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Author: Smile Editorial Team

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From The People, For The People

From surviving to living: A big leap for the beggars community in Chakrabhata

From surviving to living: A big leap for the beggars community in Chakrabhata

Neelam has been begging since she was very young. She does not remember the exact age since she started begging to support her family of five, including her husband and three kids. Her husband goes to the nearby city to earn a daily wage. She has begged all her life and so have her grandmothers and the other women in the small community she is a part of. Going to school and thinking of any other livelihood source was never a possibility for her and the other inhabitants of Chakrabhata village in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.

 

The men in the Chakrabhata village throng to towns and cities to find labour work on daily wages to bring back home meager earnings which just about meet the most basic needs of their families – food, clothing and shelter. While the men go out for work, the women who are also burdened by the financial adversities go begging. Lack of proper education has made it difficult for the women to leave begging that has been going on for generations in the community.

 

But this does not mean that they do not dream of a different, improved life for their children. If anything, their helpless situation has made them more determined to ensure that their children do not have to face similar hardships. “Our only wish is to see our children live a dignified life, where they do not have to asks for alms and depend on the mercy of others to feed themselves”, says Neelam. Thus, it was the mothers who took the initiative of enrolling their children at Smile Foundation’s Mission Education centre MITWA when it was first started in their village.

 

“Their progress is my biggest award” – teacher at MITWA

 

With the implementation of this centre, the children in the community are now not deprived of the right to education. And their mothers are not deprived of hope anymore. Just like the other women in the community, Neelam feels joyous when she sees her children reading and doing their homework. She continues to beg but is hopeful that her kids will have a better life. She says she has a better aim in life now and that is to get her kids educated so that they can lead good lives. Her kids love going to the education centre and they love reading the stories written in their books.

 

In addition to learning, they also enjoy playing with their friends and the poem recital class in the centre. The Mission Education Centre now has more than 100 children enrolled. Computer education is one of the major skills that the children are being taught at the centre. Deprived of education, proper food, adequate healthcare, the children now experience the little joys of a happy childhood. In addition to lessons for a brighter future, the students are given lots of love and care at the centre. While some of the children come to the centre without any goals, some have even realized that their motive to get educated is that they have to get skilled to earn a good job so that someday their mothers do not have to beg anymore.

 

A big percentage of our population still lives in destitution and one of the major reasons for this is the lack of education. A person who is not educated and aware is not equipped with the right mindset to take the right decisions in life. Limited and unequal access to education in our country makes it difficult for the weaker sections to emerge and contribute towards the growth and development of the society and the country as a whole. Education is both the means as well as the end to a better life; means, because it empowers an individual to earn his/her livelihood, and the end because it increases one’s awareness on a range of issues – from healthcare to appropriate social behavior to understanding one’s rights, and in the process evolve as a better citizen.

 

With the children in Chakrabhata being nurtured as first generation learners, there is an even bigger responsibility on the teachers to ensure the holistic development of each child, so that they can grow into good human beings, responsible citizens and potential change-makers. These children after all will not just be writing their own future, but also will be the way their families and community have lived for generations – forever!

 

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From The People, For The People

Touching and being touched by the lives of children from Smile Foundation.

Touching and being touched by the lives of children from Smile Foundation.

Sometimes life gives you everything and sometimes it takes a lot from you, but the choice of giving back all the time is totally upto you. Our visit to Smile Foundation’s Mission Education centre- Niveda Vidya Mandir in Nithari, Noida, a school which gives the children of the lower strata an opportunity to learn and grow, was a visit to remember. Started by a group of friends living the area it is a place which has turned the lives around of children in the area.

 

When I first entered the school not knowing what to expect, was in for a surprise, and a surprise it was when I saw the talent the kids had, the attitude of taking the lead from the front, helping each other to learn, play, draw, fight, sing and bond. The passion and expressions they depict in everything they do is commendable. The students who once worked as rag pickers with their intent to perform are now excelling in all the activities. Abhishek (Bachchan as he calls himself), Yash (the Mr. Mischief), Shravanti (the master of poems), Gopal (an aspiring doctor) are just some students amongst the talented lot we met.

 

The teachers, Shilpa Ma’am, Neha Ma’am, Monica Ma’am and others are the ones who give their all to bring out the best in these kids. They are the ones we must congratulate for the efforts they put in. They motivated the parents of the students to send them to school to lead a happy, prosperous and yielding life. They changed the social mindset of the parents and thought of only the betterment of the kids in their efforts to get them to school. They not only involve themselves with kids, but also with adults by organising different workshops on social abuse, skill development, healthcare etc. to integrate all in their mission of uplifting the neighbourhood.

