OUR FOCUS AREAS

 Aseem Asha Foundation Focus areas

Education

Overview

Education is a basic component of human capital. It captures the capability of acquiring knowledge, communication, and participation in community life. Quality of economic and social wellbeing is systematically built on a strong foundation of education. It is a key to increasing economic efficiency and social consistency for the overall productivity and intellectual flexibility of the labor force. Education also plays a vital role in the efficiency of labor and to raise poor from poverty. According to new data assembled by World Bank, 53% of all children in low- and middle-income countries cannot read and understand a short story by the time they are finishing primary school. In India there is a 74% literacy rate out of the 82.2% are male and 69.5% are female that depicts a precise gender gap in education which leads to many social vices. As per the 2011 census, Delhi has a literacy rate of 86.3% with 91.0% of males and 80.9% of females. Only 4.1% of GDP is allocated to the Education sector, however, the Ministry of Education (MHRD earlier) has taken a various initiatives to improve education such as New Education Policy (NEP) still there are many questions related to Higher and professional studies that need to be addressed promptly.

Need

Aseem Asha Foundation has decided to work in communities for Education because of following reasons. In the community there is a language problem as people could not lead, write or understand any language (Hindi, Urdu, English) properly which made then vulnerable to education deprivation. There is neither education awareness among the society nor quality education is being imparted to them that hinders in them over all development. Many students got spoil in school instead of becoming a civilized citizen. Community members usually focus on work rather than education, the popular perception is to earn either through family small businesses or doing some menial jobs. They supposed education never leads to job hence it’s better to learn own business. Hence the need to mobilize parents, students has arisen in community to improvise teaching language and encourage the innovation of ideas. 

Initiatives

Aseem Asha Foundation took various initiative in order to improve quality education in community. We used innovative pedagogy to develop language, idea, presentation & documentation through visual art, media or with other contents. Our innovative pedagogy includes learning from Festival celebrations, from Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tools, through Visual Art & Performing Art and visiting various places during excursion. We initiated various programs such as Daksh, Sayyara, Sama and Sanshrey to impart the wholistic education for overall development of child.  

Pratibha Khoj is made a permanent talent hunt project of Aalamb in which community mobilisers visit door to door to invite talented and needy students for the scholarships. Extensive interview sessions with students and family members are conducted before final selection is made. They are encouraged to provide voluntary services “Shram Daan” to become equal stake holder for their holistic growth and development. The scholarship support varies from full to partial assistance. Under full scholarship, we take care of Tuition fees, books and stationaries, food, travelling, pockets allowance, essential things of daily use etc. and under Partial scholarship we provide financial assistance for school & college fees only. We used various technological teaching aids to promote alternative means of education and motivate students to think innovatively through excursions.

Impact

Aseem Asha Foundation could create an awareness among community members for education and that’s how gradually many students from remote slum started coming here and began their journey of success. They got an inspiration from the students who have studied from here ad doing a good work in their respective domain. We formed their strong and solid foundation that enabled them to do great in every sphere of life either personal or professional.

Way forward

Following are the things that Aseem Asha Foundation wants to do in the future.

1.     Want to open conventional and alternative schools from primary to middle class
2.      Develop coaching center infrastructure and facilities
3.      Expanding Programs Daksh and open its various branches in India
4.      Organization and facilitation of guest lectures, demonstration, and expert classes for advanced learning
5.      Open Science Lab
6.      Develop an educational app which must be very economical for all the groups of society
7.      Reaching to very integral parts of the community through the expansion of Pratibha Khoj
8.      Creating a pool of volunteers for teaching and learning
9.      Providing scholarship to a wider range of people
10.   Adult and Continuing Education
11.   Promotion of Non-Formal Education (NFE)
12.   Enhance the activities such as more excursion
13.   Develop infrastructure and assets related to education such as Audio Visual (I pad, laptops) Transportation (Buses) Venue, passionate and permanent staff.
14.   Organization of Talks, demonstrations, symposium seminars for school colleges, and community’s awareness
15.   Research and Development

