“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” ORGANIZATION PROFILE

Name of the Organization : DEVELOPMENT ACTION SOCIETY

Organization Address : 1721 Rajdanga Main Road, Block EC-71, Kol -107

Phone No. : (033) 2441 5124, 2441 4431

Email Address : [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Date of Inception : 18th August 1989

Mission & Vision of DAS

Mission: Our mission is to empower women, children and youth to realise their rights and access resources, through quality interventions in education, health and livelihood so that they are enabled to transform their communities.

Vision: We believe in a world where every human being enjoys equal rights and opportunities in order to lead a healthy and creative life with dignity and self-respect.

Partnerships with GOs' and NGOs' (GOs’)-National Child Labour Project, Sarva Siksha Aviyan, West Bengal Health Department, Municipal Corporation, (NGOs') -CLPOA, SLARTC, MJCC, AIWC, WIF, Sabuj Sangha, SPAN, CINI-Asha, IPER, WBEN.

Current areas of work : Ward No. 91, 107, 108, 57 & 58, Chariswar, Ucchepota, Chowbaga (South 24 pgs & Panchayat areas)

Current Staff team : 74

Area of Intervention: South & South east Kolkata, Awareness, Counseling- Referral services of critical cases, emphasis on HIV AIDS awareness, Education, Child Protection, Health Support, Vocational Training.

Target community : Children 0 to 6 years Children 6-13 years Adolescent 14 years to 18 years Women 18 years to 45 years Physical Resources:

Accessibility Hospitals, Post Office, Police Stations, Railway Stations, Transport facilities. Amenities 10 computers, 2 Printers (B&W), 1 Scanner Availability of Electricity Yes Organizational Building (Own / Rented) Own Cars 1 Tata Indica and 1 Ambulance Vocational Training Centres 2 ( 1 in Rajdanga in the office premise and the other is in Chowbaga)

Registration Details:

SOCIETY REGISTRATION NO. S/62734 of 1989 –1990 12A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 DIT (E)/8E/289/2001-2002/4065-67 Details of any other 80(G) NO : DIT (E)/833 Registration/Exemptions 8E/289/2001-2002

FCRA NO. 147120517 DATED: 3rd Feb, 1999

Constitution of the governing bodies:

Name of the governing Designation Occupation Contact No. bodies Mrs. Purabi Roy President Full Time in DAS (+91) 9830054887 Mrs. Seema Paul Vice- President Principal of St. Patricks (+91) 9434390018 School Mrs. Sheela Sengupta Secretary Full Time in DAS (+91) 9830054889 Dr. Shikha Mitra Asst. Secretary Doctor of Government Hospital Mrs. Soumi Ghosh Treasurer Social Worker (+91) 9830260743 Mrs. Bani Biswas Member Housewife 033 – 2677-1353 Mrs. Shibani Sen Sarma Member Housewife (+91) 9231983776

 Does DAS’s Memorandum of Understanding cover chil d welfare, Development & Protection (Yes / No) : Yes  Does DAS have its own Child Protection Policy (Yes / N o) : Yes  Does DAS has the human resource policy (Yes/No) : Yes

Human Resources:

No. of Salaried Staff No. of Volunteers 74 (Seventy Four) 25 (Twenty Five) Project Details:

Existing Project Funded By

Stronger voice to excluded children in Save the Children (UK) Government MUSKAN Child Reach International An integrated programme for the Urban Poor GOAL (Ireland) living in and around the Kolkata Municipal Dumps SIKHA SUAS SHIKHALAYA PRAKALPA CLPOA Comprehensive Early Childhood Care Mennonite Central Committee- MCC Programme National Child Labor Project Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India NOKIA Toxics Link Environment Project – TOXICS Link School Awareness Programme

Does DAS receive fund from the government (Central / State) :

Yes DAS receive fund from State Govt financial support the Central Government for for operating Shikshalaya smooth implementation of schools and mid day meal in National Child Labour 31 KMCP schools. Project. DAS also received

DAS Financial Details (2009-10 and 2010-11)

