Dappar, Punjab

GMRVF activities commenced in Dapper near Chandigarh soon after the work on GMR Ambala Chandigarh Expressways Pvt. Ltd. began in 2006-07. Now with the completion of the project, a toll plaza has been constructed at Dapper. Foundation’s activities are concentrated in Dapper Colony and Dapper village close to the Toll Plaza. Most of the inhabitants of this area are landless people and migrant laborers. Education, health and road safety are some of the issues on which Foundation focuses its attention.

Education
Foundation’s intervention includes an array of activities to improve the quality of education in Anganwadis and schools. Foundation collaborates with four Anganwadis, runs two After-School Learning Centres (ASLC) for 50 Children and supports two Govt. Schools in Dapper for the benefit of around 740 children. The inputs like infrastructure support, provision of safe drinking water, toys and joyful learning materials, creativity development programs, health check-ups, awareness and orientation workshops for students and teachers etc., have improved the quality of education.

To sharpen the creative potential of children and to give them space to exhibit their talents, Creativity Development Centers (CDC) have been established in Primary and High Schools of Dapper. The centres are well-equipped with play, learning and creativity development materials. From time to time, different types of creativity workshops are organized. During the summer vacations, Summer Camps are also organized.

Health, Hygiene and Sanitation
To address health issues, general and specialized health camps are organized in the villages as per the community’s needs. Most of the camps are arranged in association with the local Govt. Hospital.

This region is no exception to the problem of HIV/AIDS. Foundation does continuous awareness generation on HIV/AIDS through street plays, rallies, cultural shows, World AIDS Day Programs etc for various community stakeholders.

The problem of TB is severe here, particularly among the poor. The Foundation facilitates the treatment of the patients under DOT program with the active support of the Govt. Health Department.

Awareness generation cum sensitization campaigns are also organized to address the issue of disability and for better care and mainstreaming of differently abled.

Empowerment and Livelihoods
The SHGs facilitated by Foundation have provided platforms for the women to develop their potential and get involved in micro-banking activities. Currently there are four women groups in this area with 64 members who are actively exploring the possibilities of income generation through SHGs. Pickle making and bag making activities have been initiated under livelihood promotion program.

Community Development
Punjab is known for declining sex ratio. Dapper is also not an exception to this. To address this issue, workshops aimed at the protection of the rights of girl children are organized for the Middle and High School level girls, their teachers, community members and panchayat leaders.

The community library established by Foundation serves more than 100 users per month.

To make the community active stakeholders in the village development activities, groups of children, adolescent girls and youth are being formed.

To ensure the project roads safer to the passersby, road safety awareness programs are organized along the road stretch for various community stakeholders.