CBR : Advocacy

We are successful in motivating PWDs and their parents to come forward to obtain various facilities like handicapped certificates, bus passes, train passes, ID cards, pension, scholarships and aids and appliances from the Government due to them.

At the moment 1150 PWDs of our project have obtained different Government facilities. The monthly pension of Rs.200/ (5 US.dollars) even though not much enable them to meet their daily needs thus reducing their dependency on their parents to a certain extent. Aids and appliances enhance their mobility which in turn help them to go to different offices, markets, schools and festival places on their own. Due to concessions in buses and trains, they are able to travel more often.

Gram Panchayat level Parents/Guardians Meeting:
We have organized 42 Gram Panchayat meetings in our two blocks and the participants included Sarpanches, Anganwadi workers, Asha karmis, PWDs and their parents from 1296 families. The main focus was to create awareness about disabled children's care, prevention of disability and disability rights. It has enhanced the knowledge of parents and guardians about disability and disability rights. As a result of the above, the PWDs get recommendations from Palli Sabha and Gram Sabha to approach the concerned government departments and have access to different developmental schemes like - Indra Avas, PMRY loans, SGSY loans, Handicapped pension and other financial support. In some Panchayats, the Sarpanches are helping the PWDs for self-employment.

Health Awareness:
We have conducted 31 Gram Panchayat level health awareness meetings for women and there were 815 participants. Almost all the women of the area are sensitized about immunization, children's health care and other disability preventive measures. Our CBR workers have built good relationship with ANM, Asha karmis and Anganwadi teachers, who already have good rapport with the general public. Due to this approach it has become almost a joint venture with the public and more number of women and children have become part of the immunization programme.

The percentage of infant mortality rate (IMR) and mother mortality rate (MMR) are reduced in the project area. Because of the increased percentage of the immunization, occurrence of disability has come down.

We had also conducted a blood grouping camp at Resham with the help of Mission Hospital and 90 PWDs had got their blood grouping done. It was a great need as it is a requirement for making the Identity Cards for PWDs.

Networking:
Formation of block level networking committees is a great support to the PWDs of the project area. Now they have unity of purpose and they come together to fight for their rights and are able to access government schemes and facilities. They were able to organize block level workshops on disability rights and create mass awareness in the area at Resham High School in Bheden block. Over one thousand people were present in the workshop including government officials like DSWO, BDO, Block Chairman, Sarpanches,
Teachers, Anganwadi workers, NGOs and parents. It was a great opportunity for the PWDs to make aware about their rights to the government authorities and to the general public, Chairman, Sarpanches, Teachers Anganwadi workers, NGOs and parents were part of this programme.

So far 24 governing body meetings have been conducted and they have discussed disability issues at length and have developed a mechanism for collective decision-making. As a result, they have built a better relationship with network members, government officials and NGOs in the district.

Concerning disability rights and other disability related issues, the network committees have met the government officials like Collector, CDMO, DSWO, BDO, SEO and other government officials and have submitted memorandums at different times. Because of their lobbying and advocacy they have managed to avail train passes at block level and PHC level and handicapped certificates at Subdivision level. The task of getting government facilities has become a little easier in their areas and now the people of other blocks and districts have begun to appreciate the work initiated by Vikas Deepti.