A. Antyodaya Development Project
The project activities were carried out in 6 blocks of Mayurbhanj and Kandhamal districts of Odisha covering a total of 70 villages in improvement the quality of tribal and weaker communities including management and conservation of natural resources, efficient agricultural practices, forestry, diversification of livelihood options.
The follow up activities of ACM’s community health program include preventive and curative health care of the poor Adivasi, Dalit and other minority communities living in the remote project area. Equipped with information about local resources, CHWs, VNDs, TBAs trained by the project promote healthy living, educate people about how to prevent disease and injury, and extend their services in the diagnosis and treatment of common ailments.
As ACM perceive, the programmes of the National Rural Health Mission could be roped so that wider health services could be made available for the needy villages. The follow up action of ACM include to make available the basic health care to the villagers, motivate communities to seek implementation of Government health schemes which can be brought within the reach of people living in remote villages.
The other area of follow up programme ACM stands to focus on issues that affect the socio-economic and cultural aspects of the tribal, dalits and other unprivileged sections of the project areas. Local and regional issues, so also state or national based issues that affect the tribal, dalits or any other poorer class of the locality in particular, aggregately the socio-economic conditions, or their language or culture. The same are disseminated among the villagers, network representatives, youth leaders and other concerned agencies to generate consciousness among them. It also important to provide context specific inputs to community leader at community level as a strategy to strengthen solidarity among village organizations with a focus on participation of youth and women. As before members belonging to Community Based Organisations are encouraged and supported to organize meetings .
Other Activities
Ø A study on millet was conducted from 10th to 26th June 2016 by Navakrushna Choudhori Trust at ACM Kotagarh operational area of Srirampur and Subarnagiri Gram Panchayat. 20 families each from 8 villages of said G.P. were covered under survey programme in cooperation with ACM staff.
Ø There are several likeminded civil society organisations working in the districts, State national level with whom Antyodaya Chetana Mandal has established good rapport. Likewise the organization also made good relationship with different department of Govt., colleges and University, donor agencies etc. during the year.
Ø A 3 days conference on “Gandhian Concept of Development” was organized by MPC Autonomous College Baripada at its campus in collaboration with Indian Institute of Gandhian Studies supported by Gandhi Smriti & Darshan Samity, New Delhi. During the conference period, one day field exposure programme was organized at Antyodaya Chetana Mandal, Rangamatia premises. On this occasion a meeting on Gandhian Concept was held with the participation of professors, Gandhian leaders and local community leaders.
Ø ACM MG Eye hospital and North Odisha University collectively organized awareness campaign on blindness control and superstition.
Ø 33 nos. of workers of Antyodaya Chetana Mandal participated in Champaran Satyagraha Satabdy programme held at Motihar in Bihar State from 23rd to 25th March 2017.
Ø Mandatory documents including project progress reports and audit reports were submitted to respective donor agencies and Govt.
Mahatma Gandhi Eye Hospital & Research Institute ( MGEHRI)
Antyodaya Chetana Mandal which spells development of poorest of the poor, has best been reflected its work with the advent of ‘Mahatma Gandhi Eye Hospital’. This eye hospital, established amid the peaceful and magnificent surrounding in a rural tribal village at Rangamatia, Rasgovindpur in the district of Mayurbhanj is unique itself in the service of eye diseases. Dedicated by the hand of Honorable Vice President of India Shri Krishankant in presence of honorable Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Navin Pattanaik on 28th December 2000, the hospital has contributed tremendous services in the region covering Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore and Bhadrak district of Odisha and border area of Medinapur of West Bengal and Singbhum of Jharkhand State. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India and Sight Savers International, the donor’s contribution is very praise worthy in the establishment and progress of this eye hospital.
The Hospital has completed 18 years of its successful journey and achieved big numbers of cataract surgeries. It has also covered more than 5 lakh eye patients through its out reach camps organized in the rural and tribal areas. Today the MG Eye hospital occupies a prominent place in the sector of eye health service in Odisha. It is best known for its quality service, use of advanced technology and equipments, friendly behavior and caring nature of staffs and treatment by experienced eye specialist.
