Sachin lived in a small village in Ghaziabad District of Uttar Pradesh. His works with a small firm and gets a salary which is not even enough to feed the family. Sachin had always seen his father struggling hard to make both ends meet, which became more and more difficult due to ever rising prices. He always wanted to share his father’s burden of running his family. He wanted take up a job right after he completed his 12 Standard. He tried to look for job, but he lacked both knowledge and skill to work and earn and so he was not able to land at any point even after much running around. He was very frustrated. Almost at the point of breakdown, he met community mobilizer of AROH Foundation who told him about DDU-GKY program and its benefits. Without any delay, Sachin grabbed the golden opportunity and enrolled himself for Retail and Sales Associate program.
During his three months of training he worked to gain knowledge and learned the trade skills. He was always very proactive to participate in any activity and always showed his zeal to learn more. After training he was selected in Big Bazaar, Venice Mall as a sales Associate. He started at a salary of 8000/- plus incentives. Sachin worked diligently for 3 months before switching over to Mini SO, a Japanese flagship retail chain where he is earning a handsome salary of INR 17000/- per month.
Sachin has grown not only as a professional, but also as a person. He gained his confidence and courage that he could do something better in his life. While he is now able to help his family financially, he is also hoping to continue his studies and do his graduation. Though Sachin has not only fulfilled his dream of supporting his family, but his growth has also fuelled his aspirations and he wants to rise higher in his professional career. His parent’s are very proud of their son who has alleviated poverty and misery from their lives.
Meena Firozabad, UP
How frail legs walk the life with dignity!
With frail legs rendered useless after being struck by polio, life has been quite hard for Meena (23), more so because she comes from an economically-backward family living in village Rupaspur in Firozabad district of Uttar Pradesh.
“It’s just adjustment,” she modestly says when asked about her condition and her life. “When I was around eight years of age, I learnt to walk on my hands. I learnt to walk upside down so my legs do not drag. Eventually, I could walk long distances without trouble.
From childhood Meena had seen her father struggle hard to get two square meals for the family of six members. They have a small piece of land but there was never enough income to meet the basic needs of life. As Meena grew up, she wanted to share the responsibility of running the house, but felt helpless. She had no skills, no opportunity and no way to go! Her small village had no opportunity for normal girls to make a living, leave alone a physically challenged girl like her.
Her dreams came true when AROH Foundation started Parivartan Skills Training Centre in her village and she enrolled herself for cutting tailoring course. She outperformed all other girls of her batch and passed out with excellent grades. She was given a sewing machine by AROH which really proved to be ‘a ray of hope’ for her.
Now Meena owns her own “Meena Silai Kendra” and stitches clothes for villagers at a nominal rate. She is able to earn about 2-3K in a month which she gives to her father for running the house. Meena is not only successfully running her business of garment making, she is also pursuing her studies and wants to do post graduation. She is also keen to teach ‘silai’ to other needy girls, as she feels that Silai is a craft that every woman should know.
Meena shares her experience,
I don’t have legs but AROH has given me wings. My sewing machine has not just given me my livelihood, but has given me confidence and self-respect to live my life with dignity.
Malcom Mawlang Umdiengpoh village , Meghalaya
Malcom Mawlang of Umdiengpoh looks quite old for her age. She is only 35, but vagaries of nature and hardships of life have taken a toll on her. She is fighting to keep herself and her three kids alive. Coming from a matriarchal society, she is the only bread winner of the family. Her husband does not work and is of no help in running the family.
Feeding three little children was not easy for her. Life in her village situated in East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya is full of struggle. She has a small piece of land where she was growing only one crop in the year. Her income was so meager that at times they all had to sleep on hungry stomach.
When AROH Foundation started helping her in backyard farming, she learnt to utilize every small resource available to her. She learnt how to take up small but multiple efforts to increase her income. She learnt how to do backyard farming and grow different plants in small patches of land available around her house. She was overjoyed to get her first harvest of crop of pumpkins which seemed to have appeared from nowhere. The pumpkin wine took no space at all, but gave big pumpkins which she could sell for good amount.
Slowly she has become a professional backyard farmer and now dares to experiment with new plants. Her production from backyard not only gets her money to run the house, but also gives nutrition to her little kids. Malcom is now an empowered woman who knows how to make best use of resources!
Sitara Begum Diktauli , UP
Sitara Begum was barely able to provide her children with two square meals a day. Several times the family slept on empty stomach. Sitara Begum is a 38 year old Muslim lady living in a small jhuggi in Diktauli. He husband passed away leaving three children behind. The small piece of land which the family had went away in paying the debts. Sitara worked as a daily wage labourer. She did not find work on all days and lived in extreme poverty. Sitara’s daughter named Mahroonisha had to stop her study due to poverty. Sitara also suffers from poor health condition and malnutrition. At times she feels too weak to go out for work. Mahroonisa feels helpless as her studies have stopped due to lack money.
During one of the community meetings held by AROH Foundation, it was suggested that Sitara Begum could acquire some skill at the vocation training centre started in the village under the HRDP programme of HDFC Bank. Sitara was delighted to opt for a course in garment making. She enrolled herself for a three-month course in dress making and started dreaming of a better future and enough food to give to her children. She hoped to provide money for Mahroonisa’s education.
Sitara was a fast learners as she quickly acquired the skills. She wanted to start her own shop for stiching clothes of the community. She requested AROH for helping her purchase a machine so that she could set up her tailoring unit. Seeing her dire need on the one hand and determination to do something on the other, it was decided to provide her with a subsidy to purchase a sewing machine. She is getting orders to stitch suits and blouses and her children no longer sleep hungry. Her daughter Mehroonisa has resumed her studies and helps her mother in running the shop.
Sitara Begum’s story inspires every woman to come forward and change their lives!