 

I feel that visits like these are experiences that all of us should have because after going there you realise that the lives that we lead are so luxurious in comparison to the ones these children suffer through. Yet, we are the ones who are always complaining. I just wish and hope that I could get the spirit these kids showcase, the determination they have and try to imitate that in every aspect of life. This was an opportunity for me to grow. I am pleased that I was able to touch and make an impact on the lives of others directly!

To know more about Smile Foundation’s education programme, please visit our website.

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In The Spotlight Smile

Smile Foundation Starts Digital Education for Underprivileged: Adding Digital Wings to Hopes

Smile Foundation Starts Digital Education for Underprivileged: Adding Digital Wings to Hopes

Aliterate India! A digitally literate India!! It isn’t only a dream nurtured by policy makers but also every citizen of the country. Unequal access to education and lack of a robust education system at the primary level has largely affected the equally large underprivileged section of India. Smile Foundation has been proactively involved in every nook and corner of the country to narrow this gap. Recently, Smile Foundation has launched the Digital Literacy project for underprivileged children. In line with the Finance Minister announcing the gradual shift of education from ‘black board’ to ‘digital board’ in Budget 2018, this initiative is directed towards making this dream of digital literacy come true fast.

 

The Concept

 

Blackboard teaching is an inherent feature of traditional classrooms. Going by the latest technological trends, application of innovative digital models will further facilitate all round development of the students. This will give them an insight into the use of digital technology in everyday life in and beyond classrooms. Creation of smart classrooms is part of this new-age concept. Students, without the use of pen, pencil, and paper gain a competitive advantage of learning smartly and understanding chapters visually in class.

 

Many a private school across the country has adopted smart classroom technology. Smile Foundation is creating a similar digital milieu in classrooms for underprivileged kids. The initiative is already given shape. It is just the beginning. Smile pledges to give digital wings to the hopes nurtured by lakhs of underprivileged children across the length and breadth of India.

 

After installation of smart classroom techniques, both teachers and students undergo an orientation program on the usage of the same.

 

Learning Outcomes

 

Learning outcome is an equally significant follow-up schedule that Smile Foundation follows in its Mission Education centres. This is directed towards monitoring the development of the students periodically. Smile Foundation believes not only in quantity but also quality – of producing a big number of quality and responsible citizens who can contribute to nation building in the future.

 

Smile Foundation’s Mission Education programme team on ground conducts baseline assessments on the students to measure their existing learning levels regarding computer education.  Accordingly, their development over time is monitored. The team is utilizing application based digital technology to assess and measure the learning outcomes of the students.

 

Part of the assessment is based on the language and numeracy skills of the children. To achieve this objective, Smile Foundation has collaborated with an external agency (Ayodhya Prasad Takniki Shiksha Evam Vikas Samiti) to create question papers along with their blueprints based on National Curriculum Framework (NCF) guidelines.

 

The Smile Smart Classroom Set-up

 

  • Smart Interactive White Board
  • Interactive Classroom Projector
  • Wall Mount Kit for Projector
  • Smart Station Computer
  • Smart Digital Cabinet
  • Digital content for State Board Syllabus – in locally preferred languages
  • Biometric attendance to keep track of the attendance of children the digital way, which guarantees accuracy and efficiency
  • Other digital learning solutions: Installation of desktops/laptops, installation of Competency Based e-Learning solution (CoBELS) application on computers, and more.

 

Competency Based e-Learning Solution (CoBELS)

 

Competency Based e-Learning Solution (CoBELS) is an application based standards-aligned pedagogical tool that helps children learn concepts through real-world Acti-Game. The application works when installed in computers. The scientifically designed bite-sized ‘Acti-Game’ is an activity based game that delivers learning in a highly enjoyable form. It helps the child engage in activities and learn in the process the fun way. Children can understand and learn concepts better.

 

Some of the key features of CoBELS are:

 

  • Learner centric
  • Interactive
  • Experiential learning environment through activities and games that the learner engages in
  • Competency based curriculum
  • Standard (class wise) wise games and activities
  • Focuses on definite learning outcomes of learners
  • Curriculum covered includes Grade 1-8: Mathematics (English and Hindi) and Grade 1-5: EVS (English and Hindi).

 

Smile Foundation has installed CoBELS in few of its Mission Education centres. The underprivileged children are already enjoying the highly enjoyable digital learning process. Smile Foundation aims to include CoBELS in all of its education centres.

 

Qualitative Interventions and other Facilities

 

Smile Foundation has adopted methods/tools to asses and enhance the current classroom settings and optimize learning experiences in its Mission Education centres. Accordingly innovative techniques are implemented to make learning effective, engaging, and fun. It helps teachers to enhance their skill sets.

