WORLD DISABILTY DAY (3rd Dec)
Sunday, November 30, 2008
In past decades there is marked improvement in health facilities and diagnostics scale, still there is not much drop in disability statistics. It may be because of better awareness and availability of rehabilitation services. But, disability is still one of the biggest challenges in front of our country. Disability not only affects the person and family but it affects the country as a whole. The country which have small in number but productive population always perform better than a country which have a large population and less productive people. Having a person with disability in family is always challenging as it requires a lot of financial, personnel and time resources. Disability becomes more severe and complex if it is combined with poverty.
The PWD Act 1995 advocates for Equal Opportunity, Full participation and Protection of rights, but still it has reached to couple of disabled and benefited them. I am sure that 50% of disabled may not be knowing about the policies and concessions allowed for them and how to avail them. In our country disability is still considered as a stigma to family and society. As per our beliefs disability is because of our bad “Karma” or ill deeds of our previous life. Lack of proper channels for dissemination of information and poor education among disabled is one major reason. The status of information, awareness and facilities are further poor in rural areas than urban. Lack of preventive education and expensive rehabilitation services make the treatment for disabled hard. At a large scale the facilities and opportunities are not available for most of disabled. Barrier free environment is not commonly seen in most of the shopping centres, public places, bus stands and other tourist places.
Pre natal counselling and care, Early diagnosis and Early Intervention is still not available to 20% of population. Because of increased demands and less umber of qualified professionals makes the basic services expensive.
Government facilities are not up to mark and can’t cater the services of such a big number and for more then 50% can’t avail the services on private sector. In this scenario the role of NGO and NPO becomes important where they can collaborate and network among themselves and with Govt so that a large population can be targeted. Other important area is education and awareness about sanitation, healthy practices and prenatal counseling should be given more emphasis. It is estimated that 50% of chances of developing disability can be reduce with preventive measures.
A little dedicated effort on preventive aspect, standardisation of services and rehabilitation, mandatory early intervention services and better education, collaboration of various NGO and govt agencies working in same area and sensitization in community for better acceptance can really improve the quality of a disabled person in community.
Posted byNeeti at 12:50 AM 0 comments
Labels: disability
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Thursday, November 27, 2008
As per the definition social entrepreneurship is the work of social entrepreneur. A social entrepreneur (entrepreneur in French means “one who takes into hands”) is one who recognizes the social need and bring the change. Social entrepreneurs correctly defined by French economist Jean- Baptiste “ who shifts economic resources out of an area of lower and into an area of higher productivity and greater yield”. They act as a catalyst and hasten the social progress. Thus, they are the change maker or change agents or social innovators, who solve the social problems.
It is not necessary that all social entrepreneurs or organisation have no profit objectives rather they generate the income along with social change and use the profit for community building or for further activities. It is not just fund raising rather it is fund development.
Recognition of Social needs and social assets and resources
Business model and operating strategy
Characteristics of Social Entrepreneurs
Pursuance
Leadership
Focus
Dedication and committed
Passionate
Value of long term consideration over short term
Strong ethical and human values
Wiliness to Self correct
Benefits of social entrepreneurship
¥ SE generates the social economy by working with the disadvantaged, poor and underprivileged group. Empowering them with training and providing opportunities to them improves the overall capital generation of a society.
¥ Social entrepreneurs innovates a solution which is cost effective and which can address a larger group. Hence, it reduces the Govt efforts and capital. Sometime the creative idea even accepted by Govt or Authority as a law or policy.
¥ Since, social entrepreneurship is a business with a triple bottom of social change; it provides employment to people in this sector.
¥ Overall the objective of social entrepreneurship is to develop community so, it hasten the development of a sustainable and healthy community
Posted byNeeti at 10:23 PM 2 comments
Labels: knowledge sharing
HAPPY(???) CHILDREN DAY...
Friday, November 14, 2008
- The condition of a girl child is far more severe than a male child. Not only the infection, malnutrition and other disease, girl child is more prone of foeticide and innumerable girl children are killed after their birth or with in the womb. That’s why few states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are having fewer girls than boys and the gender ratio is low. Patriarchal norms and distribution of will and tradition of dowry are the main reasons which threaten the survival of girl child. Even with the improvement of education and awareness and strict laws the female foeticide has increased in last few years. It is found during survey that every sixth girl child's death is due to gender discrimination. The girl child life is further on risk as she grows older. 1 out of 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 4. The kind of education, nutrition and immunisation and other necessary services are provided less to the girls than a male child.
- It is not only the girl child who is put on the risk; the male child does have inhibition on his normal development. Poor nutrition, lack of vaccination, poor sanitary condition and child labour are the risk factors for whole childhood no matter if it is a girl child or a male child.
- Child labour is very common as the child is considered as a property of the adults and some time a young life has to support the whole family where the parents are not working or their earning is not sufficient to support the family. As per an official estimation 17 million children are child labour. Child labour spoils the child future by inhibiting him to get proper education and make him prone to sexual and physical harassment and exploitation. Child labour is more common as it is the cheapest resource. This further on adds to the youth unemployment. Some time the child run away from the situation, work or from family and start living on the street. Street life again increases the risks to multi fold by exposing them to crime, exploitation, drugs and abuse.
- The education statistic is also not satisfactory. 50% of children with age of 6-18 don’t go to school. The girl education stats are further less than the boys child. Even if the child gets in to the education frame, the quality of education is poor. The poor guidance and vocation opportunities lead the child to do the same labour or work which does not involve the basic education. So, the usage of education lowers down and its importance too.
- All children have the right to be protected from work that interferes with their normal growth and development. Abandoned children, children without families and disabled children need special care and protection. 3% of
WE
q Education plays an important in enabling us to judge the right think, develop the civic sense, develop self respect and dignity and improves the quality of life. Every educated child contributes to enhance the economy and productivity of nation. The educationist, civilian and govt should work on to improve the quality of education.
q The disabled children should not be assessed on the basis of what they cant performed rather they should be graded on their ability to perform. Better health system, proactive measures and inclusive education can improve their life.
q Girl child should not be accepted as a curse. There are so many examples in world in various areas where they have recognised more with their work than their gender. The girl child should be provided with stimulating environment, education and safe environment foe better performance.
q Proper guidance should be given regarding sanitation, basic hygiene, nutrition, prevention of communicational disease, vaccination and immunisation and healthy eating practices can reduce the risk of young lives.
q We, all citizens should take the responsibility of the nation to improve the standards of education and quality of life. If every individual take his own responsibility as a citizen rather than blaming the others and politician, then there would less problems to work and it would be healthy environment we can provide to our coming generation.
Posted byNeeti at 12:04 AM 0 comments
Labels: awareness