Child Welfare Project By NGO In Himachal Pradesh

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Strengthening Health Ecosystem through Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centres By NGO In Himachal Pradesh

A. Project Context

In partnership with Mondelez India, Bal Raksha Bharat (Also known as Save the Children India) has been engaged in targeted initiative to enhance healthcare accessibility, availability, and affordability for improving the health and nutritional status of mothers and children. The partnership started in 2024 by starting an Induri Medical Centre in the Induri village, Maval block. Initially the activities were limited to clinic where OPD and specialists’ services, gynaecologist and paediatrician services, were available for the general population. The Induri centre services are well appreciated by the people as the consultancy and medicines are available for minimal charges of Rs. 10/-.

In addition to the routine OPD, as part of outreach, health camps, T3 camps, growth monitoring and identification malnourished children, NCCS sessions in Anganwadis, and ABHA camps have been conducted which has received appreciation from the communities as well as government health centres. All these activities were aligning with the government health program priorities. The interventions complemented the existing government services therefore, are well supported and appreciated by the government health centres.

Project Objective

Pertaining to the situation of undernutrition and unavailability of competent health facilities for identification and management of SAM/MAM as well as anaemia cases, Bal Raksha Bharat (Save the Children) has come up with this proposal of providing interventions for preventive, promotive and curative aspects, which gives a continuum of care to the target group from the community.

• Curative services through Induri clinic for minor ailments, specialist services for women and children
• Preventive and promotive services in collaboration with the Public Health Department, ICDS and Gram Panchayat related to MCHN and Adolescent Health

With the generous support of Mondelez India, Bal Raksha Bharat offered the services at Induri Clinic and link the services to important health and nutrition.
Goal
Improved Health and nutritional status of the community living in and around Induri Village.

B. Key Activities Implemented

Activity 1: Daily OPD services of Induri Clinic through general medical practitioner and specialist doctors.

– Total 12682 patients were treated in the OPD during 2024-25. Out of those 850 were treated by gynecologist and 953 were by pediatrician.
– General physician provided services for 277 days whether as specialists consultations were available through separate visits, 30 visits by gynecologist and 31 visits by pediatrician.
– Out of total patients around 37% were children. Out of remaining adults (63%), 72% were women.
– Major illnesses treated were URTI (32.8%), LRTI (0.8%), body ache (17.4%) and other minor ailments (49%).
– During the quarter, 51 Patients were taken benefit of ECG Machine, among these 8 patients referred for cardiac opinion.
– In a year, 464eEmployees and their families of Mondelez availed services from Induri Medical Center.
– HemoCue (Digital Hemoglobin meter) and simple anthropometric equipment were placed in the clinic for testing Anemia and Malnutrition in clinic and camps. Out of 1758 tested, 958 were WRA, out of which 152 were pregnant women. Twenty pregnant mothers were with low Hb. They were further tracked and treated.
– Total 346 patients were referred for various testing and specific diagnosis to specialist centers. 38 & were lab referrals, 25% were referrals for USG, 7% for eye related issues and around 4% each for x-ray, cardiological consultations.

