People living in International Border areas are in very vulnerable situations. They are far from cities, and the vast distance from central authorities restrict them from the attention they deserve. It is important to understand the misery of the communities due to lockdown, in view of COVID pandemic. These communities need to be embraced, protected and nurtured.Considering the aforesaid scenario, VASU decided to source and supply dry ration and basic necessities such as sanitary napkins, soap, Zinc tablets etc. to 300 needy artisans and their families from rural villages of South West Garo Hills of Meghalaya on 06-06-2021 to serve a family for a couple of weeks.

Update 2:

Construction of a Skill Development centre at Ampati, South West Garo Hills, State Meghalaya. This centre emphasizesHandloom weaving training and aims to provide gainful employment to rural people.

Update 3:

Nutritional programmes for the women residing in the rural villages of South West Garo Hills district, State Meghalaya, especially pregnant women and those suffering from malnutrition. A balanced midday meal with multivitamins and folic acid is provided to these women.

Update 4:

Construction of a Clinic in South West Garo Hills Districts, State Meghalaya. Doctors and Health workers visit the clinic periodically for health check-ups in the following fields:

1. 1. Dermatology
   2. Women reproductive & sexual health
   3. Menstrual Hygiene Management and Waste Disposal

A CSR Initiative of
VEEGEE INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES Pvt Ltd., Faridabad, Haryana

VASU has distributed food and supplies to many of the artisans and their families. Due to COVID 19 lockdown the rural families are under extreme pressure on their survival. Ration and basic needs have become scarce and hard to come by. Nearest metro regions are far and almost unreachable for the people living in rural areas.

VASU is also engaged in stitching of mask for COVID-19.

However there is a need for  involvement of more people whose donations, in kind or cash, will be highly appreciated and valued. Drastic situations call for drastic measures. We would like to request you to extend your help and generosity to help the people in these poor conditions. The smallest contribution can have a huge impact.

You Can also Donate for COVID-19 relief today! Be a part of someone else’s happiness and survival.

We had recently discovered large scale spread of highly contagious skin infection in Mahendraganj of South West Garo Hill Dist of Meghalaya. This disease has reached epidemic proportions, so much so that about 50% of the population in Mahendraganj area is affected and it has spread to some areas of Ampati also. The figure will run into thousands. The infection is so severe that in many instances, it has covered the whole body.No one has been spared. Infants, pregnant women, lactating mothers, the old and young.

These people are very poor and mainly daily wage earners. Because of the skin infection, they are not able to do their normal duties, and because of severe pain and itching, they can’t even sleep properly at night. This is affecting their general health too.

On the 16 th of Sept 2019,VASU had organized a bus and randomly picked up41 patients from Mahendraganj and Ampati areasand brought them to Guwahati Medical College Hospital for diagnosis and treatment of the infection. We have come to know that these infections are psoriasis, tinea and scabies. Psoriasis requires lifetime medication, whereas tinea and scabies can be cured with proper treatment, but these are highly contagious. Since they have been untreated for many years, they have gone to advanced stage in many individuals, and they are spreading fast. Urgent action is required to treat these patients, along with preventive measures so that they don’t spread further.

Mahendraganj is about 400km away from Guwahati and because of bad road by bus it is almost twelve hours journey. Since thousands of people are affected, it is difficult to bring so many patients to Guwahati for treatment.

There is a huge need of skin specialist, medicine,disinfectant, cotton clothes, hygiene management measures etc for these people. We request all of you to donate for it. I am including the list of medicines prescribed for the41 patients by the Doctor of Guwahati Medical College Hospital. Same medicines will be required for others also. We want to cover all the people, but initially about 3000patient. The requirement of ointment and lotions will be more, since they have to be applied on the whole body. One cream, ie, HHMite Cream 5%is prescribed to be applied by all the family members, even if one member is infected. Hence, the requirement of this cream is very huge. Skin infection relapse. So, we are assuming that minimum 6 months support will be required.

We request you to help us in all possible ways.

VASU is registered with 80G& FCRA. I am enclosing documents of VASU

Our SBI savings account number in Dispur Branch is : 33548903798
IFSC :SBIN0003030
The mobile numbers of our CEO, Shabnam Mohan Raj are :9435147695, 8812947695
Email id:ngo.vasu@gmail.com
Website :vasu.org.in

For those wanting to contribute materials, they may contact over phone or email.

Thank you for your support.

