FIELD WORK – III

(Course Code: BSW M18)

INTERNSHIP REPORT
ORGANISATION-EQUITAS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE TRUST

Submitted By
S. PRADEEP (REG NO.1801721049059)
III YEAR BSW
Date: 05-02-2021
In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of

BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK

Under Guidance of

PROF. DR. JANICE SHIJI, MA(SW), NET-JRF(UGC)

MADRAS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

(An Autonomous college affiliated to the University of Madras)

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK (SFS)

 WEEK I - WORK LOG (01-02-2021 TO 05-02-2021)

ORGANISATION NAME: EQUITAS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE TRUST

ORGANISATION FIELD WORK SUPERVISOR: MR. BALA, MANAGER CSR

MR. KRISHNAMURTHY, MANAGER CSR & MRS.MAHESHWARI, PROJECT CO-
ORDINATOR

TOTAL NO. OF HOURS WORKED: 35 HRS

DAYS PLACES WORK DONE NO. OF HOURS

VISITED WORKED

1 Ayanavaram, Visit to Slums and (9.30am -4.30pm)

Korukkupet, Mint, Surveying rescued 7 HRS
BB colony, households in slums
Broadway
Visit to Pavement and
2 Muthialpet surveying Pavement (9.30am-4.30pm)
dwellers 7 HRS

Visit to Pavement
3 Mint, Muthialpet dwellers and to know (10.00 am -5.00pm)
about their skills 7 HRS
training
Helping Slum women
4 ITI colony, Mint to open bank accounts (10.00am-5.00pm)
and getting loans 7 HRS

Helping the Slum

5 ITI colony, women in signing on
Ambedkar Madam demand agreement (9.30 am-4.30pm)
Korukkupet forms and volunteered 7 HRS
Joy of Giving
celebration
INTRODUCTION:

Equitas Development Initiatives Trust (EDIT), the non-profit arm of Equitas

Microfinance, was established in 2008 to implement innovative approaches to addressing
poverty. EDIT, registered as a public charitable trust, helps the society to get quality health
care by partnering with hospitals, provides holistic education at affordable cost, trains women
to earn additional income, and also helps unemployed youth to get employment opportunities.
Through its supportive initiatives in education, food security, healthcare, and livelihoods,
EDIT aims to create positive impact in the lives of many poor families, including Equitas’
microfinance clients.  Equitas would contribute 5% of its profit on a quarterly basis to EDIT,
along with contributing up to 15% of the Net worth to create infrastructure to construct
schools & hospitals and Monthly budget of Rs 2000 per branch to be allocated for conduct of
free health-camps. In 2009, EDIT partnered with Unitus to pilot the Equitas Bird’s Nest
(EBN) program. EBN provides housing, healthcare, food security, education, and dignified
livelihoods for pavement-dwelling populations. Program objectives included moving
households off the pavement and into permanent housing, creating food security and a stable
income, providing sustained access to healthcare and education, and demonstrating that ultra-
poor programs could be cost-efficient. Mr. P N Vasudevan is the CEO and Managing
Director of Equitas Small Finance Bank Ltd. Mr. John Alex, is the Program Director of
Social Initiatives. Equitas holdings received CSR award 2019 for contribution to National
Priority Areas-Slum Area Development by the Ministry of corporate affairs, Government of
India for best CSR activity.

VISION:

Creation of an equitable society through holistic transformation of the socially and

economically excluded

MISSION:

To promote equitable development of the economically poor sections of society by providing

them with holistic education, healthcare and livelihood opportunities.
VALUES:

 Fairness and transparency: EDIT aims to provide services without any discrimination
based on gender, sex, religion, caste etc. This is to make anyone feel privileged and
helps in promoting solidarity. Transparency is the value of being upfront and visible
in all its actions.

 Inclusiveness: Inclusion at EDIT means to create an environment of belonging for

everyone.

 Innovation: EDIT aims at promoting services by practicing an innovative delivery

model that is highly need based and sustainable.

OBJECTIVES & ACTIVITIES:

1)To provide holistic education at affordable costs

 Equitas Gurukuls

 Centre for academic excellence

 Partnership schools

2) To contribute to a healthy society

 Health education and health camps

 Sugam clinics

3) To create opportunities for income generation and employability

 Home based skill training for women for additional income

 Job fairs for unemployed youth

4) To enable fulfilment of basic needs for the pavement dwellers

  Equitas Birds Nest project

 Pavement Dwellers Rehabilitation Program

ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE:

Equitas Gyan EGC

Kendra - CSR Trainees
Manager CSR Officers

Program Director
Health Care CSR CSR Officers Doctor/Staff
(Social Initiatives) Manager of Sugam
Clinic

Equitas Birds Nest Social

CSR Manager Workers

EDIT Board
of Trustees Job Fair CSR Placement
Manager Officers

Gurukul Principals Teachers &

Program Director Administrativ
e staffs
(Gurukul Schools) Centre of
Academic
Subject
Excellence - Head
Experts

INTERNSHIP DAY 1:

Date:01-02-2021

Time: 09.30 am- 04.30pm

Place: Ayanavaram, Korukkupet, Mint, BB colony, Broadway

AIM:

To survey the rescued families who were rehabilitated from pavements into housing units in
nearby slums by the Equitas Development Initiative Trust and report it to the Executive
director.

OBJECTIVES:

To learn about their new improved livelihoods and how they are benefitted from Equitas
Bird’s Nest Programs in five key areas: housing, food security, healthcare, livelihood skills,
and supplemental education like skill training, providing job placement services for the
youth, and also rehabilitating pavement dwellers into proper dwelling places. The programme
aimed to provide stable housing, food security, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities to
3800 households in the hopes of sustainably improving their quality of life.

