Working to empower the urban communities by making them aware of entitlements, an NGO plans to improve their lot.
Under Empowerment of Urban Vulnerable Communities, the organisation, working among construction workers and women vendors, and for improvement in five slums, is striving for clean water and community toilets among other things.
“In the project period of three years from 2015-18 we plan to form a society of construction workers so that they will be able to get all the benefits due to them under the AP Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board,” says Project Director of Bapuji Rural Enlightenment and Development Society (BREDS) Pragya Pathak.
The organisation is working among 3000 workers – 1,500 men and women each -- so as to make them aware of 12 to 14 benefits from maternity to accidental death and grievous injury. The workers belong to Kancharapalem, NAD Kotha Road, 15 areas of Gajuwaka, Pendurti, Isukathota, Gurudwara, and Sitampeta. Working since April 2015, as many as 3,000 applications have been collected and submitted to the Labour Department. But, so far only 100 cards have been issued, she says.
Besides, 400 women street vendors are being organised under the Street Vendors Act. They comprise petty vendors and vegetable and fruit vendors.
“Besides getting benefits from Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) and various schemes of the government like Mudra loan, we want to form a co-operative of the women so that they can directly approach banks,” says Ms. Pathak.
Most of them borrow on daily returnable basis at usurious rates and the co-operative will hopefully release them from the clutches of money-lenders.
The vendors belong to Gopalapatnam, Anjaneyanagar, Allipuram, Ekalavya Colony, Sainagar, Chilakapeta, and Nanadmurinagar.
“We got identity cards (trade licence) for all of them so that they can fight against harassment. During the period, capacity building to diversify will be taken up,” says Ms. Pathak.
BREDS also works among families in five slums -- ASR Nagar, Gandhinagar (Kancharapalem), K. S. N. Reddynagar, Sainagar and Ekalavya Colony. The effort will focus on getting them clean water, community toilets, counselling through Andhra University Centre for Family Counselling.
Gender-based violence
Gender-based violence is also high. “Last year between January and October, 700 cases were reported in Visakhapatnam and through counselling we will try to help improve family life,” says Ms. Pathak. Youth will also be trained for employment through Gram Tarang Employability Training Services.
