Saathi Annual Report

2007-08

Dear Friends,

Reaching major milestones often brings introspection over what legacy one might leave. As Saathi celebrated its 10 year anniversary during 2007-08, we took some in-depth looks at various interventions that the organization has undertaken in the years gone by. It’s been an exciting year of innovation, wide-ranging work, and great jumps forward in awareness raising and advocacy. 

Sensitization of the police force about the issues of  vulnerable women and children has been an important agenda recognized both by the government and the NGOs.  Saathi in the last year has partnered with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) - Mumbai Division, Western Railway and Government Railway Police (GRP), Mumbai Commissionarate to provide training to their personnel on the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2000/2006 (J.J. Act) and issues of vulnerable women and children. Mumbai Police also invited us to provide similar training to the Child Welfare Officers.  In this year we have already trained nearly 300 personnel of the three organizations together.  The results have been almost immediate in the form of referrals of children and women by the police, assistance being sought by them in difficult cases, proactive action by them to tackle issues of children and women, and ownership of their roles and responsibilities in tackling the problems.

Access to Shelter continues to be a very challenging issue. For the individuals with whom we work, there are multiple barriers, including stigmatization and lack of officially-recognized proof of identification necessary for completing a lease agreement. Affecting both the individual as well as the organization in maintaining a shelter program is the unavailability of suitable spaces, continuing rise in cost of space, and the steep deposits required. In response, the organization is expanding its Group Homes program, which subsidizes the initial outlay for an individual, to support our participant groups and has moved its intensive shelter spaces to the distant suburbs where space is more affordable. The organization is also struggling to expand its own infrastructure amidst the problem of affordable space. As a point of awareness-raising and advocacy, as well as in practical work, the Shelter issue needs a lot of focus and strategizing, which will happen in 2008-09.

Preventive issues with regards to children and youth moving out of their homes and in to the city has gained importance and explorations on how to start preventive interventions in Source areas began this year.

All of Saathi’s projects have seen significant movement in this year as they address issues in a more concerted manner and the organization has grown in Human Resources to help drive this movement. At the same time, as the organization expands, we have spent the year analyzing the wide variety of needs, restructuring the administrative and accounts departments to maintain the high standards of service and transparency we hold dear while supporting the organization’s endeavors most effectively. This restructuring at a micro level will extend to the organization in the coming year as the changing landscape of the organization dictates different structures to hold it.

2007-08 was quite a year with many achievements of which we are proud. We invite you to join us as we move in to 2008-09 through helping us with the challenges, learning about the issues, spreading the word, and wishing us well.

Sincerely,

                                                                                              The Saathi Team   

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