Mahatma Gandhi Eye Hospital & Research Institute MGEHRI
Eye health care is one among the major intervention area of Antyodaya Chetana Mandal since 2000. The establishment of Mahatma Gandhi Eye Hospital is a remarkable effort of ACM in northern region of Odisha specifically covering the district Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Balasore of Odisha . This eye hospital has became a gigantic steps towards service of economically weaker section of the community. Established in a peaceful and lush atmosphere of a remote tribal village Rangamatia, Rasgovindpur of Mayurbhanj, the hospital has established its name and fame and attracts good number of eye patients of the region. The eye hospital has created good rapport building and is a leading eye hospital in Odisha. The ‘Mahatma Gandhi Eye Hospital’ was dedicated for service the people on 28th December 2000 by the hand of Honorable Vice President of India Shri Krishankant in presence of honorable Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Navin Pattanaik. The hospital is providing tremendous eye care services in the region covering Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore and Bhadrak district of Odisha and border area of Medinapur of West Bengal and Singbhum of Jharkhand State. It is important that the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India and Sight Savers International (currently Sightsavers), District Blindness Control Society, indiavisual contribution has helped in the growth of the hospital.
During the period of its journey the Hospital has succeeded in achieving large numbers of cataract surgeries in the area. Apart from this the hospital has rendered tremendous services to eradicate the blindness by encompassing more than 5 lakh people in eye treatment. The improved treatment, use of high tech instruments in eye operation and diagnosis, cordial and friendly behavior of hospital staffs as well as treatment by experienced eye specialists induce people of far distance to take the advantage of eye treatment. The hospital staffs performing diverse responsibilities round the clock.
Eye Screening Camp:
Eye Screening Camp is a regular activity in the field area to identify cataract patients and to give proper counseling to the patients affected by different eye related diseases for better treatment and eye care. The hospital staffs attend the patients as per pre fixed places and dates. Most of the interior villages of the districts Mayurbhanj and Balasore were accessed through these camps and screening and counseling of the eye patients are performed. Cataract Surgery:
Cataract surgery is one of the major activities of Mahatma Gandhi Eye Hospital. The hospital has carried out free and payment based surgeries as like previous years. The patients belongs to poor and marginal families of villages are selected in the camps and they are transported to Mahatma Gandhi Eye Hospital for cataract surgeries
Base Hospital OPD:
Mahatma Gandhi Eye Hospital regularly conducts eye treatment at Base hospital at Rangamatia except the Sun day and important holidays. The eye patients availed the benefits of eye screening, diagnosis of eye diseases, counseling and treatment by eye specialists and experienced ophthalmic assistants of the hospital. 17019 nos. of OPD patients registered for treatment in this reporting period. The patients got screened their eyes are 6728 and 4659 nos. of patients used optical for refractive error.
DBCS Programme:
The role of District Blindness Control Society is very prominent in reducing the blindness. From the very beginning the DBCS has extended the helping hand towards blindness control from the district. The DBCS of Mayurbhanj and Balasore supported for eye screening camps and cataract surgery of the patients of the concerned districts. The cataract patients indentified in rural areas were transported to the Mahatma Gandhi Eye Hospital for surgeries. All these patients were covered under free of cost of surgery including free food, transport and other related cost.
Eye Specialist & Staff:
Mahatma Gandhi Eye Hospital is equipped with experienced Ophthalmologist and well trained staffs. During this reporting year 7 nos. of eye specialists performed the patient treatment and surgeries in the base hospital on separate days. The hospital has also 40 trained staffs like ophthalmic assistants, manager, nurses, counselor, camp organizer and other management staffs who rendered services in separate departments for smooth running of the eye hospital. The hospital used high tech medical instruments in patients diagnosis and surgeries. During this period NCT (Non Contact Tonometer) has been procured for use by the hospital. The optical and medicine unit of the organization fulfilled the patients’ requirements of the same.
The activities covered are as follows -
Eye Screening Camp: Mahatma Gandhi Eye Hospital conducts eye screening camps on regular basis in the operational areas covering districts Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Keonjhar and Bhadrak and adjacent areas of Jharkhand and West Bengal. Almost all the neglected and interior corners of these districts are accessed through these camps and screening and counseling of the eye patients are performed. During this reporting year total 165 nos. of eye screening camps organized and 7720 nos. of patients screened.
Cataract Surgery: One major areas of intervention of the eye hospital is Cataract surgeries. The hospital provides both free and payment based surgeries to the affected patients. Generally the cataract patients belong to poor and vulnerable section of the community are selected from the screening camps conducted in different places and their cataract surgeries are performed in the base hospital -Mahatma Gandhi Eye Hospital at Rangamatia. During this reporting year a total of 2437 nos. of cataract surgeries were performed free of cost. On the other hand facilities for payment based surgeries are exist for well to do families who approached hospital directly and total 611 nos. of payment surgeries are performed during this year. All the surgeries carried out during this period are successful in retaining the visual defects of the patients.