Dancing Liza
Liza, a 10 years old RISE-AROH Foundation beneficiary study in 5th grade and hails from U.P. She was struggling hard in her scholastic front as due to large family, engaged in household chores and sibling care but was a pro in dancing. Now after 2 years in RISE, Liza is a happy and chirpy girl and shows continuous improvement in her grades too. She has been given opportunities to enhance her dancing skill too.
Transformation story of Government School
The transformation story of Government School of village Kudi in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh has been a classic example of AROH’s strategic intervention in improving a villages’ functioning through a school. Principal of the school Mr Anand Kumar Says, “It is unbelievable to see how interventions in school have changed the behaviour of whole village! Village is cleaner, mothers are fighting to send their daughters to school and fathers are helping them do their homework. AROH has clearly reaffirmed that if you want to change the fate of a family, educate the child. In addition our attendance has drastically improved by around 40 – 50%. Girls are 80% attendance. All development work has given new enthusiasm to these children. Children, who would earlier take any petty excuse to not come to school, are coming to school with all zeal! Toilets, water posts, better and interactive classrooms, various kits that are distributed, awareness workshop have made our children smarter and more responsible. Installation of SMART class and library has given a new dimension to all of us. Students are very excited and so are we. Many a thanks to team AROH for bringing technology to rural India and bridging the gap between rural and urban counterparts”
The transformation story of Government School of village Kudi
Ishita - supporting children with digital essentials
Ishita, 12 yrs old, is a student of one of the RISE centres in Sangam Vihar; Delhi has been finding it hard to attend online classes. The daughter of a poor family doesn’t have a laptop and the family possesses only one phone, that too by her father. Since the Covid-19 lockdown was imposed March 25, Ishita’s father has been working hard to make their ends meet. “I have to help my mother in household chores in the day and meanwhile my father goes on work to feed the entire family. My parents don’t have a smart phone through which I can get my homework done given by school which leaves me behind of all my classmates because I’m unable to complete the daily homework as I’ve no access to smart phone or a laptop,” said Ishita, who stays in the slums of Sangam Vihar in South Delhi’s area in a one-room flat with her parents and a brother. Mrs. Neelam Singh, RISE educator informed AROH Fou ndation about the dire need of her getting a laptop so that she also can complete her homework on time and cope up with her classmates. Hearing this, Ishita appealed Dr. Neelam Gupta, Founder of AROH Foundation to help her getting a laptop. Looking at Ishita’s innocent appeal and supporting such big education project of RISE, Dr. Neelam Gupta agreed to help her and Ishita was provided a laptop in just next few days. Now Ishita is extremely pleased with her laptop and she thanks AROH Foundation & Dr Neelam Gupta saying “Ma’am thankyou so much for your generous support & help. This will help me to complete my homework on time, get better grades in class and help with my course work. I cannot thankyou enough for giving me a leg up in starting this new phase in my life.”
The story of change and impact is replicated at all renovated Aanganwadis by AROH.
Renovated Aanganwadis by AROH
Narrating the impact that was witnessed by Ms Savitri, Aangawadi worker of newly renovated Aangawadi by AROH Foundation at Binawar village of Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh says, “Face-lifting work has not only beaten the monotony of the four walls of class but also has made our Aangawadis a new place of attraction for children. No child misses to attend class for petty reasons. The attendance had improved drastically. Even I was trained by experts for new approaches of dealing with a child through inter – personal exchanges and innovative TLMs."
The story of change and impact is replicated at all renovated Aanganwadis by AROH.
Sanjana – hope for future
Sanjana, 12 years, hailing from Ooraav Village of Uttar Pradesh, is studying in class Vth. Her father Malkhan Bharti is a mason and was supporting a large family of 6 within his small income. The destiny seemed to change from them, when Sanjana got enrolled with RISE and started showing bright performance in her academics.
Sanjana’s father says ‘RISE has been a boon for us. Sanjana’s marks have improved over whelming and we as parents now have a hope for a better future.”
SMART Class - Joy of learning
“Breaking the monotony of teaching and learning, AROH helped us install SMART class in our school. Children are so excited to attend the class; they are attending school regularly and are actively participating in class sessions.” Says teacher at school of umtyngngar, Meghalaya
Singing new “kavita” of learning
Kavita has a family of six members and they belong to Lucknow. Kavita’s father has been living in Delhi since 8 years. In Delhi, his father works as a vegetable vendor but now he has started working as a labour. Kavita’s mother is a housewife. Her father could somehow was arranging fees for school for his all four children but couldn’t afford the tuition fees. Apparently someone told Kavita’s mother about the rise centre and told her that the studies are for free. So the other day Kavita’s mother come to the rise centre to seek information and after that decided to send her children to RISE centres. The parents are quite happy that children are doing well in centre. The children are quite interactive, obedient and punctual about the timings. Kavita is a hardworking girl. It turns out all she needed was a little extra help in understanding class subjects she had not understood and the teachers in her school had no time to explain to her. The exposure visits and interactive activities in RISE brought out the innate curiosity and habit of learning she had within her. She enthusiastically participates in everything now. She completes her homework punctually, and asks the tutors her queries and problems. She loves going on Exposure Visits and comes back full of stories and facts. Kavita is doing well also because she can now study at home. After participating in the parents meeting and workshops, her parents understand the benefits of education which they did not earlier because they are not literate themselves. Now her parents make sure she has enough free time from chores to do her homework and study her lessons.
Very importantly Kavita’s parents also feel like they are part of their daughter's life and progress and are proud of their daughter's accomplishments and say, “ Kavita is singing new “kavita” of learning in her life and we thank RISE for this.”
Child Education
12 years hailing from Dallupura slums of Eastern Delhi, daughter of a tailor, wanted to study and help his parents in creating a better life. AROH Foundation’s, Padho and Badho study centre, catering to underprivileged children for remedial education, gave her a chance to pursue her dreams. She got enrolled and regularly benefiting in scholastic and holistic development. Now a regular student and a pro performer, Sameera is promising a better life for herself and the parents.