Financial Particulars 2009-2010 (In Rs.) 2010-2011 (In Rs.) Revenue 62,84,003.43/- 81,66,170.29/- Surplus 6,31,365.82/- (Deficit) 4,78,943.68/- (Deficit) Cash Balance 31,400.60/- 60,488.60/- Bank Balance 9,92,150.02/- 11,59,405.19/- Investment 28,13,597.50/- 31,29,910.90/- Overview of Development Action Society (DAS)

INTRODUCTION

child protection and Development Action vocational training for Society (DAS) is a woman sustainable transformation. based organization and is Since 1995 our assistance has committed towards the reached 4922 children in the sustainable development of age group of 3-18 years and marginalized women and has mainstreamed 3165 out children through education, of school children in the local health, protection and govt. formal schools till livelihoods. DAS was 2011. Presently 1003 established in 1989 with the children are continuing in motto of “development of DAS run NFE centers, after underprivileged women school coaching support to and children, regardless of 387 children’s, 109 children their race, creed or parliament representatives, religion; changing their 258 active children group world with the right kind of members. DAS also covers opportunities.” DAS 8074 patients for access to initiated to support and health services. DAS has also strengthen the capacity of reached to 33 women with marginalized women and adult literacy programme. children in the sub-urban Moreover, DAS has formed disadvantaged population of and capacitated 95 women South and Southeast Kolkata group members and 88 Child from 1995 onwards. To Protection Committee fulfill our mission, DAS members. emphasizes on need-based interventions, serve as a DAS focuses development on resource for the field and the geographical areas of enter partnership for funding South East Kolkata, around to support priority-based the wetlands and the projects. In the last eleven dumping ground. DAS also years DAS has made in-depth works in some parts of South inroads in education, health, 24 Parganas. This encompasses KMC ward no 57, 58, 107, 108, Bidhannagar Municipality Ward No- 17 and Sonarpur, Tardaha and Baonta panchayat of South 24 Parganas. DAS covers population of 1, 20000/- (approx) in the above mentioned areas. (Source: Census 2001)

At the initial stage DAS worked on the service delivery mechanism for holistic development of the target communities. During the intervention DAS observed the need of working on Right Based approach for sustainable development and cover the entire masses. Particular focus were on the surrounding areas of Dhapa dumping ground as there are still many underprivileged women and children who Based on the situation where children easily gets engaged really deserves someone’s care and protection against on Child Labour activities in Dhapa dumping ground and their deprival of Rights and communal harmony. remained dropped out of formal school education for several economical, social, cultural as well as environmental issues DAS shifted its work culture from service delivery system to right based approach.

DAS works focuses on thematic issues: Child Labour and Child Protection. The project on socially excluded children was initiated in the year 2009 as part of the continuous pledge that DAS has towards addressing protection issues with regards to children within the overall framework of child rights. locality and opt for more This commitment led the remunerative and dignified organization to work jobs. Most of these towards improving status children have never been to of the most socially school or school drop outs. excluded children, with The children from the their voices heard and target areas of Uchupota, recognized institutionally Chainavi, Khanaberia, by formal and informal Dhapa Durgapur, structures. Thus the work Anantabadal and began with the child rag Mathpukur form a sizeable picker group in the slums portion among the poorest of Kolkata surrounding the workers in the urban dumping ground. “Dhapa” informal economy. Most of is a fertile ground for the the children have no birth rag pickers, especially registration certificate as an children. Although, it has evidence of citizenship and been identified as one of the population of the above the hazardous occupations mentioned areas are even that children are engaged denied of special category into, under the Child certificate [SC/ST] Labour Prohibition and provided by the Regulation Act, 1986 (as government. As a amended in 2006) still consequence they do not children from the adjoining receive any benefit from areas gather harmful waste services/scheme from the to earn money for various government. reasons. Failure to protect children from such issues as violence in schools, Child Labour, harmful traditional practices, child marriage, child abuse, the absence of parental care and commercial sexual exploitation among others, means failure in fulfilling both the Constitutional and Rag picking or waste international commitments picking, being one of the towards children. easiest options of earning money lure the children Thus in this project, DAS, from dropping out of envisages to empower the school at an early age. As community members of the they grow up, Illiteracy and above mentioned areas to lack of skills, lack of self- raise voices through confidence are the major formation of groups. The hindrances which restrict children, adults- men and them to go out of their women, the stake holders have been brought through collective action to assert their basic rights by formation of children’s group and child protection committees. The committees and groups coalesce and create a ripple effect at the larger level. At present the project addresses two hundred fifty eight (258) socially excluded children where the children took active participation in various orientation programme based on Child Rights and Protection Issues, Skill Building Programmes, Theatre Workshops, Children’s Parliament highlighting the major issues related to the deprival of “ Annual Cultural Child Rights by raising charter of demands and its Programme” – where proper linkages to existing children demonstrate their government services through drastic performance based on the medium of Child their hidden potentialities Protection Committee. through the event of dance, songs, dramas, rhymes, poems, puppet shows and many others.