Voluntary Association for Social Upliftment (VASU) has Production centre for Apparel making  in Mahendraganj under Zikzak block and for Handloom weaving in Kumligaon, under Betasing Block, South West Garo Hills, Meghalaya. VASU has 35 sewing machines along with all accossories in Apparel making 

With an ever-increasing population, vertical expansion of the rural family, inflation, under-industrialisation, rising unemployment and a greatly reduced availability of agricultural land in this predominantly agrarian rural economy, skill development to the rural people has become the main opportunity for the generation of additional income for a large section of the rural folk. This additional income, often defined as subsidiary income, enables the rural family to maintain a certain standard of living. Agriculture having being satiated due to pressure on land, handloom, sericulture, tailoring and other village industries afford what seems to be the only scope for self-employment in region today.

Due to existent traditional skills in women, emphasis is laid on weaving and cutting & tailoring as a source of income for the small and marginal farmers and agriculture labours, during the lean labour seasons. Weaving is also often taken up by most of the rural women as a seasonal or part-time occupation, performed during leisure, to meet their domestic requirements and also to satisfy their creative urge.  The Handloom sector has thus, for generations, been the main source of additional income for the rural women in Meghalaya. Weaving and tailoring are primarily a subsidiary occupation for women and earnings from weaving are usually used by them to improve the living condition of their family.

North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) had sponsored training programme under CSR in Handloom weaving and cutting & tailoring for 20 days for each programme. In Cutting & tailoring 30 numbers of women were imparted  training and in Handloom weaving 42 women were imparted training.

The Handloom training was held from 01-03-2019 to 20-03-2019 at Kumligaon and the Cutting & Tailoring training  from 05-03-2019 to 25-03-2019 at Mahendraganj.

In the Handloom weaving training, basic weaving was taught which was on two shafts. Warping was done on a warping drum.

In tailoring 30 numbers of women had taken training for 20 working days. Mahendraganj is an industrially backward place so it is very necessary to give training to the youth in various disciplines so that they can be employed or may be self employed. 

VASU Training Centre at Kumligaon

Warping – done in warping drum

Drafting & Danting

Weaving

Theory classroom for Tailoring at Mahendraganj

Practical:-

Rural employment can play vital role in the country’s economy; proving sustenance to a large section of the people. For this, it is essential to understand the role of proper rural based activities and its proper perspective. In the rural areas, activities like weaving and tailoring  are considered as an additional household chore to enhance family incomes and thus raise standards of living. Therefore for the economic upliftment of a large section of the population the development of this sector is of critical importance. In a recently conducted survey, NABARD has identified handloom along with other 9 sectors for development for creation of additional employment in the rural areas. If the government extends its support like this, the tatters handlooms and tailoring can transform themselves into engines of rural revitalization.

Good infrastructure  play an important role in developing rural regions. VASU is developing more Infrastructure to create more jobs to the rural people. Skills are central to improving employability and livelihood opportunities, reducing poverty, enhancing productivity and promoting environmentally sustainable development.

After the training programme VASU ensures the employability of these skilled trainees in VASU’s production centres. The Handloom weavers will be employed in VASU’s Handloom Production centre at Kumligaon and the Tailors will be employed in Mahendraganj Apparal making production centre.

VASU has a core team with various professional backgrounds such as Skill Development, Management, Administration, Finance etc. In addition VASU hires the project staff as and when required. VASU also engages volunteers and interns on need basis. The names of our General Body Members and Executive Committee Members is given in Sub-menu “Our Team’ under menu ‘Contact Us’.

Approach & Strategies

VASU strongly believes in the true and active participation of all key stakeholders – particularly the local communities or program beneficiaries. Sufficient efforts are made to ensure that stakeholders participate and contribute at all the stages of the interventions. As its strategy, VASU particularly focuses to ensure the maximum participation of women, children and youth wherever required and relevant – and particularly if the program has any direct or indirect impacts on their lives. The overall approach of work also identifies the gender sensitivities if any related to the program and strategically addresses the same.

VASU, as its overall implementation approach, takes carefully into account the local culture and traditions and fully respects the same.

Projects

VASU has implemented several training programs in weaving in Assam and Meghalaya, which has prepared several hundred people, especially women and girls, to earn their livelihood independently, or supplement the family income in a substantial way. VASU has also implemented training programs in Apparel Making at two places in South West Garo Hills Dist, Meghalaya. This has been very successful. After the training, VASU has started a production centre at Mahendraganj, in which several of the trained personnel have been employed. The details are given under the menu ‘Projects’.

1. Handloom Sector:

From 2012-14, conducted training of 100 partners in advanced weaving at Purasingha, South West Garo Hills Dist funded by the Border Areas Dept of Govt of Meghalaya. From 2013-16, conducted training in advanced weaving to 250 partners at Kumligaon and Nilgini in South West Garo Hills Dist funded by the Sericulture & Weaving Dept of Govt of Meghalaya. During 2014-15, conducted training in weaving for 30 partners at Cinnamara TE, Jorhat Dist, Assam for the dependents of Tea Garden Workers funded by the Tea Board India. During 2016-17, conducted training in weaving for 30 partners at Gormur TE, Jorhat Dist, Assam for the dependents of Tea Garden Workers funded by the Tea Board India. A few production centres are in the process of being set up to make use of the skilled manpower in South West Garo Hills Dist.