Vision Center Management: Vision center at Champua of Keonjhar district was run with the objective to provide primary eye treatment and counseling to patient of interior hilly and forest areas of the district. One senior Ayurvedic doctor of MG Eye hospital has remained engaged to extend services to the patients through this vision center.
Material support : MG Eye hospital gives emphasis on advanced surgical and medical equipments available in the markets and procured these materials for use. Not only in the base hospital but the field based vision centers are also equipped with improved surgical equipments and materials. During this year 2 nos. of surgical Microscope and Vision testing equipments were supported by Sightsavers in kind.
HELPAGE India extended financial support to ACM-MGEH for cataract surgery. The health camps were organized in the specific areas of Mayurbhanj and Balasore district and cataract patients were screened and identified. The selected cataract patients were transported to base hospital MG Eye hospital for surgery. During this period total 220 nos. of cataract transplantation were performed with HPI support.
The contribution of District Blindness Control Society, Mayurbhanj is very commendable towards removal of blindness from the district. The DBCS has extended helping hand from very beginning of this effort of ACM. Hence a good portion of achievement in the field of cataract surgery has been made possible through DBCS. During this year, DBCS, Mayurbhanj supported for …… nos. of surgeries in the district.
Education Programme
A CBSE pattern School “Gandhi Gurukul”, established at Rashgovindpur was functioned smoothly in the year. A total of 81 nos. of children were enrolled in 2016-17. Likewise the admission & readmission process of the children have been completed for the education session 2017-18 and a total of 91 students are continuing their study. Hostel facilities for both boys and girls have been established in the premises and in the current year 12 nos. students have been accommodated. Vehicles have been provided for transportation of the children.
Seven nos. of teachers have been engaged to look after the education curriculum. Children were provided with teaching learning materials, playing and dress materials. To impart quality education through joyful learning process is one of the important aspects of Gandhi Gurukul. During last years the students of this school have qualified in the entrance testconducted by Navoday school and Adarsha school. In the education session 2016-17, one students qualified in Navodaya whereas in this session one students in Navodaya and 4 students in Adarsha School entrance test qualified and got admitted for higher study.
The Gandhi Gurukul organized different programme in the school campus. National Days like Independence Day, Republic Day, Gandhi Jayanti and Children’s Day have been observed. Annual athletic competition of the school was organized and prizes distributed to the children.
Antyodaya Education Proramme
ACM, since the beginning has been undertaking education in an integrated way with other programmes by which, a poor family will be able to afford to send their children to school and not keep them back for wage labour or household work. Currently ACM is running one high school named Antyodaya Vidya Pitha at Rangamatia village in Rasgovindpur block to provide schooling opportunity to the students belonging to poor family. Out of total 55 students admitted in the year 2016-17, 40 nos. are boys and 15 nos. are girls. A total of 47 nos. of students are residing in the hostel and food cost is shared by ACM and students as well. Apart from classroom education the students were involved in extra curricular activities like song, dance, gardening, game etc. During January 2017, the students were exposed to different historical and places of importance of Odisha like Konark, Dhauligiri, Nandankanan etc.
Mobile Health (MHU Arogya+) Kotagarh Project
High superstitions, shyness among the tribal people, habitation in interior area of forest and hill as well as distance situation of the hospital prevent the tribal people from enjoying health services provided by the Government. Moreover the quack practices in tribal areas do aggravate this cause. In most of the cases they do not avail the health facilities at the distance of their hand and poverty becomes a barrier in their way of getting good treatment. Looking to these constraints, ACM organizes Mobile Heath Camps with the support of National Rural Health Mission/ ZSS Kandhamal in regular basis covering a total of 40 villages of Jodabali, Durgapanga and Ora Gram Panchayats under Kotagarh Block. GKS has been sensitized in all the villages. During the year 2016-17, a total of 17710 nos. of patients affected by different diseases like malaria, dysentery, diarrhea, skin diseases, cold & cough and fever etc were treated in those camps. Free medicines were provided to all the patients.
Apart from these, health screening of school children have been made and medicines were provided to them free of cost. All the drinking wells in the villages were bleached. Awareness posters on sun stroke etc. were pasted at some conspicuous places of the village. Regular health check-ups were conducted for all the people with special emphasis on women and children. Health treatment in village level camps were continued with qualified and experienced doctors and health staffs.
New MoU was signed with NRHM/ZSS Kandhamal to continue the mobile health programme and Sri Bhagaban Sahu, Senior worker of ACM has been given the responsibility to coordinate the project. The Mahatma Gandhi Health Centre at Radiguma is continuing as usual.