Apart from the above mentioned services DAS also envisages in celebrating “Annual Sports Day” - where children took active participation with a winning spirit. “ International Child Rights Week (October 14-20)” – where children perform throughout the week based on awareness generation on Child Rights Issues. During the Child Rights Week “ Children’s Day children performed two plays Celebration (14th October)” on Child Rights, Child – where children play a huge Trafficking and Right to role in Bal Utsav – an Education and their street awareness generation play in front of Silver Spring initiative on Child Rights were also acknowledged for Issues organized by DAS, their efforts. “ World Health Day (April 7)” – an awareness generation initiative based on health & hygiene in schools and the area of intervention.

Significant Achievements of DAS: Formation & Consolidation of Children’s Parliament. We understand that children are the building blocks of our nation. Nation develops with the development of children. We must always try to ensure smile in the face of children. It is a parliament for the children and by the children. Through this parliament, we boost them psychologically and realistically to cope-up with the unavoidable problems these children face. During the parliament and its proper linkages to session the major issues were existing government services highlighted in relation to the through the medium of Child deprival of Child Rights by Protection Committee. raising charter of demands CDC Or Centre Development Committee. Centre development was given to the CDC committee was formed with members in a consecutive the community key members manner. and the mothers in four coaching centre as means of sustainability. Two bank accounts have been opened with the representatives of CDC with their signatory authority and the community contribution till date is deposited in those accounts. Training on financial literacy, costing of centres, administrative management Awareness generation among the Child Protection Com mittee and Women Groups initiatives on child rights and 6 CPC or child protection protection issues has been committees have been organized to strengthen and formed at the local level in mobilize the knowledge base six areas around Dhapa with of CPC members. community key members, duty bearers for ensuring the rights of the children. It is envisaged that these Child Protection Committee at the local level will be merged with the ICPS (Integrated Child Protection Scheme) protection group. Various capacity building, sensitization workshops and awareness generation

Tracking of mainstreamed children in formal school an d in community and ensure retention in educational sys tem DAS has mainstreamed many of which 87% retention were children to formal education ensured. 731 children are system. The tracking of being tracked in formal formal school children have school at present through been done in 29 KPSC attendance tracking and schools for 3165 children out community tracking. Child protection is also Main Thrust implemented in the area of Dhapa and its surrounding Area of DAS areas of Dhapa Durgapur,  Child Protection Anantabadal, Khanaberia, Uchupota, Mathpukur under KMC ward No. 58 and at Child protection is implemented in Makaltala Chhainavi under Ward No: (Khushi) and Arupota (Milan 17 of Bidhannagar Sangha) by the children’s Municipality. Children are core group, simultaneously now enrolling themselves in enhancing the adults on child schools to study. About 232 right and protection. A numbers of students has community-based taken admission in nearby mechanism is established that addresses the vulnerability schools and 26 children are factors affecting them. The out of school. Many children organization has a Child received their birth Protection Policy that has certificates and other social been internalized in our entitlements. organization, programmes, among staff, community people and stakeholders. The interventions in the field of child protection since 2009 have created a platform wherein DAS has brought about some small but significant changes in the lives of the children and has also provided newer areas of intervention for their holistic development through creating a secure environment.

