Bahujan Hitay Women and Child Welfare Society, Pune, India
An outing for children from a slum to Empress Gardens, Pune, Maharashtra, India, January, 2017.
Since 2005 we have been supporting the work of Karunadeepa, born as a dalit, and earlier working for Jeevak* in Pune, Maharashtra, India. What began as a project for Tribal Child Health & early education has expanded to support income generation, and over forty women's health, kindergartens and after school study groups. This work is in memory of Susan Woldenberg Butler, BODHI's co-founder. In 2017 the Bahujan Hitay Pune Project was started. More photos on Flickr here.
Their website is here (http://bhpuneproject.in/).
* Jeevak is the name of a famous doctor who was a companion of the Buddha
Their website is here (http://bhpuneproject.in/).
* Jeevak is the name of a famous doctor who was a companion of the Buddha
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Hadapsar crèche report, Pune, for 2018
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This report has been edited (to make it easier to read).
The Hadapsar crèche again ran successfully in 2018, benefiting 28 children of Gosavi vasti (editor: an area in Hadaspar where most of the people identify as a group called Gosavi). Mrs Chaya Kate, a teacher, assisted by Mrs. Rubina Khan, take care of the children. Daily. from Monday to Saturday, the crèche is open for children from 9.30 am to 1 pm. (ed: This gives very poor, hard-working parents a chance to earn money.) In the morning the teacher leads prayer, then teaches motivational songs. After that, the assistant teacher prepares nutritious food for children. Sometimes the children receive fruits, every week they are given eggs. (Editor: eggs are donated by the National egg board). Every month there is an evening meeting, involving staff (Shanti Da, Manisha and Karunadeepa) and the parents, to discuss the progress of students and to invite suggestions and any queries about the crèche. The teacher also discusses hygiene and health with the students. Parents are very happy about the progress of their children. A program to improve parental awareness of nutritious food was held in March, June and September 2018. Topics discussed at these meetings included the importance of health, nutritious foods available at home, and how they should be prepared. Especially valuable are peanut laddoo, (ed: peanuts, sugar and cardamon, if available), carrot, beetroot, eggs, and leafy vegetables (ed: including during pregnancy). (Ed: folic acid and calcium are provided, for free, to expecting mothers, by the government of India. Dahl and rice are also an important combination; although this knowledge is ancient and traditional in India, in some cases the consumption of dahl has fallen due to poverty, and perhaps, failure to understand the importance of the combination). |
Some children at the Hadaspar creche, 2018
Children and parents, 2016 (photo retained)
Dr Nair with young patient, 2018
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More than 30 mothers attended each of these programs. A program to raise awareness about early childhood marriage was also organized (Ed: to advise that there are alternatives and that moderately delayed marriage is likely to lead to less poverty and better health). About 25 women participated in this. Women were also taught about relevant government schemes. The children also receive a monthly medical check, by Doctor Rajesh Nair. who checks height and weight, and provides advice and medicine to children, especially for those who are underweight.
Every year the children go on an outing together, to a garden. All the activities of Hadapsar crèche, including the awareness program, are running successfully.
List of Children:- 28 names and birth dates provided
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Empowering women: Indian women can successfully better their own lives and those of their families given the opportunity. Yet today nearly half the women in India not have bank or savings accounts; mobile phones or internet access - let alone property. This statistic is a general one that cuts across caste and class. Education is a key to improvement UN India Business Forum Gender Equality: Women’s Economic Empowerment. BHPP does this through Vocational Training (eg Sewing Class, Fashion Designing, Beauty Parlor, Bag making, Henna, Jewelry Making) and holding workshops on the rights of women and providing leadership training and counselling.
Family Planning: The mothers in the Hadaspar project are told about family planning, and its importance, and referred to the Asha workers (Nurse) from the Primary health centre where they can access contraceptives free of charge (including the pill and condoms) and more information.
Kitchen gardens: In the slum there is not enough space to grow vegetables but where there is space people plant fruit trees such as mango, guava, chickoo, tamarind, lime, custard apple, papaya, curry leaves and drumsticks.
Every year the children go on an outing together, to a garden. All the activities of Hadapsar crèche, including the awareness program, are running successfully.
List of Children:- 28 names and birth dates provided
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Empowering women: Indian women can successfully better their own lives and those of their families given the opportunity. Yet today nearly half the women in India not have bank or savings accounts; mobile phones or internet access - let alone property. This statistic is a general one that cuts across caste and class. Education is a key to improvement UN India Business Forum Gender Equality: Women’s Economic Empowerment. BHPP does this through Vocational Training (eg Sewing Class, Fashion Designing, Beauty Parlor, Bag making, Henna, Jewelry Making) and holding workshops on the rights of women and providing leadership training and counselling.
Family Planning: The mothers in the Hadaspar project are told about family planning, and its importance, and referred to the Asha workers (Nurse) from the Primary health centre where they can access contraceptives free of charge (including the pill and condoms) and more information.
Kitchen gardens: In the slum there is not enough space to grow vegetables but where there is space people plant fruit trees such as mango, guava, chickoo, tamarind, lime, custard apple, papaya, curry leaves and drumsticks.
Karunadeepa's story and award: see
Why this is not child sponsorship
1. The identities of the children change every year
2. We have no individual relationship with any of the children (nor does any donor)
3. There are other elements involved to the program, including several meetings per annum between the staff and the children's mothers (and sometimes, fathers)
4. All administration is done locally; BODHI is "hands off"
5. Although Colin has twice visited the creche (in 2015 and 2018) foreigner visitors are not routinely taken to see the classes; visitors (unless representatives of the funders) see only the office and meet only the staff.
1. The identities of the children change every year
2. We have no individual relationship with any of the children (nor does any donor)
3. There are other elements involved to the program, including several meetings per annum between the staff and the children's mothers (and sometimes, fathers)
4. All administration is done locally; BODHI is "hands off"
5. Although Colin has twice visited the creche (in 2015 and 2018) foreigner visitors are not routinely taken to see the classes; visitors (unless representatives of the funders) see only the office and meet only the staff.