 

A small library cum language space is what Smile Foundation has started accommodating in its Mission Education centres. The books suit all skill levels, ensuring active participation from all students. The learning induced environment in this space is designed in such a way that language and reading skills of the underprivileged children shall definitely improve.

 

Learning through shapes is facilitated through seating blocks in the form of different shapes (circle, rectangle, triangle, square, hexagon, etc.) whereby children can sit as well as gain knowledge about the concept.

 

Organizing of workshops is now part of the Smile curriculum in its Mission Education centres. The objective is to transform the classroom space by integrating multiple arts where students discover their voice to express their thoughts about community strengths and issues through theatre arts, visual arts and narratives. Workshops are regularly conducted on theatre art, film making, etc.

 

Children are encouraged to express their views on the ‘Children Wall’, ‘Word Wall’, etc. Few other engagements include painting of Math periodic table and formula on walls and staircase as an easy and visible learning resource. And the list goes on.

 

Smile Foundation’s objective of Digital Education Project is directed towards facilitating the holistic development of every underprivileged child of India, in and beyond classrooms and thereby transforming them to become responsible citizens of the 21st century.

 

To know more about Smile Foundation’s education programme, please visit our website.

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How Budget 2018 Can Bring a Marked Change in the Education Scenario of India

How Budget 2018 Can Bring a Marked Change in the Education Scenario of India

Many a government and municipal school across the country are deficient in terms of infrastructure and quality of education imparted. The government needs to tackle various issues ranging from upgradation of existing infrastructure and curriculum in line with 21st century teaching-learning techniques to regular training of teachers and monitoring of students’ development in terms of quality. This Budget 2018, the government has proposed several measures, the effective implementation of which can address most of the aforementioned issues to a great extent. Will Education Budget 2018 help India in achieving her target in the education segment?

 

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

 

Under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, 100 percent enrollment of children in both rural and urban areas were witnessed. This project focuses on the universalisation of elementary education. But are only 100% enrollments enough to create a literate India? Emphasis should not be given only on quantity but also quality. To transform the educational landscape of the country, imparting of quality education is the need of the hour. This Budget 2018, Finance Minister has mentioned about the quality factor in education and the focus to be shifted from enrollments to learning outcomes.

 

Key Highlights of Education Budget 2018

 

  • Allocation of 1 lakh crore rupees over the next four years towards spending for revitalising educational infrastructure across the country
  • Increase of education cess from 3 percent to 4 percent
  • Proposal for training of 13 lakh teachers
  • Holistic imparting of education with emphasis on quality from pre-nursery to class 12
  • Gradual move of schools from blackboard to digital board
  • A school under Eklavya scheme in every block that has 50% tribal people in any region across the country
  • Government funding in PhD fellowship for BTech students from premier institutes
  • Integrated B.Ed program for teachers
  • Creation of 18 new schools of planning and architecture in the IITs and NITs.

 

Ekalavya Model Residential School

 

The Ekalavya Model Residential School (EMRS) program started by the Tribal Ministry, Government of India has been functioning for several years. 163 priority districts having 25% or more Scheduled Tribe (ST) population have been identified by the govt. for the establishment of EMRS. Out of this, EMRSs have been sanctioned for 112 districts across India. While the central govt. provides one time Rs 30 lakh grant for establishing the school, thereafter up to Rs. 30 lakh per school annually, additional cost is borne by state governments.

 

According to Education Budget 2018, the government has decided that by the year 2022, every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons, will have an Ekalavya Model Residential School. The government has decided to upgrade facilities of Ekalavya schools at par with Navodaya Vidyalayas. Emphasis will be laid in providing training in sports and skill development.

 

Digital Shift in Education

 

Digital technology holds sway in every sphere of life today. Education Budget 2018 strives to introduce digital technology in teaching-learning methods to improve quality of education. The Finance Minister proposed for a gradual shift from ‘blackboard’ to ‘digital board’. The government also proposes to use technology to upgrade the skills of teachers through the government’s digital portal ‘DIKSHA’.

 

Education cess Increase and Public-private Partnership

 

This Budget 2018, the government has increased the education cess from 3 percent to 4 percent. The increase of 1 percent cess will help the government raise an additional Rs 11,000 crore which will be used to fund government programs on education and health.

 

To align the educational system of government and municipal schools to the realities of 21st century learning techniques, the government is also looking at Public-private partnership (PPP). To achieve this objective, govt and private schools can work together. Any private or public organization with a revenue of 25 crore plus or earnings of 10 crore can fund govt. schools as part of their CSR activities.

