Frontier Ministry
SASVIKA, SAMEEKSHA, Ajmer
Today, it breaks my heart to say that finding a homeless person who has died of a cold, is not news. Today, the news is scandals that are news, but the many children who don’t have food – that’s not news. This is grave. We can’t rest easy while things are this way.” – Pope Francis
Frontier Ministry is a call to travel the less traveled road reaching out to the most forgotten and most forsaken- the last , the least & the lost; and to be the voice to the voiceless. The WHO declaration ‘HEALTH FOR ALL’ is still a far distant dream for the millions of Indians.
Understanding this situation and keeping in mind the Charism of our Congregation, THE MISSION SISTERS OF AJMER initiated The Community Health Programmes in Ajmer diocese.
The Sisters who were enriched and encouraged by the CHD , after much discussion and discernment formed a team named SASVIKA SANGATAN ( Organization for Community Based Health & Development Programs) on 6th April 1985.
VISION :
Health is a social, economic and political issue and above all a fundamental human right. Inequality, poverty, exploitation, violence and injustice are the root of ill-health of poor and marginalized people ; and so we aim at building healthy communities where there is Equity, Justice, ecologically-sustainable development and empowerment of the marginalized in which a healthy life for all is a reality; a society that respects, appreciates and celebrates all life and diversity; that enables the flowering of people’s talents and abilities to enrich each other for a Healthy community, thus help those in the periphery in the establishment of an integral society.
We try to achieve this through a socio-political process of enabling people to exercise collectively their responsibilities to maintain their HEALTH and demand HEALTH as their right. Through analysis, we make the people aware of their rights & responsibilities, and get access to these available resources collectively. We identify local leaderships and through a participatory – empowerment process train the people to organize and collectively demand their rights.
TARGET GROUP :
The dalits, the marginalized, the under privileged, with a preference to women and girl children who will form the essential part of the target group to build the future healthy communities.
We promote organic green feed (Azola) for livestock for better yield and quality, and manure – vermicompost, through training programs and demonstration of the same for the famers in the rural area as well as in the urban.
The SASVIKA SANGATAN Networks with two main National (& International ) groups are: INAG ( Indian Net work of Action Groups) which is a nationwide network of people’s movements and organizations engaged in the rural development activities and it is an associate member of the world-wide net work of rural movements –FIMARC (International Federation of Rural Adults Catholic Movements).
We also started skill development programs at Social Work Centers in computer courses partly sponsored by the Rajasthan government; and tailoring, fashion designing and beauty culture benefited hundreds of youth. We organize public programs on Women’s day, Human rights Day, and Farmers Day, Earth day.
LEGAL-AID CELL AND HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION
The Legal-aid Cell at Sameeksha functions with the help of a local lawyer’s forum to give legal aid to the poor. We give legal aid to the poor victims of violence especially women & children. We also promote Human Rights Education in Schools of Rajasthan. Legal education camps are being organized in villages, schools and colonies. We offer legal Aid/ legal consultation even online on a regular basis.
PRISON MINISTRY :
In Prison Ministry, we collaborate with PUCL, Ashadeep Ajmer diocesan prison ministry, and other NGOs. We provide legal-aid counseling, help in litigation, parole, releasing the prisoners, celebrating important events like Rakhi, Christmas etc., conducting occupational activities such as tailoring, paper packet making, and organizing games, and tree plantation