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Origin and history of the Organisation:
New Life came into existence in the year 1993 with the help of philanthropists from various fields like agriculture, engineering, medicine, etc. Friends who were working in formal institutions like Banks, Hospital and other institutions were discussing about their inability and their incapability to help the real needy in their place of work during their friendly meets. The continued discussions and the longing to reach the needy gave the idea of forming an organisation which will serve the poor women who were misused or misguided in availing the support from formal institutions. It is when, New Life is registered under the Societies Registration Act on 24.06.1993.The registration number is 324/1993. It is also register under FCRA, 1976. The FCRA registration number is 010140146 and the date of registration is 04.01.1995. It has exemption under 12A and 80 G of the Income Tax Act.
The mission of New Life then, is to bring to main stream the women and children who are far behind in the socio-economic status. New Life was started with a view to serve the poor women who are not reached and are viewed non bankable and empower them. In the due course of time, the organisation realised that child development and women empowerment are interlinked and started working for the children with special emphasis on girl children. The vision and mission of the organization was revisited in November 2010 and was redefined.
The organization has a governing board comprising of seven experienced and committed individuals. New Life is involved in various developmental activities and rehabilitation works, the main focus being women and children.
Vision
Empowered civil society in marginalized community ensuring human rights
Mission
To bring the poor women and their children into the main stream of economy and thereby make them participate in the process of nation building. New Life is committed in building up a civil society based on equity and social justice where women, children and youth are the leaders of social change.
Programmes and Projects Implemented:
Ensured Childhood to the Children of People in Conflict with Law in Trichy District
The programme is implemented since 2004. As on date six Early Learning Centres (ELCs) are functioning in Ariyamangalam, Uppuparai, Kaja Pettai, Vamadam, Kodappu, and Sathiyamoorthy Nagar, the urban slums of Trichirappalli District, Tamilnadu. These slums were identified as crime prone by the Trichy Police. The programme aims at bringing up the children in these vulnerable areas as the best citizens of the country.
A holistic approach is adopted to work with the 2152 families in these six slums. In the ELCs, nutritional supplement is given to the children. Learning is made enjoyable to the children by adopting a syllabus of topics encountered by the children in their day-to-day life. 200 children are benefitted by the ELCs. 200 children were coached in the evening hours to cope up with the education system as their parents are either illiterate are less literate.
Physical and mental health of the children, mothers and pregnant women in the target community are taken care off. The target population is given awareness on sexual infections, family planning, child care, child psychology, legal rights, etc. The women in the area are organized into groups and are trained on various income generation activities. Youth clubs were formed to encourage the youth to come together and participate in community development. Besides this the target children between the ages of 6-18 are financially supported to continue their studies / undergo vocational trainings. During the current year 2982 women and 1833 children are benefited.
It’s ensured that all the 2152 Households in the 6 target areas are safeguarded from water borne and fecal borne diseases. To check the prevalence of malnutrition of vitamin and mineral deficiencies, a medical camp was organized in all the six Early Learning Centers with the help of Dr. Raj Mohan, M.D. And 87 children were found to be free from malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies.
The Independence Day was celebrated in Uppuparai on August 15th 2010. The Indian flag was hoisted by Mr.Yesuraj, the local leader. Sweets were distributed to the children gathered. A drawing competition was conducted to bring out the children’s creativity.
We had an interesting experience and insight during the evaluation conducted on 1st and 2nd of Sepetmeber. The evaluation team which comprised of people from TdH and New Life sat together and it was a brainstorming session for the organization to see through the past and consolidate what we have achieved so far with the fund support of TdH, Netherlands and an organization as a whole.
To emphasis the importance of traditional games and play, we have been conducting Play melas for the past 7 years. Area wise Community Play Melas were conducted in all the 6 target areas. In Ariyamangalam, Uppuparai, Kajapettai, Sathiyamoorthy nagar, Vamadam, Kodappu the area level play mela was conducted on 09.10.2010. Totally 982 children and 142 men 89 women participated in the area wise Play Melas. Project level final mela was conducted in Vamadam on 16.10.2010. 142 Children, 8 men, 20 women participated in the events conducted. Two hundred and twenty three public gathered together to encourage the participants. 25 toppers participated in the zonal level play mela conducted in Namakal by WORD on 30.10.2010.
