Partners in the East

Cini Asha, Kolkata

CINI ASHA has been working since 1989 to improve the quality of life of urban disadvantaged and protect children's rights through education, health and social mobilisation.

Axis Bank Foundation partnered with Cini Asha in 2007 with a plan to build the capacities of 4 Partner NGOs identified from Kolkata and mainstream out-of-school children comprising of dropouts and non-starters in the age group of 6-14 years in 3 Municipalities of Kolkata. This is done through:

• Preparatory Centres: Bridge course for preparing out-of-school children or those who have never been to schools (6-9 yrs of age)
• Anandalaya: Education center for children of sex workers and children living in red light areas
• Non-Residential Camps: Bridge course for child labourers and dropouts (9-14 yrs of age)
• Coaching Centre: Back-up support for children mainstreamed by Cini Asha or 4 PNGOs

More than 3800 children have benefited through this program.

Manovikas Kendra Rehabilitation & Research Institute for the Handicapped, Kolkata

Manovikas Kendra is a special Institute working towards the assessment, diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, special education and vocational training of children with various kinds of disabilities.These children are exposed to a wide range of therapy, training and special education at Manovikas Kendra.

With support from Axis Bank Foundation, they have been running 50 Remedial Coaching Centres in 25 identified Municipal schools of Kolkata. These children are mostly slow learners having average or above average intelligence. They fail to develop requisite cognitive skills. The aim is to improve the performance of children in schools and curb drop out rate. These students are mostly SC/ST and poor children in the interiors of Kolkata. Approximately 1000 students are getting coached in these centres each year.

VAANI, Deaf Children's Foundation, Kolkata

VAANI, Deaf Children's Foundation is an NGO working to empower deaf Indian children and their families since 2005. VAANI supports the development of sustainable services for whilst working closely with the overall development strategies of the country.

ABF collaborated with VAANI in March 2010. The project aims to enable parents and the extended family of deaf children to fully support their educational development to increase ability of government workers, educational professionals and NGOs to meet the pre-primary and primary level educational needs of every deaf child.

The project covers children in the age group of 0-14 years and includes:

• Providing access to education by early screening and diagnosis at regular screening camps (age 0-6 years)
• Working in partnership with local NGOs:
  NGOs that have years of experience of working with children in the slums of Kolkata, are chosen as partners for facilitating the project.

Pratibandhi Kalyan Kendra, Kolkata

Pratibandhi Kalyan Kendra was set up in 1974, with a dream of a compassionate, non-discriminatory and inclusive society.

Over the years it has grown and is now reaching out to more than 1500 children with all categories of disabilities, their parents and community members.

Their activities include diverse programmes viz clinic, inclusion and Guidance centres, Special schools, Vocational Training Units, Community Based Services and Income Generation Activities.

ABF collaborated with PKK in Nov 2007 for the promotion of inclusive education, counselling parents and training regular school teachers for dealing with the special needs of hearing impaired students. They are also providing special education for those children who have been marginalised and excluded due to disability and cannot be integrated in general schools The current project is benefitting around 230 hearing impaired children in and around the rural areas of Hooghly by providing education to such special children.

Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra, Jharkhand

Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra (NBJK)is a voluntary organisation set up in the year 1971, to establish a just society where no one remains hungry, discriminated or exploited.

With extended support from ABF since November 2007, NBJK has been running 100 Remedial Coaching Centres benefitting approximately 4000 weak students, (especially girls, STs, SCs, disabled) in rural areas of Hazaribag (Jharkhand).

The current project aims to improve the performance of children in schools and curb the dropout rate among SC/ST/girls and poor children with special focus on girl children. Emphasis is laid on improving performance and conceptual understanding of Science, English and Mathematics for marginalised students studying in class 8th, 9th & 10th and to generate interest on the importance of education in the community especially for the girls' education to prevent number of marriage and drop-outs before completing their Std. 10th in Hazaribag district.

Community Development Medicinal Unit, Bhubaneshwar

Community Development Medicinal Unit (CDMU) is a low cost non-profit initiative to ensure access to life saving medicines. Generic Medicines are purchased directly from the manufacturer to be supplied to the needy at substantially lower costs than the market.

The various activities of CDMU include:

• Procurement and distribution of essential medicines
• Promotion of health education
• Publishing various handbooks providing information on rational use of medicines, basic hygiene, reproductive health care, etc.
• Emergency disaster intervention by providing medical aids and medicines.

ABF extended support to CDMU in Dec 2009 to procure an ambulance for the purpose of delivering medicines as well as for transportation of patients not only in normal times but also for disasters and other emergency situations

Jagannath Institute of Technology & Management (JITM), Berhampur

In April 2005, the institute was set up with the aim of bringing technical education to the rural areas and producing highly skilled technical personnel with exceptional calibre for various sectors in the industry.

In the year 2006-07, ABF had made a grant towards purchase of CNC Miller Machine, Automated tool changer with Hydraulic power, CNC Trainer Lathe, Universal Milling machine, Hydraulic Power Saw and Tool and Cutter Grinder for vocational training. More than 1400 students have been trained and placed in jobs, which in the absence of these opportunities would have perhaps gone astray.

In the year 2009, ABF again supported JITM to purchase 4 machines for vocational and skill upgradation training. The new machines support heavy production and complement the "training" machines that had already been provided earlier.

The new machines have increased the number of trainees and their employability. On the whole, these machines have brought in training compatibility and have provided a platform for employment.

Shishu Sarothi Centre for Rehabilitation and Training for Multiple Disability, Guwahati

Shishu Sarothi, a premier centre for rehabilitation and training for multiple disabilities is a registered non-profit voluntary organization. From education and rehabilitation, to training and employment and protection of rights - they are dedicated and equipped to meet all the needs and concerns of persons with disabilities by providing crucial funding.

Their vision is to work towards:

• Enabling persons with disabilities to attain and maintain maximum independence and full inclusion and participation in all aspects of life.
• Legal awareness programmes, advocacy and litigation to secure the rights of persons with disabilities in the region.
• Early intervention, education, training & rehabilitation.

Axis Bank Foundation has joined hands with Shishu Sarothi from August 2010 by providing special education funding to upgrade the existing facilities at the Centre for Special Education (CSE) and incorporate recreational facilities like sports and other extra curricular activities for the therapy of mentally challenged children. More than 100 special students regularly attend the CSE, which is located at the heart of the city at Guwahati.