 

Conclusion

 

The focus of Education Budget 2018 on learning outcomes is an important step towards improving quality of primary education. When the foundation of a tree is strong, the creation of robust branches, stems, and leaves naturally happens. Likewise, quality primary education will help create a literate India, and thereby creation of a superpower nation. There are lakhs of primary schools across the length and breadth of India. With training of teachers, gradual shift from blackboard to digital board, emphasis on holistic education, thereby holistic development of students, a stronger nation will be in the making. But it will take some time, so as the saying goes, ‘Rome was not built in a day’.

 

To know more about Smile Foundation’s education programme, please visit our website.

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Insights

Women from Tamil Nadu Villages Sew up Past Wounds and Tailor New Dreams

Women from Tamil Nadu Villages Sew up Past Wounds and Tailor New Dreams

I always thought my incomplete education would keep me from earning a decent livelihood. I have a family of five, including two younger sisters. I am the eldest child in the family. Both my parents work as daily wage laborers. They used to worry a lot as there I had no brother who could support the family financially.” Mamta’s story is no different from the many young girls and boys who inhabit the villages of Kanchipuram. Mamta’s parents had worked their entire life, earning and saving the little they could. Their lives were hard hit by the 2015 Chennai floods. Loss of homes, livestock and other belongings in the floods left little for the villagers. After the flood, the community people have been trying to put their lives back together. The damage was not only limited to the dark and dank homes with sodden belongings, covered in thick layers of mud. It was much beyond that.

 

To give a helping hand to the inhabitants in rebuilding their lives, Smile Foundation in association with PepsiCo Foundation launched a community development and rehabilitation programme in Mamandur and 11 other villages of Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu. One of the major highlights of the intervention was the Mamandur Vocational Training Programme, which encouraged women and girls from the village to enroll for a 3-month skill training course in tailoring and sewing so that they can have a dignified and independent livelihood.

 

Aiding by the hand – the trainer tutors women at the centre

 

“Initially I was apprehensive about joining the vocational training programme as women in our village only work as daily wage laborers at construction sites or stay back and look after their homes. Girls don’t get to study or train to get a job. When I attended my first class at the training center, I felt so good about myself that I was also capable of learning a skill and earning a decent income. With time I gained confidence in my abilities and as I practiced more, I could see a good future ahead for me. Once I completed my course, I joined a garment factory near my village. When I took my first salary home, my father proudly said I am more than a son for him”, shares a teary eyed, smiling Mamta. She hopes to open her own tailoring shop soon.

 

More than 235 women like Mamta from 12 villages in the district enrolled in the first two batches of the vocational training programme and successfully completed the course. Many smiling faces could be spotted during the convocation ceremony when the women graduated from the programme and were felicitated with certificates. To motivate and encourage the women in this new phase of their lives, and to give them a little extra support, they were gifted with a sewing machine each. The whole community, including dignitaries like Hon’ Minister of State for Industries, Thiru MC Sampath and Hon’ Minister of State for Electricity, Excise & Prohibition, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, Thiru P.Thengamani, came together to congratulate the women on their achievement and wished them good luck for their future. The women in turn shared their stories and experiences, and the confidence with which they spoke left the audience speechless.

 

“I don’t know what was harder – for me to lose my husband, or for my daughters to lose their father. Life did not allow us the time to even grieve. We were thrown out of the family home, where we had lived with his brothers’ families. Penniless, I roamed around with my daughters for days, asking for food and help. After a month, I got my first job at a tea stall. From then on, I started doing part time jobs, which would also give me some time for my daughters. But the pay was very less and survival was difficult. I would have endured the suffering, if it had not been for my children. I could not bear to see them hungry and sick. When I heard about the vocational training course, I decided to join. I had to spend more time away from my daughters, but it was for their good. Now I have finished the course and have also got a sewing machine. In the first week only I got five orders. This is a new beginning for me and my daughters”, shared P Vineetha, one of the successful women trainees under the programme.

 

Most of the women who completed their courses have found jobs at tailoring shops and garment manufacturing factories like Mamta, or have begun working from home like Vineetha. There are many who have joined the programme after getting inspired from the success stories of the women who have now become independent, confident and able to merit a secure and dignified livelihood. Indeed, the villagers of Mamandur have not only successfully overcome the aftermath of the floods, but have also found a positive hope for a better future.

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Will Budget 2018 Allocation on Skill Development Create Enough Livelihood Opportunities?

Will Budget 2018 Allocation on Skill Development Create Enough Livelihood Opportunities?

Eighteen million: This figure constitutes the unemployed population of India! According to a NITI Aayog official, educated unemployment encompassing youth may be as high as 20%. Around 30.8% of India’s population aged between 15 and 29 years are NEETs (not in education, employment or training) as per a World Bank report. Will Budget 2018 fund allocation create enough livelihood opportunities?