October 20th is a black day in the dairy of New Life! It was when the small child Kanaga was abused by the sticker vendor. November 2nd is another black day when Subha was abused by the school teacher in KajaPetti. We are worried when these monsters will get out of the world!
51 couples have undergone family planning surgery while 781 fertile couples from 6 target areas are practicing other family planning methods and are happy with their small families with improved child health and education. 9 were cured of addiction to alcohol. 94 children in 6 target areas are counseled and are relieved from the mental stress they face due to custodial violence of their parents/relatives. 51 broken families were counseled and in 6 cases the problems were solved and reunited them. Two children’s with Heart problem were identified in Kajapettai and were referred for treatment.
Efforts are taken to improve the self-esteem and pro-social behavior of the children in the six areas. We have identified 140 juvenile delinquents in these areas and efforts are made to reintegrate these children with the community. During this year 2 children were reintegrated.
Rehabilitation of Prisoners
Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation, had once said "Crime is outcome of a diseased mind and jail must have an environment of a hospital for treatment”. New Life strongly believes that imprisonment is meant to reform the individuals who are being separated from their families and the community for the crimes committed by them or for the crimes they are blamed for. Since 1997 Rehabilitation of prisoners is one of the prestigious programme implemented by the organization. Rehabilitation includes training them in income generation skills and counseling them besides providing support to their families who are suffering outside the prison.
During the reporting year, 54 female prisoners were trained in washing powder making and 25 male prisoners in the Central Prison, Trichy were given training on two wheeler mechanism and 67 in polybag nursery. Psychological counseling is given to the prisoners and their families. 2829 persons were counseled.
The inmates of the prison were also given awareness on legal rights and human rights on freedom of protection against arrest, illegal detention, freedom of certain protections in respect of conviction of offences, practicing certain profession and Right to equality before law.
442 families gained knowledge on Human Rights and Childs Rights. 361 families gained knowledge on Basic Legal aspects.
Child Development Program:
Poor, deserving children who are orphaned, semi-orphaned, deserted, and extremely poor or whose parent is inside the prison are taken care of in the residential homes run by New Life since 2008. Children are provided with health, education and psychological support. The children are made to feel at home by the affectionate and tender care given to them by the team of New Life. 25 children are in the home this year. The children above the age of six are admitted to the Higher Secondary School in Somarasampettai. The children below the age of six are sent to the nursery.
In addition to the formal education, the children are taught dance, music, and artwork. They are also taught Karate as a self defense measure. They are trained in making greeting cards, candles; embroidery works and other job oriented arts so that they may stand on their own legs when the time comes for them to leave the home.
During the year 2010 the organization has started constructing three rooms (one for girls, one for boys and a hall) for the children from the donations mobilized. As of now the children are living in a 600 sq.ft. house which is not sufficient for them.
Support is also provided to children who have critical illnesses. On the whole 516 children were supported for education and health by this programme.
Ensured child rights to the abandoned children
334 children between the ages of 6-14 are benefitted by this programme. The programme gives support to the children to educate them by financially supporting them. This year 273 children were supported in primary level, 38 for high school and 19 for higher secondary and 4 for college education. It mainly concentrates on children who are vulnerable to drop out, and continuous follow up is made to see that they complete their high school studies.
61 drop outs were identified and 46 were admitted in schools through NFE centres. 298 children completed pre-primary school and 83 of them are from our ELCs. 242 children completed primary education and moved to secondary level of education. Coaching classes were conducted for the children who are in the age group of 8-16 to facilitate them in successful completion of their education.
5 leadership programmes are conducted to motivate the children and to develop their communication skills and personality. 90 children are benefitted by this programme.
New Life is also supporting the children of gypsy community (narikuravars) who live in the habitation in Devarayaneri. Support is provided in the form of coaching classes, day care center, financial support for school education, etc. Staffs who facilitate the children are from the same community. The first girl who passed out her twelfth standard is appointed to motivate the other children to complete their school education.
The rights of children who were abused were also ensured by New Life. Physical and sexual abuses are addressed. The children’s rights of not to get publicized, not to work, sexual abuse and their right against violence, etc. were addressed. In this year 51 child abuse cases were addressed besides protecting the interests of 420 child labourers.
