Navodaya Movement
The work with the dumpyard communities was extended to a new place in the Kalyan-Dombivili Municipal Corporation (KDMC) area with the inauguration of a new centre at Ulhasnagar on the 22nd of April 2016. Navodaya is now working with the ragpicker communities in four dumpyards of the KDMC.
RAGPICKERS PROJECT
The work with the dumpyard communities was extended to a new place in the Kalyan-Dombivili Municipal Corporation (KDMC) area with the inauguration of a new centre at Ulhasnagar on the 22nd of April 2016. Navodaya is now working with the ragpicker communities in four dumpyards of the KDMC.
Navodaya Movement was graced by the Episcopal visit of the new Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius Episcopa on the 11th of May 2016. Tirumeni visited the Kalyan Centre and interacted with the staff.
Education
This year 164 children newly joined the Day Care Centres at the various fields, while 338 children enrolled in schools through Navodaya. The school going children come to our centres for tuition and they are also provided lunch and snacks. Thus a total of 502 children are supported to have a formal education. School kits were distributed to 323 students. We are grateful to the Borivilli MTC (50), Thane MTC (101) and Kalyan East MTC (71) for providing kits. A set of uniform was distributed to 85 children. Eleven youths have been enrolled in the Open School. Three have joined for MSCIT course.
Child Rights classes and workshops were conducted for the children in June and September. The children participated in a Tree Planting drive (Van Mahotsav) in the months of June and July. The children of the Ambernath centre took the initiative to start an agricultural garden in an open place near the centre. World Yoga Day was celebrated at all centres on June 21st. A Life Skills training programme was conducted for the girls on 2nd September. Literacy rally was conducted at Kalyan on 8th September.
Junior Children‟s Parliament initiated at the various centres (except Ulhasnagar). A Youth Parliament was also started at the Kalyan Centre. A picnic was organized on the 12th of September at Paradise Resorts, Bhiwandi, in which 200 children participated.
Health
Medical Camps were conducted by the Family Planning Association (India) every Thursday at the various centres for the community. A total of twenty medical camps have been conducted. In addition, immunization camps were organized for the children at the centres. Pulse polio camps were also organized at our centres.
The World Health Day was commemorated by conducting a health awareness class at the Kalyan Centre on 7th April. A deaddiction camp was organized at Sathenagar on April 20th. A counseling camp was held at Kalyan on May 21st. Reproductive Health awareness programme was conducted at Ambernath and Sathenagar.
Navodaya was instrumental in the spraying of anti-malaria medicine at the Ambernath centre. Hand gloves were distributed to the women at Bhiwandi and Ambernath. Two women were treated as part of our family planning progamme.
Livelihood
The Self Help Groups (SHGs) meet regularly every month and all the members are systematically making their savings. Their savings are being monitored. Goats were purchased for the women at Adivasiwadi. Musical instruments were purchased to start a band by youths of Adivasiwadi. They were also provided uniforms. Two hand carts were purchased and provided to two women from Adivasaiwadi for vegetable selling and vada pav business. Poultry farming training were given for the women at Ambernath. Paper bag making course was conducted for the women of all the fields at Kalyan Centre in April. A four day training workshop was conducted for the women of all centres. It included making phenyl, incense sticks, perfume, soft toys, designer purses. The women of Adivasiwadi started cultivation of plants whose leaves can be sold. Tailoring classes were started for the women at Bhiwandi. A second group of youths joined together at Adivasiwadi to form a new SHG.
Community Development
Steps have been initiated for water connections at Ambernath, Bhiwandi and Ulhasnagar. It is in the last phase at Ambernath and Ulhasnagar. Provision of Aadhar cards was facilitated for 6 children. Festivals and other occasions were celebrated in the communities. The Independence Day programmes were held at Adivasiwadi. The entire staff and children from all centres assembled there and presented programmes. Drawing competition for the children were conducted at all centres in connection with the Independence Day on the 14th of August. Onam was celebrated on the 14th of September at the Kalyan centre. Onam games and activities were arranged and Onasadya was provided for all. Ganesh Chathurthi celebrations were organized by the leaders of the Children‟s Parliament.
Members of the staff participated in a leadership training programme organized by HCDI on 20th-24th September.
Networking
A team from the Deepti Foundation, Delhi, who are also working with the rag picking community visited the centre and the various fields on the 9th and 10th of August. A team from Navodaya had visited their Delhi project in July. A joint discussion was held to develop ways and means to improve both projects. Navodaya Movement participated in the National NGO Expo and CSR Summit held at the World Trade Centre on the 30th and 31st of August.
Visitors
The Mar Thoma parishes have provided great support in a variety of ways. A special word of gratitude to those who visited the Centre and the various fields. There were groups from Borivilli MTC, Thane MTC, Kalyan West and East MTC. A team also visited from Kozhencherry Centre MTYS and they even stayed at the Bhiwandi dumpyard for two days experiencing firsthand the life of a ragpicker. Individuals and groups from various secular organizations also visited the Centre and provided support through donations and supply of materials.
MAR THOMA SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN IN NEED OF SPECIAL CARE
A child with special needs requires love, guidance, encouragement, positive influence and a life teacher. With these objectives, the school entered into the 25th year. The children makes the school special. In the present academic year, 75 students were admitted in the school. After the summer holidays, school opened for the new academic year on 13th June. School kits, sponsored by Mr. Vinod and Preethi Kuruvilla, Canada, were distributed to all the students on 21st June 2016.
Teachers Meetings
The academic year (2016-2017) officially started with the year planning on 9th June 2016 by the teachers under the guidance of the Head Mistress. On 10th June 2016, Teachers Retreat was conducted in the school campus. The meeting was presided by the Manager, Rev. Abin S. Abraham in which the year plan was discussed. This was followed by a seminar on “Behaviour Modification and Positive Thinking”. The seminar was taken by Mrs. Swarali Joshi, Psychologist and Mrs. Jyothi Abin, Psychiatric Social Worker.
