Project Salem People Trust (SPT)

Campaign Story

About the project

The very serious issue in SPT’s operational area is that the rate of incidence of female feticide is at 28%. Additionally due to the lack of livelihood options and poor wage system that is still in practice in the rural pockets; with daily living so difficult, the people here live in debt. Their houses are situated in the interior hamlets or in fields that are very far away from the schools and Anganwadis resulting in children dropping out from school. Lack of availability of schools and lack of access to schools coupled with poor infrastructural facilities like lack of safe and hygienic toilet facilities for girl children, electricity, playground and a friendly atmosphere are also major factors.

Making a difference

CRY America’s Project SPT works in Salem and Dharmapuri Districts, Tamil Nadu to ensure proper health and nutrition during the COVID times. Enhancing the quality of education aspects through direct engagement with govt dept. & commissions at district & state for schools and ICDS, increasing engagement with family in creating awareness and sensitizing community towards engaging with health system aiding towards reduction in the rate of incidences of Female Feticide in the operational area. The key activities under the project are initiation of Covid support groups composed of community volunteers – organizing health awareness for children at household level, enrollment awareness with parents and children focusing on enrollment & ensuring retention of children in the transiting grades.

Action during COVID times

● Distributed awareness templates in the intervention areas received from the government
● The team ensured provisioning of rice, pulses, sugar, wheat, etc. and the cash benefit of Rs 4000 to the families from the state

The way forward

● Enrolment drive at household and village level focusing on enrolment & retention in the transiting grades
● Close monitoring at the village level on identification of high risk mothers
● Engaging with CDPO and AWW in the operational area centers and organize training for AWW on PCPNDT act and sensitizing them about their role in preventing female feticide
● Organize cluster level awareness meetings/programs on gender, patriarchy, and celebrating the power / importance of girl children
● Engage with the panchayat members and iterate for priority to parents of the child labor to be linked with MNREGA.

Project Impact

families linked with MNREGA scheme as part of ensuring livelihood options

2,714

Families linked with MNREGA scheme as part of ensuring livelihood options

children monitored on the key transition classes and ensured enrolment

1,017

Children monitored on the key transition classes and ensured enrollment

children are enrolled in evening classes in 5 villages _ 20 children attend regularly

54

Children are enrolled in evening classes in 5 villages & 20 children attend regularly

child labor stopped from working and constantly monitored _ motivated for re-enrolment

21

Child labor stopped from working and constantly monitored / motivated for re-enrolment

female feticide prevented by enrolling them into AWC _ PHC

51

Female feticide prevented by enrolling them into AWC / PHC

Donate To Project

Last year’s budget: $16,220

Current Year’s Approved Grant

Administration$6,269

Protection$30,610

Total Budget$36,879

COVID Relief for the community

The entire nation was in lockdown and the worst affected were the marginalized communities who were dependent on daily wages, most of them completely lost their source of income & were starving. The marginalized communities in the rural pockets are struggling for their survival.

All the services of the state were at halt and nothing was reaching the community / children. 980 children in the age group of 0-6 yrs. who are solely dependent on the nutrition supplements / eggs, dal and rice from the AWC was completely stopped for more than two months. The children grew severely malnourished during these dark days.

With the schools and AWCs shut down for more than 2 months and the status of children growing grim, the partner started engaging with the local CDPO, and the project officer in ensuring the provision of THR and nutrition supplements and the MDMs from the schools to be supplied to the children right to their houses. The officers were not able to deliver as there was no logistics movement and no permission from the state for the distribution of services

The partner also joined hands with all the civil society organizations raising voices demanding for the immediate distribution of THR & nutrition supplements / MDMs to the children. They tried lobbying with the district officials, highlighting the issue in the media, mailing the demands/issues to the principal secretaries and ministers in their mails.

After a big negotiation with the state on ensuring provisions, the state announced provisioning of DRY rations for the entire state free of cost and provision of take home ration, nutrition supplements and dry ration for MDMs to all children in the villages. The provisioning was made weekly, bi weekly. Partner team and the community volunteers kept close track of the materials received, checked on the quality and timely delivery and ensured every child was reached and provided with their rights.

The approach has ensured the state’s responsibility in ensuring its citizen’s survival, particularly the children.