Special School for Child Labour
The special schools are run for the children between the age of 9 to 14 (dropouts and non-starters) who are working in the Mat Industry, Weaving Industry, Match Industry, fortune telling, etc. The CHEERS of the Trichy District Administration supports the project. The project aims at providing Non-formal education to the Child Laborers and enrolling these children in the regular schools. Besides this, the project also aims at enriching the children by training them on music (vocal), games, tailoring, and by teaching them yoga and moral values. The project had benefited a total of 1516 children, out of which 878 children had been mainstreamed and admitted to regular schools.
At present, the program is benefitting 420 children through fifteen special schools. 85 children have been admitted to regular schools in the current year.
Residential Bridge Course
Residential bridge course for dropout children was started at Musiri from April 2010. Children who were drop outs from schools and found in the streets or found working were counseled and admitted to the residential bridge course whereby they were taught and motivated to join regular schools. 35 such children were admitted to the residential school and 30 of them will be admitted to regular school in June 2011. The residential home will continue accommodating these 30 children unless otherwise there is every chance that they may drop out from school again.
Livelihood promotion to poor Women:
The poor women from the BPL category and their wards, irrespective of caste, creed and religion are the target segments in the multi-various activities being carried out by New Life. The total number of members benefited by the various programs of the organization as of March 2011 is 28151 from Trichy, Karur, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruvarur, Pudukkotai and Cuddalore, Thanjavur and Pattukkottai districts.
Skill training on kundan work, (for making artistic, artificial jewellery) was given on August 20th & 21st to 36 SHG members. 7 SHG members started their small income generation ventures and selling the jewellery and are earning an additional income of Rs.720/- per month. We have hopes they can earn upto Rs.2500/- per month if persistent. The organization has created employment opportunities for women in the garment factory by negotiating with a local garment factory and has secured employment for our women members.
Realizing that every individual has an enterprising capacity – a spirit within them that strives to improve their lives, 501 women were given financial support for economic empowerment. 27 were given support through the donations mobilized through online portals to start small ventures during this year.
Over 1555 groups with membership of 28151 and residing in urban slums and rural areas have mobilized savings of over Rs.3061.68 Lakhs and have absorbed over Rs.989.5 Lakhs as financial support for various opportunities for improving their standard of living, supported by various development institutions and nationalized banks. Out of this, as on March 2011; the direct assistance by the organization is Rs. 62.02 Lakhs.
As the Business Correspondent of State Bank of India, New Life is doing the Financial Inclusion of rural households into the mainstream banking. During the financial year 2010-2011 New Life had covered 999 Village Panchayats in the state of Tamilnadu by appointing 999 Business Correspondents. These Business Correspondents are trained by Faculty of Staff Training Centre, State Bank of India and the Agricultural Banking and Rural Development experts of New Life. Household economic surveys had been conducted by these correspondents and the application for availing crop loans, medium term loans, Rural Housing loans, Kisan Vehicle Loans and SHG loans were sourced for the Bank Branches of State Bank of India.
25 senior citizens were provided with food and day care in our home in Naachi Kurichi. These elderly people spend their time in the mornings with their friends of the same age and have a full meal apt to their appetite.
Mentorship Programme through Affinity Association of Self Help Groups:
New Life, through its community owned association structures known as Affinity Association of Self Help Groups (AA of SHGs), plays an active role in promoting and providing assistance to motivated, capable womenfolk. The AA of SHGs is community based group comprised of women leaders who manage the financial needs of the individuals within their community. Community based Affinity Association is one of the most effective way in channeling the support to the borrowers. The AA of SHGs is responsible for gathering and validating the needs of the members.
The field mentor would be the bridge between the online mentors and the entrepreneur on the field.
Potential borrowers are evaluated by our field mentor and then the mentor decides on the best candidate to work with us. She would then approach the consultancy team and submit the proposal for suggestions/advice from our expert team. Once AA of SHGs screens the plan and deems it fit for mentoring, we throw it open to the experts.
The expert team would go through the case details and decide to advice our entrepreneur, in case they have the expertise in the relevant field. Here it looks like the borrower has found a mentor. Once the connection has been established there would be a detailed documentation of the entire process, which has to be done by the field mentor herself. AA of SHGs would periodically / at the end of the process, evaluate the effort as well as the impact
Health programme
The members are given subsidized consultation by the Physician in our Board and a Gynecologist on obtaining the Health Card issued by the organization. Besides this, health camps are conducted in coordination with the leading physicians and hospitals like Dr.Raj mohan (Thamarai Clinic), A.G. Eye Hospital, K.M.C. Cancer Institute and Mano Priya Gynaecological Clinic.