ACM-EWB (Engineer Without Border) Programme
Construction of Biogas Plant, Sanitary Toilet and Community House:
EWB, the organization of volunteer engineers of German have adopted an interior and neglected tribal village Hudisahi, situated in the operation area of ACM Kaptipada unit, to develop as a model village with regard to sanitation and pollution free energy option. The programme aims at educating and serving village communities to attain increased health and well-being. Access to environmentally and locally appropriate technology by villagers – such as biogas plant technologies would minimize the use of fire wood and thereby to promote eco-balances. A total of 7 nos. of biogas plants and 6 nos. of toilets have been constructed for demonstration and orientation to the community. Awareness meetings on health and sanitation were conducted to create zeal and interest of the people towards adoption of sanitary facilities.
In this village, the EWB volunteers in association with ACM, has constructed one community house for the purpose of meeting of villagers by sitting together and sharing of knowledge and skill among each other. The community house has been constructed with physical participation and material support of the village people. Appropriate technology was applied by engineer volunteers in construction keeping in view the long term durability of the house. Renewable energy solar system has been introduced for lighting of the house. This programme has received high appreciation in the locality.
Ø A study on millet was conducted from 10th to 26th June 2016 by Navakrushna Choudhori Trust at ACM Kotagarh operational area of Srirampur and Subarnagiri Gram Panchayat. 20 families each from 8 villages of said G.P. were covered under survey programme in cooperation with ACM staff.
Ø There are several likeminded civil society organisations working in the districts, State national level with whom Antyodaya Chetana Mandal has established good rapport. Likewise the organization also made good relationship with different department of Govt., colleges and University, donor agencies etc. during the year.
Ø A 3 days conference on “Gandhian Concept of Development” was organized by MPC Autonomous College Baripada at its campus in collaboration with Indian Institute of Gandhian Studies supported by Gandhi Smriti & Darshan Samity, New Delhi. During the conference period, one day field exposure programme was organized at Antyodaya Chetana Mandal, Rangamatia premises. On this occasion a meeting on Gandhian Concept was held with the participation of professors, Gandhian leaders and local community leaders.
Ø ACM MG Eye hospital and North Odisha University collectively organized awareness campaign on blindness control and superstition.
Ø 33 nos. of workers of Antyodaya Chetana Mandal participated in Champaran Satyagraha Satabdy programme held at Motihar in Bihar State from 23rd to 25th March 2017.
Ø Mandatory documents including project progress reports and audit reports were submitted to respective donor agencies and Govt.
COVID 19 Activities
Caring and Support to Indigent Communities in the Extreme Rurals of Odisha During Corona Crisis 2020
A rural-based Gandhian organization in Odisha has come forward to serve the helpless and needy in tribal inhabited regions, amid the restrictions of coronavirus lockdown.
The pandemic is greatly affecting the livelihood of indigent communities in tribal belts of Odisha. With no daily wage jobs and halted trade across the state, many people have lost their full-time source of income and are on the verge of Poverty and Hunger. Upon the misery, hazardous risk of corona contamination is making the situation worse than ever.
Antyodaya Chetana Mandal, a non-profit organization in Mayurbhanj, Odisha understands the gravity of corona virus in their working regions, and is accordingly doing its bit in helping the vulnerable groups to collectively fight the battle against an invisible enemy.
Since its inception in 1982, ACM has been working passionately for the socio-economic development and disaster mitigation of downtrodden and indigent communities in the extreme rural Odisha. Over 3 decades , the organization has developed and implemented sustainable projects like Agro based developments , Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR), Integrated Education (IE), Vision2020, Mobile Health Unit, Community Eye Health in North Odisha , Capacitating rural artisans and more for the benefit of poorest of the poor in remote areas of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Kandhmal districts.
“Serving to Indigent Communities has been always our priority. With our programmes, we help tribals, dalits, women, landless , physically challenged persons and others, to lead a peaceful and prosperous life with equal rights & respect, same as other human beings on the planet”. Aditya Pattnaik, is the Founder of Antyodaya Chetana Mandal ( www.acmmayurbhanj.org) with multi various experiences at local and global level .
Ongoing Social Activities for Indigent Communities during COVID-19 crisis
There is no doubt Coronavirus pandemic has strongly disrupted the normalcy of our society. Each and every one is affected in a way or more. But even in such a fright, Antyodaya Chetana Mandal is setting examples for Humanity and Compassion by standing strong with the people at large through awareness , serving dry food,Reaching the unreached with health facilities ,attending emergency eye patients and advocating at state and national level may it be the role of GO-NGO collaboration or Model quarantine .
