BISWA: Bharat Integrated Social Welfare Agency

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Basic Need Program PDF Print E-mail

Basic Needs Program has completed 3 years and has delivered satisfaction to its all stakeholders including the donors and end-users. In the remote parts of the Sambalpur district, many of the villages lack the basic amenities such as elementary education, primary health care, safe drinking water and access to resources to pursue income generating activities. These four are targeted under the Basic Needs Program. 48 villages are identified to be covered and by the end of this financial year 24 have been covered. BISWA entered into discussions with the District Administration and as a result of this triconed efforts Basic Needs program has successfully implemented the following activities against the background prevailing prior to commencement of the program. The Basic Needs Program represents a perfect example of participatory approach to community development with a holistic approach. The program has covered the most significant segment of community development: Basic Infrastructure Services, the health, education, safe drinking water, poverty alleviation, Women empowerment and Child care with active participation of the Government, the private donors, an NGO and the community as a whole. The pace of the planned intervention ensures a population gradually moving out of the dreaded poverty line; out of apathy to self esteem & self reliance.

During January 2002, Mrs. Joyasree Mahanti, NRI from USA came in contact with BISWA. Mr. Malick, the Chairman if BISWA appraised her of the socio-economic conditions of some of the villages in Maneswar block oif Sambalpur which led her to take intensive travel in hese parts. Later they combineldy devised detailed planning to implement Basic Needs Program in the region. She has been living in the USA since more than three decades with her husband Prof. Dr. Subhendra Dev Mahanti, a professor in Michigan State University, USA. She placed the situation before some of her friends and acquaintances in the USA (some of them being NRIs) and raised the fund to strengthen the program.

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Asha for Education with BISWA's help started non-formal education centers in four villages (Jhankarbahali, Rathipada, Budapada & Tangarjuri) near Sambalpur town in western Orissa. These villages were backward and remote areas. This project was initiated by Mrs. Joyashree Mahanti, a resident of East Lansing, MI USA during her stay in that area between Jan-Mar 2003. Innovative schools that Asha supports have been especially created to not only address the pitfalls in the conventional education system but also ensure that children from poor socio-economic backgrounds are not deprived of the opportunity for high quality education. Innovative schools assist children in taking the main stream government examinations.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

  • Concept: The Basic Needs Program provides four basic needs: drinking water, food, basic education, and basic health care. But the most important aspect of this program is that all these four needs should be provided at the same time to bring the villagers to a basic standard of living. Just giving water or food or basic education or basic health care is not going to change the living standard or thinking of the villagers where they lack all four basic needs.
  • A Team Effort: It is difficult to achieve this mission by one person. We need a team to work together to achieve our mission with trust, similar vision and concerned.
  • Selection of Villages: We select villages which are remote and interior and lack water, food, education, infrastructure, health care, and have very limited choices for livelihood trades.
  • Development in a cluster of villages: We prefer to implement the Basic Needs Program in a cluster of villages instead of putting all the resources into one village and make it a model.
  • Villager’s financial participation is very important: Nothing should be given for free. The beneficiaries must contribute a minimum amount towards all the projects. This gets them involved and gives them a feeling of ownership.
  • Low Budget Projects: One can take some risks with a low budget project. If the project is successful and sustains for a few years, it can be expanded. If not, we discontinue the project and learn from our mistakes. We prefer to use the same amount of money to help more people than to help a few. For example, with the same budget, We prefer to have many schools that provide basic education to many children, rather than having one big concrete school. Also, We prefer to start a production unit under a tree than waiting to have a proper building to start the unit.

PURPOSE: 

  • Non-formal education to the drop outs, children engaged in labour & other children of the school going age so that they become literate & become able to attend formal schools.
  • To create a model for making other tribal people of the surrounding villages aware of benefits of the education.

VILLAGES COVERED :

Jhankarbahali Budapada Rathipada Tangarjuri Mahulpali
Mendalipali Antapali Bolaranga Bausenmura Kanbar
Matikhai Labdera Kundebahal Gohriapada Jaduluising
Bolbanga Kankudipali Rangiatikira Rugudipada Tabloi
Babupali Dharakhaman