ASSOCIATION FOR SOCIAL HEALTH IN INDIA, HARYANA STATE BRANCH,
SECTOR-16, PANCHKULA

41st  ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR SOCIAL HEALTH IN INDIA, HARYANA
STATE BRANCH, PANCHKULA, FOR THE YEAR 2009-2010.

I take this privilege to present before you the 41st Annual Report of the Association for Social Health in India, Haryana State Branch, Panchkula, for the year 2009-2010.

As per previous year, during this year also our focus mainly remained on the activities such as:-

• Continued maintenance of the Children's Home (Children in need of Care and Protection), ASHIANA, Sector-16, Panchkula.
• Awareness Generating Programs: - Seminars/Declamation, Painting Competitions/Contests etc. on the Social Evils affecting the Society in the State of Haryana.
• Continued working of computer learning centre to underprivileged children & Vocational Training & informal education to Slum Women. (Both are functioning very well)
• Out Reach Program: - Meritorious children living in slum colonies are given scholarship under this program. Children were also selected and supported for technical courses like Medical Lab Technician, Nursing, Secretarial practice and other courses (Motor, Mechanic, Electrical. Wireman.) Children pursuing formal education in school & colleges are supported under this scheme.
• Awareness Generation Program through News Letter:  We are publishing a news letter (Grace) with our activities of ASHI and Ashi projects.

1. ASHIANA
Ashiana is a shelter for destitute and orphan children run by the Association for Social Health in India, Haryana State Branch, Panchkula. This Home has been in existence since 1982. The building came into existence in 1994 on 1000 sq mt plot in Sec-16, Panchkula. The plot was allotted to Association by HUDA on subsidized rates.

ANNUAL GENERAL BODY MEETING:-
Annual General Body Meeting of ASHI, Haryana State Branch was held on 8th August, 2009. A new Governing Body has been formed. Dr. (Mrs.) M.C. Mamgain, in recognition of her services has been nominated as Patron. Other office bearers are: Major General I.J.S. Dhillon (President), Mr. F. Lal Kansal (Vice President), Dr. (Mrs.) Vibha Taluja (General Secretary), Mrs. Neelam Khullar (Joint Secretary) and Mr. Mukesh Gupta (Hony. Treasurer).

Seminar on HIV / AIDS :
An awareness lecture on HIV/AIDS for Ashiana children was conducted by AIESEC, Chandigarh.

 

• 2. Awareness Programs :
  
  

• Dr. Anjali Aggarwal spoke to class 9th -10th girls from Govt. Girls High School, Sec-15, Panchkula in a Seminar on Balanced Diet and its importance in teenage. Dr. Vibha Taluja elaborated on Mind, Body Relationship and the impact of Positive attitude on one's physical health and environment.150 teenage girls participated in the seminar. Fruits and Dalia/peanuts packets were distributed to all.
• Dr. Anjali Aggarwal and Dr. Vibha Taluja interacted with over 100 students in age group of 15-18 years at Govt. High School, Sector-7, Panchkula, on Adolescence and Moral Conduct. Fruits were distributed at the end of seminar.
• Mrs. Gunjan Bhardwaj counseled senior girls of Ashiana on regular basis.
• IQ/Aptitude Analysis was organized for teenaged Ashiana children; Dr. (Mrs.) Shashi Sethi very graciously offered her free services for the purpose. Dr. Sethi provided counseling to Ashiana children on regular basis from November 2009 to February 2010.
• A day long orientation/developmental program was organized for ASHI staff and volunteers by Mrs. Abha Malhotra, a senior consultant from Delhi.
  

3. CONTINUED FUNCTIONING OF COMPUTER LEARNING CENTRE AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING & INFORMAL EDUCATION CENTRE FOR WOMEN:-

COMPUTER LEARNING CENTRE (CLC)
Computer learning centre is working very well in Ashiana. In computer Learning centre around 70 students per batch (150 students per year) from slums are taught about basics of computer and some advanced courses of computer. Certificates are given to students after completion of their course.

CLC Pass out Function (29th June, 09)
Pass Out function of CLC was held in Ashiana on 29th June. Mrs. Abha Malhotra from Delhi was the chief guest for the function. ASHI members and other guests were also present to encourage the students.

Career Counseling Session (10th July, 2009) by D.E.I :- Mr. Man Mohan Khanna & Mr. Bhupinder Singh of Dyalbagh Education Institute Agra, counseled the children from slum colonies for vocational courses offered by DEI - at Chandigarh & Panchkula centers.

