MMRDA’s human development initiative
40K project affected families to benefit.
Over 1000 families benefitted by the pilot project
Mumbai, December 17, 2010 – The Social Development Cell (SDC) established by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is all set to improve the quality of life of close to 40,000 project affected families as the successful implementation of the pilot project suggests. The human development initiative, with the help of Ambedkar Center for Justice and Peace – Resource Center (ACJP-RC), after studying 1,084 project affected families residing at Gautam Nagar, Govandi, provided services for health, education and livelihood to improve the human development indicators based on the needs highlighted by the survey. “This is a process. We have resettled projected affected families and it was our commitment to maintain the human face and emotion of the city while developing it. The establishment of SDC is the step forward to achieve this objective”, said Mr.Ratnakar Gaikwad, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA.
The Authority, under the project, first carried out a demographic survey including the health and education profiles of the population, identified the needs and developed modules for intervention and actually implemented programmes in the sectors of health, education and livelihood. In the health sector, special programmes were implemented for health awareness, health camps, health services and follow ups for the handicapped, eye patients, pregnant women and for general public. In the education sector, opening of Anganwadis and English medium nursery school, counseling and re-enrollment of drop-outs, provision of study room facility etc. were carried out. Training, skill development, career guidance and placement camps were organized and Self-help Groups were supported and strengthened. “In all 1,663 individuals were benefited by this unique programme guided by the human development indicators”, said Mr.Vishram Patil, Chief, Social Development Cell, MMRDA. “The recipients were addressed through the unique model of facilitation and networking with MCGM and various NGOs such as NASEOH, NIMH and others. The rare feature of the programme is identification, training and involvement of local volunteers in large numbers”, concluded Mr.Patil.
The MMRDA – while implementing various ambitious infrastructure projects such as Mumbai Urban Transport Project, Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project, Metro-rail Project, Mono-rail Project and Mithi Development Project – has relocated about 40,000 families in 36 colonies established in different parts of the city. “The successful implementation has made our vision more clear and now we will take this programme forward to all the resettlement and rehabilitation colonies. It’s an MMRDA initiative to improve the human development indicators of the resettled people while implementing several infra projects”, informed Mr.Gaikwad.
Under the HDI Intervention Programme, the MMRDA extended following benefits to the Project affected families –
Sr. No.Intervention ProgrammeNo. of Beneficiaries
1Help to handicapped persons for obtaining certificates, appliances, surgeries, physiotherapy, vocational and education facilities and other treatments38
2Eye Camp292
3Medical aid for Cataract patients20
4Operations for Cataract patients8
5ANC registration of pregnant women42
6Gynecology Camp16
7Nutrition camp for pregnant women and adolescent girls85
8General Health Camp (collaboration with BMC Health Dept.) 174
9Drop in Centre (Polio, immunization and other health activities)480
10Awareness programme on HIV/AIDS, TB and Leprosy300
11Identification and sensitization of Social Volunteers45
12Counseling and guidance camp for dropouts87
13Anganwadis 4
14English medium Nursery school started through community effort1
15Study Room facility for PAP students1
16Career and vocational training guidance camps42
17Support for and strengthening of Self-help Groups 13
18Networking with stakeholders15
