SPREADING LITERACY IN UNDERPRIVILEGED

CHILDREN THROUGH NAVODAYA MOVEMENT

Submitted By

ABHISHEK MAHENDRAKUMAR AHIRE

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

Prof. Jay Bhatt

A PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF

MMS TO

VIDYALANKAR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Wadala (East), Mumbai 400 037

April 2022

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 SPREADING LITERACY IN UNDERPRIVILEGED
CHILDREN THROUGH NAVODAYA MOVEMENT

Submitted By

ABHISHEK MAHENDRAKUMAR AHIRE

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

Prof. Jay Bhatt

A PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF

MMS TO

VIDYALANKAR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Wadala (East), Mumbai 400 037

April 2022

Signature of Faculty Guide Head of Department

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 DECLARATION

This is to declare that the study presented by me to Vidyalankar Institute of Technology, in

completion of the Master in Management Studies (MMS) under the “SPREADING LITERACY
IN UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN THROUGH NAVODAYA MOVEMENT” has been
accomplished under the guidance of Prof. Jay Bhatt

ABHISHEK MAHENDRAKUMAR AHIRE

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My project on “SPREADING LITERACY IN UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN THROUGH

NAVODAYA MOVEMENT” has been a great learning experience. I was exposed to the

different areas of social aspects and gained valuable experience, which I will always recall
with a sense of satisfaction and pride.

This is to acknowledge Prof. Jay Bhatt under whose guidance I have been able to successfully
complete this project and effectively come to a verysuccessful conclusion.

To all my colleagues who have helped me either directly or indirectly, I am grateful for their
valuable inputs. This project would not have been possible without their help.

      ABHISHEK MAHENDRAKUMAR AHIRE

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 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This project was conducted to know about what kinds of activities NGOs undertake like it
works in the field of child education and transgender integration. From the very beginning,
actively involved in the elaboration of the Standard Rules, at practically all- important events
organized by the major non-governmental organizations, the issue of implementing the
Standard Rules has been part of the program.

NGOs collect the funds from various sources like individual donors, corporate donors and
government. Various schemes have been initiated by government to provide financial
assistance to the NGOs.

To get the information about Navodaya Movement primary data collection method was used
in which structured interview was taken of Sangeeta Ma’am who works for Navodaya
(Kalyan branch) as well as volunteers of Navodaya movement. Secondary data collection
method was also used where some information taken from website of Navodaya movement.

This study focuses on the issues and challenges faced by Navodaya movement in child
education. This shows what Navodaya does to overcome such challenges.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Serial   Content   Page  
Number   Number  
     
1.   Introduction to NGO   1  
2.   History of NGO in India   3  
3.   Types of NGO in India   4  
4.   Different Government Schemes for NGO   6  
5.   Roles of a NGO in Development   7  
6.   Introduction to Navodaya Movement   11  
7.   Mission & Vision Statement of Navodaya Movement   12  
8.   Objectives to Study   13  
9.   Identification of Problem   14  
10.   Identification of the population affected   15  
11.   Identification of an Intervention and Implementation Plan  16  
12.   Anticipated Timeline, Resources and Budget  17  
13.   Expected Change and Development  20  
14.   Scope for Impact Assessment  22  
15.   Role as an Volunteer  23  
16.   Rag‐Pickers Project  24  
17.   Activities Performed  25  
18.   Challenges Faced  25  
19.   Suggestions to Navodaya Movement   26  
20.   Learning and Takeaway   27  
21.   Conclusion   28  
22.   Reference   29  
   
 
 
 

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Introduction
Non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, were first called such in Article 71 in the Charter
of the newly formed United Nations in 1945. While NGOs have no fixed or formal definition,
they are generally defined as nonprofit entities independent of governmental influence
(although they may receive government funding).

As one can tell from the basic definition above, the difference between nonprofit
organizations (NPOs) and NGOs is slim. However, the term "NGO" is not typically applied
to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations. Generally, the NGO label is given to organizations
operating on an international level although some countries classify their own civil society
groups as NGOs.

NGO activities include, but are not limited to, environmental, social, advocacy and human
rights work. They can work to promote social or political change on a broad scale or very
locally. NGOs play a critical part in developing society, improving communities, and
promoting citizen participation.

"The diversity of NGOs strains any simple definition. They include many groups and
institutions that are entirely or largely independent of government and that have primarily
humanitarian or cooperative rather than commercial objectives. They are private agencies in
industrial countries that support international development; indigenous groups organized
regionally or nationally; and member-groups in villages. NGOs include charitable and
religious associations that mobilize private funds for development, distribute food and family
planning services and promote community organization. They also include independent
cooperatives, community associations, water-user societies, women's groups and pastoral
associations. Citizen Groups that raise awareness and influence policy are also NGOs"

- World Bank

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Non-Government OrganizationWhat

is NGO?