9126 members are given subsidized consultation by the Physician in our Board and a Gynecologist on obtaining the Health Card issued by the organization. 3 health camps are conducted. 436 children were checked for water borne and faecal borne diseases and vitamin deficiency by Dr. . 150 children are affected by water borne diseases, 135 children were affected by faecal diseases and 5 children have vitamin deficiency. Medicines were provided to those children and the health workers are taking special care of these children.
The SHG women were given awareness on HIV/AIDS and cancer and they participated in the Cancer awareness rally conducted in Trichy by Shantalaya Trust and visited the Red ribbon express when it was stationed in Trichy Junction.
Social Security Programme:
The project was designed to cover the health risks of the population (women, men and children of the vulnerable sections of coastal areas) in Trichirappalli, Perambalur and Nagapattinam District with special reference to those suffering from Terminal Illness in order to provide them HOSPICE/PALLIATIVE care.
The rural populations in these revenue districts besides the people living in the urban slums of Trichirappalli town were the targeted beneficiaries of the project. The age group that is covered is from 25 to 75 years. Both men and women belonging to SF/MF/ Landless Agriculture Laborers were covered under the project.
Under this Project 12610 women and 408 Men beneficiary’s risk on lives covered beneficiary’s risks on lives covered. 1329 beneficiaries are covered under Health Insurance.
21326 Members provided awareness on social security cover available from the perils of critical illness. These 18957 members were reached through the village level meetings conducted amongst 1315 SHGs.
The gypsies who have not heard of insurance were also covered by health and life insurance due to the efforts of our team.
148 persons from the nomad gypsie community (commonly known in Tamilnadu province as Narikuravars) were provided with the health insurance cover for the first time in their lifetime (any insurance for that matter).
244 SHG women members from the rural villages have taken the mediclaim policies. 798 SHG women members from rural villages have taken life insurance cover. Four terminally ill patients (affected by Cancer) were referred to Shanthalaya Trust for palliative care and nursing assistance this year.
Special Programmes
Four of our children from Sathyamoorthy Nagar who are physically challenged were admitted to the Government Special School for these children with facilities for Physiotherapy and Physchological counseling. This was due to the continued efforts of our staff there in Sathyamoorthy Nagar and the counselor.
38 children from our target areas participated in the Memory Techniques Programme conducted by Mr. Ramesh Kumar in Hotel Kanchana Plaza on October 6th. This was really a wonderful opportunity for our children who could not otherwise afford to pay for the programme (which costs Rs.3000/- for six days).
The DIWALI festival was celebrated by the children of NEW LIFE together with the children of KAMALA NIKETAN Matriculation School, Trichy on the 4th of November 2010, at KANNA’S MINI HALL, Beema Nagar, Trichy. Diwali (Deepavali) is popularly known as the "festival of lights". During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends. Diwali is a festival celebrated in India by the Hindus to mark the vanquishing of the demon Narakaasura by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama.
The students of Kamala Niketan School and the New Life children performed yoga, dance, and drama. In the function the NEW LIFE children enjoyed the Diwali sweets and fire-crackers brought by the school children. As always, it was a very special moment to see the children’s faces light up with joy, holding sweets in their hands. The school children mobilized donations and gave a grand lunch to the children of New Life.
On November 24th a programme was organized exclusively for our women self help group members on consumer awareness by the Citizen Consumer Club of Trichy Holy Cross College. The guest speakers were Mrs. Sakunthala and Mr. Manohar. It was a joyful moment for most of our women who have not crossed their school finals to enter a college which is well known in our area and attend to a programme there for a day. We are sure it is surely a memorable day for them and us too!
On July 7th & 8th 2010, our coordinator attended the NELINDCO Project Partners Workshop was conducted in Goa. This work shop focused on the importance of insurance to the poor people.
Motivation training was given to 150 women on 09.05.2011 .They were motivated to do income generating activities. Two successful women gave inspiring speech to their fellow others.
Women members of the SHGs were taken to Chennai to attend "the National Conference on Electoral and Political Reforms” conducted by the National Election Watch and Alternative Democratic Reforms in the IIT campus, Chennai on February 12-13, 2011. The exposure was an enriching experience for the women and the staff who accompanied them. It gave motivation to the women not only in the democratic front but also to educate their children well (Many women got astonished seeing the campus). They also had their fun time in the evenings.
