A look-back at Savitribai Phule Mahila Ekatma Samaj Mandal social initiatives 2019-20

Where others see problems, social welfare organisations see solutions and one such organisation is Savitribai Phule Mahila Ekatma Samaj Mandal. It is a non-profit organisation that started as a social project wing of Dr Hedgewar Hospital. Today, it engages in need-based social projects and serves the underprivileged section of the society in terms of education, health, skill development and more with its social initiatives.

The past one year has been challenging for everyone on many levels but Savitribai Phule Mahila Ekatma Samaj Mandal has taken the opportunity to transform lives, all the while tending to the environment. Let’s take a look at the projects and activities that the organisation has taken up between 2019 and 2020.

Community Health

Through community health projects across almost 300 villages and 50 slums in Aurangabad and Nandurbar district, SPMESM has touched the lives of many. It focused on almost all the aspects of health including mental, lifestyle, adolescent health and maternal and child health. Activities as part of community health projects included OPD consultation, counselling programs, use of telemedicine solutions and vaccinations, to name a few.

Water Resources Management

Fostering environmental sustainability not only for mankind but also for farmers to whom drought is among the main challenges every year, SPMESM initiated Natural Resources Management projects.

Key sustainable water resources works 2019-20:

• 380 loose boulder structures
• 2 CNB Construction
• 1 FCNB Construction
• 1 Gabian Structure
• 2 Cut Off Trenches
• 7 Ramkund
• Rejuvenation of 6 Defunct Water Structures
• Desiltation of 6 water bodies

In addition to these, it also conducted water resources management activities through sapling plantations, farm bunding, etc.

Agri-Extension programmes

From facilitating soil testing to farmers to conducting crop-based workshops and launching health clinics and more, the non-profit trust works across remote locations in Maharashtra. Owing to SPEMSM’s water sustainability works, around 55 villages in Aurangabad are free from the impact of drought.

Improvement of livelihood through skill development

Apart from the aforementioned projects, SPEMSM also conducted skill development projects in the past year including tailoring and beautician training, computer courses and electrician training. The number of people learning beautician course was the most, majority of whom went on to land decent jobs later on.

Jayashri Unhale from Milindnagar is one such woman whom SPEMSM has empowered financially. Being the sole bread earner of her family, she has always aspired to start a small business and it is because of the skills that she learnt from SPESM’s beautician course that she was finally able to start her own beauty parlour at her residence.

Women Empowerment

From health and leadership programs to counselling for newly-wed couples and more, SPEMSM conducted a wide range of activities as a part of Tejaswini Mahila Prakalp, an initiative to empower women. It indeed boosted the lives of the beneficiaries on many levels.

Owing to tireless efforts towards the society, Savitribai Phule Mahila Ekatma Samaj Mandal has also been bestowed with many awards and honours including:

• Amar Urja Puraskar
• Surbhi Samman – 2019
• Swatantrya-sainik Murlidhar KaleDhanwantari Puraskar