Intervention Snapshots

Garima Abhiyan (Campaign for Dignity)
Jan Sahas has been working intensively for complete eradication of the inhuman and unlawful practice of manual scavenging since 2002. The key interventions include getting the involved people out of this practice, organizing and capacitating them, ensuring education for their children and working for their holistic development. Around 5000 individuals have given away this practice till now out of which 95% are women. The campaign has also brought about many policy changes in the state. Jan Sahas is working directly in two districts of Indore and Dewas on this Campaign and through a network of organization is involved in 25 districts of Madhya Pradesh and 32 districts of 5 neighboring states. Advocacy efforts on this issue are also being taken up at state and national level.

Girl Child Scholarship Program
Due to social stigma and household chores, girl children are deprived from education. Hence a special need was felt to increase awareness towards education of girl child in community and to give them special attention and facilities. Thus, girl child scholarship program was started in 2006 by Jan Sahas. Under this program girl child are adopted and educated as well as efforts are also made for their capacity building and capacity building of their parents. The program was initiated in Dewas district with girls belonging to families which had left manual scavenging and socially excluded communities. In 2006-07 and 2007-08, 25 girl children were adopted every year and in 2008-10, 90 girls were adopted. Thus from year 2006 to year 2010 total 140 girls were adopted by Jan Sahas under girl child scholarship program.

Center for Social Justice and Equity
Center for Social Justice and Equity programme was initiated with an objective to stop the atrocities on Dalits and Women, bring justice to the families and individuals facing atrocities. Interventions for awareness and capacity building of community and policy advocacy on stopping atrocities are being taken up under this programme. Along with that information collection, legal help and capacity building for getting justice for Dalits facing atrocities are also being taken up. This work is being taken up intensively in 3 districts of Madhya Pradesh and all over the state on a broader scale. The organization has intervened in more than 300 cases of murder, rape, social ostracizing and violence and in many cases justice has been delivered.

Campaign for Food and Nutrition Security
Jan Sahas has integrated this important issue in all its ongoing programs. To improve the Food and Nutrition Security, organization is working towards improving monitoring systems, increasing transparency and accountability and improved participation of community in government schemes like PDS, NERGA, ICDS, MDM and BPL list. Other key interventions of Jan Sahas on malnutrition issue include impact and situation indicators reporting system, fact finding exercises, rapid assessment of malnutrition in sensitive dalit and tribal areas, networking with other campaigns, monitoring of the NRC and Anganwadies though the CBOs, building capacity for the community management system for malnutrition, advocacy for food and nutrition security for the families etc. Jan Sahas started a independent campaign for Food and Nutrition Security of tribal and dalit community in tow districts (Khargond and Panna) of Madhya Pradesh.

Bhumi Adhikar Abhiyan (Campaign for Land Rights)
Jan Sahas is working on ensuring land rights of community on three types of land including land provided by the government, own land and land for landless families. There has been a large scale encroachment on the land provided by the government and the won lands of community by the influential peoples. Instances of harassment and atrocities always take place when the community claims back their rightful possession of such land. Community is not able to get the rightful ownership of their own land in such cases. The campaign is working with more than 2000 families in 5 districts of Madhya Pradesh and till now 298 Bighas of land has been reclaimed for 102 families.

Education and Social Inclusion Program
Education is being used as a means for social cohesion and ensuring non discriminatory and quality education for all by Jan Sahas in 2 districts of Ujjain and Dewas in Madhya Pradesh in both urban and rural areas. The focus is on enrollment of all children in schools and taking up various measures for stopping them from dropping out or being pushed out from the schools. For greater community involvement in education measures like extra support to children, Bal Panchayats, Resource Centers, Wall Papers, strengthening of PTAs and community organizations are being taken up. Under this program Jan Sahas working with more than 12000 children.

Dalit Shakti Karykram ( Dalit Holistic Empowerment Program)
Shakti Karykram (Holistic Empowerment Program) has been developed as an integrated programme for holistic development and empowerment of communities involving issues like education, health, livelihoods, equity, land rights, self governance. The programme is operational in Dewas district where intensive interventions have been taken up in two blocks.

Campaign for Governance and Social Accountability
Campaign Governance and Social Accountability is being carried out by Jan Sahas to ensure their role and participation in the governance processes at all levels and ensures social accountability and transparency in public services and institutions. Under this campaign capacity building of elected representatives, community based organizations and community members is being carried out on issues like special component plan and government policies and programmes (SSA, NRHM, NREGA) and an emphasis is made on their effective implementation through them. Along with this capacity building of community for increased participation in governance processes is also carried out.