot of fake news on social media. Fake news serves not just to spread false information but also to popularize false binaries like secular vs nationalist, blind loyalty to the power’s vs sedition. 

 

RSS groups are extremely active in the city of Ahmedabad among the slum dwellers. The marginalized are being made use for vested interest and are divided based on religion and caste and creed.  SXSSS of late has been facing the wrath of forces that work towards division rather than unification of the poor and the needy, in bringing them together on a common platform.  

 

Changes in implementing organization?

 

Adjustments/changes in target group, project objectives and activities, log frame (if any)

No organizational changes have occurred during the reporting period, the organizational zones where 64 slum pockets are spread out of project location remain as they are. There are also no changes in the Project Frameworks and implementing organization. The project has been implemented as planned by the funding agency. There are no changes in the concept and efforts are made to address the issues and problems of the target communities at the project location. During the project period, there has been no change in project target group, target area, project objectives, activities and log frame.

We are in fact in the final phase of the project and we too are striving to evaluate internally to know the overall performance and impact of the project at community as well as organizational level. Based on the recommendations of the internal evaluation an Area Development plan with the focus on exist strategy has been developed.  Focused planning and implementation strategies have been developed keeping with the aim of effectively implementing the Project and Implementation Framework.

1. 2. Report on implementation of recommendations of evaluations (if any) or justify non-implementation.

We have organized TOT for our staff, covering the array of BMZ project.

• RR Policy
• Children’s rights
• Drug abuse
• Housing rights
• Street Vendors
• Legal measures for various issues

 

Collective initiatives by People’s Organization/s

1. R&R policy implementation:
   • Under the RR policy Lok Juth / People’s Organizations of Indira Nagar 1 & 2 through its painstaking interventions and dialogue with the builder have got approval for 1610 new households (During the reporting year the builder have given rent INR 72’000/- per annum to 1610 HHs / families and the work of the new houses is on. The construction work will take another year to get completed. People will be handed over the possession of their houses then-after)
   • Under the RR policy Lok Juth / People’s Organizations of Hallar Nagar through their painstaking dialogue and interventions with builder and other stakeholders have got approval for 148 HHs + 8 during the reporting year (The construction work of the new building is in progress and will take couple of years to get completed. Till the people are handed over the possession of their flats / houses they will be paid INR 72’000 as annual rent.)
   • HC order in PIL pertaining to Lakhudi Talav ordering filing of FIR against corrupt practices was undertaken
   • The Shivam Flat issue was discussed during the Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch meeting held at HDRC, in Ahmadabad.  As a result of this intervention by Lok Juth (POs) and partners of larger network (city based NGOs) AMC has declared reconstruction of 1344 flats on 12^th Dec 2019
2. SMC committee intervention
   • 2 Municipal Schools were made to install CCTV cameras
   • Ensured child attendance
   • Ensured teachers perform their duties well
   • Parents interest in child education
   • Drop out ratio is checked by school management
3. Solid Waste Management
   • Eight areas facing problem as to door to door solid waste collection submitted memorandum to Municipal Commissioner
   •  Allocated demarcated dumper standing site allocated 
4. Street Vendors 
   • Community leader ensuring fellow vendors following rules as to do not block the traffic flow
   • PIL filed for allocation of permanent vending zone: PIL filed in the High Court by Vendors of Parasnagar (110) & Shastrinagar market (165) has got them permission to sell vegetables/fruits in the same place as before. The expense of the PIL was borne by the Vendors group… Each one of them had contributed towards the cause. In the light of this and other issue faced the people of Zone the concerned staffs of the Zone have personally met 2976 people

For more details see Annexure 8 Issue Wise Progress Report

 

Comment on the financial efficiency of the project.

The project has followed strict discipline with regard to purchase by obtaining quotations from suppliers, quality assurance, verification of quantities of supplies and numbers. The project has always ensured purchase at competitive rates

The costs/financial outlays have been respected while preparing the annual plan/budget. Project funds are received and utilized as per actual requirement for specific period/quarter. Wherever there has been deviation in utilization of costs/budget line it is in accordance with the revised annual cost plans approved.

Most of the targets set by the project have been achieved well within the project period. Moreover, a realistic and need based assessment of activities were worked out on annual basis with the active participation of the target groups and the plan was implemented within the time frame.

Annexure 9: Audit Report

Annexure 10: Utilization Certificate

1. 1. Other in particular long-term, impacts (incl. negative) of the project on the target groups.