 

The National Skill Development Corporation has trained thousands of youth under ‘Skill India’ initiative, a government funded program. Only less than half the candidates trained under this program could get jobs during the last two fiscals. Under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Kushal Vikas Yojana’ scheme, 30.67 lakh candidates were trained or undergoing training across the country until the mid of 2017. Out of this, 2.9 lakh candidates were successfully placed. The ‘Make in India’ project was launched to create entrepreneurial opportunities, employment, and thereby boost the economy. But it is yet a long way to go. Besides, the Modi government, after assuming office, created about 823,000 jobs. But is this number sufficient?

 

Only 10% of India’s total working population is equipped with vocational and technical education and training. The need of the hour is the creation of a competent workforce to be at par in the global market. How? India’s education system should be improved with focus on quality and skill development so that ‘employable graduates’ are churned out. With the roll out of Budget 2018 and considerable funds allocated for skill development and improving the quality of education, we hope enough jobs are created with creation of an equally competent workforce who can productively participate in nation building.

 

Key Initiatives under Budget 2018 for Livelihood Opportunities

 

  • Training of youth
  • Establishment of skill development centres in every district of India
  • PhD fellowships to be given to 1,000 BTech students under Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) scheme. This will help stop brain drain and facilitate creation of technically skilled faculty, who will also be tuned towards research
  • Investment of Rs1,00,000 crore in next four years, major part of which will be utilized to step up investments in research and related infrastructure in premier educational institutions. For funding this initiative, the government will suitably structure the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA)
  • The government has taken major initiative in setting up institutes of eminence. As declared by Finance Minister Jaitley, 100 applications have been received by the govt. from public and private institutions towards giving shape to this initiative
  • The government will set up a specialized Railways University at Vadodara
  • Setting up of two new full-fledged Schools of Planning and Architecture is in the government’s agenda
  • Establishment of 18 new SPAs in the IITs and NITs as autonomous schools
  • Govt. to improve quality of life in 115 aspirational districts across India by investing on skill upgradation, education, and other social services sector.
A livelihood training centre of Smile Foundation in New Delhi.

 

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)

 

The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana was launched two years ago as a skill development initiative scheme by the Govt. of India. The program has been directed towards providing quality training to probable and existing daily wage earners besides giving them monetary awards and rewards. National Skill Development Council (NSDC) is the driving agency behind this program. Training programs have been developed on the basis of National Occupational Standards (NOS) by various Sector Skill Councils (SSC). PMKVY scheme has a target to train 1 crore Indian youth in between 2016 to 2020. 306 Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra have been established for imparting skill training to the youth. This Budget 2018, the government has allocated considerable funds for setting up a model aspirational skill centre in every district of the country.

 

Generation of Employment

 

Finance Minister Jaitley during his address in the Parliament on Budget 2018 has emphasized on the creation of 70 lakh formal jobs this year. The govt’s focus, according to him, has been directed towards creation of job opportunities. As aforementioned, several measures were implemented during the last three years. To carry forward this momentum, the Government will contribute 12% of the wages of the new employees in the EPF during the next three years. This shall be applicable for all the sectors. Amendments in the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 are underway. Women employees shall majorly benefit from this initiative.

 

Big fund allocation this Budget 2018 in the textile sector will boost employment opportunities in general. The Finance Minister declared allocation of Rs.7148 crore in this sector. Furthermore, significant allocation of funds in MSME and SME segments will facilitate creation of livelihood opportunities for many.

 

Proper implementation of schemes should be the priority for India to be a competent nation. More job opportunities – a superior India in the making!

 

 

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Partners In Change

Children of Today Plant Trees to Better their Tomorrow

Children of Today Plant Trees to Better their Tomorrow

Since the beginning of our existence, humans have been interacting continuously with nature. Like every other living being on our planet, we have evolved under the care of Mother Nature. We are creatures who belong to the natural ecosystem just like all the others. Spending time in nature rather, than man-made environments improves life significantly. We need to educate the future generations to create and maintain a cleaner, greener and better tomorrow. Smile foundation has joined hands with Tropicana and the celebrity chef Vikas Khanna to do exactly this.

 

The Tropicana Gift A Tree Initiative was launched in the fall of 2017, a time of the year where most of the capital suffers from the effects of the smog and pollution, which envelop it. The poor who cant afford luxuries such as air purifiers and humidifiers suffer more. Were they surrounded by trees, nature’s air purifiers, they wouldn’t even feel the absence of such comforts. Keeping this in mind children from Smile Foundation’s various Mission Education centres participated in Tropicana’s Gift a Tree initiative. Smile Foundation’s Goodwill Ambassador Vikas Khanna planted trees with the children. He also unveiled his new book for children- A Tree Named Ganga.

