Arpana's project for slum dwellers in the
resettlement colony at Molar Bund, South Delhi, has transformed a wasteland
of despair and degredation into a thriving community for over 50,000
displaced slum dwellers
The Beginning : In 2002, the slum colony in which Arpana was
working, was moved to a slum resettlement colony, in Molar Bund, South
Delhi. From a population of less than 1,500, Arpana was confronted with an
eventual population of 25,000 in Molar Bund, and later, an additional
population of about 25,000 in adjoining Aaligaon, for a total deprived urban
population of over 50,000.
Lack of infrastructure :
- Shelters built of plastic sheets and waste material, provided very
little protection from the weather (47 degrees C down to nearly
freezing).
- Garbage was not collected, resulting in fields of refuse.
- Sewage Disposal: The plant started for Phase I was not yet complete,
resulting in swamps of filthy water, breeding grounds for dangerous
illness. Only pay toilet facilities were available, resulting in
widespread open defecation.
- Water was very limited, resulting in long lines at the public taps to
collect water in plastic containers during the 2 or 3 hours a day when
water flowed in them.
- Electricity was limited, with 75% of the families unable to be
connected.
- Medical facilities were nonexistent; there were no doctors and no
clinics. Community health was non-existent. There were no qualified
medical personnel for pregnant women. Daily illnesses were either
untreated, or great expenditure of family resources had to be made to
reach qualified care.
- Education was equally unavailable. A government school had barely
started for 250 students in tents. The rest of the 8,000 children had no
school to attend.
- Roads were few and houses had to be constructed in trackless, arid
areas.
- Environment: there were virtually no trees or any plants. Children
had to play in disease-laden fields of garbage.
Today, there has been a great deal of change such as :
- Homes: most families have a one or two room brick home on their
allotted plot of land.
- Education: Arpana has set up education support classes for a thousand
children. This enables them not only to keep up with their studies, but
to excel. Several of these children are in the top positions in their
classes. Click for more information on Education
- Medical Centre: Arpana is running a World Bank constructed medical
centre, seeing 25,000 patients annually. Click for more information on
Arpana Health Centre
- Outreach Clinics are sent to Aaligaon, particularly for pregnant
women and immunizing children under 5 years of age. Click for more
information on Outreach Activities.
Participatory Community Health: Arpana trains health
workers to create awareness amongst the residents through cluster meetings,
home visits, nutrition programmes and monitoring of anaemia and motivation
for kitchen gardens. Click for more information on Participatory Community
Health Care
Parks have been constructed by Arpana with community participation. Ten
such parks provide oases of greenery for the residents and play areas for
children.
Garbage: Enterprising residents collect garbage from almost 2,000 homes for
a small fee. Women's self-help groups are demanding garbage pickup and
sanitation services from MCD.
Utilities: most homes now are connected to electricity.
Community Based Organizations : Arpana has facilitated 29 women's
self-help groups (SHGs) for :
- Savings and micro-credit
- Community health responsibilities
Federation: 24 of these 29 groups have joined in a Federation of women's
self-help groups for a more important voice in their lives.
Click for more information on Empowerment of Women
Vocational Training: Nearly 200 young people are taking advantage of the
vocational training programmes Arpana offers in computers, house wiring,
tailoring, pre-school teachers training and crafts. Click for more
information on Vocational Training
With limited resources, Arpana has linked up with the Government to provide
medical and infrastructure services. Residents learn about advocacy to the
government for provision of water, roads and sewage in their slum colony.
Molar Bund residents are being enabled to build compact homes on their
allotted plots within one year through special loans, enabling them to own
their own homes within 5 years. Pujya Ma, Arpana's Guide and inspiration,
told us, "Regard the slum children as your very own. Love them with the
throbbing heart of a mother."
Pre-school education, nutrition, and care for children of the poorest of
the poor is provided free of cost. See Education
