ORGANISATION FOR AWARENESS OF INTEGRATED SOCIAL SECURITY

ANNUAL REPORT 2005-2006

SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM

The founders of OASiS developed and tested a sustainable Social Security System model for developing countries. A model that gives complete Social Security cover to deprived families without any taxes or savings and provides:

• Sustainable livelihood security for all, through financially assisted livelihoods in groups and individually, and sustained business through the system.

• Financial protection from all uncertainties in life, through social insurances.

• Old age financial security (Pension).

• Education for children aimed at grooming them towards self-employment, and as responsible citizens.

• Increasing Social Security continuing over generations.

PROGRESS TILL DATE

• Model endorsed by a senior economist of India, Dr Bibek Debroy (Secretary General, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, N Delhi), Advisor - OASiS.

• Model studied and permitted for implementation in the state by the Government of MP.

• Rural Model implementation being supported by NABARD.

URBAN

• Urban model Implementation being done in Bhopal, MP with own resources.

• 300 families and 6 service providers in 2 slums registered with the system.

• Although State Bank of India agreed talks are still on with them and Punjab National Bank to open Social Security Accounts. Social Security collections started.

• First Self Employed Group (SEG) formed and livelihood activities being explored.

RURAL

• NABARD approved and sanctioned grant of Rs 8 Lacs for 3 years, for implementing the Rural model of the Social Security System in 2 villages of Betul District (MP).

• 3 villages (Polapathar, Gurgunda and Chirmatekri) have been chosen in Bhoura cluster of Shahpura Block in Betul district, MP for the project.

• First survey has been completed for all 3 villages. Consumption Analysis done for 2 villages.

• Livelihood activities have been identified for 1 village. Self Employed Groups being formed.

• Project Implementation and Monitoring Committee (PIMC) has been formed comprising of NABARD DDM, Branch Manager Punjab National Bank, Bhoura, PRADAN, OASiS and Insurance professionals to guide and monitor the project. The first PIMC meeting was held on Feb 11, 2006 to discuss the project and decide roles and responsibilities of PIMC members.

Social Security for the disabled

While planning the social security system model, it was observed that the Disabled were not being given any social security cover through the Insurance. This led OASiS to initiate a fight against the injustice. The efforts led to a decision at a National workshop to file a Public interest Litigation in the Supreme Court demanding insurances to the disabled at par with the able bodied.

PROGRESS TILL DATE

• A sample survey was done to determine the risk portfolio of the disabled regarding hospitalization and accidents.

• In August 2005, for the first time in the country, The New India Assurance Co Ltd, Bhopal Division–I offered Health insurance to the Disabled at standard premium, terms and conditions.

• The First Health Insurance Policy for a Mentally Retarded in the country was given through OASiS to Vivek Punj (of Parent’s Society for the Mentally Retarded) on December 1, 2005.

• This was announced by the District Collector, Bhopal in a Press conference on 9 Dec 2005.

• During the conference the Collector also declared financial support for the premiums required to cover all economically weaker disabled by health insurance.

• A committee was formed to study all aspects and choose the right package for the same.

• A survey has been initiated by the Collector’s office to collect all health related information and health seeking behaviour of the disabled in Bhopal district.

• Presentation made on Feb 22, 2006 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, in a meeting of all State Commissioners Disability organised by the Chief Commissioner Disability, GoI.

• Expert Group formed by the CCD comprising of Disbility Commissioners of 10 states, OASiS, and Collector Bhopal, to conduct the survey at a national level and design an appropriate framework of a Health Insurance Policy for the Disabled.

Urban Slum children Education Project – “PARVARISH”

With an aim to better society by giving the right education to children of a lesser god and prevent them from becoming potential and future lawbreakers Project “PARVARISH” was conceived in March 2004. A one year research on non-formal education models: Shanti Niketan (WB), Aurobindo Ashram (Pondicherry), Rishi Valley, Japanese system, Loreto (WB), helped in designing the outlines of the project in July 2005. The project “PARVARISH” was launched on September 5, 2005 by our Patron Mr Oudh Narain Shrivastava (Ex-Governor, Nagaland), Mr Sumit Bose (Principal Secretary, Finance, GoMP) and Dr D P Sharma (Ex-Vice Chancellor, Barkatullah University, Bhopal).