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a non-profit, citizen-based group that functions

independently of government. NGOs, sometimes called civil societies, are organized on
community, national and international levels to serve specific social or political purposes, and
are cooperative, rather than commercial, in nature.

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is any non-profit, voluntary citizens' group which is

organized on a local, national or international level. Task-oriented and driven by people with
a common interest, NGOs perform a variety of service and humanitarian functions, bring
citizen concerns to Governments, advocate and monitor policies and encourage political
participation through provision of information. Some are organized around specific issues,
such as human rights, environment or health.

They provide analysis and expertise, serve as early warning mechanisms and help monitor
and implement international agreements. Their relationship with offices and agencies of the
United Nations system differs depending on their goals, their venue and the mandate of a
particular institution.

As non-profit organizations, NGOs rely on a variety of sources for funding projects,

operations, salaries and other overhead costs. Because the annual budget of an NGO can be in
the hundreds of millions (or even billions) of dollars, fundraising efforts are important for the
NGO's existence and success. Funding sources include membership dues, the sale of goods
and services, private sector for-profit companies, philanthropic foundations, grants from
local, state and federal agencies, and private donations.

Individual private donors comprise a significant portion of NGO funding. Some of these
donations come from wealthy individuals, such as Ted Turner's $1 billion donation to the
United Nations, or Warren Buffett's 2006 pledge to give 10 million BerkshireHathaway class
B shares to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (valued at more than $31 billion in June
2006). Many NGOs, however, rely on a large number of small donations, rather than a small
number of large donations.

Despite their independence from government, many NGOs rely heavily on government
funding to function. Some governmental NGO funding may be viewed as controversial
because the funding may support certain political goals rather than a nation's development
goals.

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History of NGO Activity in India

India has a long history of civil society based on the concepts of Daana (giving) and Seva
(service). Voluntary organizations that are voluntary in spirit and without profit-making
objectives were active in cultural promotion, education, health, and natural disaster relief as
early as the medieval era. They proliferated during British rule, working to improve social
welfare and literacy and pursuing relief projects.

During the second half of the 19th century, nationalist consciousness spread across India and
self-help emerged as the primary focus of sociopolitical movements.

Numerous organizations were established during this period, including the Friend-in-Need
Society (1858), Prathana Samaj (1864), Satya Shodhan Samaj (1873), Arya Samaj
(1875), the National Council for Women in India (1875), and the Indian National
Conference (1887).

The Society Registration Act (SRA) was approved in 1860 to confirm the legal status of the
growing body of nongovernment organizations (NGO’s). The SRA continues to be relevant
legislation for NGO’s in India, although most state governments have enacted amendments to
the original version.

After independence, the Government of India increased its presence in social welfare and
development but recognized the potential for civil society to supplement and complement its
efforts. The first Five-Year Plan stated, “Any plan for social and economic regeneration should
take into account the services rendered by these agencies and the state should give them
maximum cooperation in strengthening their efforts.”

India has around 3.4 million registered Non-Government Organisations (NGOs). Indians have
more per capita NGOs than hospital beds. The Central Statistical Organisation of India states
there are around four NGOs for every 1,000 people in urban areas and 2.3 NGOs for every
1,000 rural populations.

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Types of NGOs in India

In India person willing to establish an NGO can go for 3 types of registration i.e.:

1. Trust Registration

2. Society Registration

3. Section 8 Company Registrations

• Trust NGO:
Trust as a NGO in India can be either registered as a private trust or a public trust. Public trust
are set up as per the applicable Act and works in the field of healthcare, education, support of
the under privileged. Trust Registration Process is regulated under the State Trust Acts. In
case the state does not have any trust act then it will be regulated under the Central Indian
Trusts Act, 1882.

• Society NGO:
Society NGO is incorporated under the Society Registration Act, 1860. They are incorporated
with an only objective of promotions of arts, science, literature or any other non-profitable
objective. These are basically the membership based non-government organization.
Minimum number of 7 members are requires for the society NGO Registration Process in
India.

• Section 8 Company NGO:

Section 8 company Registration procedure in India is registered under the Companies Act,
2013. They are not allowed to issue any kind of dividend to their shareholders. As all the
NGO’s are formed for the charitable purposes, their earned profits are reinvested in the
organization for performing further functions. Minimum numbers of two directors are
required to incorporate the Section 8 Company NGO in India.