Activity 2: Other outreach activities

1. Home visits: Over the period of year, 2328 home visits and 1253 Telephonic contacts have been done for follow-up of parents of SAM/ MAM children identified last year, and pregnant women & W.R. A having low H.B. Proper counselling of parents and women on health and nutrition, hygiene, and timing of diet uptake, cleanliness and importance of follow-up visits to clinic. Home visits and counselling helped in improving the malnutrition status of the children as well Hb level of the women.
2. VHND sessions: Total 242 antenatal and 1113 postnatal/lactating mother were reached through VHND. They were informed about proper diet, importance of every Immunization of 0-to-5-year children in proper age, cleanliness, iodine and anemia. timely breast feeding, cleanliness and how to hold children during breastfeeding and about the services of Induri medical center.
3. Co-ordination with Government Health provider: During the Year 6 meetings were conducted with Block Level Officer to update them on work of Induri Clinic, communication with stake holders, trainings of FLWs, work related to ANC PNC, and future planning.
4. Growth monitoring -During the Year, we have visited 13 Anganwadi of Induri, Malwadi, Sudawadi for Growth monitoring, proper Identification of SAM, MAM and planning of VHND programme planning and future programme.
5. Coordination with Induri AAM – During this year, total 123 patients suffering with Hyper Tension and High Sugar were referred to Induri AAM, where they were provided with regular medication.
6. Health camps: Conducted 12 camps during the period April 24 to March 25 at Sudwadi and Induri covering 1982 patients. During the camps, consultation by gynecologist is made available to the beneficiaries along with the IFA tablets. Awareness sessions was conducted for the participants on topics like good dietary habits and nutritious foods available, ANC, PNC care and Cleanliness. Support of nursing staff, general practitioner was available from Sevadham hospital. Local youth mandalas provided logistics support like hall free of cost, tables & chairs and drinking water arrangement.
7. RBSK Meetings: – During the project period, three meetings were conducted with RBSK. In these meetings Induri Medical Center Team shared information of patients refereed to RBSK. Induri Clinic Staff were doing co- ordination and taking follow up with RBSK regularly and 3 patients were referred for surgery, get operated successfully.
8. Recipe Event at Anganwadi Level: Total 19 events were conducted with the support frontline workers especially Anganwadi workers and ASHA workers benefitting 736 children and 656 women.
9. AABHA Card Camps: During this year, 18 camps were organized in Induri, Malwadi and Sudwadi Gram Panchayat, 1101 members were present in these camps, and 603 beneficiaries received Abha Cards.

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India Flood Response 2023 By NGO in Himachal Pradesh

Key Initiatives or Changes:

Himachal Pradesh, India, faced a severe crisis as it grappled with continuous flash floods and cloudbursts during the month of July 2023 and August 2023. The regions of Mandi and Solan were particularly affected by these devastating natural disasters. The situation led to significant damage to life and property and necessitated an immediate response to aid the affected individuals.

The planning to launch a humanitarian response in the affected area was conceptualized in the month of July’23 with activities ranging from distribution of essential resource materials and providing Psychosocial First Aid services, but unfortunately, the revoking of the FCRA license during this period dealt a severe blow in launching a swift humanitarian response in the area. Unperturbed by the new challenge and focussing on the mission to reach out to the most vulnerable person in the area, BRB reached out to the local donors and corporate CSR funds to help/fund the response. Leveraging NGO corporate partnerships, the BRB team’s resilience and dedication paved the way in attracting 3 CSR donors to fund response.

Recognizing the need to address the requirements of the population, Bal Raksha Bharat (BRB) implemented a comprehensive strategy for restoring and upgrade the damaged healthcare facility in the Solan and Mandi Districts. Bal Raksha Bharat’s proposed strategy was at three level – Preparedness, Response and Recovery conceptualized in partnership with the CSR donors involved in strengthening Primary healthcare facilities for resilient recovery impacted due to these floods.

Innovative Approaches or Strategies:

One of the major innovative approaches by top NGO in Himachal Pradesh that was implemented was the introduction of technology to reach out to the most remote part of this mountainous state with essential medical supplies.

The Drone capable of carrying 15 kg of medical supplies would prove to be a ground breaking advancement in reaching out to the most remote villages in the area or areas where all possible road connection have been severed due to landslides, floods or other disaster. The Drone could deliver medications and supplies to patients being cared for in the home instead of a hospital-based setting, which might have been damaged due to any disaster like situation such as flood, landslides, etc. Thus, this is a big step in ensuring continuous medical care even in times of severe disaster.

The response strategy implemented by Bal Raksha Bharat (BRB) in the flood-affected areas of Himachal Pradesh was comprehensive and proactive. As soon as the disaster struck, the BRB team initiated on-ground coordination and selected health facilities in collaboration with the respective Chief Medical Officers (CMO) and Block Medical Officers (BMO). A dedicated team of 6 to 7 members was deployed for needs assessment, and engaging with the community in the district. A key aspect of their efforts was gathering information about the affected areas and families. Working in close collaboration with community volunteers, the team collected detailed data on families impacted by the floods. This information was crucial for directing targeted relief initiatives and enhancing the decision-making process.

The successful implementation of the disaster management project underscores the efficacy of coordinated initiatives in enhancing disaster resilience in rural communities. By repairing health facilities, raising awareness, forming a dedicated committee, and conducting training drills, the project has empowered villagers and fortified the community’s ability to mitigate risks and respond resiliently to disasters.