Gender

Overview

The words Gender and Sex are often used synonymously however there is distinction between the two. Sex refers to the biological characteristics that categorize someone either as female or male on another hand Gender refers to the socially and culturally determined ideas and practices of what it is to be female or male (Hazal Reeves and Sally Baden, 2000). According to Sample Registration System (SRS) from 2011-2013 the sex ratio of India was 909 females per 1000 of males. There is huge Gender inequality in India which refers to health, education, economic and political inequalities between men and women. There are various inequalities based on gender such as Mortality Inequality (Contribution in matter of life or death, Women facing more brutal deaths to men, Natality Inequality (Female Feticide, Preference for boys etc.), Basic Facility Inequality (Education, Food etc.), Special Opportunity Inequality (Biasness in Higher education and professional training), Professional Inequality (Difficulty in getting promotion and promotion), Ownership Inequality (Land, Home, Shop etc.), Household Inequality (Inescapable and unequally shared household duties).

Various international gender inequality indices rank India differently on each of these factors, as well as on a composite basis, and these indices are controversial. India ranked 132 in 2012 out of 148 countries on Gender Inequality Index (GII) by United Nation Development Program, On Gender Gap Index (GGI) India stood at 101 from 136 countries in 2013 by World Economic Forum, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ranked India 56 among 86 surveyed countries on Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) in 2012. In India, discriminatory attitudes towards either sex have existed for generations and affect the lives of both sexes. Although the constitution of India grants men and women equal rights but still gender disparities remain the same.

Need

Aseem Asha Foundation touched the need of working on Gender issues in the Seelampur and Okhla Community because of a multiplicity of factors. Women in both communities have been subjugated by facing many cultural restrictions, pressure of domestic and market work, supporting family businesses, no freedom to make choices, etc. They are financially dependent due to lack of education and training that shirk them from expressing their thoughts and feelings. Many of them are not aware about the government welfare schemes for education and empowerment that made them more marginalized. Lack of awareness about their health and hygiene needs, legal, human, fundamental rights, family planning consequently large family size and remain in vicious circle of poverty. Women in these communities are suffering from Domestic Violence and Gender Based Violence but very few cases are reported due to the so-called “Reputation” of family and kinship in male Chauvinism system. Husbands usually beat their wives under the influence of drugs, (Alcohol, Marijuana, Thinner, etc.). The incidence of Eve teasing, Child abuse, Physical mental sexual violence, are quite high as well.

Initiatives

Initially Aseem Asha Foundation (AAF) helped those women who were helpless through “Chuppi Todo Abhiyaan”. AAF supported the Victim of Domestic Violence and helped their children by enrolling them in vocational training courses (Cutting and Designing, Computer, English Speaking) at Aseem Asha free of cost and also provided scholarship for their wholistic education. We are helping many beneficiaries in getting College admission and pursues higher studies. Through Aahang program of Aseem Asha budding artists were motivated to express their thoughts and ideas with the help of many project such as Faqira (Story of 5 Sufi women of Delhi) and Devi Art (9 incarnations of Goddess Durga) dedicated to gender issues and sensitization. The exhibition was held at various art colleges and art centers of Delhi. Victims of domestic violence shared their journey.

Aseem Asha Foundation in collaboration with Apne Aap Women Worldwide worked with trafficked women in Forbesganj, Koklata and built their capacity (Removed technophobia). They made films on their own vices and developed content such as documentary, short film, poetry films in which Sanshey and Aahang played the most important role. Aalamb project provided scholarship for their academic education and Rehnuma program helped them to get placement in reputed organization as per their skills. We provided nutritious food (egg. Fruits, milk etc.) under the program Inaayat. Women could see the outer world during excursions as part of the Sayyara program that helped in their mobility to connect with outer world. Aseem Asha organized various counselling session for victims of domestic violence to meet their social, emotional and legal needs. Under the program Sama we celebrated women-oriented festivals and birthdays of women beneficiaries.

Impact

The impact of our program is that more and more women participated and number increased and after completing their schooling they started pursuing higher education. We helped them to alter their conventional thinking of career and encouraged them to go for professional courses in Media, Sports and Arts such as Films Studies, MA in VFX, BFA etc. to make them independent. Nazreen, Kiran, Bushra and Adeeba are some examples. Many of our students are now Anchor, Coordinator, Film Maker, Assistant film directors and doing work in their own potential areas by following passion such as Film making, dance etc.