 

“For me, trees have always been an inspiration as they teach us to give without expecting anything in return. So, I’m happy to join ‘Tropicana’s Gift A Tree’ initiative that embodies a powerful thought of gifting back to nature. I’m excited to share this experience of planting trees with children from Smile Foundation, who are our future generation. Through the story ‘ A tree named Ganga’, I’ve made an honest effort to help children understand the value of staying humble, and the essence of giving.” Said Vikas Khanna.

 

Children form Smile Foundation’s Mission Education centre in Delhi planting trees.

 

Children who have always had access to proper formal education are taught about how planting trees is going to create a better environment for them to live in. From a young age, they know that greenery keeps the air pure and the soil fertile gives fruits and vegetables and adds to the beauty of the land. Underprivileged children on the other hand, are so overwhelmed with the need to meet the basic needs of life, as are their parents, that they cannot learn such valuable knowledge.

 

Smile has joined hands with Tropicana to now not only educate the children in Mission Education centres in academics, but also have added environmental education to the list of things these children will learn. The children are learning about how they can play a part in fighting pollution by planting trees. They are taken out on excursions where they plant up to 500 trees. Children from other schools around have also joined in the efforts. Smile Foundation, along with Tropicana’s Gift a Tree initiative is encouraging children to become ambassadors of greenery and harbingers of a better lifestyle in the future.

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From The People, For The People

Afreen’s First “STEP” on the Journey of Empowerment.

India's young talent

I come from a family, where it wasn’t easy for me to have dreams. No one in my family had received education, and the same was applicable for me as well. Despite her inclination towards studies, my mother was not allowed to go to school. But she had a dream for me that I get educated and become an independent woman when I grow up. She bravely told her wish to my father, who opposed and threatened her with dire consequences. He said we don’t have money to fund my education and moreover, there is no point providing education to girls. They just have to sit at home and perform household chores. What good would education do? But my mother stood by her decision, fought against all odds and managed to send me to a government school. She promised to my father that she will take care of my education expenses and would never ask him for money.” Afreen hails from a family where neither her mother, grandmother, nor her aunts had received education. None of the women in the family had been to a school.

 

Though Afreen started school, it wasn’t easy for her and her mother. She tells that her father used to fight a lot with her mother and would always point out her education to be the cause of shortage of food, clothes and day-to-day expenses. “There were times I used to hold my books and cry silently as my mother continued to brave the harsh words hurled at her.” Her father was not the only one who had problems with her education; there were relatives who would say things that made it more difficult for Afreen to continue with her studies. “While some of my relatives would come to my home and advise my father to get me out of school as it was leaving a bad impression on their children, others had stopped talking to my family”. Amidst all these struggles, Afreen managed to study till class 10th.

 

Afreen’s mother worked hard to ensure her daughter’s education.

 

Afreen had the enthusiasm to study and become an independent woman. She managed to go to school but her education was not enough to make her capable of earning a livelihood. She needed to learn skills that would make her employable. Smile Foundation gave her proper guidance to achieve her dream through its national livelihood programme STeP (Smile Twin E-learning Programme). “With the skill development programme, I regained my confidence and once again started nurturing my dream to become an independent woman”, says a happy Afreen who now works at a reputed Law Firm in Mumbai. Afreen, like many other youth in her village, has been trained for six months in English Proficiency, Basic Computer Education and Soft Skills that are essential skills that organizations look for when hiring an employee.

 

Afreen has two younger sisters, who should have by now started their schooling. But due to the conditions at home and witnessing the struggles their elder sister had to face, they don’t even think of going to school. Afreen plans to save every penny of her earnings to educate her sisters, for she believes that only education can light up their lives. Afreen’s story has not only inspired her relatives, some of whom have also started sending their daughters to school, but she has also set up an example for the entire community in her village. She says her father has now started believing in education and hopes that he would not oppose when her sisters start schooling.

 

Afreen with the other students of her batch at the STeP centre. Many of them are now employed like her and are earning a dignified livelihood.

 

Like Afreen, the over 100 youth currently enrolled at the centre have faced extremely difficult circumstances to even go to school. Some had to drop out after completing Class 10th, while others were able to finish school, but could not pursue higher education. Consequently, they could not get good jobs and were unable to support their families financially. After completing the STeP course and getting a hands-on workplace experience through its specially designed value-addition sessions such as career counseling, employer engagement and industry exposure visits, the youth are now assured, confident and score high on the employability scale. They are all set to become the first generation white collar workers in their families, a matter of great pride to their parents.

