‘Saahas Mehnat-Mazdoori’ initiative another courageous effort by ‘Saahas Foundation’

‘Saahas Mehnat-Mazdoori’ initiative another courageous effort by ‘Saahas Foundation’

S.M.A.KAZMI

Dehradun , Aug 5

‘Saahas Mehnat-Mazdoori’ is a proposed initiative of ‘Saahas Foundation’ which plans to facilitates income opportunities, job work, organize needs-based relief material, educate ourselves about public schemes and help to integrate those in the lives of people directly involved in daily wage laborious work. These include cycle or electric rickshaw pullers, street hawkers, manual work labourers and  cooks, etc.

‘Saahas Foundation Inclusive Resource Centre’ is a community-led social enterprise that works for the empowerment of people who are marginalised and vulnerable, including persons with disabilities. It is a company registered under section 8 of the Companies Act 2013, the incorporation status of which is ‘not for profit’.

The enterprise encourages communities for economic pursuits by promoting locally available resources; in diverse areas such as handicraft (using wood, recycled paper, bamboo, etc.), ecotourism, etc.; promoting rural enterprise development, revival of cultural art forms and indigenous Himalayan technologies; as well as development of various farm and non-farm sectors which would raise income level of communities.

Shahab Naqvi who started ‘Saahas Foundation’ said that most of the daily wage labourers are seasonal or circular migrants and mostly  they have been disconnected from their traditional social networks. Generally, far from home, their families depend on them for remittances, they often subsist on very little in order to save and send money home.

“Through this initiative we try to help migrant labourers connect to government facilitated CSC centres, help organize relevant paper work, assist in matters which require legal documentation and judicial procedures for example in case of a person with disability – having an assessment done through government hospitals, facilitating disability certificate, guardianship, etc,” Shahab Naqvi said.

‘Saahas Foundation’ as part of its’ proposed ‘Saahas Mehnat-Mazdoori’ initiative  plans to help organize orders for women who wish to start or have already been operating tiffin or catering services. These women generally are homemakers and in desperate need for a source of income. The foundation would train them on various aspects of it, focusing on cleanliness, hygiene and setting standards for delivery.” In a way, we nurture an aptitude for entrepreneurship in the field of food services,’ he added.

‘Saahas Foundation’ also plans to organise regular meetings with rickshaw pullers and assist them in getting subsidies,  in order to have them buy rickshaws of their own at a convenient price. Similarly, they plan to coordinate with various construction sites to engage daily wage workers. “We also try and secure small domestic civil work assignments wherein manual labourers could be employed,” he added.

“In addition to this, we try and assist the families of migrant workers, others in other areas such as having their children go to school, join ITI’s, colleges etc., integrate with fee waiver programs, scholarships,” proposed Shahab Naqvi.

‘Saahas Foundation’ has started several projects under its flagship programme including ‘Saahas Ekta’,which envisages participation of community organizations seeking to identify and develop diverse livelihood-centric vocational practices and models that are not only sustainable but also promote convergence with the economics affecting individuals. Therefore, under this project, Saahas organises events, seminars, workshops, and allied capacity-building programmes; promotes these as means to facilitate effective platforms of industry; and highlights inclusive vocational practices that are both developmental and industrial.

‘Saahas Bhumiveer’, is an initiative for community participation in times of need such as natural calamities. Through this programme, Saahas mobilized relief and rehabilitation work during the Covid-19 pandemic. The organisation’s project management skills and operational expertise were deployed to tackle the socio-economic effects on vulnerable and deprived sections of society.

Through ‘Saahas Chetna’, Foundation creates inclusive self-employment opportunities amongst marginalised communities. According to Naqvi, in many low-income community settlements, the informal economy offers many alternative sources of livelihood using natural resources. “Through this initiative we work among the vulnerable communities by training them in handicraft skills using materials such as recycled paper, bamboo, ringaal and wood, as well as across many farm and non-farm sectors,” said Naqvi.

‘Saahas Saathi’, ‘Saahas Parisharam’, ‘Saahas Samanvya’, ‘Saahas Nirman’, ‘Saahas Dobasu’, Saahas Sharam –Vigyan, ‘Saahas Kitab’, ‘Saahas Kala Khoj’,  and ‘Saahas Dhaga’ are some of the other initiatives started by ‘Saahas Foundation’ for marganilised communities in Uttarakhand and nearby areas of Uttar Pradesh. ‘Saahas Mehnat-Mazdoori’, would be the latest initiative of the foundation in helping the urban poor.