OBSERVATION:

The trainee observed that the EDIT trust rehabilitated more than 3800 families from
pavements to the housing units in the nearby slums. The trainee observed that the slums were
very densely packed in less space. The trainee observed that there were 25 families each in
Rajiv Gandhi nagar-Ayanavaram, living on behalf of Equitas Trust who were mostly
pavement dwellers and were later migrated to housing units. The trainee observed that the
slums were densely populated with poor hygienic conditions. The trainee also observed there
were both pucca house and kutcha house with low affordable rent. The families were given
living expenses of Rs. 5000 every month by Equitas trust for their basic needs. The rent of
Rs.1500 for these houses were paid to the landlords. With the remaining amount of Rs.3000
they spend for food, medical expenses and education fees. Mostly Equitas conduct medical
camps for these slums. The trainee observed there were poor toilet facilities and the people
defecate in open spaces. The trainee observed that mostly the families earn through running
Road side food shops, groceries shops, Rickshaw pullers, Petty Shops, fish markets,
sweepers, painting works, Household servants. The water facilities in the slums were good
with one hand pump for all 25 families in that particular slum but the drainage facility was
poorly managed. The roads connecting all the streets were narrow and poorly maintained.
The trainee also observed that people were suffering from lots of insect bites and mosquitoes.
The trainee observed most households took care of dogs and cats. There were temples,
churches and mosques located in the same street. The trainee observed that the assets mostly
in the house were blankets, led bulbs, fans, TV, Nokia Mobiles, bicycles, some kitchen
vessels. Only 4 areas had electricity connection from nearby electric poles. The families cook
food from firewood. The families had Government identity proofs like ration cards, Aadhar
cards, voter ids. The trainee noticed people used transport like Auto and rickshaw to travel to
nearby places. The families in the slum visit Stanley govt hospital nearby. There were only
one govt school for nearby slums. The trainee observed that Muthialpet Police station was
very close to nearby slums.

ACTIVITIES:

On 01-02-2021, day 1 of internship, the trainee was given task of conducting survey in and
around Perambur on the livelihood of rehabilitated families who were rescued from
pavements into housing units by Equitas Trust. The trainee was accompanied by Mrs.
Maheshwari, Project co-ordinator of Equitas Bird’s Nest program. The trainee first visited
Rajiv Gandhi slum in Ayanavaram. The respondents were 25 families residing in that slum.
The trainee first visited every house in the slum and collected the background details of the
family members like Age, No. of family members, Occupation, Monthly income, No. of
years living in slum. Mostly there were nuclear families migrated from nearby pavements.
The trainee entered each house and surveyed the assets of each families. These families were
given 5000 rupees monthly each for their living expenses. The trainee completed the survey
of 25 families and then travelled to Korukkupet. In Korukkupet when the trainee entered into
the colony, the trainee was warned by the project co-ordinator that there were many drug
addicts including children in the slums. The trainee then visited a slum in Korukkupet, where
25 families were migrated on behalf of Equitas. When surveyed, the families informed that
they were migrated from Bus depot to these housing units by Equitas. Since some of the
families were having income, Equitas provided 4000 rupees every month for living expenses.
Out of which 1500 rupees for rent and remaining for other expenses. The survey outcomings
were almost same from these families since everyone was migrated from nearby pavements.
The trainee had lunch with the project co-ordinator in the nearby restaurant and then travelled
to BB colony, Mint and Broadway. The trainee identified that all the families taken care by
Equitas were given skills training to help them have stable income. The trainee completed the
survey of more than 50 families, since many families travelled to places for family events and
personal works. The trainee completed the day’s work assigned and submitted the survey
outcomes to the Project co-ordinator. Next day the trainee was informed that the next visit
was to survey the pavement dwellers in Muthialpet police station.

SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE ON LIVELIHOODS IN SLUM:

The following questions were interviewed with the households living in slum:

I) PERSONAL INFORMATION OF THE RESPONDENT:

1) Name and Address:

2) Name of Ward:

3) Name of Slum:

4) Age:

5) Sex:

6) Education:

 Post Graduate

 Middle school

 Higher Secondary

 Degree

 Illiterates

7) Occupation:

 Service

 Business

 Other
8) Income (Monthly):

9) Marital Status

 Married

 Unmarried

 Widow

 Widower

10) Types of Family:

 Joint

 Nuclear

 Extended

11. Types of House:

 Kutcha

 Puccaa

12. Ownership of House

 Own

 Rental

 Relatives

 Any other

13. Whether migrated from another place?

 Yes
  No

14. Cause of Migration: ____________________

15. How many years living in these areas? __________Years

16. Are you willing to go back? Yes or No

17. How is your life in slum areas?

 Not so bad

 No other way

 Accommodation

 Cheap cost

18. What types of relation amongst other slum dwellers

 Affectionate

 Normal

19. What types of inconvenient conditions in slum areas?

 Drainage

 Mosquito

 Theft

 Incomplete ventilation

II)Family information:

S.NO NAME OF SEX AGE EDUCATION OCCUPATION INCOME

THE
MEMBER
 S
1
2
3
4
5
6

III)EDUCATIONAL STATUS:

21. Whether all children in educable group are enrolled in the school? Yes or No

22.If yes, which school are your children studying? Private school or Government school

IV) OCCUPATIONAL, INCOME AND EXPENDITURE STATUS:

23. Is there any change in your family occupation: Yes or No

24. What is your opinion about your occupation?

 Positive

 Negative

 Undecided

 Not satisfied

24. How many Months in a year do you work?

25. Whether the employment is: Temporary or Permanent

26. Do you have any debt on you? Yes or No

27. How do you spend income per month?

 Food

 Clothing
  Housing

 Education

 Transportation

 Entertainment

 Communication

 Addiction

 Any other

V) HEALTH STATUS:

28. Do you have a health centre nearly? Yes or No

29. When sick where do you go for the treatment

 Govt. Hospital

 Private Hospital

 Other Hospital

30.Is there any addicts in your family? Yes or No

31. Do you purchase the food grain from the ration card? Yes or No

VI)ASSETS OF THE RESPONDENTS:

 Fan

 Cooler

 Refrigerator

 T.V
  Tape Recorder

 CD/VCD Player

 Mixture

 Mobile

 Other

SURVEY OUTCOMES:

The respondents were 50 families rescued from pavements to housing units. The
trainee identified all the respondents were nuclear families and illiterates. Most of the
children were studying in government school. 30 out of 50 family’s occupation was road side
tiffin shop.40 out of 50 houses were pucca houses (with concrete). When surveyed about the
cause of migration, all families were migrated by Equitas Trust. The families did not benefit
from any government schemes like housing, finance, employment, childcare and education.
Almost all households had mobile phones, vessels, radio, bicycle and fire wood stove. The
families spend most money on food, clothing, cinema. The families visit Stanley government
hospital nearby only by walking. Every household complained of drainage and mosquitoes.40
out of 50 families run in debt and many were alcohol addicts.30 out of 50 families send their
children to government schools. These outcomes were forwarded to Mr. John Alex,
Executive Director.

LEARNINGS:

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING:

The trainee learnt that Equitas Bird’s Nest (EBN) programme was to be an 18-month pilot
programme broken into three distinct phases and focused on providing support and training to
100 pavement dwellers in five key areas: housing, food security, healthcare, livelihood skills,
and supplemental education. The primary objective of the intervention was to move
households off the pavement and into permanent housing. Secondary objectives included
creating food security and a stable income through engaging in learned livelihood activities,
and providing sustained access to healthcare and education.
Phase One: The plan was to move participants from the pavements into housing units in
nearby slums. EDIT would secure the housing and pay the rent for the first six months.
During this period, known as phase one, EDIT would provide skills training and introduce the
member to a new livelihood that could double or triple the household income. At the same
time, EDIT would provide the family with food, access to healthcare, and would begin
offering tutoring sessions to help children with schoolwork in the hopes of re-enrolling them
in school.

Phase Two: During phase one, the household would have started their livelihood activity and
begun earning a stable income. In phase two, months seven through 12, the household would
be expected to take over the responsibility of paying rent and buying its own food.

Phase Three: By phase three, months 13 through 18, the household was expected to have
become much more financially stable and was expected to begin paying back the first six
months of subsidised rent. By the 19th month, the household would have paid back the first
six months of rent and would then begin paying back the security deposit that EDIT had paid
to secure the apartment. By having participants pay back the rent and security deposit, the
programme would be able to recover 75% of its costs, which could then be used to expand
the programme to help more families.

The trainee learnt the challenges the EDIT team faced during the pilot,

1) Lease land outside the city to build low-cost housing

2) Partner with other organisations for housing

3) Convert older government buildings into temporary housing

EDIT is investigating other possible housing options and has also begun to explore the
possibility of partnering with the local government to convert abandoned or vacant buildings
into low-income housing projects as a way of addressing homelessness.

PERSONAL LEARNING:

The trainee learnt the impact of birds ’nest project

 Providing pavement dwellers, a secured housing

  Acceptance by community

 Improved quality of life Sustained livelihoods

 Empowerment of pavement dwellers

 Dignified living

 Mainstreaming into society

 Providing food security

 Better healthcare

 Access to education

 Alternate livelihoods

 Social identity

The trainee learnt that securing housing turned out to be an extremely labour-intensive
process in which each unit took between 9 and 12 weeks to secure. It was very difficult in
finding affordable units within the target slum areas. There were problems included charging
inflated prices once the landlord knew an organisation was involved, not wanting families
from a lower class moving into their slum. From the survey, the trainee learnt that almost all
the families were illiterate. According to the 2011 census of India, the slum population in
Chennai alone was over 10.79 lakh (over 1 million) households, or 26% of the city’s total
population. Driving through Chennai on a typical day, the trainee quickly observed countless
numbers of men, women, and children begging on street corners and at traffic stops, trying to
scrape together a living. The trainee collected survey results and learnt that the housing status
was the families were living in slums for more than 5 years. The trainee learnt that the people
have accepted the slum life and got used to the environment. The trainee learnt how the
families were poor but happy with what they have. The household gave us a warm welcome
and were very co-operative throughout the survey. The families had only houses of small
cubics yet didn’t complaint anything. The trainee personally learnt not to overspend. The life
of a slum is making best out of a bad situation and there was satisfaction with the households
residing in slums of Chennai.

FEELING: The visit to Chennai slums was a life changing experience for the trainee. The
trainee felt that Equitas development initiative trust had completely transformed the lives of
pavement dwellers through their Equitas bird’s nest programs and skill training. The trainee
felt that this Covid -19 pandemic had severely affected the households living in slum. Earlier
81% of the people lived in pavements,15%in bus depot and 4% in open. Till now,646
families were benefitted through this initiative. The trainee felt that these people now are
safe, secured and living with dignity. The trainee felt that one of the main reasons that the
population were refused homes by house-owners was the lack of credibility and adequate
identification. The trainee felt that EDIT took the place of guarantors and convinces the
landlords/ house owners to rent their houses to the homeless people identified within the
locality and offered a support of Rs 4,000 per household as advance for household rent in
order to ease the process of rehabilitation for the homeless into society. This amount has been
instrumental in helping the homeless live within the safety of a house without having to
worry about the perils and dangers of living in the open. On shifting them to the houses, the
EDIT team worked with the families constantly to ensure that they are able to get all the basic
amenities to make them lead a better life. The skill trainings are imparted to the interested
women and they were motivated to start using the skills at a personal level or to run a small
business. The houses were too small in size to live and had just small fans, Tube lights,
bicycles, Government Television sets, basic Nokia phones, cooking food from firewood,
feeding lots of pets’ despite of their poverty but never failed to smile which is often missing
with modern people residing in cities and luxury apartments. The poor children were
enjoying in real life rather than modern kids who were addicted to mobiles and technologies.
The Government should take steps to improve the standard of living for households living in
slums. The politicians merely see the slums as vote banks and every time fail to fulfil the
promise made. The government must ensure that these people should be provided with
permanent housing and stable income for their living.