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On broader terms we can have to ways to categories NGOs:

• By Legal Status: Under which act they are registered NGO:

o Registered under Societies Registration act 1860 or any state

amendment of it. oTrust: Registered under Indian Trust Act or any State
Amendment of it.
o The Bombay Trust Act 1950.Not for Profit Company/ Section 8
Company

• By the area they cover :

o State Level NGO: Working in a single state only. oNational

NGO: Working throughout the country. oInternational NGO: NGOs
working in more than one country.

Area of operation is defined by the type of registration any organization possessing.

It is also defined in there by law or mandate. All International NGOs working in
India must have to register in India also under any of above-mentioned acts.

• By the type of work they are doing: By this definition, it is difficult to demark a line
but broadly we can categories them based on the area of work they are engaged:

o NGOs working on Health oNGOs working on Education oNGOs

working on Community oNGOs working on Human Rights and Legal

aids Development. and so on.

You can also differentiate then based on type intervention they are carrying on. NGOs
engaged on Implementation, Advocacy, Technical, Research and public policy etc.

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Different Government Schemes for NGOs

Below is a list of programs under which subvention, assistance, grant-in-aid, relief, funding,
stipend, subsidy, loan and financial assistance are offered by the various government
departments and agencies for Non-Government Organizations (NGO’s).

• List of Government Sponsored Subsidy Schemes under NABARD

• Complete List of NABARD Schemes for availing Subsidy, Grants and Loans in PDF
• Schemesof Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for NGO’s 2014
• Government Subsidies for Farmers – Agriculture 2014
• Schemes of Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries 2014
• Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme 2014
• Livestock Insurance Scheme 2014 – Government Subsidy, Grants
• Grant & Subsidy Schemes under Directorate of Animal Health 2014
• Conservation of Threatened Breeds of Small Ruminants, Rabbits, Pigs, Pack Animals
and Equines
• Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries Schemes 2014
• Schemes of Ministry of Environment and Forests for Animal Welfare
• Ministry of Textiles Grants and Schemes for NGO’s 2014
• Schemes and Grants for NGO’s working with Children
• Ministry of Urban Development Grants, Subsidy & loans for Ngo’s
• Ministry of Culture and Tourism Schemes and Projects for NGO’s
• Schemes and Projects for NGO’s working with Disabled persons
• Ministry of Human Resource Development Schemes Grants for NGO’s 2014
• Schemes of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
• Schemes and funding for Environment and Wildlife projects by NGO’s
• Schemes and funding for NGO’s from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• Schemes by the Ministry of Food Processing for NGO’s
• Schemes under National AIDS Control Programme for NGO’s
• Schemes of the Ministry of Rural Development for NGO’s
• Schemes for NGO’s working with Tribals and Schedule Castes

Miscellaneous schemes for NGO’s – Grants, Loans & funding

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Role of NGOs in Development:
NGOs have immense role in bringing about social change and development and it is being
experienced from different parts of the country. Development is a multi- faceted process,
which essentially involves the aggressive participation of the people that would not be
possible unless they are educated, awakened and motivated. NGOs are taking up this job
sportingly and successfully.

The areas in which we witness active and appreciative role of NGOs are
asfollows:
1. The NGOs are active to promote education, particularly among that section of
population, which has remained un-benefited or less benefited by the measures adopted by
the government. The education of girls, and other deprived people, particularly the SCs and
STs, has been their target objective.

2. Women are the other vulnerable section of society. Gender discrimination is a

ubiquitous cultural reality. Girls are discriminated in the upbringing pattern in the family.
Larger numbers of the undernourished are from amongst the girls. Retention of girls in
schools is much less as compared to boys. Women are forced to work as housewife and
denied participation in gainful economic activities outside homes. About three-fourths of the
work done by women is un-monetized.

3. Since the second half of the preceding century started the change in the status of
women with their active partici-pation in political, social and economic activities, which
gained acceleration since the last quarter of the preceding century. More and more women
started moving out of the four walls of their houses and involving themselves actively in the
social sphere outside their homes.

The role of women voluntary organizations towards this cause has been marvelous. Sewa,
Sathin, Eklavya, Disha, Environmental Action Group and Agrani Foundation etc. are some of
the thousands of NGOs known for their role in development by creating awareness among
people and interventions, if required.

4. The approach to development has been almost uniform world over at least in terms of
the use of technology, magnitude of production, pattern of consumption and achievement of
wealth. Both state and people were unaware or lackadaisical about the backwash of the
nature of devel-opment pursued.