Though it had been difficult to raise awareness among the community people regarding importance of education and what difference it can make in their life. A refresher training course on Life Skill Education was conducted with the core children’s rehabilitation support group as well as other child especially to the girls who beneficiaries. Around thirty are more prone to trafficking five children participated in (in some parts of South 24 the process in DAS meeting Parganas district) and also hall. A post training provide them education evaluation was conducted by support and help them to get the facilitator to gauge the back into mainstream degree of change at the education. knowledge attitude, behavior level of the children. We also provide counseling and

 Child Education

DAS’s holistic approach intensified in the areas of education, addressing the needs of different age group in the form of 6 pre-schools, 4 preparatory centers, open school (NOS) for older girls to complete class X, 9 Shikhalayas, 2 child worker’s school and 2 Non-Residential camps for out of school-- to mainstream either to the Govt. school or a vocation.

DAS’s parameter is assisting the gamut of mainstreamed children through 5 tutorial centers helping them to cope in academics to sustain their interest in learning to make progress and move ahead. Currently 1003 children have been reached through our non formal education centers. 3165 children have been mainstreamed in the formal education system till 2011. Abiding by the SSA criteria of retaining children in KPSC schools, DAS has tracked 3067 children in 29 KPSC schools identifying those children falling under the follow-up priority group1, attendance less than 50% (maximum chances of dropping out) there by assisting the formal schools For proper implementation of to retain these children Right to Education Act, DAS through backup units in their intervened into the process of school premises thus catering collecting fee receipt from to 300 children. children and filed up a case with NCPCR with intimation to Sarva Siksha Mission and other CSOs. DAS also participated in a public hearing based on violation of educational rights along with the beneficiaries held a Town Hall, Kolkata on 20th October 2011.

 Health Health Camps are organized to 638 patients (Male – 205 based on the Health cards & Female – 433) in the year and doctor’s Register. Owing of 2010 through 21 clinics to this 4 health camps are and along with 32 girls less organized in a year, in than 6 years. In the year of reference to the prevalence of 2011 up to November 2011, diseases in the health we have provided clinical Register. services to 1640 and along Both women and children are with 67 Boy and 69 Girls less attended through clinical than 6 years. General disease services ensuring awareness trends in these four areas are of avoiding quacks in the Fever, cold & cough, pockets of non-availability of gastrointestinal problems e.g. health facilities. 8074 diarrhoea, dysentery, patients have been attended hookworm infestation, hyper through these clinics, 6 cases acidity etc.; skin problems have been referred to scabies, boils, pox, prickly Government hospitals. hits, cut & sores, others skin Community needful people infections; Gynaecological sententiously attended health problems e.g. white check-up camps according to discharge, menstrual their needs and ensured their discontinuation, sexually improvised health seeking transmitted infection, soiling behaviors. Three types of groins etc. and major special health check-up paediatric problems are camps are being conducted diarrhoea, dysentery, on Paediatric, Skin and hookworm infestation, low Gynaecology; including body weight against age, general health check-up cold, cough and fever. camps. We provided services