The main features of the model are:

• First Collaborative project with National Museum of Mankind, Regional Science Centre and Regional Museum of Natural History.

• An informal education model based on the belief that Nature is the Best Teacher, and the best learning can happen through exposure and observation in various surroundings.

• A sponsorship based model, where each unfortunate child is sponsored by responsible citizen in the city.

• 11 year project aimed at grooming non-school going slum children towards self-employment.

PROGRESS TILL DATE

• Project started on September 5, 2005

• Enrolled 45 rag picker children from 2 slums Meera Nagar and Saibaba Nagar in Bhopal.

• The average strength of 30 are managed, guided and taught by 5 teachers (3 from the slums itself, a College student and a Teacher from one of the schools in Bhopal).

• The project is guided and directed by a very senior teacher from a reputed school in Bhopal, and by a social worker from the academic sector.

• First six months were focussed on changing attitudes and basic literacy for all students.

• Project giving wonderful results speaking success of adopted non-formal methods of education.

• The first quarter evaluation done in the first week of January 2006 has shown remarkable improvement in the behavioural aspects like discipline, cleanliness, orderliness and basic civic sense, of the children, and substantial strength towards building an academic foundation.

• Pre-vocational skills training and learning by doing mechanisms being planned.

• 9 children have been sponsored till date by 8 concerned citizens.

• Funding being explored with corporate and institutions, funding organisations and individual sponsorship by concerned citizens in Bhopal and friends of OASiS.

RURAL Education Project

With an aim to Building a bridge between the institutes of repute and the deprived (school dropout) children from rural areas, the rural education project was initiated in August 2004. 2 Villages – Chaan and Maksi, close to Bhopal were identified with help from MP Education Dept. for the project. A one year continuous intervention by OASiS volunteers helped in creating awareness about the benefits of education and the new methodologies that have made education much easier.

PROGRESS TILL DATE

• 50 village school dropouts taught livelihood skills over a year.

• 10 village school dropouts got motivated and agreed to appear for the MP State Open School Xth and XIIth examination.

• OASiS collaborated with a nearby private college “Institute for Professional and Educational Research” (IPER) for preparatory classes for Open School examinations.

• Motivated MCA and MBA students of the college to teach the Village school dropouts for Xth and XIIth examination as part of social activity in their college. 50 students of the college volunteered.

• IPER college facilitated in accommodating a period everyday for social work / library.

• Preparatory classes started on September 15, 2005. The classes are being conducted everyday by IPER students at IPER campus for the village students.

• 1 student has appeared for the Std X examination in December 2005.

• The rest 9 students shall be appearing for their examinations in July 2006.

• The model has created enough encouragement in the village and adjoining villages.

• More school dropouts from the nearby villages want to benefit from the model and receive certification for High School and Higher Secondary.

• A mid term evaluation of the model will be done in the coming months.

Livelihood Project

Livelihood being an important component of Social Security is one of the main focus areas of OASiS. However keeping in view various parameters, OASiS is trying out various small livelihood models to integrate with the Social Security System.

PROGRESS TILL DATE

• Designed new eco carry bags from newspapers to replace the non-degradable polythene carry bags below 20 microns.

• Trained 100 women in urban slums on manufacturing. Designed supply chain mechanism.

• Waiting for Government support to ban the use of polythene in certain areas where the paper bags can be introduced.

• Exploring financial support from business houses and administrative support from district administration to make this possible and replace non-degradable polythene with paper bags.

• Trained 10 women in Saibaba Nagar slums on manufacturing Sanitary pads for women.

• The Self-Employed Group is experimenting with various designs to see what works best and is affordable enough to cater to the huge demand in the slums.