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The threat to the human life developed due to environmental pollution and imbalance and the
depletion of natural resources as a consequence of the nature of devel-opment. Here, the role
of NGOs is really noticeable and praiseworthy. Thousands of voluntary organizations are at
work to awaken people and governments against environ-mental degradation and depletion of
resources.

5. It is not that the development process has unleashed only environmental threats to the
human existence but also many people are displaced due to developmental projects and are
quite often not properly compensated and rehabili-tated. The NGOs have a major role to play
towards the cause of people’s resettlement and are also performing commendable job in this
direction. The projects like the construction of dams, road highways and railways have often
made some sections of people, particularly in rural areas, vulnerable and are displaced
without being properly compensated.

6. NGOs are also rendering great service in restoring dignity to the deprived and
discriminated sections of the people in the society like women suffering from gender
discrimination, lower caste people suffering from caste segregation and the status of
untouchable, racial and religious discriminations.Voluntary organizations, working at both
national and international levels, have earned praise for their services in societal
development. These organizations are busy in creating awareness and zeal for participation in
development projects.

Ensuring humanism by fighting against human rights violations, social exclusions, domestic
violence and others have been common objectives of the NGOs. Of late, these organizations
are also entering the sector of economic well-being and standard of living. In the state of
Uttar Pradesh, Agrani Foundation’s Jan Suraksha Kranti (JSK) scheme of savings and life
insurance is indeed a commendable effort in this direction.

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Roles of a NGO
Among the wide variety of roles that NGOs play, the following six can be identified as
important, at the risk of generalization:

• Development and Operation of Infrastructure:

Community-based organizations and cooperatives can acquire, subdivide and develop

land, construct housing, provide infrastructure and operate and maintain infrastructure
such as wells or public toilets and solid waste collection services. They can also
develop building material supply centers and other community-based economic
enterprises. In many cases, they will need technical assistance or advice from
governmental agencies or higher-level NGOs.

• Supporting Innovation, Demonstration and Pilot Projects:

NGO have the advantage of selecting particular places for innovative projects and
specify in advance the length of time which they will be supporting the project -
overcoming some of the shortcomings that governments face in this respect. NGOs
can also be pilots for larger government projects by virtue of their ability to act more
quickly than the government bureaucracy.

• Facilitating Communication:

NGOs use interpersonal methods of communication, and study the right entry points
whereby they gain the trust of the community they seek to benefit. They would also
have a good idea of the feasibility of the projects they take up. The significance of
this role to the government is that NGOs can communicate to the policy-making
levels of government, information about the lives, capabilities, attitudes and cultural
characteristics of people at the local level. NGOs can facilitate communication
upward from people to the government and downward from the government to the
people. Communication upward involves informing government about what local
people are thinking, doing and feeling while communication downward involves
informing local people about what the government is planning and doing. NGOs are
also in a unique position to share information horizontally, networking between other
organizations doing similar work.

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Technical Assistance and Training:

Training institutions and NGOs can develop a technical assistance and training capacity and
use this to assist both CBOs and governments.

Research, Monitoring and Evaluation:

Innovative activities need to be carefully documented and shared - effective

participatory monitoring would permit the sharing of results with the people
themselves as well as with the project staff.

Advocacy for and with the Poor:

In some cases, NGOs become spokespersons or ombudsmen for the poor and attempt
to influence government policies and programmes on their behalf. This may be done
through a variety of means ranging from demonstration and pilot projects to
participation in public forums and the formulation of government policy and plans, to
publicizing research results and case studies of the poor. Thus NGOs play roles from
advocates for the poor to implementers of government programmes; from agitators
and critics to partners and advisors; from sponsors of pilot projects to mediators.

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Introduction to Navodaya movement

Navodaya Movement is a project of the Mar Thoma Church which was started in 2012 for the
upliftment of the Underprivileged Community in Mumbai.

“There are more than 40,000 Underprivileged in Mumbai. Most of them are living outside
Mumbai in very poor conditions. They need care,” he said. The church aims to rescue these
underprivileged people by giving them care and education and thus transforming them into
proud citizens of the country, he added.

The project includes a rescue Centre for early diagnosis of illness and giving help to those
willing to turn a new leaf in life. The rehab Centre will house underprivileged children who
were forced out of their homes and schools. Another element of the project is the recreational
Centre for improving various talents and potentials among children’s. The Research Centre
with full-fledged library facilities for both inmates and learners will aid development of ideas
and programmes to uplift the children’s, said Prakash Thomas, lay trustee of the church. A
renewal Centre is also being planned to renew their mind through meditations, moral and
ethical classes.