Adult Education
Munni devi, 42 years a mother, a housewife and now also a student. Perusing her long lost dream to be able to read and write through AROH’s PARIVARTAN. She is a regular student of Adult Literacy Class and changed her faith from Thumb to Pen. Now a role model for many, Munni can now read write and does a signature to mark her identity.
Financial Education
Ms. Pushpa, 48 years, from Kudi Village, Uttar-Pradesh, a beneficiary of Financial Education, now knows basics of how to earn paisa, how to manage paisa, how to save and also how to reinvest paisa. She knows bank, passbook and basic functioning of a bank. She earns, she manages, she saves and now feels secured and empowered!
Remedial Education for Slum Children (RISE)
8 year Divya was also a victim of unawareness towards education and financial crisis. It was during one of our mobilization and awareness campaign by RISE educators, Divya’s mother Mrs Archana got to know about RISE. Seeing it as no cost benefit, she not only enrolled Divya but her younger brother Mohit also in RISE. But eventually, the prominent growth in Divya’s result and regular counselling by RISE educator made the entire family understand what wonder an educated mind can bring into a family. Divya became one of our RISE’s star performers. She was pro in her internal and external results and when given a chance to sit for Gayatri Parivar Scholarship, she bagged 3rd rank and ensured another trouble free schooling for her.
School Development Work
AROH Foundation team, under PARIVARTAN started off to Create an Environment To Play and Learn for Children. Along with improving aesthetics of schools, Swings were installed in around 30 schools benefetting around 4000 children.Principal of Kudi Secondary School, Mr Anand Babu , excited about new asset , says “ Swings have given new enthusiam to these children. Primary school children, who would take any petty excuse and not come to school are coming to school for swings! Which is incredible! Even Secondary section children are lining up for these swings. In villages, they don’t get these amenities to play and enjoy. It was thoughtful of PARIVARTAN team to think beyond and understant the psychology of children. The aesthetics of school has also improved and absenteism has decresed comparitively.”
Providing Safety kits to children in Corona
In this pandemic where every infected person can be the host to many more patients, to contain the spread of this virus, maintaining personal hygiene is the most crucial step. Hand washing and wearing of face masks have been prescribed as the key factors in prevention of disease. But, among the frontlines of India’s battle against corona are children of rag pickers, who ensure towns and cities are clean and garbage-free. But given the nature of their work, they are also among the communities most vulnerable to infections. 1000 vulnerable slum children and their families in Delhi’s Sangam Vihar & Mundka slums are finding it much more difficult to deal with the situation. Mostly dependent on daily wages, they are struggling hard for their survival and so sanitization is a privilege for them. These slums are considered to be in Red Zone or the High Risk zone of Delhi and even being aware of importance of hygiene and santization, these families fail to afford the luxury of a mask, soap and sanitizer.
Prevention is better than cure
Prevention is better than cure’ is our mantra to beat COVID! Every Life Counts! Even a single infected person can transmit the disease to hundreds of healthy individuals. Hence, to contain the spread of this virus, maintaining personal hygiene is the most crucial step. Hand sanitization has been prescribed as the key factors in prevention of disease. Although almost every space of public gathering, offices and schools have ensured proper sanitization through keeping a bottle of sanitizer at the entrance, but a common sanitizer bottle can also outspread the virus because of multiple touch. And this could be worst in case of schools with vulnerable children coming in and out. South, North & Northwest Slum areas of Delhi like Sangam Vihar, Mundka, Rani Khera, Ghevra Sawda has more than 200 government schools catering to about a lakh of poor marginalized children. While these schools are prepping up high to ensure a hygienic and safe environment for children when schools open up, they are also concerned about how to ensure no touch sanitization within children. Some of these schools have ensured a bottle of sanitizer at the entrances, toilets, staff rooms but they also need to ensure no touch sanitization for the children once schools open up again in July.
AROH identified 200 such needy schools in the slums of Delhi, catering to marginalized children, and facilitated with Foot Operated Sanitizer Dispensing Stand. The purpose was to control the spread of coronavirus from an infected person to others while using the same sanitizer bottle.
Providing Safety kits to children in Corona
If you grew up poor, you grew up dreaming, you grew up tough, you grew up thankful, but mostly you grew up too quickly, this line suits perfectly to Tanu Chauhan who is only 16 year old, studying in 10th class at Lala Lajpat Rai Kanya Inter College, Dankaur. Adding to their miseries, the kutcha toilet in their house made up of wood and thin was deteriorating their health every single day.
For her, newly constructed toilet by AROH at the school was a boon. Having a safe & dignified place to defecate made her realise what the village was missing and now Tanu is groomed as a sanitation ambassador within the village to prmote awareness on health & Hygiene.
Tanu is groomed as a sanitation ambassador
If you grew up poor, you grew up dreaming, you grew up tough, you grew up thankful, but mostly you grew up too quickly, this line suits perfectly to Tanu Chauhan who is only 16 year old, studying in 10th class at Lala Lajpat Rai Kanya Inter College, Dankaur. Adding to their miseries, the kutcha toilet in their house made up of wood and thin was deteriorating their health every single day.
For her, newly constructed toilet by AROH at the school was a boon. Having a safe & dignified place to defecate made her realise what the village was missing and now Tanu is groomed as a sanitation ambassador within the village to prmote awareness on health & Hygiene.
Leelavati Devi – blessed with a child and his health
“Not just after my delivery, AROH and Aanganwadi didi has been guiding me throughout my pregnancy for my health & hygiene. My child is completely vaccinated through health camps organized by AROH and growing up healthy.”