The methodical approach of the project was designed to maximize the use of resources and personnel. It ensured that each response team was fully prepared to meet the specific needs of each location. Bal Raksha Bharat tailored the deployment plan to the unique requirements of each area, aiming to enhance the impact of the response activities and provide timely support to the families affected by the disaster.

Measures of Success:

The response was able to achieve the following major milestones during the entire reporting period:

Infrastructure revamping done (including restoration and repair work) in all the 10 Primary Health Facility, thereby achieving 100% of the desired target

Capacity Building Training (including practical sessions, where ever required) for the staff of all the selected 15 Primary Health Centers were conducted on the following topics, thus achieving 100% of the target:

Disaster Preparedness

Health Facility Risk/Vulnerability Assessment Exercise

Safe Health Facility and Safe Community Plan

Mock Drills

A 12 days’ awareness campaign was organized with the objective to improve behavior change of communities on health, nutrition & wash during emergency like situation in two identified districts of Solan and Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. During the awareness campaign we could reach to reached 88564 people

Procurement and handing over facilitating technology level support (Drone) to the state authorities for delivering essential medical supplies in coordination with district administration.

Distribution of 1085 Food Kits, 1295 Hygiene Kits, 1646 Shelter Kits and 390 Health Equipment (BP Machines) thereby reaching to close to 25K affected people

Bal Raksha Bharat (BRB) team implemented a post-distribution/post-response feedback mechanism, which has been vital in evaluating the impact and effectiveness of the response. After the distribution and other response activities (such as PFA, strengthening of Heath Facility), the team engaged with the beneficiaries to collect their feedback on the usefulness and suitability of the kits and the feedback received by enhancing the health facility. The feedback received indicated that the impact from the various response activities were immensely beneficial. This positive response highlights the success of the initiative in meeting the immediate needs of the affected families and children.

Additional Information

Case Story : Overcoming Adversity: Ms. Preeto Devi’s Journey of Resilience

Background

Ms. Preeto Devi, widow of the late Lt. Sh. Tara Chand, is a resilient individual currently residing with her daughters, Beena (20 years old), Sushma (13.5 years old), and Kamaljeet (11 years old). Following the untimely demise of her husband due to a heart attack in 2017, Preeto found herself confronted with immense challenges in raising her children in their village of Silh-Sunani. Tragedy struck once more in 2020 when Preeto’s 17-year-old son succumbed to a snake bite, leaving the family grief-stricken and struggling to cope.

The family’s plight worsened when heavy rainfall triggered a devastating landslide on August 15th, 2023, which obliterated their home and agricultural land. Forced to seek refuge with her parents, Preeto and her daughters relocated to her maternal home in the village of Jaman da Dora, where they became reliant on the support of relatives for their basic needs. The turmoil disrupted Beena’s education, compelling her to halt her studies after completing her 12th-grade examination. Support through education donation could help Beena resume her education and rebuild hope for a brighter future.

Current Context

Amidst this adversity, a beacon of hope emerged in the form of the ‘India Flood Response – 2023′ project initiated by Bal Raksha Bharat in collaboration with Zee Entertainment. In January 2023, during a distribution event for hygiene kits at the Health Sub Center/Health and Wellness Center in Jaman Da Dora, Beena shared her family’s hardships with the field staff. Touched by their story, Bal Raksha Bharat, along with Zee Entertainment, distributed 30 hygiene kits to families in need within the Bawasini Panchayat, including Preeto Devi’s.

The partnership between Bal Raksha Bharat, the health facility, and the Panchayati Raj institution culminated in a community sensitization session on personal hygiene. Preeto and Beena were among the beneficiaries of this initiative, receiving hygiene kits and expressing their gratitude for the support provided by Bal Raksha Bharat and Zee Entertainment. Beena emphasized the significance of the hygiene kit in promoting good hygiene practices among girls and women in their community.

Furthermore, Preeto’s active involvement in the Disaster Management Committee reflects her newfound understanding of the importance of disaster preparedness, illustrating her resilience and commitment to safeguarding her family and community.