The activities of Navodaya Movement among the underprivileged community, vocational

training programs aimed at uplifting and empowering these individuals through training were
held.

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Approach

Navodaya Movement has adopted a rights-based approach. The strength envisaged through
this movement is the capacity building of individuals and communities to understand claim
and fulfill their rights, rather than servicing their needs. Our activities are aimed at deepening
their participation to take decisions for their lives and encouraging ownership of the
developmental programmes.

Mission of the Movement

To inspire, engage and enable the empowerment of marginalized and vulnerable communities
to confront their life situation and enhance their well-being.

Vision of the Movement

Our vision is to respond to the needs of the underprivileged and the victimized and to
contribute to a new social order based on human dignity, equal opportunity, and social
justice.

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OBJECTIVES:

• To spread literacy in underprivileged students 
• To nurture and develop strong academic vocations with interpersonal skills 
through various activities like sports, dance and music. 

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 1. Identification of need, problem or social issue  

• Literacy in India is a key for socio-economic progress, and the Indian literacy rate
has grown to 74.04% (2011 provisional census figures). Despite government
programmes, India's literacy rate increased only "sluggishly”. The 2011 census
indicated a 2001–2011 decadal literacy growth of 9.2%, which is slower than the
growth seen during the previous decade. An old 1990 study estimated that it would
take until 2060 for India to achieve universal literacy at then-current rate of
progress.

• There is a wide gender disparity in the literacy rate in India: effective literacy rates
(age 7 and above) in 2011 were 80.9% for men and 64.60% for women. The low
female literacy rate has had a dramatically negative impact on family planning and
population stabilization efforts in India. Studies have indicated that female literacy
is a strong predictor of the use of contraception among married Indian couples,
even when women do not otherwise have economic independence.

• The census provided a positive indication that growth in female literacy rates
(11.8%) was substantially faster than in male literacy rates (6.9%) in the 2001–
2011 decadal period, which means the gender gap appears to be narrowing.
According to the National Family and Health Survey (NFHS-4) conducted in
2015-16, Jains form the wealthiest community in India. Jains have the highest
literacy rate (87%) in India, in the 7-years to oldest age group, according to its
2011 census.

• Anyone who has experienced poverty or unemployment understands, being unable

to afford basic living necessities can result in homelessness or lead people to
engage in underground economies like drug sales or survival sex work, which can
put people at increased risk for violence and arrest.

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2. Identification of the population affected and concerned.

The populations affected are rag pickers, their children and transgenders.

This NGO looks after the rag pickers communities living in Kalyan (Drop-in Centre),
Sathenagar (Kalyan) &Adhivasiwadi (Kalyan). They collect children from these areas
and are brought to NGO. This NGO is concerned about children future and their living
habits.

They also help transgenders to establish their identity as a TG through gazette &
Newspapers. NGO also provide procurement of identity. This NGO also looks after
their Health issues for that they also conduct a specialized medical camp. Information
and guidance is also provided on Sex Reassignment Surgeries and hospitals providing
the same.

3. Identification of an intervention and implementation plan,

including how it will benefit the population and a model or theory
that serves as the basis of the intervention

• Support to the teachers

It is quite difficult to manage 60 odd pre-schools children and day care kids just by a
single person. At Kalyan center, there are only two teachers who handle the children.
It is recommended that, if there is an extra support staff made available, it would be
easy to handle the day care kids.

• Adult education

Adult education is where they are trained to be self-sufficient and taught to live their
life in their own terms without compromising. Women attend these sessions and form
SHG’s which is called as Self Help Groups.

• Awareness on Navodaya Movement

Awareness comes from orientation and making their parents aware of the importance
of educating their children and makes a difference to their lives in future. This can be

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only possible by regular meetings with the parents and making them aware about the
importance of education, which is a tedious task to do.

• Aiding with homes and basic facilities

Navodaya being an NGO should also be focused on helping the underprivileged

families in and around their vicinity with basic facilities such as clothing and
improved shelter. This could help to motivate them to live a healthy life instead of
living in a small area, which could possibly disturb their upcoming generations.

4. Anticipated timeline, resources and budget needed for project.

For Rag pickers project- Navodaya needs volunteers to teach Rag Pickers children,
they also need stationary items like books, pencils, slates for smaller kids to learn.
They also need to help Rag pickers with their health issues and to provide them with
medicines.

5. Contribution to the project.

In the Kalyan Center, our project was entitled for 2 week; I was allotted to teach the
daycare kids where the age was from 1 to 8 years old. This includes children from
playschool to 6th STD students. These kids go to school during the afternoon, while
some drop out and play/help in their household chores.