Neeru Kumari – transforming the trash
“Breaking stereotypes and social constraints, AROH has empowered Ms Neeru Kumari with garbage collection vehicle. Easy access within households, she would just not collect garbage, but also distribute awareness towards health & hygiene and simultaneously transforming her own life.” Says district CDO Ms Neha Jain
Child and Women Health
Sneha Lata , aged 20, who moved in Kanmura village just 2 months before with a family of 6 people , it was the most anxious period since she had lost her elder child to fever and the trauma had left her anaemic and with many lingering doubts about her other toddler Sahil who was just 9 months old. With Sahil, she didn’t want to risk anything. It was the ANM of the village, which invited her to the Women and Child Camp of AROH Foundation. She was examined, vaccine and then demonstrated over healthy motherhood and childhood lifestyles.
Menstrual Health
Jyoti, 14 years has been chosen as hygiene ambassador in the village. It was during one of the WASH workshops in school, that highly curious and dynamic Jyoti was selected as an instrument for change. She has been spreading the words about Female Hygiene, WASH and other health related information within all females of villages. She also is being consulted during pain, problems and injuries. She is often called as “Chhoti Doctor” of the village.
Cattle Health
Suraj Yadav, a small farmer, was very worried because of the declining health of his cattle’s, even after doing everything he was not able to detect the diseases that his buffaloes were facing and as he had already lost one of his buffaloes to some unknown disease. During Cattle Health Camps all rest of his buffaloes were examined and vaccinated against potential threats. The health of his cattle has been improving and the tension of added expense has also been sorted. He has been benefitted with a Cattle Shed to ensure healthy Cattles.
IHHL
Jamuna Devi, 52 years, has gifted her daughters and daughter in law a toilet in the house. AROH Foundation has been acting in alignment to Prime Minister’s Narendra Modi’s Agenda of making villages ODF by building Individual Household Latrines for the poorest of villagers. Earlier eve teasing, animal bites, weatherly constraints, embarrassment were normal routine whenever the ladies of the house had to attend to nature’s call. Now saving on the ladies, a very intellectual Jamuna Devi gifted the girls of her house with IHHL and set up an example for every other in the village.
School Sanitation Unit
Going that extra step for girl safety, Sanitation Units have now become a basic necessity of life as without it; it would be dangerous especially for girls to go out even in day to relieve them especially when they are studying in a co-education school of a narrow minded village. Poonam a student of 7th class had to take off her name from the school as there was no toilet available in the school. And other girls often skip school during their monthly cycles or due to embarrassment of defecating in open amongst so many boys. AROH like hundreds of villages constructed Sanitation Unit for Boys and Girls in School, which instantly improved the attendance, reduced drop outs. “Ms Parakh the principle of the govt. school said In all contentment says, “AROH Foundation have sorted a very critical issue of the students and teachers, because of which retention was also difficult, but now after the toilet in the school, we feel motivated and for this we thank them whole heartedly.”
WASH Workshops
Planning for a holistic development of villages and community in 18 villages in 3 districts of Uttar Pradesh under PARIVARATAN, HDFC Bank and AROH Foundation official could not ignore this crucial aspect of women care. And hence massive and extensive awareness Camps were planned across all villages. Experts on the subject demonstrated how due to release of some hormones during the adolescent period physical, psychological, social changes occur and how to effectively deal with it to maintain biological, hygienic and emotional balance.
One of the attendee Kajal, 14 years says, “I have seen my elder sister suffer a lot of turmoil because of ignorance during her monthly cycle. Unhygienic methods of cleaning our body parts, and disposal of sanitary napkins was making her ill and irritated during that cycle. Now since I know feasible ways to handle our well-being during such difficult days, I decide to educate all other ladies in and around my families for the same. This has eased our lives to a greater extent as we would also not skip school during those days. Thanks to didis from AROH Foundation for guiding us through this regular problem.”
Profits from poultry
AROH Foundation’s prime focus has always been on improving the lives of people living in rural India especially when it’s concerned to the female section. A large scale of India is dependent on poultry for food and income. Identifying which, AROH Foundation has formed women SHG named Pragati and a mother unit of poultry chickens at Badarkha village in Bulandshahr has been set up where these chicks are reared followed by beneficiaries collecting hatchable chickens from the mother unit, hatch and sell the eggs, till the chickens grow to full-size hens. The poultry farming contributes in not poverty reduction but also provides nutrition to rural lives through meat and eggs.
Ms Phoolmati says, “We were rearing chicks earlier too, but now a systematic management shall give us better profits, healthier chicks and hassle-free business.”
Commercial fish farming - Bio-Floc
“The method of Biofloc of fishery has proven to be low input and high yielding for us. The toil is also low and methodology is simple too. We all villagers thank AROH Foundation for bringing in such a new edge to our age old technique of fishing which was earlier full of struggles and hardships. Our training was extensive and we anticipate better results now.” Rajkumar, Chhattisgarh
Hope in Covid
Janaki Mahant, a 17 year old girl was trained in Cutting & Tailoring person living in Fulbandhiya village of Kharsiya cluster of Raigadh district of Chhattisgarh. She had a family of 5 people that includes little children too. The family of daily wage workers was finding it hard to sustain the economic crisis after the Corona Lockdown, which had left them with no income. Janaki was one self-esteemed and responsible member of the family and wanted to help her family rise above this crisis. But With a limited education, and no source of income Janaki was at at risk of being trapped in dehumanizing professions (like the sex trade) in order to feed their families & children. AROH Foundation was engaged in community welfare initiatives across Chhattisgarh for past two decades. COVID pandemic and its subsequent lockdown have shaven many families like of janaki’s into economical oblivion. AROH facilitated them with a sewing machine to start their own self-sustaining tailoring business. These women, who are often poor mothers and widows, will have an opportunity to use their skills to rise out of poverty and work toward a promising future for themselves and their families. A minor support for buying her a sewing machine gave her enough hope and support to open a small shop of tailoring and sustain a dignified life!