 

• There has been increase in participation and leadership in target groups.
• The target group has developed very positive attitude towards saving.
• The RR Policy implementation and CBOs initiative on various undertakings is rather progressive
• The groups have established credit linkage with formal financial institutions/banks.
• Increased awareness on rights and privileges contributed to taping public schemes on health services, education, welfare etc.

 

5. . Sustainability assessment and lessons learned.

 

1. 1.  Short assessment of project successes and problems.

(Achievement of project objectives, strengths and weaknesses, positive and negative impacts/changes) 

• • Women have grown in self-confidence that they are able to resolve their own issues and that of others do something/anything

 

• • The organization’s training and long-term process has yielded success.

 

• • A positive change is seen in their lifestyle

 

• • Women have been able to establish their own identity in the area.

 

• • If the organization is not strong, nothing can be done single handedly, organization is necessary. However, people are able to take their own concerns and problems into their hands and handle themselves.

 

1. 2. Assessment of sustainability (including strategy for financing the follow-up costs). Evaluation of institutional, technical, socio-economic and financial sustainability of the project activities and outcomes.

 

Institutional Level:

Almost 150 CBOs have become the registered trust/society according to the Government Act, from 35 areas which belong to AKSA federation. They are taking up the issues in their own names from the communities, over the period of time DCV-BMZ through SXSSS. Partners have concretely guided the communities of which these separate entities have been emerged from the communities. SXSSS has helped to form these trusts through different capacity buildings and workshops.  SXSSS staff has become well equipped in report writing and implementing the project along with other skills which can be helpful to improve the quality of their knowledge, skill and abilities.

 

 

Technical Level:

The youth (girls and boys) and women have become skillful in   tailoring, beauty culture, henna work, computers, national institute of open schooling (NIOS), radio jockey and other things.

 

Socio-Political Level:

Socio-politically speaking people of our areas have become more aware and practical about the vote bank politics. In three wards there is representation because our community members are always doing our work. Everyone is excited about forthcoming elections which are due in 2019.

 

Economic Level:

Savings have increased more than last year. Most of the SHGs have already been registered under Sakhi Mandal and now accessing government schemes. Livelihood options have also been generated for youths and women and an increase in their monthly income can also be seen. Lot of our women and men started availing loans from various banks.

 

1. 3. Conclusion regarding relevance, positive and negative impacts, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, strengths and weaknesses. Presentation and explanation of relevant comprehensive/overall experiences and lessons learned.

 

Other Comments:  Understanding the Urban poor community in Ahmadabad:

 

Ahmadabad is a largest city in the state of Gujarat and seventh largest in the country. Urbanization due to migration is a reality here in Ahmadabad and in the entire country.  Urban population is increasing day by day and this increase in urban settlement acts like a double-edged sword, where one hand, it shows, multiple opportunities for livelihood while, on the other hand, it exposes to new threats and challenges. People are of unorganized sector. They are willing to fight for their rights and demand their space. When PIL is to be filed, people are willingly coming forward to meet the requirements, voice out fearlessly and are not willing to accept the atrocities and changes of government without prior information.

SXSSS has given a variety of trainings to Jivrambhatt Chali. They were made aware of the current happenings in the society, about the problems of the society, how to put them across in a meeting and how to face the problems and cope have been successful through the organization.

 

Cooperation with local, German, European and international Organizations (insert text; incl. developments and changes)

 

 Cooperation with Local Organizations

• • • District Child Safety Committee:
    • UCD: Urban Community Department
    • ICDS: Integrated Child Department Service
    • Labor Commissioner: Mr. Raju Parmar and Naina ben
    • Developers and Builders of City Beautification
    • Ahemdabad Municipal Corporation
    • Deputy Commissioner: AMC
    • Various Hospitals: Shalby New Life Hospital, Karnavati Dental Hospital, Shantamani Eye Hospital, Indian Red Cross, St. Mary’s Hospital, GES (Gujarat Cancer Society) Civil Hospital Shardaben Hospital
    • Various Municipal Schools in the city
    • Ward and Zonal Officers
    • Child Helpline
    • Various Banks : Dena Bank, State Bank of India,
    • Urban Health Centre Dudheshwar, Rakhiyal, Gomtipur Department, Ankur Health Centre, Naranpura. J.T.Macwana, Deputy Heath Officer.
    • MLAs Namely        Mr. Himat Singh Patel, Mr. Yasuddin Sheikh, Mr. Imran Khedawala, Mr. Jagdish Panchal, Mr. Sailesh Parmar
    • Revenue Department
    • Police Department: Sherkotada, Saraspur, Bash Gomtipur, Police station Odhav Police station, Naranpura,
    • Various Universities and Colleges: CEPT( Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology) Ahmedabad University, NIRMA , Gujarat University, TISS 9 Tata Institute of Social Sciences: AMA, Gandhi Labour Institute
    • Jan Vikas: Housing
    • RAAH: deals with Food Insecurity
    • MARAG: deals with peace and harmony
    • Sambodh deals with Food Insecurity
    • Manav Garima: Scavengers
    • Parvaz: deals with Food Insecurity
    • Sayyog : Deals with Education
    • CFD: Center for Development
    • Bachpan Bachav Andolan: deals with children
    • Human Development and Research Centre (HDRC)
    • Ahmadabad Slum Dwellers Federation
    • Dalit Adhikar Manch: Deals with Dalits
    • Adarsh Foundation: health
    • Nav Nirman: Dalit’s Rights and Education
    • Prayas: Housing rights
    • Paryavan Mitra: Environment