We were allotted in the daycare for teaching rag pickers. Sangeeta Ma’am is the
teacher who is heading the Kalyan branch. Sangeeta Ma’am introduced us to children.
Navodaya acts as a tuition or coaching centers where the provision for the education is
given free of cost.

Every Navodaya branch is being located near the dumping ground area, as the aim is
locate and teach the children of rag pickers. Children of nearby slums/underdeveloped
area come to Navodaya centers. Books, clothes and basic amenities are being provided
by the centers with the help of various foundations, contributions and tie ups that this
NGO has.

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6. Expected change and development with implementation

We encouraged children to learn English and to increase their reading and

communication skills in English as their basics were not clear. And we saw that
changes in them as they have started learning English by their own interest and using
English words while having a conversation with us. They have started showing
interest in English subject, were they always used to learn only Marathi and Math’s.
We also tried in making English subject interesting for them by making them to play
games.

7. Scope for impact assessment

Teaching the students was a bit tough than we thought because they were not used to
speaking in any other languages. Some students had a high grasping power and some
had a low grasping power. So we decided to teach students from basics and started to
teach in a playful manner which would help them in understanding better.

23
Role as a Volunteer at Navodaya Movement

In the Kalyan Center, our project was entitled for 2 week; I was allotted to teach the children
in the morning session .These kids goes to school during the afternoon, while some drop out
and play/help in their household chores as their parents either don’t get time to spend at
home or are busy to earn money for daily necessities.

WEEK 1: Teach and help the underprivileged kids.

Being introduced to the children by Sangeeta Ma’am, I was also informed about their needs
by her. She asked us to develop their communication skills and groom them well in order to
interact with strangers. At first the kids were very shy to talk to us but slowly as time passed
they became more and more interactive towards us.

The only drawback was that majority of the kids only know to speak in Marathi and no other
language. So the first step was to encourage them to talk in Hindi and English by teaching
them the basic sentences in those languages.

WEEK 2: Improving academic and self-development growth.

As mentioned earlier the kids preferred to talk in Marathi so I started teaching them basic
concepts like alphabets, multiplication tables, word building and word formation. Apart
from academics I also had other interactive sessions with them like craft, drawing, etc. I
found that every kid over there just need a right push to get through something, they are
very energetic and curious to know about every aspect, they have an immense potential to
face the world.

Some kids are quick graspers and some were slow poachers and there were some who didn’t
need a teacher because they were self-learners. Kids here were very responsible; they took
care of their household chores with studies. After class gets over, kids insist us and make us
sure we don’t forget to give them homework.

Being a part of the NGO for 2 weeks made us realize the potential of the people who are
privileged ones, and those people who is unfortunately underprivileged but has the curiosity
to dream and become a privileged one, setting an example to the society that even they are
nonetheless a human being with extraordinary capabilities.

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Rag-Pickers Project
Mumbai, the maximum city, has also been producing waste on the fast track. However, with
no effective systems in place for waste management, the garbage is unceremoniously dumped
in someplace in the city where it accumulates over the years of neglect. These dumping
grounds attract people from a poor background, mostly those from other districts of
Maharashtra or even other states, who devoid of much education and opportunities try to earn
a living through scavenging among the wastes. As the years pass by, these dumping ground
communities grow in size, but unfortunately, their world shrinks to within the confines of the
dumping grounds. The entire family, including the children, delves deep into the dumps, in
very unhygienic conditions, for the whole of the day to make ends meet.Project Centers

Navodaya Movement has initiated work with the rag picker communities living in and around
the dumping grounds of the Kalyan-Dombivili Municipal Corporation (KDMC). At present,
we have established our presence in four dumping grounds of KDMC and have 6 centers.

1. Sathenagar (Kalyan)
2. Adivasiwadi (Kalyan)
3. Bhiwandi
4. Ambernath
5. Ulhasnagar
6. Kalyan (Drop-in Centre)

From time immemorial, we have known them to have held notable positions in society,
and we have probably seen them in our daily lives.

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 Activities performed by Navodaya Centers

  I. Day Care Centre

The children are then brought to the day care center which functions in the proximity of the
dumping yard. The teachers and field workers individually go to every home and call the
children to attend the center. Here the children are given the basics of education like
learning the alphabet, numbers, rhymes etc. For older children, classes are held to bring
them to the level of a regular school going child of their age so that they would not feel at
loss on entering school. After a year or two at the day care center, the child is enrolled in a
nearby school in an age appropriate class.