Conclusion

Ms. Preeto Devi’s journey through adversity underscores the power of resilience and the transformative impact of community support. Despite facing numerous setbacks, Preeto and her daughters have persevered with dignity, finding strength in the solidarity extended by organizations like Bal Raksha Bharat and Zee Entertainment. Through their intervention efforts and partnerships with local institutions, tangible strides have been made towards rebuilding lives and fostering resilience in the face of adversity. Support efforts like these and donate online to help more families like Preeto’s.

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India Flood Response 2023 By NGO in Himachal Pradesh

A. Project Context

In response to the devastating flash floods and landslides in Himachal Pradesh during July–August 2023, Bal Raksha Bharat has initiated to develop a MODEL RESILIENT VILLAGE PROGRAMME in Sil/Sunani, Gram Panchayat Bawasni, Solan District. The project aimed to transform Sil/Sunani into a scalable and replicable model of disaster resilience through an integrated approach across shelter, health, education, WASH, child protection, and livelihoods. The project was formally launched on International Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Day, 14th October 2024, by the Hon. Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, the project was implemented in close collaboration with the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA) and the District Administration of Solan, with technical support from the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee. These partnerships enabled a coordinated and government-aligned response, ensuring timely permissions, technical validation, and convergence with state priorities. Key achievements include the construction for 12 temporary shelters, 2 community toilets, and 2 water storage units, alongside 10 solar light and green space development. Retrofitting and BLES work commenced in 2 government schools and 2 Anganwadi Centres to improve child safety and educational infrastructure. To restore livelihoods, 70 farming families were supported with seeds, tools, and capacity-building sessions on climate-resilient agriculture. Women’s empowerment was promoted through strengthened Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and financial literacy initiatives. Community-level structures were formed and activated, including School Management Committees (SMCs), School Disaster Management Committees (SDMCs), Mothers’ Groups, Children’s Groups, and a Child Protection Committee (CPC). More than 400 individuals participated in mock drills, task force training, school safety audits, and DRR awareness sessions. 70 families received family preparedness kits, while frontline workers and teachers were trained on child protection, nutrition, and health. The project’s evidence-based approach culminated in block and district consultation workshops in March 2025 to inform future planning, support and encourage to the model replication. An End-line Assessment confirmed significant improvements in disaster preparedness, community empowerment, and infrastructure resilience. Through this collaborative model involving government, community, and technical partners, the project not only addressed immediate recovery but also laid the foundation for long-term resilience in one of Himachal Pradesh’s most disaster-prone state. The project goal is to create a model village that not only restores the affected areas but also enhances their resilience to future disasters in Himachal Pradesh.

B. Project Objective

The five main project objectives were defined as under:

• Ensure that most affected households in Gram Panchayat Bawasni have access to safe and stable temporary shelter and proper sanitation facilities, thereby addressing their immediate housing and hygiene needs.
• Facilitate the recovery of affected families in Gram Panchayat Bawasni by supporting and diversifying their income-generating activities, promoting self-sufficiency, and helping them regain financial stability and independence.
• Empower the community with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to enhance their disaster resilience and create a safe & protective environment & enhance community nutrition and health practices in the community for children
• To enhance community nutrition and health practices through targeted workshops, orientation sessions, campaigns, and training, thereby improving dietary habits, child health during emergencies, and food safety.
• To generate evidence & influence the policy environment through advocacy & mobilise commitment in scaling up successful evidence-based approaches

C. Key Activities Implemented

• Multi-sector Need assessment (Housing, Infrastructure, Education, Child Protection, Health and Nutrition and WASH Livelihood Support & Gender Sensitive Need Assessment)
• Construction of 12 temporary shelters, 2 community toilets, and 2 water storage units, alongside 10 solar light and green space development
• Support livelihood through Agricultural training and provision of seeds and raw materials
• Prepare a disaster risk reduction plan and training
• Conduct mock drills to prepare for future disasters
• School safety audit and disaster management planning in 2 schools and IEC material development
• Awareness campaign and special day celebration (Education, Child Protection, Health & Nutrition and WASH)
• Strengthening school management committees
• Formation and strengthening of child protection committee (CPC) and development of village child protection plan
• Formation and strengthening of children groups
• Formation and strengthening of mothers’ groups
• Training of frontline workers and school teachers on Child Protection and Psychosocial support
• Training of frontline workers on Infant Young Child Feeding Practices (IYCF), Growth Monitoring of children, prevention of water borne diseases, acute malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies
• Family preparedness planning and providing family survival kits to 70 families
• Improve educational facilities through establishing state-of-the art library, child friendly hand washing stations, BLES work in 2 schools
• Strengthen AWC services through infrastructure improvement- 2 anganwadis
• Consultation with line departments for sharing the community safety plans at block and district level
• Advocacy with line department at state level on risk and its mitigation at the community and adaptation and replication of the model village program