Helping women get sustainable Living in Corona
AROH has helped many women SHGs in Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh to get essential raw material and make masks during Corona Economic Crisis. These women otherwise were finding it hard to sustain their families during no work, no income mode of corona. AROH has also helped them to get orders from different parts through running an online campaign and help them survive the virus and subsequent effect of Corona
Rukamni Patel
“Through Seed Bank Initiative by AROH Foundation, all of us are saving a lot of agri inputs and the good quality seeds and organic manure is assuring us bumper yield and profits. Thanks to AROH for making us all entrepreneurs of our fields.” Rukamni Patel, Village Sendripally, Chhattisgarh
Saket – finding new horizon
Coming from a humble background and in lack of opportunities and guidance, Saket was clueless about his career. After getting to know about DDU _ GKY, he got enrolled in the AROH Foundation’s Greater Noida’s center for 3 month Retail Training.
"I was able to make something of myself after joining the programme. I now support myself and my parents, while being the first to be placed with a multinational in my family, I have a long way to go before I achieve my dreams, but I know I will", says Saket
Making a mark from rugs
Many women like me have got a name, place and dignity through this rug making unit. Previously we were doing it separately in our homes. AROH has united us under one roof and we are called entrepreneurs in the village. It’s a proud feeling.” Meena Devi, Rug Making SHG, Binawar, UP
Skilling women for livelihood
Breaking the age-old customs, 38 years old Meena Bai, a resident of Behtarai village, Chhattisgarh, is changing the age-old perception about the women restricted only within four walls of her house, by making and selling the handmade brooms in the market. Brooms are one product which is mostly in demand in the local market. A self-dependent individual, equalling with her husband, She is now walking shoulder to shoulder with her husband. Meena shows will and wisdom to other women of the village.
Reviving Traditional Craft & Skilling
Women power of village was only doing “ghar ka Kaam” which was wastage of such a talent and creativity. Many like Sapna, 20 years, are now living their dreams to be able to earn and have a respectable position by benefitting from the employment generated under rejuvenated traditional glass bangles trade of Dikhtauli village in Firozabad by AROH. Now “Sky is the limit for them” as they can achieve what sought.
Small efforts for big changes… Goatery SHG for Women Empowerment …
Mrs Anu, is a member of one the various SHGs created under Project PARIVARTAN. Anu wanted to utilise the ideal time she had into something productive and help her husband in financial matters. Put together in a string of common goal of self-empowering and self-dependence, the ladies of village are generating huge income from Goatery SHG. She could generate enough revenue so that she can take care of her children’s education. Just like Anu, all ladies of SHG bonded emotionally, financially and are constantly moving ahead.
Skill Development at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Kaushal Vikas Kendra
Sachin, 25 years, comes from a small village of Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh. His father was a small farmer and Sachin had seen his struggle in raising the family. Sachin was eager to share his father’s burden ASAP. He got engaged in short term skill training by AROH Foundation’s DDU-GKY centre. Now Sachin works diligently for Mini SO, a Japanese flagship retail chain where he is earning a handsome salary. Sachin has grown not only as a professional, but also as a person. While he is now able to help his family financially, he is also hoping to continue his studies and do his graduation.
Dream of a Daughter …
Deeksha , 23 years, comes from an interior village of Sikandra of District Jhansi. Her father, Nand Ram, a farmer by profession wanted all his children to pursue education and have a better life for themselves. But limited income and son being priority, Deeksha had to give up on her education after high school. She later was engaged to AROH’s vocational training in Hospitality. Her desire to a support of family made her a pro learner during her training at DDUGKY centre. She is now placed in Big Bazaar, Noida. Her parents are very proud of their daughter as she is able to achieve what she wanted after going through so much struggle and miseries.
Turning Turmoil into Triumph…. Empowering Women .. Rupali
Rupali belongs to Nayagarh village of Koraput district in Odisha. She may have come from humble beginnings, but she had big dreams and refused to surrender to constraints. Due to insufficient income of her family she had to leave her studies after 12th class. But she was determined to find a way in scarcity and help herself and her siblings to dare and dream. But her battle to find a way towards her dream was constantly on till she got to know about AROH Foundation’s DDU-GKY training program, a flagship project of Government of India, to empower youth with unique and personalized learning opportunities. Inspired by hope, Rupali made her way to the Bhubaneswar training center and enrolled herself for Retail Trade. A tenacious and driven professional, she has been proving herself since her first job in March 2015, where she worked as Sales Executive at a salary of Rs 7500 per month and then with quick increment to Rs 10000 per month and now she has excelled her trade and is working as Assistant Store Manager in Leading Japanese Retail Store MINISO at a salary package of Rs 18000 per month. Not just her remunerations, her dedication were also honored by Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India at Alumni Conclave by DDU-GKY, where she was bestowed with title of “Star Performer of DDU-GKY”.
Her journey has just started and Ruapli has a long way to go, it was her dedication and hard work which turned her turmoil into triumph.
ARC Tools , Tools to end toil …
Lochan Prasad, a small level yet progressive farmer in Chhattisgarh, wanted to bring in new techniques and innovative methods for improving the quality and quantity of the crops. But due to the lack of money and resources he was forced to adopt traditional and old school techniques in his field as the result, the quality and quantity was not as good as he desired it to be. Spreading pesticides takes lots of time as it was done by hands only thus increasing the chances of damaging the crops. The rates of renting a sprayer were way higher than his total profit and the machines was also not worth it.
Agricultural resource centres set up by AROH were lending tools those were expensive and most in demand at a minimal rent. Many like Lochan were immediately profited by the tool bank. Lochan narrates, “The exertion reduced, money issue was resolved and profits were increasing through farming. It was a win-win situation for hundreds like me. AROH’s tool bank is just like blood bank of our farms.
The civilization will grow, with the farmer, the land and the cattle!
