“We organised several village base awareness programmes in all the 40 villages of block Thathri and Gandoh to educate the people about social exclusion and child rights with the active support of Child Protection Committee (CPC), Children committee for Village development(CCVD) and Village education Committees(VEC),” said Sajjad Ahmed Wani, Programme co-ordinator, IPAP.

He added that a number of children involved in child labour were rehabilitated and socially excluded families such as SC and STs were included in government schemes through old –age pension, widow pension and scholarship schemes for children to continue their studies.

During the last four years, 140 families in 24 villages of Thathri block were adopted under different projects of Jay Kay women Welfare Society. Most of these beneficiaries were widows, orphans from conflict families. “We were very poor and could not afford to send our children to school, but this society not only educated us about the importance of education but also helped us financially by giving us Rs.10, 000. I started my small business of rearing sheep and bought three sheep from this money. Now my children are going to school and I’m enlarging my business. I’m thankful to this society for giving me new lease of life,” said Randesha Devi of village Jajka Bhlara in Thathri Block.

To derive maximum benefits from Central and state sponsored schemes meant for the people of far-off areas, Jay Kay Women welfare Organisation also involved elected Panchs and sarpanches in this programme.

While appreciating the efforts of Jay Kay Women welfare society, Swami Raj Sarpanch Puneja Panchayat said, “This social organisation not only taught us about our rights and duties but also helped us financially to start our livelihood in a dignified way. More than 50 families of my panchayat got direct financial help to start their own business and more 200 families were linked to the government schemes.”