Way forward

In the long run, Aseem Asha Foundation is planning to do the following things.

1. Start new vocational training centers for women such as beauty and wellness, fashion designing, etc.
2. Expanding cutting and designing projects at national level
3. Formation of Self-Help Group (SHG) for financial independence of the women
4. Online marketing and promotion of local products for income generation
5. Providing More scholarships and awards to the deserving people for their upliftment and encouragement of the efforts
6. Encouraged students for higher studies
7. Motivate women to go for non-conventional careers such as poet, Dancer, choreographer, calligrapher, writer, painter, fashion designer, Nurses, Lab Technician, Cameraperson, photographer, film editor, etc.
8. Organization of Talks, demonstrations, symposium seminars for school colleges, and community’s awareness
9. Research and Development

 

YOUTH

Overview

"My hope of the future lies in the youths of character, intelligent, renouncing all for the service of others, and obedient - good to themselves and the country at large" – Swami Vivekanand

Youth is defined as "the appearance, freshness, vigor, spirit, etc., characteristic of one who is young" The United Nations defines youth as persons between the ages of 15 and 24. The estimation of a nation is surveyed not by the wealth or resources it has, but by its people. A country might be well off, yet what's a higher priority than the real richness is the combined intelligence and knowledge of the individuals who contribute towards gaining that wealth. The youth of a country decide how it gets down to business a couple of years into the future; they are the eventual fate of the nation, and their activities and inaction both add to the condition of the Nation.

Need

Aseem Asha Foundation felt the need to work for the youth population in Okhla Community as there is no direction to youth at this age. They are living in virtual world far away from realities and deeply influenced by unrealistic life from social Media. Most ode of them spend their time in unproductive activities such as Playing games, sitting on street junctions, roaming around the lanes etc. However, they have the potential to change their fate but unfortunately, they are not being aware about their talents ad capacities which made them more miserable.

Due to over expectation of family members many youths remain in dilemmatic situation either to choose their family business (Create disguised unemployment) or follow the passion that they have. more disguised unemployment. Drug addiction, eve teasing, violence, goons fight, depression, mental health problems, malnutrition are some of major issues of Okhla youth. Very high level of drug addiction. Youth is also facing different health issues owing to lack of nutritious food, balance diet, parks, healthy life style consequently they become prone to many diseases. Without any mentor they are driven by the conventional thinking of career making such as Doctor, Engineer or lawyer. They neither explore nor oriented towards alternative forms of career. School and coaching are either expensive or no quality education is given due to lack of infrastructure. Concludingly to reduce the intensity of the above-mentioned problem we decide to work on youth as well.

Initiatives

Aseem Asha Foundation started Rehnuma program to help the youth who living without motivation and any direction. We have given training of Basic Computer Literacy, Coaching, English speaking training etc. to these people under Daksh. Sanshrey helped in giving direction to choose career as they made many films after being part of more excursion under the program Sayyara. Aalamb provided scholarships to support them in each and every stage of career formation. As part of Inaayat programs they relished new dishes as a life skill. Utkarsh to develop and recognize their talents. Foundation also adopted some youth during their formation years so that they can focus on career building more. We bear their personal and educational expenses and also provide personal counselling. The development of entire personality is being taken care of once the youth is being adopted by Aseem Asha. Media visual Art and performing art played tremendous role in making their future bright. They met with legendry people in Tagore Utsav that inspired them a lot. By all Aseem Asha has given them platform to grow, develop and show their talents as well.

Impacts

The rapid increase in the number of youths in Aseem Asha initiatives is a huge impact of our work. Many people started participating in creative activities of Tagore Utsav. Fashion, media arts and other become the career avenues for them. They learned how to maintain an equilibrium between their passion and commerce. We exposed them to various things that motivated them to think beyond progress and success and become a world citizen rather than confined to their own shackles. Youth on the verge of getting bleak future got a new direction from Rehnuma. They learned to break the stereotypes and find the other forms of career arther than conventional ones.