Rajendra Prasad, 40 years was earning very merely to support his family of 6 people through 3 acres of land, 4 cattle (2 buffaloes, 2 calves) and seldom wage as a labor. And so rearing his cattle to full capacity of their health need was a challenge for him. He could not even get rid of him as they were crucial source of income of the family. Through the PARIVARTAN project, AROH’s team had proposed various interventions for the well-being of Livestock; one was setting up azolla unit for high quality fodder for animals. It was a luring deal for Rajendra, and hence he instantly opted for the Azolla culture setup. Team PARIVARTAN visited his house, supported him to set up his azolla pit and demonstrated him its further maintenance. Content Rajendra says, “bas ab humare jaanwar bhookhe aur bimar nahi rahenge, wo pariwar hain humara, aapk logo ko dhanyawaad.”
From one vermi bed to 20, making neat profit
Pradeep Kumar, a small scale farmer had 2.5 acres of land and cattle. Unaware about Vermi technique of manure, he was facing a regular issue of high input and low yield through his farming lands. In despair he had a plan to sell out the land and move to city for some daily wage job. As he had many cattle to support him for raw material needed for vermin compost, so a low cost substitute with eco-friendly safe method was in itself quite alluring for him and he instantly enrolled for Vermi compost installation. In the first cycle only, he could witness incredible profits, and from second cycle, Pradeep started selling vermi to other farmers. Now he has 20 beds of vermi and he is an entrepreneur of project PARIVARTAN. He says, “PARIVARTAN gave me money, dignity, security and say in the society”
Rejuvenation of local water bodies
Rejuvenation of local water bodies is an important part of creating new green spaces & water conservation under Harit drive of by AROH,. Hundreds of Govt school children like Rohit joined in the campaign, aiming to ensure sustainability of the intervention through mass awareness campaigns, who shall act as "Green Ambassadors" taking the responsibility to repair & maintain the ponds.
A step towards water conservation #janshakti4jalshakti
AROH renovated, revived and restored a dysfunctional Rain Water Harvesting cum Check Dam structure constructed by the Forest Department in in Laitkroh block of East Khasi Hills. The renovated structure is a boon for the community as it has the capacity to store 1.3 Lakh litres which adequately provides for the need of the entire population of 500 people. The water situation of the village has changed dramatically in the village since water from the RWH is not just adequate for daily needs of the villagers, but also has helped in mitigating water crisis at their agricultural fields.
NADEP
Prempal chose to enrol in NADEP intervention of AROH, another low cost high yielding technique to prepare Manure. He was demonstrated how it was a onetime investment in building the NADEEP structure and after some time the production of organic manure would become free. The Idea instantly clicked to him as he knew that the organic and highly fertile manure will improve the outcome of the fields that too at a minimum cost as farm waste, cow dung and other domestic waste was the only input in the technique. He set up NADEP at the back of his house with proper guidance and training of NADEP installation, replenishment and usage from agriculture expert of AROH Foundation. Prempal in 3 months was able to produce 2 quintals of highly fertile organic manure which he used in his fields and saw the transformation in the crops as the crops were healthier and resistant to diseases. A small step with minimum space and investment has helped Prempal realize his way for a better living
Azolla
Rajendra Prasad, 55 years is earning very merely (around36k p.a.) to support his family of 6 people through 3 acres of land, 4 cattles(3 buffaloes, 1 calf) and seldom wage as a labour. And so rearing his cattles to full capacity of their health’s need was a challenge for him.He couldnot even get rid of him as they were crucial source of income of the family. Rajendra Set up Azolla Pits to prepare better and organic quality of fodder for his cattles. It was low cost and high yielding input. Now after months of its use, cattles are in better health and the produce has also incresed evidently. Rajendra and his buffaloes, are are happy and healthy.
Pond Rejuvenation
Bharari was a very small and interior village in Takhatpur Cluster of Bilaspur District with small population of 2098 people. During the baseline study, it was observed that the people in Bharari were mostly dependent on farms for their livelihood which was insufficient to meet their survival struggle. Under PARIVARTAN program, AROH Foundation noticed that Bharari was a water resourceful village and so experts thought of revamping these water bodies and Fish Farming in it could be an effective source of added income. Working towards the plan, a pond, of 1 acre, which was earlier unused and was considered a waste body was retreated and rejuvenated for Fish Rearing and developed into a major parallel livelihood source of villagers. Now it’s a mine sustaining many families through Fish Cultivation in this Pond.
Nutritional Gardening
Malini, 29 years, young but economically backward belongs from interior village of Chhattisgarh. She has a family of 4 members which fully dependent on the farming. Mere income from the farms was not sufficient to support the expenses and deteriorating health due to poisonous air, water and food was regular. AROH motivated many like Malini to use their backyard for organic kitchen garden, which is low cost high yielding. She can now feed the family with veggies gown in her own little farm. She feels happy and healthy.
Green Village
“Swachh bharat”, a term given by Narendra modi in 2014 focus on making Indian rural and urban cities cleans. AROH Foundation being the change maker of the society implemented this principle in real life and through regular seminars and workshop and rallies, AROH Foundation has contributed in opening the eyes of the villagers to adopt Swachh Bharat in their own life also. Karuna, 16 years old decided to join her hands with AROH Foundation for spreading the message of swachh bharat. Karuna along with her friends are actively working in her village for making it a “Green Village”.
Bringing life after sunsets through Solar Mini lights
Binouri village of Bilaspur district often used to be a lost entity after sunset. Men, women, children all were constrained only within four wall of their house because of no electricity.
Ms. Basanta Bai, a resident of Binouri village, in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh had the similar tale, where she and her family of 5 was losing money as her small tea stall used to shut down at 6 pm, health due to risk from animals and insects, education due to long dark hours.
Solar run mini home lights were instant help for hundreds of families like that of Basanta Bai. Now her children could study, she could cook at her convenience and her small tea stall could run for longer hours.