52 Coaching class students were taken to Kodaikanal for excursion they were taken to the Shenbaganur Museum, Lake, Pillar rock, Coakers walk, Silver cascade falls and parks. Shenbaganur museum is maintained by the Sacred Heart College – Theological Seminary founded in 1895. It is devoted to archaeological remains and the flora and fauna of the hills. One of the best orchidoriums in the country with more than 300 species of orchids is also housed here. The visit to the museum is of educational importance and the children related the species they saw here with what they study. Children went horse riding, Cycling and enjoyed well. They saw variety of flowers in the park and enjoyed more.
The Independence Day was celebrated in Uppuparai on August 15th 2010. The Indian flag was hoisted by Mr.Yesuraj, the local leader. Sweets were distributed to the children gathered. A drawing competition was conducted to bring out the children’s creativity.
Few Rights Issues Addressed:
Kanaga (Name changed) is an 8 years old girl child studying in 3rd standard. She is born in a Dalit family residing in Sathyamoorthy Nagar. Her father is a rickshaw puller (hand cart) and her mother is a servant maid. On 20.10.2010, Kanaga saw a vendor selling hand stickers when she came out with her friends from school during the lunch hour. The stickers were so attractive and the children eagerly ran to the vendor to buy a few stickers. The vendor told the children that he has many more beautiful stickers in his home. He took Kanaga and her two friends to his house. When they reached his home, he sent away Kanaga’s friends telling that the stickers they ask for is not available and to come on the next day. When Kanaga stayed back he touched her sex organs with an obscene intention. He covered her mouth to keep her quiet and kept his sex organ on her sex part. The girl found this to be painful and escaped from him and ran away. In the evening when she returned from school, she had excruciating pain when she wanted to urinate. So she was crying. When her father enquired what happened she told him everything. On hearing this, the neighbors and the girls father rushed to the spot and beaten him up and taken the culprit to the police.
The police in Trichirappalli Fort station had reportedly beaten the girls’ father (after verbal clash between them) and filed a case against both (the culprit and girls father). The Doctors were afraid about giving treatment to the girl as it was a police case and didn’t admit her to the hospital. Seeing this, people of Sathyamoorthy Nagar protested as a mass. The girl was then admitted in the district headquarters hospital, Trichirappalli got treated for the nail injuries bruised by the culprit on the girl’s sex parts.
Our NGO staff members stayed with the child in rosters and provided the much required moral support. We were providing the necessities and are planning to admit her in a hostel away from her home as she recuperates her bad memories. We are providing legal guidance to the family.
The child was asked to give witness in the open court and we represented this to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. We have succeeded in this, and the Commission has ordered the Court to conduct the cross examination of the sexually abused girl in camera.
Subha (name changed) is studying 10th standard in Damodaran Higher Secondary School is located in Kajapettai one of our target areas this school. Subha is a 15 years old girl child from our target community. She has three siblings. She is an innocent girl. Daily she goes to school and returns back home by walk.
One day she was in class while her teacher (male) called her to come to the staff room to give a book to read. When she went to the staff room, no one was there. Using this opportunity, the teacher sexually abused the child, touching her female organs. She was frightened and ran away from the room. Once at home, she told her parents about what happened in the school.
On hearing Subha’s statement, her mother came to our staff and narrated what happened. We guided them and the family went to school the next day for reporting about what happened to her to the Headmaster. But the Head master of the school was reluctant to listen to the parents. After persuasion he accepted to enquire the teacher about the incident. Immediately after this the teacher absconded and became untraceable. The incident was also known to the neighbors and hence her family decided to leave the home they were residing in and shifted to a new place. The teacher returned to the school and is continuing teaching.
The teacher called Subha and tried again to touch her and threatened her that if she tells it to her parents she will be failed. Subha was much worried and she approached our counselor who gave her courage and confidence. We decided to take the help of the youth club and the students club there in Kaja Pettai and a representation was give to the District Educational Officer.
The District educational officer visited the school and enquired the other teachers, the students club and some girl children who were also abused by the teacher. After this the teacher was warned that if he continues his misbehaviour, he will be punished. Now we are safe and not afraid of him (the teacher) says Subha.
Governance & List of Board Members of New Life for the year 2010-2011 |