  II. Health & Hygiene

Living and working in a high risk environment, the rag pickers are prone to severe health
issues and problems. Weekly medical camps are conducted at the dumping grounds for the
benefit of the community. Specialized camps are also held focusing on a particular group
(children, women, etc.) or on a particular issue (eye, dental, TB, Hepatitis, cancer, etc.).
Immunization camps are also held regularly for the children. The medical profile of every
child is maintained at the center. The children are also provided nourishment through our
centers. In addition to milk and biscuits in the morning and evening, they are provided
wholesome lunch at noon. Supplementary nutrition is also provided to expectant mothers as
well as to those who have delivered and their babies. The community is taught on how to be
hygienic in their limited situation. Cleanliness drives are regularly held to keep the premises
of their homes neat and tidy.

III. Livelihood/Vocational Training

A variety of courses are held to engage the community in alternate livelihood programs.
Various skill development programs are conducted in tandem with vocational courses.
Jewelry making, soap making, phenyl making, perfume making, soft toys making, paper bag
making, book-binding, mobile repairing, house-keeping, driving, mehendi art and tailoring
are just a few of the training courses conducted for the benefit of the community. Hand carts
are provided to members for self-employment business which include selling of vegetables,
vada pav, sugarcane juice, etc. community members are also trained and provided for goat
and poultry farming. Some SHGs also have initiated business in the lending of vessels and
furniture for progammes and functions.

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IV. Self Help Groups (SHGs)
Women are organized into groups of ten or more and are taught the need to come together
and have common savings. On accumulating a base capital, they are motivated to start an
income-generating venture of their own. With the help of micro-credit, the women of the
SHGs are transformed into a group of entrepreneurs. The capital can also be used to provide
loans to members in case of emergencies. Through monthly meetings, the members are also
encouraged to involve in activities for the good of their own society. These SHGs also act as
platforms for education and unity building.

V. Drop-In Centre and School

The next step is the Drop-In centre (now only at Kalyan), where the children who have
finished a year or more at the day care centre are brought to. They are brought to the centre
in the morning and they leave for home only in the evening. This is done so that they are
kept away from the dumping ground as much as possible. They are enrolled in a school and
are given all the support needed, in addition to the essentials like school bag, books,
stationery, and uniform. They are provided tuitions and are helped to acclimatize to the new
situation of the school. In the dumping grounds where there no drop-in centers, the children
come to the day care centers for tuitions. The performance and progress of all the children at
school is regularly monitored and evaluated.

VI. Programmes for Men and Women:

Along with alternate livelihood programmes for men and women, they are empowered
through the adult literacy programme. Their proper documentation is done to facilitate the
availability and provision of various government schemes and programmes. All of them are
encouraged and helped to start bank accounts. Job placements are facilitated through
training them and also by linking with like-minded institutions and organizations

VII. Programs for Children

To nurture the citizen within the children and to make them more socially conscious and
involved, Children’s Parliaments (CP) are arranged at every center. The CPs meets every
week and discuss on one issue or more depending on the need and relevance. Through CP,
the children develop the confidence to rise up, talk, and even conduct a discourse on any
topic. The CPs is instrumental in initiating developmental steps for their community.
Workshops, camps, rallies and picnics are also organized for the children.

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Children’s Parliaments

Drop-In Center

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Challenges Faced by Navodaya Movement:

1.Lack of funds
Navodaya finds it difficult to raise sufficient and continuous funding for their work.
Gaining access to appropriate donors is a major component of this challenge. The
NGO has limited resource mobilization skills locally. Without a continuous source
of funds the NGO find it hard to carry out its activities.

2.Limited Manpower
The NGO initially was started by 4-5 people. People hesitate to join an NGO
because they do not get paid for it. Lack of manpower restricts the activities of the
NGO. Limited or low manpower restricts the activities of NGO. Though Navodaya
has volunteers they still fall short of volunteers when it comes to conducting certain
activities.

3.Low Trust
Navodaya foundation has had many experiences where they face issues with
people’s trust, especially when it comes to raising funds as well as convincing
people with their activities. So building people’s trust is one of the major challenges
faced by the
NGO.

4.Hygiene
It is the core challenge faced by Navodaya movement at present, as this Kalyan
center is located near to dump yard it is observed that the kids don’t prefer being
hygiene religiously. Sometimes due to the shortage of water, kids fail to take daily
baths. It is also noted that, their parents don’t bother to keep them hygiene, which
makes them to put on the same clothes of previous day.

