Objectives

AAK works with the community to enable them to exercise their rights on issues such as health and education, have access and control over natural resources, land rights and livelihoods as well as working to facilitate the provision on welfare and development schemes of the government. AAK believes that focused attention on children, especially the girl child is essential to transform society. AAK works in the city of Allahabad on issues of urban homeless(link to 2.8) and with cycle rickshaws drivers (link:2.7)(Photos of both needed) and in rural Mirzapur and Sonebhadra districts around issues of land rights(link), education(link), health(link), children with disability(link), organising self help groups(link), livelihoods(link), community organising(link), supporting local self-governance(link). AAK has also worked in the Chitrangi block of Rewa district, Madhya Pradesh in the recent past.

While focusing on working with the community at the grassroots level, in both rural and urban areas, AAK also looks at linkages between the local, meso and macro level processes affecting hunger, poverty and rights of people. AAK thus seeks to understand the impact of global, national and regional processes on local communities. It recognises that globalization and climate change processes have an influence as much as local power dynamics in shaping local conditions and links up with national level advocacy campaigns.

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Unicef Case Study 5

 The Importance of Vaccination 

Name : Roshni

Caste : Dharkaar

Age : 25 years

Husband’s Name : Ram Achal

Village : Duwar Kala

Total number of members in family : 10

Details :  Roshni had given birth to three children so far but she never went for vaccination of her children. The delivery of all her children was done at home. All her three children died due to non-vaccination or some other cause within six months of their age. Roshni is again pregnant. This time, AAK staff of the child rights project told her about the importance of vaccination  and not to repeat her earlier mistake  so that safe delivery of her infant can be ensured. She realized the importance of vaccination  and went to the primary health centre by contacting ASHA Kamla Devi  with support of ANM Veena Devi and got all the required vaccination that is necessary for the period of pregnancy.

Conclusion : Roshni was able to realize the importance of vaccination and she learned from her past mistakes. She got all the required vaccination at PHC and she has agreed for delivery of her child at PHC only.

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Unicef Case Study 4

The Importance of Iodized Salt 

Name : Roshni

Caste : Kol

Father’s Name : Uma Shankar

Mother’s Name : Amravati Devi

Village : Kathwaar ( Lalganj – Mirzapur ).

Name of SHG : Amravati SHG

Details :  Roshni was cooking food. That day, there was no salt at her home. She asked her father to give money so that she can bring salt. She went to the nearby shop but she returned empty handed. She said that iodized salt was not available in the shop. Her father became angry and said that it is the result of meeting which has made her crazy. But, then Roshni explained to her father the advantages of using iodized salt including the prevention of disease like Goiter. She added that she will herself go to market by bicycle and her father will not have to go to market. Her father and mother agreed to this. Then, Roshni bought iodized salt from the market and cooked food with iodized salt only.

Conclusion : Roshni was able to know about the importance of iodized salt at the SHG meeting. She successfully communicated its importance to her parents as well.

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Unicef Case Study 3

Drop-Out Child Linked To School 

Name of Child : Om Prakash

Age : 13 years

Caste : Kevat

Father’s Name : Mr. Ram Dayal

Village : Babhni Gaharwar ( Lalganj – Mirzapur ).

Details :  Om Prakash passed class 5 in the year 2010. He was a drop out since last two years. This summer, he went to do work outside the village with some villager. His parents called him back in July 2012 for his enrolment in school. But, he was not ready to continue his studies. He got addicted to intoxication.  Whenever his parents tried to persuade him for enrolment, he used to run away from home. His parents were too much worried.

He participated in the child group meeting in July 2012.  When Mr. Sandeep Kumar, AAK staff came to know about the child, he met his parents. His parents told him their problem.  Then, Mr. Sandeep met the child separately and tried to communicate the importance of education and harmful effects of intoxication.  After a prolonged discussion, the child understood the importance of education and he agreed to continue his studies. He was enrolled in an Inter college of Lalganj in July 2012. Now, he goes to school regularly.

Conclusion :  Hence, a drop out child was linked to school by understanding the importance of education.

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Unicef Case Study 2

Preventing Child Marriage 

Name : Suresh

Father’s Name : Raja

Village : Bari ( Hallia – Mirzapur ).
Age : 15 years
Education : Class 9th student

Family members : Father, Mother, 1 sister, 6 brothers
Means of Livelihood : Agriculture

Details :  Raja is a resident of village Bari ( Hallia block ) and is a Patel.  This year, he finalized the marriage of his son Suresh ( 15 years old and studying in 9th class ) with 18 year old Sunaina of Kushiyara village. When the members of Baijanti SHG came to know about this, they met Raja and told him about the harmful effects of child marriage. But , Raja was adamant on his decision. After a few days, when father of Sunaina came to meet Raja,  4-5 SHG members  went to Raja’s home and threatened to go to police as  Raja’s son has not attained the minimum age of 21  and hence his marriage will be treated as child marriage. Both the sides felt the pressure of getting involved in legal action and hence they reversed their decision and decided to complete their children’s education.