PERSONAL FEEDBACK FROM THE BENEFICIARIES:

“Earlier as foot path dwellers nobody gave us a job”.

“Women and children are safe today. we can sleep in peace at night”.
“Anyday this house is better than the footpath”.

“Only Equitas had supported us. even the government has not helped us “.

“Why did you not think of moving to a house when you were on the footpath” — “Because
we had to pay rental to move to a house which we did not have”.

“Equitas paid our rent for 6 months, now we are able to pay”.

“I am able to go for work without any fear as my children are safe at home”.

“At least we have a roof over our head now”.

“Only now I have the confidence to face the world and also to think about the future”.

INTERNSHIP DAY 2:

Date:02-02-2021

Time:09.30am to 04.30pm

Place: Muthialpet

AIM: To visit the pavement dwellers and survey the families residing in pavement who were
funded by the Equitas Development Initiative Trust under Pavement Rehabilitation program
and report it to the Executive director.

OBJECTIVES: To Enable fulfilment of basic needs for the pavement dwellers

OBSERVATION: The trainee observed that there were lots of families residing in pavement
in and around Muthialpet area. The families in the pavement were funded by Equitas
Development Initiatives Trust. The trainee observed that even after Equitas process of
securing a rental unit was finalised, the families were not moving into the housing. The
trainee observed that families feared losing their place on the pavement and the means to
their only source of income: begging. The trainee observed there were 10 families in
pavement. The trainee observed that those who were able to find work may be able to afford
a small rental unit in a slum. Others manage to construct makeshift dwellings out of plastic
bags and discarded building materials on unauthorised slum land, hoping that law
enforcement does not force them out. The poorest of the poor can afford no form of housing
at all and were often left with no choice but to reside on the sidewalks and resort to begging
for a living. Many households, in fact, occupy the pavements for generations. For the vast
majority, begging at traffic stops and street corners, with their children in tow, is the primary
source of income. The trainee observed many of today’s pavement dwellers did at one time
live in the slums but lost their homes for any number of reasons. If they experienced hardship
in paying the rent for a one-to-two-month period, or if they were unfortunate enough to reside
in the many settlements suddenly deemed illegal by local authorities and razed, or if they
were hit with a large expense (like a health emergency) that wiped out their savings, they
would have suddenly lost their homes. Once a family relinquishes its rental unit in the slum,
another family who can afford it occupies the unit quickly. Demand for and turnover in slum
housing remains high in the large cities of India. Once out, it is very difficult to work one’s
way back into a slum. The trainee observed that people who were refusing to leave the
pavements were given skill training, help of that the families must earn a stable income, after
that Equitas helps them to find a housing with 5000 rupees for each household for their
living. The trainee observed each house had assets like mobile phones, radio, bicycles,
firewood cooking vessels. The trainee observed mostly income were from roadside tiffin
shops, Flower shops, umbrella repair shops and cobblers.

ACTIVITIES:

On 02-02-2021, The trainee was assigned task of interviewing the pavement dwellers through
survey and to know about their livelihoods and how they are benefitted through pavement
dwellers rehabilitation program. The trainee reached Muthialpet areas with Mrs. Maheshwari,
Project co-ordinator and Mr. Krishnamurthy Manager, CSR at 10.00 am. The trainee was
prepared ready with the questionnaire and began the survey. The trainee was informed that
these households were not ready to move into new households because they fear of losing
their places. So, the Equitas skill train them through Equitas Gyan Kendras. The trainee
completed the survey with the pavement dwellers.

SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE ON LIFE OF PAVEMENT DWELLERS

The following questions were interviewed with pavement dwellers in Muthialpet.

APPENDIX A: BENEFICIARY SELECTION QUESTIONNAIRE

I) Personal Background:
1. Name of the person who is head of the family: _ _________________________
2. Can you tell me the total number of family members who live with you? ______
3. Please give us details of your family members from youngest to eldest.
 The age of the family member_____
 The gender_______
 Relationship between the head of the family and the family member______
 The education level of the family member___________
 The occupation of the family member_________
 How frequently do the family members go for work? (Daily or once in a week)
 Monthly income of the family member? _______________
 Is your child attending school? Yes or no
 You said your child was studying, can you tell me which type of school the child is
regularly attending?
1 - Private school
2 - Government School
 You said that your child is not studying. What is the reason for not sending the child
to school? _________________________________
4. What is your native place? ________________________________________
5. Do you own a house in your native place? (Yes/No)
6. a) How long have you been staying in this pavement?
b) Where do you stay during the monsoon period?
7. How do you feel being on the pavement? ________________
II) Nativity / Locality
8. You said that you moved from your native place. Can you tell us your reasons?
for moving?
 Occupation, to earn a living
 No one to care for them in native place
 Extended family members migrated earlier
 Pleasure
 Economic hardships
 Need a change in life

III) Situational Assessment

9. In the past year did you benefit from any of these government schemes?
 Housing
 Finance / SHG
 Employment / training
 Childcare / Anganwadi
 Child education