Way Forwards

1. Sanshrey should reach local schools and remote areas of Delhi
2. Establish a Community Media College
3. Creating a digital media market for the job creation and self-sufficiency of the youth
4. Extend more help to orphan students
5. Open a drug de-addiction and rehabilitation center
6. Open a hostel and library facility for the needy youth
7. Expand community kitchen Inaayat for more and more beneficiaries
8. Launching many vocational training courses for youth such as Haircutting and grooming, Web designing, Hotel Management, Digital Marketing, Event Management Computerized accounting, and financial decision making.
9. Organization of Talks, demonstrations, symposium seminars for school colleges, and community’s awareness
10. Research and Development

ENVIRONMENT

Overview

The biosphere is combination of Atmosphere (Air), Lithosphere (Land) and Hydrosphere (Water) where all living organism coexist by sharing the common environment. Hence, it’s not the once own right to exploit the natural resources in any way one’s want. Economic growth and human wellbeing depend upon sustainable management of the environment and natural resources. If they are managed well, renewable natural resources, watersheds, productive landscapes and seascapes can provide the foundation for sustained inclusive growth, food security and poverty reduction. These resources provide livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people. There are many environmental issues in India. Air pollution, water pollution, garbage domestically prohibited goods and pollution of the natural environment are all challenges for India. Nature is also causing some drastic effects on India. According to data collection and environment assessment studies of World Bank experts, between 1995 through 2010, India has made some of the fastest progress in addressing its environmental issues and improving its environmental quality in the world still more needs to be done yet.

Need

There is no environmental consciousness among community dwellers. No well-managed public park and unaffordability of the fitness center lead to various problems of health and environment. Availability, Accessibility and portability of water and related issues are in the peak. Various forms of pollution like Air, Water, Sound and land made their corner in the community. Global warming is on alarming stage that also disturbed the weather pattern of locality. Colonies are ramshackle and densely populated. Absence of town planning and architecture designs tends towards congested and encroached colonies. Rapid use of plastic bags and no waste segregation systems adds to the woes of environmental problems. Due to deforestation the clean air is become a luxury now a days. Need to eliminate all these issues so Asem Asha decide to work upon it as well.

Initiatives

We started Jal Sangharsh Abhiyaan where community member of Okhla made films to highlight the issues. Another film was made by Dwarka community students on their verities of water related issues. People from Zafrabad, Nizamuddin, Katputli Colony, and various schools and colleges of Delhi join the movement over the period of time. We organized rallies to convey the message for clean environment and afforestation.  Festivals are celebrated in fusion of environmental issues such as Water Week Festival. Films such as Varsha Rani, my city my park, Paani Paani Paani Re and many more were produced to sensitize about environment related issues. As part of a bio diversity film students got an opportunity to meet Actor Rahul Bose. We also distributed paper bag to Okhla Vihar people, Vine bags made and sold in Canadian embassy and promotion of nature in Tagore Utsav are our peculiar ways to address environmental problems. During Tagore Utsav venue remaining natural environment, children got opportunity to be under the shade of tree and do activities in fresh air.

Impact

Film on water-related issues of Okhla got selected for Mumbai International Film Festival MIFF, Jatin Das Center for Arts JDCA, CMS Vatavaran Film Festival, and other Online film festivals. Udaan Community Film Festival organized by Aseem Asha Foundation kept a separate them on environmental related issues. Spreading awareness through rallies for mass sensitization. Dwarka community members developed their film Holy Water inspired by our work. Savdha Ghewra, Khichdipur, West Bangal communities, Seelampur, Bihar communities, Bawana, and many others got impacted by our campaigns. Magic Bus India Foundation and YMCA made films on water issues during a series of Mixed Media tory Telling Workshop which is an integral part of Sanshrey. These contents can be Further used for research and policymaking.

Way Forwards

1. Take forwards Jal Sangharsh Abhiyaan at the national level
2. Production of more films on environment
3. Promote the less use of Polyethene and find substitutes for environment improvisation
4. More rallies in a creative way to spread awareness
5. Promotion of better waste disposable management systems
6. The environment must be a special theme in UCFF for the awareness
7. Creative Art literature and culture fest organizations
8. Organization of Talks, demonstrations, symposium seminars for school colleges, and community’s awareness
9. Research and Development

 

HEALTH

Overview

As per the population census of India in 2011 India's population stood at 1.21 billion (0.62 billion males and 0.588 billion females). There is huge disparities and inequalities among states for health infrastructure. According to the recent survey conducted by the Praja Foundation Delhi saw as many as 5,82,152 cases of the disease in 2014, 5,64,416 cases in 2015 and 6,22,480 cases in 2016. With the government sparing just 1.3 per cent of the GDP for public healthcare, way less than the global average of 6 per cent, there remains a severe scarcity of doctors in the country and people continue to incur heavy medical expenditure across rural and urban hospitals.  These are among the grim facts recorded in the National Health Profile 2018, an annual report released recently by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI).