Conclusion : The efforts of SHG women was instrumental in stopping a case of child marriage.

 

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Unicef Case Study 1

Title  The Inhuman Doctor – A case of Child Labour

Amit Kumar Gaur (s/o Mr. Deen Dayal ) is a resident of the village Duwar Khurd in Lalganj block of Mirzapur district . He is a twelve year child working as a domestic worker at the clinic of Dr. Ansari in the village Duwar Kala since last two years.

Meera and Sukhwanti, members of CPC, came to know about the case of Amit during a discussion in the village. They raised the issue in the CPC meeting. It was decided at the meeting that two CPC members will meet Dr. Ansari and get the details.
It is to be noted that CPCs were formed in 210 villages of  Hallia and Lalganj blocks  under Child Rights Project being implemented by Arthik Anusandhan Kendra Mirzapur and supported by Unicef  Lucknow.

In October 2012, Meera and Sukhwanti went to Dr. Ansari’s clinic along with several other members of the community.  Initially, Dr. Ansari refused to admit that the child is working there. Instead, he said that the child comes to learn medical science. But, the  CPC members  pressurized the doctor by saying that they are aware of the reality. They communicated that is a legal offence to make a child (below 14 years) work as a child labour and also it is against humanity. They told him to enroll the child in a school and take the responsibility of sending the child regularly to the school. They threatened the doctor of taking the matter to the police if their demands are not accepted by the doctor.

Thus, this case is about a doctor who is supposed to serve the community or rather humanity is indulging himself into an act which is nothing short of being inhuman. A doctor who does the treatment of  the patients  himself needs a treatment from the community. It also reflects the insensitiveness of the community towards child friendly issues.

Sensing the volatile situation, the doctor accepted the demand of CPC members. Admission of the child was done in primary school and the child goes regularly to the school. Hence, a child was freed from child labour and linked to school.

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Unicef Outcomes

Outcomes achieved: –   

  • Block level Civil Society Alliances have been established in Hallia and Lalganj blocks and quarterly meetings are organized regularly. In the meetings, discussions are held regarding child friendly issues , action plan is made regarding those issues and action plan is implemented.
  • 210 village level Child Protection Committees have been established in 210 villages of Hallia and Lalganj blocks. 90% of the members are trained. Quarterly meetings are organized regularly and initiatives are being taken regarding child labour, child marriage, child violence, linking children to schools, regular attendance and quality education.
  •  2540  women group members are trained and have knowledge regarding 10 point Child  Friendly Agenda (CFA). They are communicating the same to other women of their villages during house visits.
  • 16747 families are aware about 10 point CFA which has led to remarkable change in their behaviour.
  • 16747 families are aware about the harms of child labour and they are preventing their children to work as child labour.
  • 827 child health and nutrition days were organized in 210 villages in which 2993 women participated and became the beneficiaries. This had never happened before.
  • There has been a significant behavioural change in the service providers of the 210 villages. There has been an improvement in the attendance of teachers in schools, ANMs are going for vaccination to such places where they had never gone before and there has been an increase in the activities at Aanganvadi centres.
  • There has been a remarkable increase in the awareness of the underprivileged families and there has been women empowerment. They raised objection on the multiple use of syringe by ANM during vaccination, they refused to give Rs. 10  to ANM as vaccination card fee , complained to the block officials against the irregular vaccination and non-distribution of food in Aanganbadi centres.
  • 70% underprivileged families have started  using iodised salt.
  • 80% women went to hospitals for safe delivery.
  • Support was provided to 54 speech and hearing impaired  children and 82 physically disabled children in getting Identity Cards and necessary equipment after the medical tests.
  • 1577 drop-out and deprived children  were linked to schools.
  • 7 model gram sabhas were organized in which child friendly issues were discussed and the decisions were included in the proceedings.
  • 14 child marriages were prevented due to the support of CPC members.
  • Capacity building and sensitization of 22 women gram pradhans was done by providing  block level  training regarding 10 point CFA.
  • Quarterly village level meetings of women groups, gram panchayat members and service providers are being organized regularly which has increased the quality of services.
  • Initiatives were taken by the 2540 women to build child friendly environment in 210 villages by making house visits  to 12536 families.
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Coverage of Unicef

Coverage of the Project: Name of Blocks/Gram Panchayats/Villages –

SL District Name of block Number of Gram panchayat Number of villages
1 Mirzapur Haliya 31 95
2   Lalganj 35 115
  Total 2 66 210

 

Period of Implementation: –         Since   December 2011

 

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