10. Why are you not staying at the house given by the government?
 It’s far from this locality
 We are used to being here and have been here for a long time
 Not willing to move from this locality
 We get regular income / work is in this location
 Children are going to a nearby school
11. Does anybody in your family receive a regular pension / benefits from the
government for any of the following reasons?
 Widow
 Old age
 Unemployment
 Disabled
 Other
 None

12. Do you have any the following cards with you?

 Voter ID
 Ration card
 Free government medication card
 None of the above

13. If you don’t have a ration card, what do you do for your food?
 Purchase food materials and cook
 Buy food from nearby hotel / fast food
 Buy rations from nearby houses who have a ration card
 Receive help from NGO social worker
 Some good Samaritans provide food on a regular basis
 By begging from nearby houses / leftover foods from hotels / fast foods
Situational Assessment (continued)
14. What household items do you have?
 Mobile phone
 Pressure cooker / vessels
 Gas stove / kerosene stove
 Bicycle
 Radio
 None of these

15. What kind of fuel do you regularly use for cooking?

 Gas
 Kerosene,
 Not applicable / don’t cook
 Wood

16. What are the items you frequently spend the most money on? Can you
specify the monthly amount?
 Food
 Cinema
 School / tuition fees
 Clothing
 Alcohol
 Other (mention)
17. Where do you go when someone in your family needs medical attention?
 Self-medicate
 Medical shop
 Registered Medical Practitioner
 Private clinic / hospital
 Government hospital
 Drop-in centre
 Don’t go anywhere / don’t receive treatment
Situational Assessment (continued)
18.If yes, how far it is situated from your place?
1 - Nearby
2 - Some distance
3 - Very far

19. How do you travel to the hospital?

Mode of transport:
 By walking
 Bus
 Auto
 Own bicycle

20. How much do you spend on medical expenses in a month on an average?

 Receive free medical service
 100 - 250/-Rs
 251 - 500/-Rs
 Not applicable

Required Information
21. What do you consider to be the most important thing to ensuring a bright
future for your child?
 Education
 Good job
 Housing
 Good food
 Earning enough income to raise my child
 Good health
IV) Education
22. What kind of help do you require in order for your children to receive a good
education?
 Conduct small school for people like us
 Conduct post-school tuitions for the children
 Give scholarships for children
 Pay school fees for children
 Provide free books, notes and other supplies
 Provide school uniforms
Required Information (continued)
Education
23. If we conduct tutoring centres free of cost in your locality would you be able
to send your children? Yes or No
Housing
24. You said that you have been staying in this locality on the pavement for
_____ years? Do you dream of having a house of your own? Yes or No
25. Are you willing to live in a home if provided, the same location or other location Yes or
No