 

More than 32,000 youth have been trained under STeP so far, and of these, over 19,000 youth have been placed in around 150 reputed brands across India. With more young boys and girls like Afreen enrolling for the programme, Smile Foundation has been able to help them take the first step in the journey of turning their dreams into reality.

 

Now employed in a law firm, Afreen’s dream is to educate her young sisters. Her biggest victory has been to change the outlook of her father, who has finally started believing in the power of education.

 

To know more about Smile Foundation’s livelyhood programme, please visit our website.

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Insights

Can Mobile Healthcare Bridge the Gap for the Poor in India?

Can Mobile Healthcare Bridge the Gap for the Poor in India?

With a population of more than a billion, delivery of good healthcare to every nook and corner of the country becomes complex and demanding. Sitting in metropolitan cities where we have access to world-class hospitals, one cannot imagine how difficult it is for a person living in a remote tribal belt of Arunanchal Pradesh, a hamlet in the middle of the Thar desert, or a village in the interiors of Bihar, to get the best medical care when in need. Why? Owing to some disturbing facts like these regions have on an average a whopping 3,000 people per doctor. Given the rough terrains, getting to the nearest hospital (setup miles away) is one of the biggest challenges faced by the inhabitants.

 

Unfortunately in our country, those with the greatest need of healthcare services have the greatest difficulty in accessing them, and are the least likely to have their healthcare needs met. There are many unreached rural regions across the country where there is a serious dearth of healthcare services. The hospitals are usually built in the city and very few doctors are appointed in these areas, leading to an extremely poor health scenario in the communities. There still exists a sizeable population in our country, which considers health to be largely a matter of chance and fate, rather than choice. Mostly it is because they really do not have a choice. The situation is no better for the urban poor, who have hospitals within reach, but are either left standing in the long queues outside public health facilities, or are unable to afford the huge fee charged by the private hospitals. For daily wagers, the situation becomes even more critical as they have to choose between earning a day’s wages, and taking a leave for a visit to the doctor – a difficult question for those living a hand-to-mouth existence.

 

In order to address the increasing healthcare concerns prevalent among the underprivileged population, it is important that we ensure effective reach of healthcare services for one and all. The idea is simple – if the people in these regions cannot reach a doctor due to unavailability, distance or other factors, the doctors can be made to reach them by means of mobile healthcare programmes/systems.

 

Delivering healthcare to full spectrum of the society

 

As per the Provisional Population Totals of Census 2011 in India, of the 1.21 billion Indians, 83.3 million people live in rural areas. Cities and towns with a population of 50,000 had a total of 42.6 million that is 22.6% of the urban population living in slums. A major proportion of these people stay in highly vulnerable surroundings that are overcrowded and have open drains, stagnant water and unhealthy drinking water. The deteriorating healthcare conditions in the underprivileged sections of the society is reflected in the poor healthcare indicators published in the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3), which states that the Infant Mortality Rate was 42 per 1,000 live births in urban India.

 

According to a study conducted in an urban slum in the National Capital Region, there is high prevalence of risk factors (smoking, alcohol, lack of fiber intake in diet, physical inactivity, and obesity) that lead to non-communicable diseases. Even the availability of good government and private healthcare facilities in the urban areas, does not mitigate the risk factors as the urban poor remain deprived due to high cost and lack of proper assistance at these health care facilities. Creating an infrastructure where the health needs of every individual can be met through good hospitals and medical services will take time. Thus, mobile healthcare is the solution to delivering health services to the deprived and underprivileged urban and rural population in the country.

 

Smile on Wheels in Pune providing health care services in the Dapodi garbage dump

 

High quality care at low cost

 

Mobile clinics services ensure that good quality healthcare reaches to the vulnerable sections of the society. Being the first point of contact to healthcare for the underprivileged population, these services ensure better prevention and chronic disease management by spreading awareness. Reaching to the doorsteps of the deprived sections of the society, mobile healthcare ensures affordable healthcare services for one and all. Factors like financial issues, logistical constraints, transportation issues and long queues outside hospitals are things people no longer have to worry about.

 

Efficient healthcare delivery

 

A well-equipped mobile healthcare unit is capable of performing simple diagnostic tests, pre- and post-treatment care, lab testing, dental treatment and minor surgeries. Patients feel convenient to come to the mobile healthcare unit as they don’t have to travel miles. Studies have shown that mobile healthcare systems have been successful in identifying high rates of chronic ailments among the underprivileged population. This has subsequently led to improved treatment and prognosis. One of the major benefits of launching mobile healthcare units is the increase in awareness among the rural population. The rural communities are now more aware about prevention, screening, and chronic disease management.

 

Farmers and their families from a remote village in Kalahandi recieve check-ups.