Career Counseling Session (11th September, 09)
Mrs. Monica Chadha, a senior executive for KPMG Consultants, New Delhi did a session with CLC students on Careers Counseling and provided them a very simple, clear roadmap for choosing professions of one's own aptitude.

Photography Workshop (27th – 28th September, 2009):
Ms. Daljeet Wadhwa, Director, SAIMC, New Delhi along with her colleague Mr. Yogesh Sharma did a workshop on Still Photography and post processing using Photoshop software for Computer Learning Centre Graphics class students. The students were given exposure to professional photography and two outdoor sessions were also arranged to give hands on experience to the participants.

CLC Pass Out Function (22nd December):-
Computer Learning Centre passed out the 4th Batch and gave certificates to them.

Career Counseling Session (21st January):?
Mr. Pushpendra Singh Bagga, a member of ASK group, Chandigarh did a session with CLC students on Careers Counseling and provided them a very simple, clear method of improving their percentile in exams and also cleared their doubts about choosing a profession.

Quark Education Fete (30th January):-
In a unique social initiative, Quark Prayas, a community development initiative started by a group of volunteers, provided a platform to students of various social organizations in and around Chandigarh to exhibit talent by organizing an education fete. Ashiana Children and CLC students also presented their projects. Padmshree Sh. Nekchand was the chief guest on the occasion. Mr. Ashok Chitkara and Mrs. Madhu Chitkara were the Guests of Honor. Our one student Vishal got a Special Prize. Mr. Deepak Manchanda bagged Best Faculty Prize for ASHI's CLC.

Adult Education & Vocational Training Centre For Women (Nav-Chetna Center) :
Adult Education & Vocational Training Centre is now known as Nav-Chetna Centre. Presently around 20 women from slums are trained with stitching courses and making handicrafts to earn their livelihood. Functional knowledge of languages and arithmetic is also provided to these otherwise illiterate women. Women empowerment scheme by forming Self help groups is gaining good response. Two SHGs have been formed. The groups are successfully doing inter-loaning and regularly operating through their bank-accounts.

Baisakhi (11th April, 09):
An Exhibition cum sale of handicrafts was organized by Nav Chetna Womens’ group promoted by ASHI, Haryana Branch, in the presence of Mr. Dharamveer, Chief Secretary, Haryana. He was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Keya Dharamveer. A good sale of handicrafts marked the event.

Knitting Workshop (1st June to 30th June):
A workshop was organized in Ashiana for women of Nav Chetna Group. Woolen items like designer caps, socks, shoes, stoles, etc were developed. Mrs. Pratibha Aggarwal gave a workshop on fabric painting also.

Gel Candle making workshop (25th June to 27th June):
Gel candle making workshop was one of the most exciting workshops for everyone. Mr. Vishnu Dev Mishra from Nahan, H.P. was the resource person. Ashiana Kids and Women from Nav Chetna Group participated in this workshop. Beautiful aromatic gel Candles are now being made on regular basis by the Nav Chetna Women’s group, which are available for sale.

Teej:
The festival of Teej was celebrated with great fervor by the Nav Chetna Womens' group. The women enjoyed playing Musical chairs and a Ghevar Party. The women came colorfully dressed and sang traditional folk songs.

Valedictory Function of 1st Batch (2nd November):-
A Self Help Group promoted by Nachetna was given a farewell. The women of the group were trained to operate their own bank account and micro-financing amongst each other. Three women were presented sewing machines and all other 15 members were presented tailoring kits. Maj. Gen. I.J.S. Dhillon, President ASHI addressed the women and motivated them to start their own micro enterprises and utilize the skills learned commercially.

4. OUT REACH PROGRAMME:  Financial support to the needy but bright students pursuing/wishing to peruse school/college/vocational education was given to the tune of Rs. 1,50,000 only.

• Eight students to DEI vocational courses
• Three students of B.com from Chandigarh/Panchkula Govt. College.
• One student funded for Nursing GNM course at Philadelphia Hospital, Ambala.
• Two students sponsored for Medical Lab Technology at Philadelphia Hospital, Ambala.
• Swami Ram Foundation children supported for stationery.
• Many more children studying in Panchkula Govt. Schools supported with Books/Stationeries and shoes etc.

I extend my grateful thanks to all the Office Bearers, Managing Committee for their cooperation, to all the donors who donated generously to enable us to upkeep the Children's Home.

 

Dr. (Mrs.) Vibha Taluja
Hony. General Secretary