V) Income Generation
26. Can you please state whether you have worked in the past? Yes or No
27. You said that you had worked in the past. Can you tell us the reason you
stopped working?
 Health reasons
 Religion doesn’t allow to work
 Husband refuses to allow to work
 Children need mother at home
 Couldn’t find a suitable job / place to work
28. Would you like or wish to earn money by working from home? Yes or No
29. Would you like to participate in an income generating training program? Yes or No
30. If yes, what kind of program would you like to participate in?
 Embroidery
 Vending
 Bangle making
 Agarbathi making
 Doll making
31. Are willing to work outside your home in the nearby shops or offices? Yes or No
32. What is the beneficiaries’ source of drinking water?
 Streams
 Ponds
 Open well
 Bore well
 Filtered water
SURVEY OUTCOMES:
The respondents were 10 families residing in pavement. The trainee identified all the
respondents were nuclear families and illiterates. Most of the children were studying in
government school. The families live in the pavement for at least 10 years. The families
informed the trainee that they would stay in same place during monsoon period. The reason
of their migration from native place was to earn a living and needed a change in life. The
families did not benefit from any government schemes like housing, finance, employment,
childcare and education. When asked about the reason for not staying at the house given by
the government,9 out of 10 families responded that they had been here for long time and not
willing to move from the present locality.3 out of 10 families had voter ids. Almost all
households had mobile phones, vessels, radio, bicycle and fire wood stove. The families
source of drinking water were from bore wells. The families spend most money on food,
clothing, cinema. The families visit Stanley government hospital nearby only by walking. 4
out of 10 families accepted to live in household units. The trainee quickly acknowledged the
request and forwarded the details to the project co-ordinator and in extent forwarded the
request to Mr. John Alex, the Program Director.
LEARNING:
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING:
The trainee learnt how the EDIT team established an alternative livelihood for the
pavement dwellers who hesitated to move into housing units. The team at first thought their
hesitation stemmed from disbelief or mistrust. Mrs. Maheshwari, the project co-ordinator
alongside field staff and the trainee showed each family the legal papers and explained that
these units were now allocated in their names. The families appeared to understand, but still,
they did not budge from the pavements. After several rounds of questioning, the trainee
understood that the families could not relinquish their spot on the pavement, as they would
immediately lose their primary source of income: begging. Only once the families gained
confidence in their ability to generate an income from sources other than begging, would they
be willing to relinquish their place on the pavement and move into a rental unit. The trainee
learnt from the team how they changed their approach and began conducting the livelihood
skills training while the families were still living on the pavements. Once they began their
livelihood activity and saw they could earn a steady income from it, they began to move from
the streets into the secured rental units. It is common for the ultra-poor to claim certain spots
on the pavement or specific street corners as their own when begging in front of passers-by,
setting up a shoe-shining stand. As one member of the EBN programme explained, ‘if we
leave this spot, someone else will quickly take our place.’ The family would not be able to
return to that spot for begging without facing backlash from others and it would take a long
time for the household to establish another territory. At this point in the programme, EDIT
had not yet introduced the livelihood skills training. The team had planned to administer this
training only after the family had moved into its new house. However, without having an
alternate livelihood or the faith that they could safely relinquish their current activities, the
members simply refused to move.
PERSONAL LEARNING:
The trainee personally learnt the alternative approach from the EDIT team on how to try
various tactics to convince the participants to occupy the housing. The trainee learnt how to
explain to members that the housing was free for the first six months, and even gave them the
option of moving in for just these first six months. After that, they could move out without
incurring any rent liability if they were dissatisfied with Programme. The members still
refused to move. The trainee learnt that this issue can be addressed by introducing skills
training and livelihood activities to members as they sat on the pavements. The team had
drawn up a list of suitable livelihoods during the design phase, and this list had to be re-
examined and revised now that members would not be conducting these activities in their
homes, but rather, out in the open. The trainee personally learnt that living in a pavement
causes many problems including safety and security, physical abuse of women and children,
sometimes stealing things from households. It can take months or years to establish one’s
territory and build up the social networks to ensure that others do not violate on that physical
space. The trainee learnt that members were interested in pappad-making. Pappads are round,
thin, crispy, fried wafers made out of lentil flour and a variety of spices. Many members had
expressed an interest in wanting to learn how to make the mix and assemble the dried discs
that would then be sold in packages of 12 or 24 to customers who would fry them right before
eating. Pappads are a popular item that accompanies most South Indian meals, and the
members felt there was a good market for dry, ‘ready-to-fry’ pappads in the local food stalls.
In order to sell these pappads to retailers, however, EDIT had to demonstrate and guarantee
that members were following certain standards of cleanliness and hygiene. There was
absolutely no chance that retailers would accept food products made by women cooking on
the pavements out in the open. Immediately, any livelihoods involving food and beverage
products had to be stricken from the list. Livelihoods that made the cut included: Agarbathi-
rolling (incense-stick rolling), soap making, and candle making. Some members specifically
requested training in domestic work so that they could be employed by more affluent
households as part-time cooks and cleaners. For this latter group, EDIT focused its training
on raising members’ awareness of good grooming habits, maintaining high standards of
cleanliness, what products to use when cleaning the home and kitchen, and how to prepare a
variety of meals. For the other livelihoods, EDIT provided members with a basic starter kit of
raw materials and gave them 15-20 hours of closely supervised training on how to
manufacture these products and where to sell the finished goods.
FEELING:
The trainee felt surprised and shocked to hear that the families refused to move to
better housing units. The trainee felt after participating in the training activities and with at
least one month of practice in the new livelihood, members’ confidence levels would
noticeably increase. Gradually, they would start to believe that these new livelihoods could
sustain their families and over two-to-three weeks they began moving into their new homes.
During this period, some mentioned feeling especially vulnerable. The trainee felt satisfied
the way the EDIT team ensured close supervision—at least two visits per week—to check in
on the success of the livelihood and address any concerns the family had. According to the
EDIT team, as they are now designing the second EBN pilot, they will lead with livelihood
development and then work to move people into housing. The first nine households moved
into their houses over a period of six-to-eight weeks after they received their skills training.
In parallel, other EDIT field staff continued to locate housing and decided to commence
livelihood training with all remaining households so that they would be ready to move in as
soon as units were ready. The trainee felt very happy that 85 families had received training
and had moved into their new homes. Not a single family has had to return to the pavement.
While the trainee was surveying, another 4 families accepted to move to housing units. The
trainee felt very happy that the families were yielding steady income through learnt skills and
they were now ready to move to housing units. The trainee along with EDIT would help the
families in the process of finding new houses and help them in their livelihood. The trainee
was shocked to see a BA economics graduate residing in pavement. While surveying, the
person informed that there was no job for him and he was helping his family in road side
tiffin shops. The person requested the trainee to help him in finding a job. The trainee quickly
passed his request to project co-ordinator and his request was readily forwarded to Mr. Alex,
Project Director. The trainee felt that it was utmost important for the government to consider
locations that are in the city or to ensure that new employment opportunities are provided
along with the shelter.
INTERNSHIP DAY 3:
DATE:03-02-2021

Time:10.00 am-5.00pm

Place: Mint, Muthialpet

AIM: To visit the pavement dwellers and monitor the home-based income generating skill
training through Equitas Gyan Kendras programme. To get the feedback from the
beneficiaries and submit the same to the project coordinator.

OBJECTIVE: To create opportunities for income generation and employability

OBSERVATION:

The trainee observed that families in pavements were given home based income generation
skill training. The trainee observed that the Foundation had employed trainers who would
interact with underprivileged women with the objective of providing training in vocations
like tailoring, jewellery making, juice and jam making etc and make them self-reliant with
income generating skills.

ACTIVITIES:

The trainee was given task of visiting the pavement dwellers and to know about the home-
based income generation skill training given by Equitas through Equitas Gyan Kendras
vocational program. The trainee reached Mint metro at 10 am and then travelled with project
co-ordinator to the pavement where the dwellers were residing. The trainee visited a
household where a woman was given training in preparing soap oils and phenyls. She
informed the trainee that training would be conducted between 9 am to 5 pm for a period of 5
days for 3 hrs a day. The trainee enquired about the type of training and asked whether it was
good and easy to understand. The trainee was informed that the centre also organized training
on other creative crafts through external resources on an extra nominal payment. In 15 hrs
they were able to learn a new skill, with complete knowledge of where to source raw material
etc, the trainers also had followed up to handhold them exhibit their products wherever
possible. Participants pay Rs.100 for such courses. The minimum number of trainees per
batch was 10 and there was no maximum limit. The trainee personally saw a household
Preparing candles, perfumes at home. The bottles for the perfumes were available in the local
market. The cost for making the multi-purpose liquid was around 170 for 7 litres, which she
was able to sell each litre for 100 rupees. The profit was 530 rupees in this product alone. She
had started saving a portion of her income and even opened a bank account. The training had
transformed the lives of many households.