Need

As one enters in the Okhla community the heap of garbage and potholes welcome the visitors. That made it the most susceptible to the diseases and hence need to work upon health has arisen. There is no such well-maintained and healthy lifestyle. People are suffering from various cardiovascular disease, Diabetic problems, Dental issues, respiratory difficulties, Kidney issues, typhoid, dengue, malaria and chikungunya are common deadly disease spread in the community. Portability of water is not good due to fluctuating Ph values of water. Owing to the poverty not many people could afford to have an RO water purifier at home. Water treatment are not effective enough to reduce the impurities. Adulteration of food, vegetables and non-vegetarian items lead to many unhealthy particles to enter in our body. Due to Unemployment & poverty people suffer from depression. There is no formalized and proper system of hygiene or vaccination. Lack of Vitamin D became the precursor to other health concerns as well. Balance diet is considered as luxury, items like fruits, dry fruits not included in basic life style food habit besides people are addicted to tea and smoke as well.

Initiative

Aseem Asha Foundation Launched Inaayat programs to take care of the daily health and nutritious needs of the community by providing food to 5-6 people or volunteers on daily basis. Sayyara, Nirvaan, and Sanshrey programs are complementary in taking care of all the health-related needs of the community and spreading awareness on the same theme. Healthy food during festivals and daily food to selected volunteers is being provided by Inaayat. Sayyara organized culinary exposure visits to taste various delicacies of the Indian and International cuisines. Sanshrey produced various films on health and related issues independently and in collaboration with other organizations too such as Machar Bhagaao re, Power House, Meethi Goli etc. During the time of COVID 19 pandemic we helped people financially, socially and emotionally through Referrals and follow ups treatments. Udaan Community Film Festival kept a separate theme on health. Banzeen, Samdheka and Farheen are someof our health success stories. We also helped in raising fund for Brain tumor patient and arranged a wheelchair for person with disability form community. Students of cutting and designing organized counselling session for them to make healthy food and avoid synthetic food as mother are the maker of family and society. Distributed various items like Mosquito repellent, Masks, Sanitizers etc. to contain the spread of diseases like Dengue, malaria, COVID 19 etc under the campaign Swasth Sangharsh Abhiyan.

Impact

The initiatives of Aseem Asha Foundation that have been mentioned above put a significant impact on the community. Inaayat has bestowed its beneficiaries with secret recipes to cook healthy food in an economically.  They also tried those dishes at home. Through our junior beneficiaries and their mothers, we developed the sense of healthy and unhealthy food among communities and families. People started taking precautions for diseases and followed the guidelines of government as well.

Way Forward

1. Expansion of Swasth Sangharsh Abhiyaan
2. Organization of Talks, demonstrations, symposium seminars for school colleges and community’s awareness in Mohalla Clinics and wherever feasible
3. Research and Development
4. Organize Homeopathy camps for its promotion and opening up a dispensary for the same
5. Setting up of a Diagnostic center which must be free or at low cost for poorest of the poor
6. Expanding the horizon of mental health issues and its mitigation strategies
7. Rejuvenation and recreational clubs
8. Wellness center where art, literature, music, theatre & Yoga should be used a therapy base

ART, LITERATURE & CULTURE

Overview

Indian art consists of a variety of art forms, including painting, sculpture, pottery, and textile arts such as woven silk and embroidery. A strong sense of design is characteristic of Indian art and can be observed in its modern and traditional forms. Culture plays an important role in the development of any nation. It represents a set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices. Culture and creativity manifest themselves in almost all economic, social and other activities. A country as diverse as India is symbolized by the plurality of its culture. India has one of the world’s largest collections of songs, music, dance, theatre, folk traditions, performing arts, rites and rituals, paintings, and writings that are known, as the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ (ICH) of humanity. While talking about the literary heritage, it is the oldest in the world and primarily one of verse and essentially oral. India has 22 officially recognized languages, and a huge variety of literature has been produced in these languages over the years. 