Episcopal Visit
On 11th May 2016, the Diocesan Episcopa of the Mumbai Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosious Episcopa visited the school, blessed the children. The meeting was attended by staff, parents, and children and was followed by lunch.
Parent Teacher Meetings
Open day was conducted for the parents and report cards along with the exam papers were given and discussions about the children‟s progress was reviewed and evaluated. The first parents teachers meeting was held on July 16, 2016. During this meeting the PTA Secretary for the year 2016-2017 was selected. Parents meeting and Counselling sessions were conducted for the parents on 21st August 2016. This was led by Mrs. Jyothi Abin.
Celebrations
Though a holiday, children attended the celebrations of Maharashtra Day on May 1st 2016. On 21st June 2016, „Yoga Day‟, Yoga classes were conducted on the same day for children and parents. Mrs. Rajani Takwardas conducted the classes. Rev. Binoy J. Thomas hoisted the National Flag on Independence Day. Gokulashtami was celebrated on August 4, 2016. Teachers Day was celebrated on September 3, 2016 with Rev. Abin S. Abraham and Rev. Binoy J. Thomas of Mar Thoma Vidya Peeth along with Board Members of the Easow Mar Timotheos Welfare Trust. Onam Sadya was also arranged for all the staff on the same day.
Government Grant
The Government Grant for the Special School has been under discussion for the past three few years. The work is still ongoing. Several visits to the Ministry offices in Thane and Pune were undertaken for the same. On 12th July 2016, officials from Thane Social Welfare Board came to School for inspection. The School was previously awarded 27 points based on the government evaluation criterion and these were verified.
Health Check-ups
The Government Hospital at Goveli arranged a Medical check – up for our Children.
Extra curricular Activities
A Team from Sparsh Foundation, Kalyan, arranged an Umbrella Painting Workshop and distributed Certificates to our Students on 28th July 2016. Savitri Bai School at Bhiwandi arranged a training programme for Coach Selection for Special Olympics on July 27, 2016. Mr. Anil Vekhande and Mr. Anil Konkani attended the training programme. Sports for Special Olympic trial programme was conducted for all the children on July 29, 2016. Five students attended the District Level Sports Competition on July 30, 2016 and the school won 1 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze. The winners were felicitated by the Diocesan Episcopa Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius at Mar Thoma Church, Thane on 11th July 2016. Mast. Deepak Godesher was selected for the State level Olympics. Students from Kala Vanija Mahavidya, Goveli conducted Coloring and drawing competition for the students on July 30, 2016. Prizes were also distributed.
Silver Jubilee Celebrations
Rev. Binoy J. Thomas and Rev. Abin S. Abraham along with the members of Easow Mar Timotheos Welfare Trust were present on August 8, 2016 on the occasion of the inauguration to the celebrations of the 25th Year. On the same day, 25 roses were planted in the school campus making it the Rose Garden of and by the students.
Rehabilitation Programmes
An Aadhar card camp was conducted in the school for the students on September 23, 2016. Fixed deposits were started for the winners of the District Olympics with their prize money. Vocational training programmes that have been conducted in the school include:
- Preparation of Church candles.
- Handmade Rakhis.
- Handmade Decorated Diya
- Christmas Greeting Cards is in progress.
- Craft work
TRANSGENDER REINTEGRATION PROGRAMMES
Documentation
Documentation being one of the major needs of the TG community, Navodaya in association with the Community Based Organisations, in Shahad & Bhiwandi created databases of the transgenders in the community. Work has been initiated to provide documentation which includes identity cards, Aadhar cards, and gazette notifications in case of name change. Bank accounts were opened for two transgenders in Shahad.
Medical Camps/Health Care Facilitation
Medical Camps were conducted in Shahad and Bhiwandi with the help of Family Planning Association of India (FPAI). 58 Transgenders benefited from the medical camps. Those who were referred for further assessments were taken to hospitals as per their need.
Vocational Training Programmes
Different institutes and government authorities were contacted for giving the TG Community skill training programmes. Several meetings were held with the community members at the various gheranas to understand their needs and interests. Some of the areas for training which were identified through such sessions are driving, beautician course, bag stitching and tailoring. Feasibility studies were conducted and a number of institutes and organizations were approached in this regard. Capgemini has agreed to induct the TGs in their training courses which include beautician and tailoring. Vinod and Preethi Kuruvilla from Canada have come forward and agreed to finance a livelihood programme after the completion of the training. The Tuba Foundation has also agreed to network with Navodaya with regard to employment opportunity for Transgenders. An agency has also agreed to take up TGs with driving licenses for cab services like Ola and Uber.
Awareness/Sensitization Programmes
Awareness programmes were conducted in Salvation Army centres in Gujarat, Mumbai and Ahmednagar in collaboration with National Council of Churches in India (NCCI). A sensitization workshop on „Human Sexuality and the Bible‟ was held for the Mar Thoma churches of the Pune centre at Kirkee MTC in August.
Advocacy
Two children born as intersex have been referred to Navodaya from the TG community. The two children have been abandoned by their parents and are in the custody of TG community. Due to safety issues, the community trusts Navodaya to find a shelter for the children. Discussions are going on with foster care centres in Mumbai.
Spoken English Classes
Spoken English course was started for the TGs of Shahad. The Bhiwandi community has also shared their interest for such a course.
Helpline
The Helpline continues to help transgenders and other family members who call by giving guidance and information as per their need.
Transgenders are also coming to the Centre for prayer and fellowship.
