Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh

The GMRVF activities in Shahdol started from 26th May, 2010. Foundation is working in 2 large villages in this area namely Lalpur and Chhata. Lalpur is a major village Panchayat which has 7 hamlets and Foundation works in all these hamlets along with the Lalpur Panchayat.

Education
Foundation has partnered with 8 primary schools, 1 middle school and 1 high school in this area to improve the quality of education. Infrastructure support has been provided for 5 schools in the form of repairs to floors and roofs of the schools. Girls’ toilet has been constructed in 1 school benefiting about 120 students. School bags and stationary have been provided to more than 1000 students with the help of employees from SJK Powergen Ltd. Various creative events like drawing, essay writing competitions etc are conducted for the children on different occasions to encourage their talents. Regular learning sessions are carried out at 3 Govt. Primary Schools for 142 students from Std. III to V. It is a biweekly 1 hour learning session with mix of creative activities of reading, craft and singing. A science fair was organized at Govt. Middle School with active involvement of about 70 students which was visited by more than 500 students.

Health, Hygiene and Sanitation
A medical dispensary has been inaugurated at village Lalpur through which medical and health services are offered for the community members thrice in a week. Three qualified doctors including one Gynecologist and one ENT Specialist offer their services at the dispensary and required medicines are given to the patients free of cost. More than 1500 patients have availed the services of dispensary so far.

Organizing health check-up camps at schools in the project area is one of the prime activities of the Foundation. Camps for students are organized at various Govt. Primary Schools of village Lalpur. Apart from conducting health checkups, the camp doctors also create awareness on health and hygiene related issues among the students.

Foundation also organizes general and specialized health check-up camps in all the villages from time to time to address specific health needs of the communities.

Empowerment and Livelihoods
10 SHGs have been formed by the Foundation at this area with more than 100 members and regular support is provided to these SHGs in the form of trainings, awareness programs etc. The Groups are encouraged to involve in regular thrift and internal lending activities.

Farmers’ training programs are organized by the Foundation in association with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) on various subjects like vegetable cultivation, onion cultivation, System of Rice Intensification techniques, demonstration of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems, field visits and interface with progressive farmers etc are some of the initiatives taken up to impart scientific farming techniques to the farmers. Vegetable seeds and metal hand sprayers are distributed to some farmers to help them practice the techniques learnt in the training.

Some of the youth from this location have been sponsored to various vocational trainings like Heavy Vehicle Repairs, Diesel Engine Mechanism, General Works Supervision etc.

Community Development
5 hand pumps have been set up in Lalpur village to address the problem of drinking water. Around 250 families are being benefitted through this initiative. The hand pumps have been formally handed over to Gram Panchayat, Lalpur.

A Community library has been set in the village Lalpur which has more than 352 registered users.