5.Food
Kalyan branch of Navodaya has contracted with the Mahilamandal (located nearby)
for provision of food. As their expense on food increases day by day, the challenge
is, they provide less variety of on taste, which sometimes it is evident that the kids
there sometimes skip the afternoon meal. This makes their BMI (Body Mass Index)
go down and thus become prone to viral infections and disease too quickly.

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6.Infrastructure
Scientifically, it is been said that in any aspect of life infrastructure plays a
vital role. Recently the old building of Navodaya which was near the school
was demolished for reconstruction therefore all the children were brought to
Navodaya center of Kalyan East which was far away from the school. This
was time consuming and also economically expensive for the centers. Also
Navodaya movement only has small office space, where it conducts its
important meeting. To conduct certain activities as such, Navodaya movement
needs a proper space where it can accommodate their volunteers are well as
the target segment.

7.Absenteeism
Even though all the facilities were provided many of the kids still remained
absent and irregular to attend the schools, primarily because they were lazy to
attend school and secondly their families didn't bother to force them to attend
schools.

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 Suggestions to Navodaya Movement:

Educating the parents.

As a parent they should be educated and made aware of how providing basic education will
help their children in building their own future better. They should be educated to not let the
kids stay at home or go to work with their parents. Instead the parents should be told that it
is their duty and responsibility to force the kids to go to school.

Providing secondary job

In most families rag picking is the primary source of income. Navodaya could see to the
possibility of providing the mothers of the family with some other relative job so as to earn
income for the day. This will help in providing a regular income for these families.

Aiding with homes and basic facilities

Navodaya being an NGO should also be focused on helping the underprivileged families in
and around their vicinity with basic facilities such as clothing and improved shelter. This
could help to motivate them to live a healthy life instead of living in a miry area, which
could possibly disturb their upcoming generations.

  Support to the teachers

It is quite difficult to manage 50 odd pre-schoolers and day care kids just by a single person.
At Kalyan center, there is only one teacher who handles the children. It is recommended
that, if there is an extra support staff made available, it would be easy to handle the day care
kids.

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 Learning’s & Takeaway

• Happiness which I see on children’s face due to our little efforts gives me immense 
pleasure and satisfaction.  
• We are much more than just volunteers, we have grown into one big happy family 
who are always looking out for each other.  
• I learned the different facets of working within a NGO.  
• It provided an opportunity to be able contribute to the society.  
• This internship gave an opportunity to grow as a person by doing something that you 
may or may not consider doing full time. This is a good way to explore what you would 
like to do.  
• Working with an NGO has helped me broaden my cultural understandings and 
enhanced my interactive skills.  
• Also gave an opportunity to volunteer for a good cause while being a student.  
• It boosts my self‐image which helps me in my project as a confident person.  
• I have the confidence to initiate conversations, become a better speaker and a good 
listener.  
• My volunteering activities speak that I can multitask, I am sensitive to others needs 
and willing to donate extra time and energy whenever needed. 

32
 Conclusion
Coaching student was a very challenging job, especially the kids who need special
attention, and making them understand every bit of pieces from grass root level, say that
could be starting from a very basic alphabet to word formations and number counting.
Nonetheless, it was an impeccable experience and most memorable moments which have
taught me “patience” where it helped me to transform my weakness into strength.

I am proud to be a part of this amazing NGO Navodaya Movement initiated by Mar

Thoma Syrian Church, my sincere gratitude towards to all staff members who has given
an opportunity to work towards a social cause, and with all due respect, Sangeeta ma’am
who is the head of Kalyan branch, a role model for every children and even for me, who
treats every child over there as her own with all the pain and happiness she takes in.

I am very pleased to say that my experience of associating with Navodaya Movement

has been excellent and I feel it is as a privilege to be with them for a couple of week,
which has brought a smile on their face and also bringing a change in the society as well
as touching each children’s life.

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 References:

What is NGO. (2019). Retrieved March 22, 2022, from NGOs INDIA: https://ngosindia.com/what‐is‐
ngo/ 

World Bank. (2019). Retrieved March 22, 2022, from NGOs INDIA: https://ngosindia.com/world‐
bank/ 

About Us. (n.d.). Retrieved March22 2022, from Navodaya Movement: 
http://navodayamovement.com/about‐us/ 

FOLGER,  J.  (2020,  February  18).  What  is  an  NGO  (Non‐Governmental  Organization)?  Retrieved 
April  05,  2022,  from  Investopedia:  https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/13/what‐
is‐nongovernment‐organization.asp 

Rag Pickers Project. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2022, from Navodaya Movement: 
http://navodayamovement.com/rag‐picker/ 

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