2. Tailoring

Training of rural entrepreneurs in Tailoring and Apparel Making for 200 partners (100 at Ampati & 100 at Mahendraganj in South West Garo Hills Dist) was started in 2015 and completed in 2017 funded by the Commerce and Industries Dept of the Govt of Meghalaya. After the training, a production centre was established by the NGO in co-operation with the Commerce and Industries Dept, Govt of Meghalaya in May 2017 at Mahendraganj and is producing lot of quality products which have received acclaim in various exhibitions where they were displayed and sold. Many partners have been employed in this production centre.

3. Craft Training

In 2009, 300 school children were trained in craft training, funded by the Axom Sarba Siksha Abhiyan Mission, Kamrup under the Education Dept of Govt of Assam.

4. HIV/ AIDS

In the year 2008, VASU took up the project of Targeted Intervention of Injected Drug Users(IUDs) in Tinsukia Dist for AIDS control, being funded by the Assam State AIDS Control Society(ASACS). About 300 drug users were detected and successfully intervened so as not to spread AIDS. The project continued till 2014.

Equipped with 25 machines, the production centre has been established through funding from Department of Commerce and Industries, Government of Meghalaya, and will accommodate 25 working professionals to produce high-quality apparel and garments.

During the inauguration programme, Chairperson of the council Dikkanchi D. Shira and South West Garo Hills’ Deputy Commissioner Cyril Diengdoh handed over certificates to 200 trainees, who completed training in tailoring and apparel-making in Mahendraganj.

It may be noted here that the training was conducted by VASU with a project cost of Rs. 88.5 lakh that includes cost of machineries, training fees, raw materials and stipend for the trainees.

Inaugurating the centre, Shira expressed, “I hope that the trainees will make full use of the skill and expertise they have acquired during the training and will become a ready workforce for a number of production centres that will be coming up in the district soon.”

Adding to that, the President of VASU, Shabnam Mohan Raj, said, “Most of the trainees are already skilled in tailoring and all they have to do is to provide guidance on the art of garment-making and techniques of designing, among others.”

First ever apparel production centre comes up in Meghalaya at Mahendraganj

Ampati, May 03: A Production Centre for Apparel Making at Mahendraganj, South West Garo Hills was inaugurated by local MLA & Chairperson, Meghalaya Resources & Employment Generation Council, Dikkanchi D. Shira in the presence of Deputy Commissioner, Cyril Diengdoh, Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board, A. Sarkar, former DGP of Assam, Mohan Raj, local leaders, officials of District Commerce & Industries Centre (DCIC) and the team of Voluntary Association for Social Upliftment (VASU) from Guwahati, on Wednesday afternoon.

The first-ever production centre in the region and the State as a whole, was set up by VASU in a two-storey building in Mahendraganj under the sponsorship of Department of Commerce & Industries, Government of Meghalaya. Presently, the centre is equipped with 25 machines and can employ at least 30 workers to produce high quality apparels and garments to meet the demands of present day generation.

Earlier, Smt. Dikkanchi D. Shira, along with the Deputy Commissioner, gave away certificates to the trainees who have passed out from the training in tailoring and apparel-making at a function held at Mahendraganj Multi-Facility Centre. The training was conducted by VASU under the Department of Commerce & Industries.

Under tailoring and apparel-making training project, altogether 200 trainees have been trained in four batches at Mahendraganj and Ampati with a training duration of 50 working days per batch. The successful trainees would be absorbed as workforce in the newly-inaugurated production centre at Mahendraganj and the raw materials and fabrics for apparel making would be provided by VASU.

In her address as the chief guest on the occasion, Smt. Dikkanchi D. Shira, expressed her deep sense of satisfaction and pride over the successful completion of the training as this is the first of its kind in the district. She congratulated the team of VASU as well as the trainees and expressed hope that they would make full use of the skill and expertise they have acquired during the training, adding that the trainees would become a ready workforce for number of production centres that would be coming up in the district soon.

South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Cyril Diengdoh in his brief address as the guest of honour, said that the training has been given so that the young boys and girls of the region can meet their best potentials in garment making and would go on to create products of high quality.

President, VASU, Ms. Shabnam Mohan Raj, while highlighting about the training and the production centre, expressed her happiness over the enthusiasm and interest shown by the trainees. She also said that most of the trainees were already skilled in tailoring and all they had to do was give them guidance on the art of garment making and techniques of designing, among others.

Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board, A. Sarkar, General Manager, DCIC, Ampati, D.F.R.Marak, and Manager, DCIC, F.A.Sangma were among others who also spoke on the occasion.