Dear Friends,

“Ganapati Bappa Morya – Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya” – the powerful slogan of Mumbaikar during Ganpati Festivals started from the beginning of the month. The ganapati festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion throughout India, but in Mumbai the festival assumes a special significance because of the scale at which it is performed. 

During this festival, we had organised Marker events, under ‘Slum Intervention Project’ and other events like Carom Competition, Saap-Seedhi, Mehandi Competition, etc. under Palavi Project were organised to spread message for awareness and prevention of HIV /AIDS in the community. The events scheduled from 15^th October to 23^rd October at various places throughout Mumbai. 

     Mobile Camps, Awareness Stalls, Street Plays, Poster Exhibitions, Distribution of IEC Materials, etc. were arranged during Marker event. Question-Answer session on HIV /AIDS was arranged during ‘Haldi-Kunku’ for ladies to test her skills and to guide them on technical issues. Also we have guided them how to communicate with HIV+ve people. More than 400 ladies participated and got advantage of the event.

A Visual Display of the documentary film on Lord Ganesha ‘Shree Ganesh – A cinematic offering’ compiled by Ms. Pratibha Advani, was displayed at various places throughout Mumbai during Ganeshotsav.

This is really the speechless documentation on Lord Ganesha compiled by her. We thank and appreciate to all the Ganesh Mandals who have extended their co-operation / support to organise such programmes and to spread blessing of Lord Ganesha among the community. The beneficiaries were the local residents, devotees and the Mandal office bearers.

DRONACHARYA & MAHATMA PHULE PURASKAR:  This is the thirteenth year the Puraskar is given to appreciate and acknowledge the sincere efforts made by the teachers of Mumbai. Selection committee including senior teachers selects one teacher from one school all over North East Mumbai. The teachers are felicitated by giving them a Certificate and a Trophy in public functions. 

6 Programmes are planned to arrange this year at different places.  One of the programme was organized on 27th September at Sanatan Dharma High School, Chembur, Mumbai. 105 teachers from different Municipal and Private Schools were selected and honoured with this award.

     Teachers & Principles of the schools were felicitated at the hands of Dr. Rajpal Hande, Principal Somaiya College and Mr. Atul Bhatkhalkar, Secretary Mumbai BJP.  Dr. Kirit Somaiya presided over the programme.  Dr. Medha Somaiya, General Secretary of Yuvak Pratishthan was also present during the programme.

SLUM INTERVENTION PROJECT:  Marker events organised at Tembipada, Tulshetpada and Khindipada.  Stalls were provided at all the above three places for awareness of HIV/AIDS & STD/STI. The event consists of Stall, Street Plays, Games, distribution of Awareness Material, poster exhibitions, etc.

16 teams were participated in the Cricket tournament organised on 16/09/07.  1 Winner and a runner-up were given trophies each.  120 youth participants were given information about project and made them aware about HIV/AIDS.

Street Plays were performed by the group at Tulshetpada, Khindipada, Amarnagar,Tembipada on 17^th & 18^th Sept.  More than 250 people were informed about HIV/AIDS. 

Rubber Man Show was arranged on 19^th Sept.  134 persons wee given information about dare to care and HIV/AIDS.  Pamphlets were distributed among them. 

Mobile Poster Exhibition, the exhibition on the move, displayed the posters & slogans on the awareness of HIV/AIDS. 

On 21^st Sept., Mimicry Show was arranged, which was hosted by a TV artist Mr. Sagar Tadekar.

Carrom Tournament was arranged on 22 Sept., which was participated by the youth of Khindipada area.  The tournament was arranged to spread the message of awareness about HIV /AIDS.

On 23^rd Sept., Awareness programme for women only, which was participated by 137 women.  They were given information on HIV/AIDS Awareness, STD/STI and discussed on General Health problems. 

All the regular activities, One to One, One to Group Sessions, Condom Promotion & Distribution, Tertiary Visit, Secondary Visit, Video Shows, Lectures, Posters Exhibitions, Establishment of Condom Outlets, Treatment and Follow-up of STD patients, have been continued.

CENTRE FOR SLUM STUDIES: Workshop on Eco Friendly Ganeshotsav & Brain storming session was held on 11^th Aug 07. The workshop participated by 83 students of our Waste Management Course (CCWM), all are related to various Dattak vasti Sanstha in Mumbai. BMC and NGOs like United ways, Force, Garbage Concern were extended their helping hand.