Need

Okhla community is a heterogeneous community that has multifaceted in talent, art and languages. The need to preserve and promote the local Art, Literature and Culture emerged as community dwellers usually not driven by their passion in arts, music, dance and become professional in that particular field since several stigmas are attached to be a professional in visual or performing arts as sometimes cultural values forbid them. We can make art a more paying avenue like others for generating income and get prosperity. Art, Literature, and Culture are the medium to express ideas. There is a need to bridge the gap beyond religious teaching to main stream (Quran, Urdu and movement, history, Ghalib others) in order to create secular atmosphere in plural society. Ghettoization and conservatism lead to very staunch making barriers in development of arts and aesthetic among them. Usually lack of vision in art, literature and culture tend for its defamation as we see these all are just limited to Bollywood, daily soaps and yellow journalism only. We started forgetting about the old & rich heritage of these things and now feeling inferior from others. Inferiority complex become major hurdles in the promotion of own culture, language and arts. No appreciation or encouragement of community artist, poet, journalist, cultural activist lead to their submergences.

Initiative

Aseem Asha Foundation (AAF) initiated program Aahang to promote visual and performing arts. Initially we encourage students to develop an understanding about good and bad Music. After developing this sense, they can enroll in basic level training in instrumental and vocal music. We also arrange listening sessions of Indian Classical Instrumental Music, Indian classical Vocal Music, Sufi music, folk music, light western music, Rabindra sangeet etc. for the beneficiaries. Aahang brings them into concerts for exposure to various types of music as singing is still considered a hobby only. We provide music appreciation and music counselling to harness the talent to open career opportunities. Aseem Asha Foundation provides space and music instrument for rehearsals as well.

Under visual art project we provide Art Training, Art Appreciation and counselling to encourage visual Arts & Artists. An exhibition of the outstanding paintings by budding artist is usually organized to provide platform for their talent. We have an archive of around 500 paintings which were made in the following subprojects of Aahang.

• Devi Project
• Calligraphy Project
• Islamic Art Project
• Sufi Art Project
• Embroidery Art Project
• Paper folding Art Project
• Glass Art

Aseem Asha started Tagore Utsav for the promotion of Arts, Literature and language only that is getting good attention from various gentries and media as well. Amalgamation of community and mature artist is very unique feature of it. We also organized a series of Mehfile Chaiizaade for bridging the gap of Urdu literature and its promotion during in house festivals. We tried to link students with heritage through heritage exposure visits to Agra, Lucknow and other parts of Delhi as well. Boosted morale through exposure visits in which Sayyara played an important role. Scholarships are provided for the promotion on art and we also provide platform for selling them. Many Devi paintings were bought and liked by people like AR Rahman, Naina Balsavar, Atiya Zaidi, Sharmila Tagore. Projects like Faqira art and Sufi Art, Sufi Dargah Art, Devi Art, Zil Art, Glass Art, calligraphy art were done by the students of Aahang and Sanshrey. Tagore Peace campaign become parts of this focused area. Short films on Art and artist were made for the promotion of local arts. “Jeevan ke rang aseem asha ke” is a You Tube series for the promotion of culture, arts and literature. We also organized Talks, Demonstrations, Presentations, Performances, Workshops and Master Classes during our subsequent Tagore Utsav. Legendry people honored the festival with their presence. Photo exhibitions and painting exhibitions in art galleries were also done during various celebrations. Tagore Veteran Artist and Tagore young Artist awards are conferred to encourage the local art and artist.

