Development of Artisans Cluster in Kashipathar, Ujjalpur, Lakhimpur, Assam

VASU is implementing a project of Artisan Cluster in Kashipathar Ujjalpur Cluster of Lakhimpur District Assam with support from Assam Minority Development Board (AMDB). This project will aim to enhance the skill sets of the weavers and thereby enhance the selling capacities/income of the traditional weavers. With the substantial number of weavers in the area, the scope of developing the area into artisans cluster is very high.

Under this project a baseline survey has been conducted and 500 artisans identified with whom we will be working to organize and help them to maximize their sales and profit.

Enumeration of Health Establishments in Assam

In line with the core strategies of evidence based planning and monitoring outlined under National Health Mission (NHM), Government of India (GOI), has taken up project to exhaustively map the health facilities from both public and private sector, as one of its key initiatives. It will be first of its kind census at national level which aims to enumerate and collate information of all healthcare establishments (HEs) and will cover estimated 25 lakh healthcare establishments. 

The vision of the project is to develop a robust, standardized and secure IT-enabled repository of India’s healthcare resources. This platform shall serve as a policy tool to strengthen evidence based decision making and a web portal for citizens for provider-centric health services to strengthen the India healthcare system. 

VASU is doing the Enumeration for 12 districts of Assam with support from NVR Associates, New Delhi. A team of 22 people were trained for this and work has started for the project.

Vocational Training for the wards of Tea Plantation Workers and their dependents under Tea Board India at Gormur TE, Jorhar Dist, Assam during 2016-17.

This is on the same lines as the training carried out in 2014-15 at Cinnamara TE. Since details of the training program are available in the report of 2014-15, it is not repeated here. Only difference is that this program was implemented at Gormur TE instead of Cinnamara TE. In this program also, 30 wards of Tea Garden Workers were trained in handloom weaving.

Vocational Training for the wards of Tea Plantation Workers and their dependents under Tea Board India at Cinnamara TE, Jorhar Dist, Assam during 2014-15.

A Joint venture programme by the Tea Board India, Jorhat Zonal office and VASU for training the dependants of tea garden workers in handloom weaving was organised  at Cinnamara TE from March 2014 to Sept 2014.

The inauguration of the training programme was held on 3rd Mar 2014 at Cinnamara TE. Ms. Amanjit Kaur, IPS, Supdt of Police, Jorhat District was the Chief Guest. Mr.Dipankar Mukherjee, Executive Director (I/C) and Mr.Rituraj Hazarika, Asst Director, Tea Board Zonal Office, Jorhat and other officials of Tea Board,  Cinnamara TE, NGO members, representatives of Tea Garden Workers and other local dignitaries were also present in the inauguration function. A total of 30 wards of Tea Garden workers were trained in this program. After this, they can keep a loom in the house or join a production centre and earn at least Rs.6-8 thousand pm on the average. This will supplement their family income and will be a great help to the family of the Tea Garden workers.

Targeted Intervention Project (IDU-300) under the Assam State Aids Control Society (ASACS) at Tinsukia, Assam from 2008-2015.

 This project was sanctioned by the ASACS in 2008 and continued till 2014-15. Under this program, we were given the task of identifying the Intravenous Drug Users in Tinsukia Dist and to educate them to use fresh needles/syringes while taking drugs and to use condoms for safe sex, so that they do not get HIV/AIDS infection or spread infection.

For this purpose, condoms and syringes were distributed free of cost. Those identified  to be Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) were sent for tests. The drug users are generally considered as a hidden population and stigmatized group. They carry different types series harms. They not only carry health related harms but even carry social and economical harms.

These harms affect not only the individual but also harm the family in many ways and it finally harms the society directly or indirectly. To protect individuals, families and the community from injecting drug use and its associated harm,  special harm reduction measures and strategies were taken by the organization in different levels.