LEARNING

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING:

The trainee learnt that EDIT has introduced Equitas Gyan Kendra a vocational training

programme for better livelihood opportunities the trainings are conducted as EGK also

known as Equitas Gyan Kendras. Women beneficiaries, ranging from age 14 to 50 years,

were been trained at their residences across various training centres. The course contents

include making candles, Tailoring, Embroidery, masala powder, pickle, Juice Making, Jam

Making Terracotta Jewellery, Household Chemical making like soap oils, Agarbathi, phenyl,

detergent, etc. and in villages and towns Agri-based activities like bee keeping, growing

mushrooms, rabbit-rearing, basket making and fibre extraction are encouraged. Under this

project, Equitas conducts skill development programme at different locations aimed at

helping the trainees stable their income levels. Till date EDIT was able to train and employ

over 4,59,191 people. The health education module has been designed in partnership with

Freedom from Hunger, an NGO based in the US. The training is conducted at participants’

place and time of convenience. A certificate of completion is also given at the end of the

training. The following are some of the skill trainings being offered to women self-help

groups and their family members. Tailoring – Blouse Cutting / Stitching Embroidery Stone

Works and Fancy Jewellery Making Sanitary napkin making Simple Chemical Preparation,

soaps, soap oil, nirma etc. Cake / Cookies Preparation Candle Making, including fancy jelly

candle Soft Toys Making. Post-training support CSR officers and skill trainers, after

completion of the training, encourages the participants to sell their own products in the

market. They are provided guidance on putting up stalls at health camps, job fairs and

exhibitions organised by Equitas as well as by the government and NGOs.

PERSONAL LEARNING:
The trainee learnt the impact of EGK training on women.

 Increase in earnings
 Reduction in household expenditure
 Providing better facilities for the family members
 Improved confidence levels
 Awareness on various health issues
 Alternate sustainable livelihood
 Women empowerment
 Prevention of health issues
 Adopting a healthy lifestyle
 Boost in local economy
 Equitable development

The trainee also learnt that each CSR Officer had to train at least 125 women in a month. On
an average, 4,000 women were trained in a month across India. While conducting skill
training, the trainers spend 30 minutes on imparting health education to create awareness
about early symptoms of non-communicable diseases such as Diabetes, High Blood Pressure
and Cancer. Equitas Gyan Kendra a vocational training programme for better livelihood
opportunities for women from low-income levels.  These training programs had helped
women to become successful Entrepreneurs by empowering them financially.  

PERSONAL FEEDBACK FROM THE BENEFICIARIES ABOUT SKILL

TRAINING:

“I can start my own shop”

“I have never had the opportunity to learn anything before as these kinds of trainings are
expensive outside”

“I am a housewife; I can work only when my children are away. During day time I am busy
with cooking and washing. I am happy that they are teaching in our house” “

“I found new friends and we have a good time talking to each other”

“We were in the same place but never spoke to anyone before, only during this training we
got introduced”
“I am more confident and I think I can earn something through this”

“I can stitch my own blouses now”

“This training cost is low, so my husband was happy to give me 100 rupees”

The training venues for the said programs are suggested by the participants themselves. All

the women gather in one of the households of the participants. In addition to providing

trainings on livelihood skills, the program also serves as an avenue to provide health

awareness trainings every day of the training for 30 minutes.

FEELING:

The trainee felt that these programmes completely transformed the people livelihood. The

best feeling is they can choose their convenient place of training. So mostly the women chose

home based training. The trainee felt very happy and households were confident on how they

were benefitted from these skill training programs. Mrs. Indra, a household was desperate to

support her family financially, but being a housewife, she did not know how she could do so.

Around the same time, she got to know about Equitas Gyan Kendra and she and her friends

decided to undergo a training. Her group of friends chose to learn chemicals making and

tailoring. They soon set up independent tailoring shop with 4 sewing machines. The demand

for the products is high and slowly her business improved and now she is financially stable

and earns up to Rs.10,000 per month through tailoring. A household attended the Beauty

treatment course for two weeks. Now there had been a lot of home visits and bridal makeup

and earn around 2000-3000 every month. The Training had changed her life and she was very

happy with the work that she was able to earn a stable income.
INTERNSHIP DAY 4:
Date :04-02-2021

Time:10.00 am – 5.00pm

Place: ITI colony, Mint

AIM:
To visit the slum household and help the women open a bank account in Equitas small

finance bank. To help women getting loans from Equitas small finance bank.

OBJECTIVES: To encourage the women in bank savings for their future

OBSERVATION:

The trainee observed that many women from the household had no bank accounts. The

trainee observed that those women had no habit of saving money. The trainee also observed

that those women were interested to start a small business and in need of personal loans.

Some women were running road side tiffin shops, Flower shops, fish stalls etc. These women

were in need of money and was rightly helped by Equitas small finance bank.

ACTIVITIES: Equitas Small Finance Bank collaborating with D.A.V Shikshanam gives

children, youth, families and business people across India a new and fun way to bank. D.A.V

Shikshanam is a trust that sponsors the slums people. Equitas bank provides 7% interest for

savings account and various loans. The trainee was given task of helping 5 women to open

the bank account and fill the loan application forms. The trainee reached the ITI colony at 10

am along with Mr. Krishnamurthy, Manager CSR and Mrs. Maheshwari project co-ordinator.

Equitas bank employee reached the place with application forms. The trainee requested the

women to bring 2 photographs, government identity proofs like Aadhar card and voter id.

The trainee helped 5 women in explaining the bank opening process. The trainee filled the
application form on behalf the women and all due details, got their signature attested and

provided them with Equitas bank account kits including pass book and cheque book. Equitas

bank funds Self-help groups and Mrs.Muniyamma who is like head for these 25 households

signed for security. The trainee filled the loan application for these 5 women and explained

them all the details of loan and due dates for loan repayment. Mr. Narayananan, Equitas bank

employee explained the norms of opening bank account. These women were given loan of

Rs.10000 for running roadside tiffin shop, flower shops, fish stalls etc.