Impact

With the help of the above initiatives we could transform passion of community into profession to make them financially independent. Many people have started working as free lancers and some are working besides taking art seriously for their careers. People enjoyed various forms of arts in art initiatives like Udaan Community Film Festival, Tagore Utsav that also increased community participation and community folks participated in large numbers. Aseem Asha also developed understanding beyond Bollywood, Indian film Cinemas, soaps and news channels etc. The perspective of heritage sites was changed to lineage rather than confine to entertainment place only in order to develop futuristic approach. Art, Literature and Culture can lead to social development. Income generation source found through these mediums as well. Social integrations and mutual influence, learning, inspiration was facilitated to understand each other and consider art not limited to elitist class but include lower middle class developed this skill. Quality content were developed for these projects as part of the Sanshrey. Students would listen to very selected things which are really a master piece of art, culture and songs etc. The initiatives also developed a sense of art appreciation and presentation skills with esthetical sense.

Way Forwards

1. Expansion of Aahang at the larger level
2. Launch new courses of visual and performing arts
3. Organised Mehfile Chaaizade more frequently
4. Tagore Utsav should be organized more to benefit the area
5. Literary festival in collaboration with local schools, religious places and other institutions
6. Sayyara should be expanded to national, regional, and international level covering heritage sites.
7. Organization of Talks, demonstrations, symposium seminars for school colleges and community’s awareness in Mohalla Clinics and wherever feasible
8. Research and Development
9. Increase the categories of Awards
10. Initiation of Health awards
11. Initiation Education Awards
12. Initiation Youth awards
13. A required separate building to run such programs
14. Established a full-fledged art school
15. There should be a guild for the people (Online and shop)
16. School colleges fairs, trade fairs, and other events participation
17. Diwali Mela, Christmas Mela, Eid Mela, Durga Pooja Mela participation should be promoted
18. Establishment of Urdu Museum

 

INCLUSION

Overview

Inclusion is a universal concept and human rights. The aim of inclusion is to embrace all people irrespective of religion, caste, class, race, gender, disability, language, region, medical or other need. It is about giving equal access and opportunities and getting rid of discrimination and intolerance. It affects all aspects of public life. Inclusion is an educational practice whereby students with special needs are fully integrated into the general education classrooms at a school. Inclusion philosophy rests on the idea that every individual, regardless of his/her disabilities, has the right to be incorporated fully into the fabric of society. Inclusive practice is an approach to teaching that recognizes the diversity of students, enabling all students to access course content, fully participate in learning activities and demonstrate their knowledge and strengths at assessment. While inclusion in the context of religion includes respecting the values of secularism enshrined in the Indian constitution.

Need

Aseem Asha Foundation is working in a very excluded society, living in the ghetto in their limited world. Sectarian and polarized societies become prey to marginalization and further subjugation. Many conflicts related to property, relations, neighbors, professional life, and in families create a tensed environment where peace doesn’t exist. Poverty, Lack of the resources, no awareness and accessibility of welfare schemes Less NGOs working in Inclusion, Intercultural & Intra religious conflicts (Sunni, Shia, Brelvi, Ahle Hadees, Kadyaani) are among the other reasons lead to further marginalization of the community. Ageism are very high and geriatric population are less aware about their rights. Pluralistic society is not even living in harmony. Various disabilities (Dysphasia, dyslexia, physical, special children etc.) lead to their exclusion so the need to build reconciliation and inclusion is mandatory.

Initiatives

We initiated Tagore Shanti Abhiyaan (Tagore Peace Campaign) for building peace and reached from local embroider to celebrated artists. This campaign had included almost all strata of society and include the diversified gentries. Sama is very important example of Inclusion as we celebrate all festivals (National, Cultural, Regional) together and share the happiness just like a feast. Aahang initiative endorsed the idea of inclusion in visual and performing arts. Daksh provided opportunities for poor and rich people to get the quality education and embraced wide range of members from regional, linguistic, religion diversities. Inaayat and Utkarsh bring heterogenous group to a single platform for inclusion by distributing daily food and promoting the rising talents across the communities.

Impact

As part of the impact in the inclusion domain, Aseem Asha Foundation could develop rational thinking among community students in order to analyze the situation and work for cohesiveness. Through the initiatives, we connected people with mainstream and supported for employment generation. For overall inclusion, we recognized the needs of differently-abled people and provided them special education. Diwali lunch at the old age home of Church at Shanti Ashram resembles inclusion of Senior Citizens. They also blessed the students of Aseem Asha.