 

Cooperation with German Organizations

St. Xavier’s Social Service Society values the unceasing cooperation from Caritas Germany (DVC) and Ministry of Economic Cooperation & Human Development for the past so many years, accompanying the marginalized people in Ahmedabad faithfully during the crucial times reaching out to thousands of people in giving support and to bring social change systematically. As a result, restoration of human dignity through empowerment process is expanded mightily. The marginalized have become aware of their fundamental rights and duties. The leadership through participatory approach is gradually emerging to express their subaltern voices. The life of the poor is not the same as before. It is steadily changing towards awareness of the issues, empowerment to understand and seek option to solve the problems emerging from the issues and growth towards knowledge, skills, attitude building, despite lack of basic amenities.

 

European/International Organizations:

SXSSS has been receiving cooperation and in partnership with different European organizations as well. Alboan Foundation Spain, has been supporting the program to build strong collective leadership of the urban poor in the city to take up issues of development and governance through a cadre of trained leaders and to enable the urban poor in slum settlements and to organize themselves and prepare them for systematic action to improve their life situation

Comment on the financial efficiency of the project

The project has focused on participatory structures, community Mobilization, Training of the local leaders on various themes like Gender sensitivity and equality and improvement of housing situation and hygienic living. Under each activity the project has rather positive rate of success which is the direct impact of the project. Majority of the families feel that project has helped them in accessing credit with low rate of interest. Those who have taken support for agricultural activities believe that production of agriculture has gone–up and fertility of land has also been improved.

The project has been able to reach out to the entire target population and mobilize the group in a planned manner. The awareness and trainings imparted to them gave more insight to think about improving their living conditions and come together in team spirit. The regular saving culture and access to credit from banks gave women the feeling of credit worthiness. The vocational skills imparted to the youth enabled them to work as skilled masons with improved wages. Above all the association of the people in community 7.0 Future directions and conclusions We should involve more in the 6 cluster areas and learn the needs and necessities of the communities through meetings, trainings and workshops and draw the people towards our ideologies and root out the wrong policies of NGOs and Government specially bribe and draw people towards the right paths for obtaining their rights

 

Success Stories:

 

Efforts bearing Fruits:

Badrunisha Pathan aged 57 years from Mittan Shahidni Chali, Shankar Bhuvan area. She is the head of the women's wing of Shahpur zone; she has been a part of the institution and has been trained on issues like women’s rights, women leadership, government schemes, the governance of the city, Ahmedabad city’s budget, documentation etc. She has also taken part in various exposures organized by SXSSS, and thereby built her capacities in the process.

She played a leading role in the rehabilitation of Muslims (76 local families) during the communal riots in 2002. After 2017, she networked with Urban Community Development (UCD) and created a 10-member women's association. With the strength of her own tactful skills and courage, she created a unique identity; because of which her ‘Sakhi Mandal’ received a revolving fund of Rs.10, 000/- from the UCD. She presented the problems of basic amenities in her area to the Municipal Corporation and built a proper road. She has created such a prominent identity in the area today that various political parties and organizations, want to communicate with her. They seek help and advice from her to run their peace programs or programs for the betterment of people in the area and also in the city.

During this current year, through the department of U.C.D, she has got a job at the riverfront, in their parking management project with monthly honorary wages of Rs.9000/- , due to her leadership qualities. Despite being illiterate, and from the desire to do something, today, her job requires her to Keep a note of vehicles coming in for eight hours in a parking zone, giving them a coupon and taking a financial charge, giving a note of these financial accounts to the person responsible for the end of the day she also maintains registers and keep accounts of parking held throughout the month. At some time, the association with the driver is being solved by skill and gesture during parking.

See Annexure 11 Success Stories

See Annexure 12 Photo Gallery -Activity Photos