Field visit for CCWM Students at Bhandup had been arranged on 16.08.07 on the subject Individual Toilet system. More than 26 students from K East ward and S ward were participated in this site visit.

Certificate course in Slum Studies, Urban Environment Management and Diploma Course in Slum Studies Development have been commenced from 17.08.07.

Workshop on global warming by Shri Chandrashekhar Prabhu on 22.08.07 was attended by all the students of the centre.

Field Visit Rajesh Nagar Slum, Kurla had been arranged on 26.08.07 for learning live life of slums with various aspects. The visit was attended by all our CSS, UEM and DSSD student.

In the month of September arranged Field Visits to TB Hospital, Shewri and Waste Segregation Centre on 02.09.07 for learning problems of Health and BMC services. Also visited to CBOs and Ganeshotsav Mandal, Bhandup, Vijay kala krida mandal,and other Ngo’s for learning various views and aspects regarding CBOs and their social work. The visit was attended by all our CSS, UEM and DSSD student.

PALAVI  KENDRA : Ante-Natal Care (ANC) of the pregnant women mobilization in Four Administrative Wards of Greater Mumbai; 'A' ward, ‘E’ ward, 'G South' ward, and ‘S’ ward were covered during the month.

Our Out Reach Workers visited families in their respective wards, interacted with them and guided them about the health related problems.  They were counselled, guided and given proper guidance on health related matters, HIV & PPTCT Centre, Prevention and Family Planning.

Community meetings were held for Mahila Mandals, Health Posts, Beauty Parlor, Small Industries, Vyayamshala etc. The participants have been informed about Palavi Kendra.  IEC material and booklets for awareness distributed among them.

Few of the children are under regular follow-up of the organisation.

Yuvak Pratishthan’s Samarpan Arogya Kendra:  In the month of September, the patients visited to the centre and benefited through Allopathic, Homeopathy treatment and for pathological tests are as under:

All the patients were treated with proper medication & counseling about their health related problems.  Pathological tests were done at very concessional rates.

We would like to inform that the centre has started X-ray and Sonography facility at very concessional rates.  Patients are requested to visit the centre to avail this facility on nominal charges.

JEEVAN AKSHAY (Seva Mobile): In the month of September, 4 camps each were held at Ramabai Nagar, Bhandup and Kamraj Nagar Ghatkopar. 398 patients were checked, guided and provided medicines. They were performed complete health check-up.  Table showing the number of patients attended in camps are given as under:

Mobile General Check–up camps: Regular mobile camps started daily 2 times at different areas of Mumbai suburbs.  The details are as under:

36 camps held in the month of August which includes 18 morning camps and 18 evening camps.  542 patients were performed complete check-up and given medicines. 

We request the citizen of Mulund, Bhandup and all nearby areas to visit the centre and take benefits of all the medication / health related problems from our centre.

JEEVAN AASHA :  This month, 62 patients visited our office and registered under Jeevan Aasha.  44 patients in all have received financial assistance this month from different Trusts for different ailments.  Others are under process.  Category of the patients / cases:

Besides, we have received more than 500 phone calls for enquiry / assistance during the month.

3 Patients screened for CT-Scan, 1 MRI case & 2 pathological tests were forwarded to private institutions to be done at very concessional rates i.e. up to 60% & 50% discount respectively in their charges.

We are receiving regular appreciation and gratitude from the patients.

We express our heartiest gratitude to all the trusts / hospitals / doctors / social activists, for extending their support / help to the poor and needy patients for their surgery / treatment.

GTB HOSPITAL:  Motivation and empowerment of the patients continues with the techniques such as Music Therapy, Yoga, Diet and Nutrition, Vocational Training etc. for Rehabilitation of TB patients.

Every week around 30 patients, which includes both male & female have been attending and taking benefits of yoga every Monday.

SLUM SANITATION:  Follow up continues for the sites, required papers are being collected and process for the registration of Mandals is going on.  

Construction of toilets is in progress at 12 sites.  The sites are regularly visited by our volunteers.  Work order for 8 more sites were received and work started last month. 

We are receiving good responses from the locality.  We will be happy to help some more localities to provide with the same facility.  We are continuous appealing to those who want facility can contact our office for further details.

We sincerely thanks, appreciate our co-workers for fulfilling their duties, and extending support in these activities.

  D. K. SHRIVASTAVA

Yuvak Pratishthan