Way forward

1. Promotion of more dialogue for Tagore Shanti Abhiyan from community to mainstream society
2. Organize more cultural events for inclusions
3. Organization of Talks, demonstrations, symposium seminars for schools, colleges, and community’s awareness in Mohalla Clinics and wherever feasible
4. Research and Development
5. More heritage and cultural visits
6. Celebration of Sufi festivals and promote a syncretic culture
7. Establishment of old age home
8. Establish a center for Differently able people

 

POVERTY AND LIVELIHOOD

Overview

As per the SOS children’s village report Two-thirds of people in India live in poverty: 68.8% of the Indian population lives on less than $2 a day. Over 30% even have less than $1.25 per day available - they are considered extremely poor. This makes the Indian subcontinent one of the poorest countries in the world; women and children, the weakest members of Indian society, suffer most. Livelihood is a set of economic activities, involving self-employment and/or wage-employment by using one’s endowments (human and material) to generate adequate resources (cash and non-cash) for meeting the requirements of self and the household, usually carried out repeatedly and as such become a way of life. There is a consensus on the need for a socially inclusive path of economic growth, so that people have jobs and equal opportunities to participate in the growth process. Livelihood thus is central to policies, programmes and practices, especially aimed at the poor. As a concept, livelihood is multidimensional and can be contextualised to almost all aspects of growth and development, viz., political, social, economic, demographic, ideological and technological.

Need

The need to work upon livelihood and poverty eradication has arisen as most of the community members engage in seasonal job that lacks incomes. Besides that, disguised unemployment is prominent in the families as many members are engaged in running family business at small level. The labor class section of the society are lacking employability skills owing to less education, training and pre dominance of various issues in life (Early marriage, peer pressure, no education, drug addiction, alcoholism, ghettoization, Gambling, Unawareness, not understand legal and human rights, over sensitive community, less practical approach, gender issues more) conclusively these things lead to perpetuate state of poverty. Women folks work more than the men still men are usually dependent on the rent of house and are not doing any other work hence they remain poor for years and sometimes lifetime. Family size is very big and burden of dowry become another reason for poverty. Sectarianism, Orthodoxy, marginalization in socially, economically, educationally, politically sphere deprived them from livelihood too.

Initiatives

Aseem Asha extensively working in the domain of poverty eradication and provide livelihood opportunity to the people through its various programs. These programs helped in the above-mentioned objectives at different levels. These initiatives can be summarized as under.

Daksh programs helps in educational and vocational empowerment of the people. It provides them an opportunity to learn vocational skills and excel in the field f academics using various pedagogies. Sanshrey program empowered the people in the field of media to provide livelihood chances and could come out from vicious circle of the poverty. Aahang inititive helped in providing and encouraging talents in the field of visual and performing arts. Aalamb regularly sponsors the education through scholarship and Rehnuma shows the way for better future that will end the poverty and will enable them to get the livelihood. Sayyar inititive helped in exploration of the heritage sites and visit various places, these visits expanded the horizon of beneficiaries that provoked them to choose the highly rewarding career. Programs like Inaayat and Nirvaan helped the poor people for taking care of their health and well being in the time of emergency. During the COVID 19 Nirvaan provided financial, social and emotional support

Impact

The impact of our program is rooted in the success of various program that Aseem Asha Foundation has been running over a decade. Many beneficiaries got a highly paying job and pursing higher education from reputed educational institutions. Each year more than 500 people got benefitted through our project that helped them to come out form poverty and create the livelihood. Many campaigns organized by Aseem Asha led a great impact on the community, members have started participating in the campaigns for mutual benefit and development.

Way forward

1. Expansion of Daksh Programs at National Level
2. Organize more workshops and develop career opportunities under Daksh
3. Celebration of all festivals under Sama at state and national level
4. Organization of visits to important places of India and abroad under Sayyara
5. Frequently organized employability generating skills workshops
6. Widen the scope of campaigns run and originated by the Aseem Asha
7. Opening up Inaayat Khana for the poor and creating livelihood opportunity
8. Help more people deprived of basic necessities of life under Nirvaan
9. Promotion of local visual and performing arts for the betterment of the society at large
10. Organization of Talks, demonstrations, symposium seminars for school colleges and community’s awareness in Mohalla Clinics and wherever feasible
11. Research and Development