 Livelihood and Vocational Training Program

Since 2010, Development for poorest of the poor Action Society is identified from the study. implementing livelihood programme in Ward Number 58 of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) area. DAS has also implemented women empowerment programme in KMC ward no 57,108 and in the Panchayat areas of Sonarpur prior to this As sustainable livelihood is intervention in the areas of an issue for most of the tailoring and embroidery, organizations, like us, the jute product making, chalk programme has been making etc. The process designed on the strength of of livelihood intervention linkages and networking. started with Livelihood Both wage employment Study (skill and and self employment has opportunity mapping and been planned through portfolio mapping). The capacity building training overall objective of the and initial capital support study was to assess the for the target people as existing skill and resources well. and opportunities related to livelihood for people For the marginalized women residing in four peripheral and older girls in the areas of Kolkata Municipal depressed pockets of ward dump to design a feasible 108 & 58, four units are future intervention plan for operational enhancing the future income generation earning capacity of 40 women ensuring a better understanding of priorities housekeeping training. They and needs that has to be met are being given training on for their future growth and to cleanliness, hygiene behavior sustain the education of their and soft skill. After children. The tailoring, jute successful completion of the and chalk sections have theory and practical exam professionally developed to they will get a certificate and meet huge orders. In the placement as housekeeping whole process, networking of staff. Male members were the SHGs with the Ward selected for the driving Councilor, nearest govt. training. The name of the hospitals, shall be a vital agency is Maruti Driving strategy wherein other School. After successful community mothers shall be completion of the theory and mobilized by the SHG to practical classes the access the govt. scheme. participants will get driving license. Daily training has Livelihood support has been been scheduled for them. 50 provided to the selected families have been selected beneficiaries currently in for the vocational training for three trades, Home Manager, self and wage employment Driving & Housekeeping as (Driving/ Home Manager/ well. Women have been Housekeeping) individually selected for Home manager being in the group through training. They have been collective efforts for the given training on domestic orders that is in demand work. While selecting these through the Government. members they are aware of the type of work, duration of the work. Male members were selected for the

 Children’s Parliament

DAS understand that children development and action. It is are the building blocks of our a parliament for the children nation. Nation develops with and by the children. Through the development of children. this parliament, we boost We must always try to ensure them psychologically and smile in the face of children. realistically to cope-up with Our Children parliament the unavoidable problems comprises of 109 children’s these children face. both from the alternative education centers and formal schools. It is a platform through which budding generation notify their needs and wants for future

 Life Skills

The skills are taught to the teamwork, leadership and core-group children of the documentation. It is an children’s parliament. It integral part of our program, involves them on developing where our aim is to enrich their skills in the areas of their confidence that is strong Analysis, Planning, enough to stand up against Management, abuse and exploitation. communication, negotiation,

 Environment Issues

DAS is working with the environmental issues like physical environmental importance of plantation, issues like maintaining personal sanitation and sanitation in the working hygiene. As a part of work areas. DAS’s focus is to stop towards keeping environment open defecation in all the green and clean, World working areas to prohibit Environment Day is observed environmental hazards. The with various activities across children of DAS run schools all the centers and plantation and coaching centers receives is a common programme in awareness on various it.

 Impact of DAS intervention

Community Mobilization has National Child Labour been an important strategy of Project [NCLP] run by DAS all programmes of DAS and has been operating since in all areas that DAS has 1998, and so far has intervened. DAS consistent mainstreamed 208 children effort has been to involve the who are continuing in Formal local youths and women of Govt Schools. The the targeted communities intervention in ward 108 through capacity building through NCLP School has initiatives, workshops and enabled DAS in generating meetings, who in the long run various anti child labour become our partners in the campaigns thereby programme thereby helping minimizing child labour to a in sustaining the same. colossal extent.

 Fund raising products and chalk making. techniques Community mothers and elder girls are imparted DAS follows some fund training and work order is raising techniques through placed to them. Market programmes with a view linkage has been done by towards the sustainability of DAS and the products are the organization. Three sold in the market. Persons vocational units operate with involved in the manufacture specialization in tailoring & are paid labour charges. embroidery, making of jute Two prevocational units run with the children. They have been made specialized in training centre, one in the card making, candle making urban locality of south east and jute products. The Kolkata (Rajdanga Main products are sold in the Road) and the other one in market. Community semi urban area of South contribution is collected from East Kolkata (Bantala - KMC the beneficiaries and is kept ward No-108). Income from in an account. Collection of these training centres is saved community contribution also in a bank account. ensures community participation. DAS has two

“We know that government doesn’t have the all solutions that real solutions do not come from the top down. Instead, the ways to end poverty come from all of us. We are part of the solution”