D. Top-line of Results (outputs/outcomes) achieved.

• Infrastructural Development: Construction of 12 temporary housing units, 2 water storage tanks, and 2 community toilets, 10 Solar lights, 1 community green space, retrofitting and BLES work completed in 2 schools and 2 AWCs.
• Capacity Building: 449 people trained in Disaster Risk Reduction and emergency response, including mock drills and First Responder Kit has also provided for future preparedness.
• Livelihood Recovery: 70 families supported with agricultural kits and seeds, advanced farming training provided, power tillers and rotavators distributed.
• Child Protection & Education: Formed 2 School Management Committees (SMCs), 2 School Disaster Management Committees (SDMCs), 2 Children’s Groups, 2 Mothers’ Groups, and 1 Child Protection Committee.
• Community Resilience: Developed village and school disaster management plans conducted multiple mock drills and awareness campaigns including on Global Handwashing Day and International DRR Day.
• Project Kick Off Event- the project kick-off event was organized at state level and the project was launched by the Hon. Chief minister of Himachal Pradesh
• Advocacy & Outreach: Organized district- and block-level consultations, and a state-wide project launch developed a project teaser video and showcased initiatives at the Red Cross Fair.

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India Flood Response 2023 By NGO in Himachal Pradesh

A. Project Context

On 31st of July 2024, an unexpected and catastrophic cloudburst struck the districts of Mandi, Kullu, and Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, leaving widespread devastation. Torrential rainfall triggered flash floods, massive landslides, and severe damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and homes. Thousands of families were left without shelter, food, and essential utilities, while access to the affected areas became more challenging due to the landslides and harsh weather conditions. This tragic event deepened the existing vulnerabilities in these already remote and underserved communities.
In response to this unprecedented disaster, Bal Raksha Bharat (BRB), with support from Bollore Logistics as part of its CSR initiative, coordinated a relief effort to distribute food, shelter, hygiene, and dignity kits to the affected population. The primary goal of this intervention was to address the immediate needs of those in dire circumstances, particularly vulnerable groups such as children, women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

The aim of the response was to provide immediate support to children and their families in urgent need of food, hygiene, shelter, and dignity kits, following the cloudburst, landslides, and floods in the Shimla, Mandi, and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh.

B. Project Objective

The objective of this response was to provide post disaster humanitarian support to children and their families affected by the floods in the Shimla, Mandi, and Kullu districts. Bal Raksha Bharat aimed to reach at least 375 families/households across these three districts within a timeline of 4 months. Special attention was given to the most vulnerable children and their families, ensuring that their essential needs were met during this difficult period.

C. Key Activities Implemented

Distribution of food kits (430)
Distribution of Shelter Kits (430)
Distribution of Hygiene Kits (430)
Distribution of Dignity kits (305)

D. Top-line of Results (outputs/outcomes) achieved.

• During the distribution of food kits, the standard process of Bal Raksha Bharat (BRB) was followed to ensure that the affected people in need were reached. Additionally, in the wake of the cloudburst, immediate food relief was crucial to prevent malnutrition and hunger. Total Number of Food Kits Distributed: 430

• Similarly, the distribution of shelter kits was carried out following the standard process of Bal Raksha Bharat (BRB) to ensure that the affected people in need were reached effectively. Total Number of Shelter Kits Distributed: 430

• In the aftermath of the cloudburst, sanitation became a critical concern as floodwaters contaminated water sources, compromising basic hygiene. Following the established process, hygiene kits were distributed to help combat potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases. Total Number of Hygiene Kits Distributed: 430

• The dignity of affected women and children was a priority in our relief operations. Special dignity kits were prepared for women, containing essential items for personal hygiene and comfort, allowing them to maintain their dignity during this difficult time. Following the established process, the dignity kits were distributed to those in need. Total Number of Dignity Kits Distributed: 305