LEARNING:

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING:

The trainee learnt that Equitas bank allows people to open bank accounts with zero balance.

The bank provides 7% interest p.a on savings for balance above 1 lakh. The bank provides
6.5% interest on Fixed deposits. Insurance and loans are also provided for promoting

financial empowerment to all sections of society. The trainee learnt that Equitas Small

Finance Bank along with D.A.V Shikshanam help in empowering people especially women

from all sections of society through products and provisions that help them become informed,

involved and independent with their financial decisions. Equitas Small Finance Bank had

been the reason behind a number of successful SHGs, and self-supporting women through

microfinance and other products.

PERSONAL LEARNING:

The trainee learnt the process of Equitas bank on how they fund women entrepreneurs. The

women were illiterates and couldn’t understand the process. The trainee helped them in

getting all details and helped them in opening a bank account. The trainee learnt that if the

women repay the loan amount of Rs.10000 in time, they were given a subsidy of Rs.3000 as a

reward of appreciation.

FEELING:

The trainee felt that the women had no property for loan security. The bank employee

nominated Mrs.Muniyamma for taking responsibility for their loans. Muniyamma is a very
strict women who would always collect the loan amount from these women in time and

would repay them to bank at right time. She signed for security and requested every woman

to repay the loan amount in stipulated time. The trainee felt that these women could be easily

cheated by many fraud financiers in market for high interest rates knowing their emergency

money requirements. Equitas never allows these fraudsters instead steps up to help these

women in need of money and for their future. The trainee felt these women needed money for

running small jobs like Road side tiffin shops, Flower shops, Fish stalls, ironing shops and for

children’s education. The trainee felt that Equitas bank encourage them in saving their hard-

earned money for their future.

INTERNSHIP DAY 5:
Date: 05-02-2021
Time:9.30 am-4.30 pm

Place: ITI colony, Ambedkar madam Korukkupet bridge

AIM:

To help the women sign promisory note- on demand agreements with the Equitas bank and

D.A.V Shikshanam Trust for repayment of loans. To volunteer and celebrate joy of giving

with the children from Korukkupet by giving them biscuits, fruits and eggs.

OBJECTIVES:

To believe in power of giving and the happiness that spread from giving it back to the society

OBSERVATION:

The trainee observed that many women after getting loans from the bank never repay the

amount and flee away to another place. So, to avoid this the trainee observed that Equitas

bank and D.A.V Shikshanam had a on demand promisory note agreement with the women

that they had received 10000 rupees and they would repay them in time. If they repay the

loan amount in time the on demand promisory note would be withdrawn. The trainee

observed that Joy of giving was regularly celebrated by Equitas by providing the needy

people with groceries, lunch, snacks, dress materials etc.

ACTIVITIES:

The trainee was assigned the task of helping the women in filling the on demand promisory
note agreements along Mr. Krishnamurthy and DAV Shikshanam trust employee. The trainee

reached ITI colony along with Equitas bank staffs to get the agreement signed from the

women whose loan were sanctioned for the previous day. The loan beneficiaries signed the

papers and the trainee helped them to fill all the details. The trainee and the manager visited

Equitas bank at Parrys corner with all the filled bank application and loan forms and

submitted the same. The trainee then travelled with the project co-ordinator and manager to

Ambedkar madam Korukkupet bridge for celebrating Joy of Giving with children. On the

way, the trainee purchased biscuit packets, eggs and bananas. Equitas sponsored for eggs and

bananas. The trainee sponsored the biscuit packets.10 children were brought to the place by

project co-ordinator. The trainee picked up the remaining 12 children in motor bike from
Ambedkar colony to the place of celebration. At 3.30 pm the trainee provided all 22 children

with biscuit packets, bananas and boiled egg each. The trainee left for the day at 4.30 pm.

LEARNING:

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING:

The trainee learnt that Joy of Giving is not about charity, it is about collective responsibility

of all the businesses to work collaboratively for betterment of communities. The trainee learnt

Equitas would celebrate this event every quarterly (Q1, Q2, Q3). The trainee learnt that all

employees from different verticals come together to share their knowledge, skills and

experiences to make these initiatives effective and successful.

PERSONAL LEARNING:

The trainee personally learnt that lives would be fulfilling when people give and share, and

that great inner joy comes from helping others to better their lives. Giving provides an

intrinsic reward that would be far more valuable than the gift that are received. The trainee

learnt that true joy lies in the act of giving without an expectation of receiving something in

return. The act of giving kindles self-esteem and brings happiness. The trainee also learnt that

the joy of giving lasts longer than the joy of getting.

FEELING:
The trainee felt very satisfied when feeding the poor children. The trainee felt that the gifts of

caring, attention, affection, appreciation, and love were some of the most precious gifts that

could be given and they don’t cost anything. The more given, the more would be received.

The more you give of yourself, the more you find of yourself. The trainee felt that while

sharing great inner joy comes from helping others to better their lives. Truly giving from the

heart fills the life with joy and nourishes the soul. The trainee felt fulfilment in giving of

herself to others and the act of giving kindles self-esteem and brings happiness. The trainee

felt very motivated in joining hands with Equitas Development Initiative Trust. The trainee

felt that the organization transformed the lives of the ultra-poor, helped them to improve their

lives and lead a normal life in this society.

PICTURES:

Day1: Visit to slum

Day 2: Visit to Pavement dwellers:

Day 3: Pavement dwellers house

Day 4: Equitas Bank Account opening process

Day 5: Joy of Giving Celebration