Content Basanta says “Ab Hamare Ghar main hamesha ujala rahta hai, bache padh sakte hain, chai ki dukaan pe der tak log aate hain, Hume bahut khushi hoti hai ye dekh kar, AROH Foundation ka shukriya”
Vermi Compost
Ishwari Prasad, 42 years is an old but energetic and enthusiastic man from the village of Chhattisgarh. He was a hardworking farmer and was getting decent yield from his small land. Through one one the AROH Foundation’s awareness camp, he was motivated to set up a vermin compost for organic manure for his farm land. To his surprise, the yield improved evidently and his input cost was also reduced.
Very content Ishwari says, “This is just like icing to cake. My cost has reduced and profits have increased. The extra compost could be sold too at a decent rate. This one step has raised me many steps towards progress. Thanks to AROH for thinking out of box and helping needy farmers like me.”
The method of Biofloc of fishery has proven to be low input and high yielding for us
“The method of Biofloc of fishery has proven to be low input and high yielding for us. The toil is also low and methodology is simple too. We all villagers thank AROH Foundation for bringing in such a new edge to our age old technique of fishing which was earlier full of struggles and hardships. Our training was extensive and we anticipate better results now.” Rajkumar, Chhattisgarh
REMOVE BIO FLOC
Installation of Solar run Jal Minars – Solar Run community water asset ‘Jal Minars’ are installed under HDFC Parivartan in various villages to facilitate safe drinking water to villagers.
Prem Singh - Boi Gas
Prem Singh, 32, Mangalore, BulandShahr, was the first beneficiary to get the bio gas set up installed at his home. Now a content user, he says, “I feel really happy about my Bio gas set up. It was set up in just 1 day and now I just have to put dung and water, and my wife can cook without any hassle. LPG cylinder was beyond my reach but this Bio gas has beaten up that constraint and many more villagers are demanding the same from team PARIVARTAN.”
Gavaskar Singh
Gavaskar Singh iterates, “Vermi Compositing has proved to be a very low cost and better profits technique of farming for me. Regular farming awareness programs were of great learning experience and changed my perspective towards productivity of the crops in a very low cost and more benefits.”
Enhancing “mitti ka mol” organic way
In all 3 districts of Bulandshahr, Firozabad, & Budaun, land was going barren due to chemical use and over demanding crop variety. The farmer was losing its wealth & the nation was losing its health. While mapping future interventions for project PARIVARTAN in Uttar Pradesh, AROH & HDFC Bank Officials could just not ignore such a serious concern of the belt, on which more 500 persons were totally dependent were supported. So 800 kgs Urad Daal (type PU-31)- an eco-friendly solution to High cost, hazardous chemical crop was introduced to 170 farmers from which HRDP targets around 80acres of land could be well utilized and made into high yielding bed through organic seeds saving health wealth and sustainability. Devendra, 27 years says, “My land had gone a bit barren, the product was of low quality and the yield was giving me almost no profit. All hard work was going in vain. But this Urad Dal crop is easy to maintain, taking very minimal input and expected to give high profits. This technique actually taught be to be natural and how to enhace Mitti ka mol”
Solar Water Pump
Mrs Shalu, 42 years, like every other women in Rupaspur Village , Firozabad Uttar Prdaesh, was battling everyday with the plague created by adulterated water. Sevaral untimely deaths and diseases raised the demand for a sustainable clean drinking water facility in village. AROH installed solar water pump, which was reusing solar energy , cutting barriers of electricity and added cost and even beating the dangers of impure water, ensuring healthir and happier village. Taken over by Village development committeefor maintenance the pump ensures outreach with maximum impact. Lakhs of Shalus are benefitting from Solar Drinking Water everyday.
Solar Street Lights
The village of Lakhanpur in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh was house of all sorts of mischievous activities after sunset. Theft, alcoholism, eve teasing, animal attacks were regular. Ram Pravesh, 39 years, farmer by profession, was a recent victim of theft in his house and when AROH Foundation installed Solar Street light in the lane adjacent to his house, his enthusiasm was high. He felt safe, the lane was lively, his children could play and study at night as this intervention was crossing electricity barrier too. Just like Ram, all villagers along with Pradhan could see a new light of Hope…
Bio Mass Chulha
Constantly coughing Mahoti Devi, 35 years from Bulandshahar village often used to wonder the cause of it. Respiratory illness and Solid cook fuel pollution is the largest energy-related health risk and most important cause of ill-health ladies living in rural India. Mahoti Devi was just one of them. When she was given Bio Mass Chulha under PARIVARTAN project of AROH, instant difference she could feel was a light heart, Non watering eyes and convenient cooking. She could not stop boasting about the newly acquired asset in the village. Savings over cooking fuel, sustainable escape from weather dependent cooking and healthier body were long term impact she could feel through the Bio Mass Chulha of hers.
Bio Gas setup
Mrs Nandini Sahu, 35 years, from Behtarai Village Chhattisgarh, was managing a family of 5 with very limited income of her farmer husband. The family was large and survival was a battle as even cooking for the family was beyond budget. Ban by forest department against cutting of tress, unfavourable weather, and insufficient dung cakes, expensive LPG connection were huge constraint for lighting the chulha on daily basis. Under the PARIVARATAN project, AROH installed Bio Gas plant in their house, with negligible inputs that included household waste, cow dung and other organic waste. The unit has saved a huge expense on fuel and convenient and smokeless cooking adds to the health and happiness of hers and her family.
Solar Mini Light
32 years shopkeeper, just like all Meghalaya women, was extremely hardworking and ever smiling. She runs her own tea and snack shop to support the family. The light on her face is bright but this fades down with the sun setting down, not because of exertion but due to unavailability of electricity in her shop and home. To attend electricity crisis, AROH Foundation under their PARIVARTAN project, distributed Solar Mini lights to poor families like that of Beauty. Now it was all fun chats happening at her tea shop and family income has rose to better quantity. Not just this, her children are not just loitering and wasting their time in evening but utilising to study and learn. The benefits of lantern were not limited to giving them light during darks but it was also helping them charge their cell phones, which could help them be connected to rest.