Let’s check out how the organization is serving vulnerable and needy ones in different tribal belts of Odisha.
Raising Awareness about Hygiene & Sanitation in regional languages
Though Odia is the first language spoken in Odisha, but in tribal regions, linguistic preferences are primarily regional. Talking about Mayurbhanj district, a majority of adivasis speak Santali, Ho, and Bathudi , which are very different from the common Odia language.
Thus, to avoid any kind of misinterpretation, ACM is recording informational messages about COVID-19 in regional languages and spreading the word with the help of a loud mike, loaded on a van . Apart from mike announcement, the organization is hosting public meetings with the help of local Asha and Anganwadi workers and educating every one about using masks, distributing mask & social distancing procedures.
On a serious note, Mr. Aditya Pattnaik justified the importance of more & more awareness programmes in the rurals, as some people in their region think Coronavirus is caused due to Bahabonga, (a tribal festival of Spring & Harmony) while many have no idea about the critical consequences of corona attack.
Mobile Health Facility for unreachable communities
In Odisha, there are a few interior villages where the reach of communication & health services is a bit weak. To help poor families living in those extreme rural areas, ACM is operating its own Mobile Health Unit. A team of experienced doctor and nurses is always on the move in and out of Kandhmal district.
They visit different villages on their mobile ambulance vehicle and check the overall medical conditions of family members from door-to-door. In this time of Corona crisis, if anyone shows the symptoms of COVID-19, the team immediately reports it to District Medical Officer for further investigation.
Not limited to check-up and diagnosis, ACM’s Mobile Health Unit also raises awareness about Hygiene & Sanitation through practical actions. Even the team has started an oath taking campaign, which is motivating tribal residents to follow social distancing rules strictly.
Emergency Eye Care Treatment at MGEHRI Base Hospital
Since 2000, Mahatma Gandhi Eye Hospital and Research Institute (www.mgehri.org), an epitomized unit of ACM, has been offering comprehensive eye care treatment & services to communities living in and around Mayurbhanj, Balasore, and Keonjhar. Situated in a serene environment at Rangamatia, Rasgovindpur block, Mayurbhanj, the eye hospital is popularly known for providing free cataract surgery to vulnerable groups.
Yes, you read it right!
Through outreach screening campaigns, ACM brings in cataract affected patients to its base hospital and performs their surgery with the help of renowned ophthalmologists, at zero cost – completely free.
Presently, the outreach campaigns are on a halt due to state-wide lockdown restrictions; however the base hospital is still open for public, every day except Sunday. People from near-by rural villages who face difficulties with their vision, often rush to MGEHRI for immediate check-up and treatment.
Following the preventive guidelines set by WHO, doctors and nurses are using masks as well as clinical gloves, and ensuring a safe & hygienic atmosphere for all. Also, unnecessary gathering of patients is not allowed inside the hospital and anyone who visits the campus is asked to wear a mask and maintain social distancing.
Quarantine Center for 50 beds at Gandhi Gurukul
ACM Rashgovindpur centre (Gandhi Gurukul), a modern day care school for children, owned by ACM is being used as an official quarantine center for Rasgovindpur block under the jurisdiction of state government. This comes after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced to setup proper quarantine centers in every block of every district throughout Odisha.
We are open to help our government in any way possible. For the time being, we have opened the doors of our school. – Geetanjali Pattnaik, the Director of Gandhi Gurukul.
Distribution of Masks and Dry Food Packets
. Considering the hardships of homeless people, labourers, physically challenged personnel, and other vulnerable groups amid the lockdown, ACM is distributing small packets of groceries, sanitizers, and masks to 4000 families the needy ones in working zones.
Dry food packets are personally packed and sealed by the associates of ACM with care and cleanliness. Mainly, groceries such as potato, onions, salt, dal, chuda, biscuit, chocolates for children, match sticks,Detol soaps ,mask, etc. are included in the package .
And every time there is a public meet-up to raise the awareness on COVID-19, the founder and associates personally distributes the packets to people who are in utmost distress. Till now, ACM has served minimum grocery to over 4000 rural families on personal capacity.
It feels good to see that Antyodaya Chetana Mandal is always there for the indigent communities no matter what’s the situation. I hope, this inspires other voluntary organisations working in rurals to work collectively and help the needy communities to fight the battle against corona.
Aditya Patnaik
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