Women and Child Care
Most of the people of Kutch district depend on animal husbandry and agriculture for their livelihood. There is a deficiency of literacy and scientific information among these people. They do not have enough facilities for health care which results in the increase rate of child death in villages. People live in unhygienic conditions therefore they are frequently affected by various diseases.
Ashapura Foundation is carrying out the activities of self employment and overall development of people in such areas. The foundation is at the aim to aware women and takes effective steps for the children development.
Activities related to Women Empowerment and emancipation:
 1. Distribution of Smokeless Choolahs
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Smokeless Choolah
Traditional Choolah |
The main responsibility of a housewife in India is to cook food for the family, but due to financial crisis, local people are not in a position to purchase cooking gas or kerosene to cook their food. They have to depend on the traditional method of cooking, in which the firewood is used in the 'Choolah' for cooking.
Traditional Choolah:
Choolah are made from the special kind of clay, in which the firewood is used as a fuel for cooking. A huge amount of smoke is generated from this Choolah and spreads in the entire home, which spoils every thing in the home as well as creates problem in breathing. The most dangerous outcome of this smoke is that it produces the disease of eyes and lungs to the lady sitting beside the Choolah. |
Ashapura Foundation has promoted excellent substitute to this kind of tradition Choolah. It is known as Smokeless Choolah. Ashapura Foundation is distributing the Smokeless Choolah to the villagers to improve hygienic status of women. In the Smokeless Choolah, the arrangement is made in such a way that the smoke directly goes out of home through pipe in roof. Ashapura Foundation distributes and installs this kind of Smokeless Choolahs in the homes of people.
The benefits of Smokeless Choolah over Traditional Choolah
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As the smoke is diverted to the roof of the home through pipeline, the lady sitting beside the Choolah does not have problem of breathing.
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She is saved from the eye diseases and the diseases related to lungs like cough, asthma, allergic bronchitis etc.
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In addition the house is also not spoiled with the smoke.
The method of making and installation of the Smokeless Choolahs' is taught to the women of the village so that the women are able make Smokeless Choolah independently and also get remuneration for that.
Up to December 2007, the below listed Smokeless Choolahs have been distributed by Ashapura Foundation.
Total No. of Smokeless Choolah |
Villages Covered |
693 |
32 |
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2. Self Help Groups |
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Meeting of Self Help Group |
The main objectives behind setting up of Self Help at Group are to let women get together, be independent, satisfy monetary requirement of their family and can get the benefit of government plans. |
Ashapura Foundation has created the S.H.G. (Self Help Groups) under the plan 'Suvarna Jaynti Svarojgar Yojna' of government of India, in which the women are made aware of the saving schemes and are motivated to come together. After forming such groups of women, their institution is registered. Soon After the registration, an account is opened in nationalized bank. During first six months, all the members of that group just have to save money and deposit in this account. After six months any of the members of that group can get internal loan from this saving. At the end of six months, the gradation of this group is done by the bank manager and gradation officer. After the gradation the group is given the revolving fund of INR 25,000. After returning the revolving fund back to the bank, the group is allowed to get bank loan with 50% of subsidy. The loan amount is limited to INR 500,000.
Ashapura Foundation has helped in formation of Self Help Groups as follows:
No. of Groups |
Total Nos. of Members |
11 |
86 |
Three of the above groups have received the revolving fund and two groups have got the loan of INR 200,000. The groups have started the work of animal husbandry with this money. This helps each member of group to attain financial independence and generate regular monthly income. |
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3. Organizing Health Care Camps for Women |
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Woman Health Care Camp |
Woman Health Care Camp is organised in the area where lady doctor is not available and also the women are not ready to use medicines due to their misconceptions. In some areas the people are so poor that they can not afford to take lady member of the family to the lady doctor available at far place. Hence, the Woman Health Camp in such area is absolutely needed. In this camp, the women are examined and appropriate medicines are given to them. |
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4. Kitchen Gardern |
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Kitchen Garden |
It is absolutely necessary for the members of the family to take green vegetables in their diet. Due to the arrangement of Kitchen Garden, particular family gets vegetables of its daily need. Under the scheme of kitchen garden, the seeds or the plants of vegetables and fruit plants are distributed among the people. The people in the village sow these seeds, provide water through drip irrigation to these plants and get best benefit out of it. The kit of Kitchen Garden contains five fruit plants and some vegetable plants. Such kits are distributed among the people who live below poverty line. The aim is to provide healthy food to the poor and motivate them. |
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5. Child Care |
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Children in school |
The school programme like drawing or essay competition are arranged in schools under Child Care programme. Moreover, the children are made aware of cleanliness and other good habits which are necessary for good health and hygine.
Please refer the topic of Education for more detail about the Child Care. |
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