 

The ability to move

 

One of the major advantages of mobile healthcare units is their ability to move. One healthcare unit is capable of serving multiple locations and thus caters to the healthcare requirements of a significant population. In order to keep the critical services available, a mobile healthcare unit can be moved from one location to another as per the need of the hour. Mobile healthcare services are thus an excellent alternative to bridging the gap between the available healthcare and patient volume in a region.

 

Understanding the growing need to meet the healthcare demands of the underprivileged population, Smile Foundation continues its Smile on Wheels mobile hospital initiative. Smile on Wheels not only provides free of cost and clinically advanced healthcare services to the poor and marginalized people in the urban slums and rural villages of the country, but also ensures prevention by spreading awareness. At present, 40 Smile on Wheels mobile hospital projects are operational across 17 states of India, covering more than 800 villages and directly benefitting more than 500,000 children and families.

 

Given the huge population and lack of affordable healthcare, mobile healthcare needs to be made an integral part of the Indian healthcare system. It is important that healthcare reaches to one and all by overcoming the barriers of location and affordability. Mobile healthcare is capable of reforming the present healthcare delivery structure in the country by getting to the doorsteps of the needy. The urban poor population of the country is exposed to a wide range of disease causing agents and lies at the risk of facing serious health issues. Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide affordable quality health services to these citizens. Mobile healthcare is a quick and effective means by which medical care facilities can be made available to all.

 

To know more about Smile Foundation’s healthcare programme, please visit our website.

 

 

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Budget 2018: Fund Allocation in Primary Education Sector & the Challenges Ahead

Budget 2018: Fund Allocation in Primary Education Sector & the Challenges Ahead

Today’s children are the citizens of tomorrow, goes the saying. Where illiteracy is still a burning problem, does this maxim hold ground when thousands of children are still deprived of quality education owing to poverty and lack of facilities? No all-weather school building in slum localities! Irregularity of teachers’ attendance in remote locations! Late delivery of textbooks hampering studies! Dilapidated condition of many school structures! Lack of teachers! Lack of basic educational infrastructure! Besides, going by the latest technology, the smart classroom concept is not yet in place. These are only few issues rampant in every nook and corner of India. And these issues need to be dealt with effectively for the creation of a stronger nation. Tackling unequal access to education and building a robust education system at the primary level is the need of the hour.

 

The government has been allocating funds every budget for the education sector. Allocation of resources in this segment should be adequate. Here are possible outcomes that Budget 2018 can bring to the primary education segment.

 

Increase of Education cess from 3 percent to 4 per cent

 

The government has been levying a 3 percent cess to run government-sponsored programs in health and education.  This budget 2018, the government increased the education cess from 3 percent to 4 percent. The increase of 1 percent cess will help the government raise an additional Rs 11,000 crore. The government has announced the allocation of this additional amount with prime focus on education and health.

 

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

 

The government had launched the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan as a pet project last year. It focused on the universalisation of elementary education. This program had been allocated Rs. 23,500 crore in Budget 2017. It was a success with 100 percent enrolment. The mid-day meal scheme, which was part of the program, received an allocation of Rs. 10,000 crores. This Budget 2018, the focus should be shifted from enrollments to learning outcomes. The government is expected to allocate funds on this shift directed towards periodic monitoring of students’ performance and development. The government should adopt a robust assessment model for its effective implementation. It should be directed towards imparting quality education.

 

There are lakhs of primary schools across the length and breadth of India. To impart quality education, the focus should be on improving quality of teaching in schools. Teachers should be regularly trained and made accountable. While teacher-student ratio should be according to norms, quality control systems should be well in place to monitor development. The entire education system needs restructuring. This Budget 2018 allocation of funds should be comparatively higher compared to last year’s fund allocation in the primary education segment.

 

Public Private Partnership

 

In government run schools, dropout rate of students is very high. Lack of English medium learning and facilities are the key reasons. Educators are hoping for the government’s alignment of the educational system to the realities of 21st century learning techniques. It is not feasible with govt funds alone. This Budget 2018, the government is also looking at Public-private partnership (PPP) where govt and private schools can work together to achieve the above objective. Any private or public organization with a revenue of 25 crore plus or earnings of 10 crore can fund govt. schools to align to an international curriculum as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR). The research-oriented international curriculum will not only decrease dropout rate of students but also promote their creativity, communication skills, and widen their skills.

 

Considering allocation of funds in the education sector as a percentage of the GDP, the government fares lower compared to her BRICS peers. Most of the BRICS countries allocate a good percentage of the GDP towards education. India should increase allocation of resources in the education sector so that the goal of transforming the education landscape is effectively achieved.

 

A literate India, a better India should be the ultimate goal!

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