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| Rehabilitation of Child Labour |
| The area in which SVSS operates is endemic to child labour. Mirzapur, Sonbhadra and Bhadohi districts are known for carpet industry having distinction of employing large number of children. The problem is also in other industries. Children can also be seen working in paces like farms, shops, eating places, auto garages and so on. This situation automatically results in keeping children out of schools. |
| SVSS has been involved in making efforts for rehabilitation of child labour. Alternative Learning Centres (ALCs) have been established in many villages. Children who would have otherwise been out-of-school got the opportunities of studying in these ALCs and at the same time accessed facilities like clothes, mid-day meal and health check up as well. |
| Women Empowerment |
| Despite their contribution to homes and outside, women have only secondary status and often bear the brunt of violence. In view of this, empowerment of this half population becomes imperative. SVSS has organised women into self help groups, primarily for their economic empowerment. But these groups have emerged as a platform through which women discuss and share their problems, issues and concerns and seek solutions thereof. |
| In addressing this issue with specipfic precision leadership skill among women is developed through direct and indirect approaches. Promoting SHG processes, providing leadership training among select SHG members and elected women panchayat representatives are few among those approaches. Women are also being empowered socially through a number of strategic interventions. Their involvement in panchayats and ALC activities are among such measures. |
| RCH and Infant Care |
| Mirzapur district has high maternal and infant mortality rate, partly because of abject poverty prevailing in the district and partly because of non-availability of qualified doctors and largely defunct government health facilities. Mandatory check-ups of pregnant women, administration of iron tablets and two doses of TT vaccine as well as complete immunisation of infants and children are a far cry. In this backdrop, SVSS implemented programmes for providing reproductive child health and infant care in selected rural pockets of the district. |
| Strengthening Livelihood System |
Livelihood options in Mirzapur are quite limited. Land in a part of the district is full of stones and land productivity is low. The problem is compounded by low rainfall that the district receives. The district does not have industries, except carpet industry. In view of this strengthening livelihood system has become a priority for SVSS. The organisation is making efforts in this direction by promoting small income generation activities through SHGs of women, mainly in agriculture allied sector. |
| Community Mobilisation |
| For any development intervention to succeed, it is imperative that the community be mobilised to fully participate in activities and demand its dues from the society and government. SVSS is doing so through mobilisation activities. Designing and distributing pamphlets and posters is one mean of doing so. Individual meetings, small group meetings, group meetings, workshops and other community events are the other means. The folk media team of the organisation performs at regular intervals to mobilise the community. |
| Grampachayats in rural Indian extends the true opportunity for community to ensure their representation in the governance process. So to strengthen the role of community in raising their status the panchayat representatives sould be equipped with relevant knowledge and perspective for community development. SVSS keep on providing such training for the elected panchayat representatives through its several intervention either with donor support or in some cases with their own initiatives. Women empowerment, childs labour erradication, NREGA, MRHM are the major issues dealt in such trainings events. |