Solar water Pump
For around decades, rural setups of in the districts of Bilaspur and Raigarh has been a ground of various water borne diseases and infections that has been silently eating lives due to “substandard” drinking water as per WHO standards.. Problems of chemical and domestic contamination, suspended impurities, pungent smell, excess or iron in water was acting as “Toxin in Tummy”. Not just quality, but unmet water hassles in these villages were also enormous.
Addressing to this sweltering issue, and alligning to United Nations Sustainable Goals, HDFC and AROH Foundation team, under PARIVARTAN took a series of strategic interventions to curb this giant problem. Solar water pump and filteration units were set up in all 24 villages across all 2 districts, Bilaspur and Raigarh to ensure quality and quantity of rightful water to all around. The location were planned for maximum outreach and community was engaged and made attentive about usage, maintenance and advantages of clean drinking water. We received overwheliming response all over and the lakhs of people living in the villages and another lakh travelling across villages are benefetting though Water Pumps.
Thousands of women enroll themselves for skill development
AROH gives them a chance and watch women at the forefront of any development agenda, be it personal, household, community or nation! Thousands of women in Sitamarhi enroll themselves for skill development programme being started in the district by AROHFoundation and anticipate brighter future ahead.
Ensuring Health of adolescents girls
As a dedicated and focused intervention of women empowerment, awareness towards better Menstrual Hygiene Management within adolescents girls of government schools in Rajasthan is being done periodically,. the aim us to improve the health stature and holistic growth of these girls, as a preparatory steps towards stronger future.
Re - Inhibiting the “Garima”
“There can be no means for our development, if we have no skills and no means of livelihood. The mission and vision for all of us training at AROH’s Garima is same and we thank AROH for inhibiting our lost “Garima” in us.” Says Kajal, a Garima beneficiary
Babita _getting a new identity
“RISE has given me an opportunity to stand and work. It has helped me to develop my own identity. And I feel content to teach these needy children along with taking care of my own children and family easily. After joining RISE, I do not only teach the children, but I’ve also taught myself too and many positive changes have occurred within me as well. The change is so good that I am very confident of talking to the person in front of me today.”
Reviving village assets for sustainable livelihood..
Ms Bhuri Machhwar, 42 years, a member of Durga Fishey SHG in Bharari Village of Chhattisgarh formed under Project PARIVARTAN says, “When we heard and saw the business of other SHG created by AROH in Fishery we requested AROH official to replicate the same model for us too. We were many females involved in individual small scale fishery business and the income was merely anything. But through Durga SHG, we are made into a group, more strategic working and training, bigger pond and biggest incomes ever was assured. And for this we thank AROH’s holistic Rural Development Program PARIVARTAN for being able to identify the existing potential in a dead pond and making into such a big source of income for us. We ladies are also now earning same as men.”
Entrepreneurs
Sitara Begum is a 38 year old Muslim lady living in a small jhuggi in Diktauli. He husband passed away leaving three children behind. The small piece of land which the family had went away in paying the debts. Sitara worked as a daily wage labourer.. Sitara’s daughter named Mahroonisha had to stop her study due to poverty. Sitara was given an opportunity to be trained as a sewing operator and given a machine to earn though it under AROH Foundations’ Project PARIVARTAN. Sitara was a fast learners as she quickly acquired the skills. She is also now getting orders to stitch suits and blouses and her children no longer sleep hungry. Her daughter Mehroonisa has resumed her studies and helps her mother in running the shop. Sitara Begum’s story inspires every woman to come forward and change their lives!
Where there is a will
Smt Kalendri bai Nagawanshi, a small level farmer and a housewife, belonging to Sondka village, Raigarh District, Chhattisgarh has a large family of 8 members. Kalendri and her large family were dependent on small piece of land and its Rice yield for yearlong survival. Instead of much of hard work and turmoil the results were not satisfactory. Production and its quality was a constant problem. AROH’s extensive training on System of Rice Intensification, yielding high quality and better quantity rice has been boon for Kalendri. The business has grown, the life is prosperous and smile has enlarged for her whole family.
How frail legs walk the life with dignity!
With frail legs rendered useless after being struck by polio, life has been quite hard for Meena (23), more so because she comes from an economically-backward family living in village Rupaspur in Firozabad district of Uttar Pradesh. “It’s just adjustment,” she modestly says when asked about her condition and her life. “When I was around eight years of age, I learnt to walk on my hands. I learnt to walk upside down so my legs do not drag. Eventually, I could walk long distances without trouble.
From childhood Meena had seen her father struggle hard to get two square meals for the family of six members. They have a small piece of land but there was never enough income to meet the basic needs of life. As Meena grew up, she wanted to share the responsibility of running the house, but felt helpless. She had no skills, no opportunity and no way to go! Her small village had no opportunity for normal girls to make a living, leave alone a physically challenged girl like her.
Her dreams came true when AROH Foundation started Parivartan Skills Training Centre in her village and she enrolled herself for cutting tailoring course. She outperformed all other girls of her batch and passed out with excellent grades. She was given a sewing machine by AROH which really proved to be ‘a ray of hope’ for her.
Now Meena owns her own “Meena Silai Kendra” and stitches clothes for villagers at a nominal rate. She is able to earn about 2-3K in a month which she gives to her father for running the house. Meena is not only successfully running her business of garment making; she is also pursuing her studies and wants to do post-graduation. She is also keen to teach ‘silai’ to other needy girls, as she feels that Silai is a craft that every woman should know.
Meena shares her experience, “I don’t have legs but AROH has given me wings. My sewing machine has not just given me my livelihood, but has given me confidence and self-respect to live my life with dignity.
Bringing back lives to dead ponds…s
One of the beneficiaries of Fishery SHG, Mr. Ramavatar narrates his life changing experience as, “Our village pond is alive again, it has given us a new place to hang out during free hours. Multi benefiting initiative of Fishery has given us remarkable addition to our income and we have pledged to conserve our pond from drying or decaying.”
