Institute for Indian Mother and Child

The Institute for Indian Mother and Child ( IIMC ) is an Indian non-governmental organization whose main activity and is headquartered in Kolkata, India. 1989 IIMC was founded by the Indian physician Dr. SK Brahmochary to help the poorest of the poor in Calcutta and the surrounding area and to improve the lives of these people long term. Above all, the welfare of mothers and children and the support of women on the road to greater self-determination are the focus.

Main activity at a glance

2 educational program

• - 2500 students are financially supported
• - 20 schools were built by IIMC, where students learn more than 4000

3 Economic Program

• - Micro loans to over 25,000 women
• - Agriculture Projects
• - Vocational education and training for women
• - Accommodation for homeless
• - Waste water supply

Beginning

The Institute of Indian mothers and children is a non-governmental organization (NGO). The IIMC project was founded with the goal of enabling the poorest people in the district of 24 Parganas in the south of Calcutta access to medical care. > Today has expanded the project, so that people not only have access to medical care, but also to education, health counseling, sponsorships, agricultural projects and micro-credit systems.

Objective and Mission

IIMC would like to improve the situation for the poor and disadvantaged people. Main goal is the care of mothers and their children, access to education, economic development and the consolidation of peace and solidarity in society.

Founder

The founder Sujit Kumar Barhmochary completed his studies in Calcutta and received his medical specialist in pediatrics in Belgium by the support of a grant from the Bengal Red Cross. After his training, he realized that it is used in India as a doctor and that he wants to do something for the improvement of life of the poor in India. He returned to Calcutta and became first medical director of Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa and Fr Celest Van Exem ( spiritual director of Mother Teresa ) very influenced him.

After working for two years for Mother Teresa, he decided to start his own project. In 1989 he started his own project 30 km south of Calcutta, in an area where there was no medical facility and the people had no access to education. The first medical facility was an outdoor clinic in Tegharia. It consisted of a simple bamboo hut in which he treated every day 20 children. At the beginning of the project consisted exclusively of medical help. Later it developed into a supply point for all the poor people in the region to not only get medical help, but also access to education and economic and social support.

Locality in Kolkata

The headquarters of IIMC is the indoor clinic in Tegharia, Sonarput, 30 km south-east of Calcutta. Today, it offers space for 20 beds on the pediatric ward, 20 beds on the parent station, an education center, a women's cooperative and the micro credit bank for women. But IIMC is now active not only in this district but also in the following others:

The medical program

At the beginning Brahmochary was the only physician in the project. Today, 18 doctors working with him. People get this not only outpatient care, but also, if necessary, inpatient treatment in the indoor clinic, immunizations and x-ray, ultrasound, dental care, eye care and medical pathology. Every year supplied IIMC 120,000 patients from the entire district and the surrounding areas. The following list shows the daily influx of patients to the individual outdoor clinics:

Education and sponsorship program

After 3 years Brahmochary realized that most medical problems are caused by lack of education. He also noticed that many people keep coming back with the same problems, but can be changed to prevent through education and health counseling could. In India, literacy rate is 46% and over 60% live in poverty. 30 % are even below the poverty level (BPL) of the WHO. 80 % of the poor have no access to medical care.

To solve this problem, at least for the local area, a sponsorship project was launched. The idea was that at least one child from the poor families could go to school, so that he can learn or read and write them, and can thus support later his / her family.

The children are selected by employees. The program started in 1994 with 10 children. In just 15 years the number of sponsorships has increased to 2,500. Each child is supported by foreign foster parents from the countries Italy, Belgium, Spain, England, Japan, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Canada, USA, Australia, Slovenia, Germany and Norway. With the money (20 € / month) are school fees, school supplies, school uniforms, shoes, winter clothes, lunch, and tutoring if needed, financed. The foster parents receive information about the family, the living conditions and a photo. Twice a year, information about the career and the school report is sent to the foster parents.

Under the "umbrella of Spread Up Education" ( umbrella on the extension of education) 22 schools have now been built in the surrounding villages. Through these schools, IIMC hoped for a comprehensive range of education for as many children as possible. The goal is to build at least two new school year.

Health Project

The goal of the health project is to improve understanding of health and hygiene with the idea that educated people solve many health problems themselves. The traditional Indian medicine and the traditional understanding of health involves some myths and some practices are more harmful than helpful. IIMC is trying to educate people and to lift taboos.

A large part takes on the Women's Council, in particular through lessons on the topics of hygiene and health.

Education for Mothers: Currently be given in the framework of this program, in addition to hygiene lessons and classes with nutrition, family problems, family planning and health problems of women. Also, problems such as discrimination against women, inferiority of girls and women's rights to be treated.

The Net-Work Program: With this program, hopes IIMC, further spread the health program in the most remote villages of West Bengal. This lessons, workshops, seminars and symposia can now better organized and more mothers are achieved. Meanwhile IIMC working in 8 different districts of Bengal with 40 other NGOs.

Support for women to be independent

This project will provide assistance to help themselves. Women in Indian society still very few rights. Injustice, disregard for human rights and exploitation are still in everyday life of an Indian woman. They have been systematically oppressed for centuries. Therefore, IIMC has set the support of emancipation as an objective. The following programs are being pursued with this objective:

Economic independence of women

• Matree Udyog ( program for mothers of sponsored children )
• Mahila Udyog ( program for women from poor, rural villages )
• Matree Udyog

IIMC believes that even the poorest people is a potential. If this potential is discovered and promoted, it can this person help the financial and economic independence. Since the women in the rural areas neither money, nor the formation of courage have to go to a normal bank to ask for a loan or bank account, IIMC has supported these women with microloans. Meanwhile, 3,000 women are involved in this program.

• Mahila Udyog

This program began in 1999 is similar to the program of the Gramin Bank of Bangladesh, may deposit money with the women and a loan of Rs.10.000. -. (about 160 € ) Recording can. The aim is to also allow women to have a economic independence. The credits they should expand their sewing, weaving, laundry etc.. Currently, 25,000 women are involved in this project and Rs 40 million (approximately € 635,000 ) are available as credit loan. The repayment of the loans amounted to 98%. The economic independence is one of the biggest steps on the road to emancipation. IIMC has its own weaving, stitching, dyeing and laundry established, in which the school bags and school uniforms and everyday clothes are made.

Education of girls

IIMC has always felt the education of girls as very important. Therefore, as many girls are trying to convey to foster parents around the world.

"Education for everyone is the Developments. " - Swami Vivekananda -

Vocational education and training of women

• Sewing classes
• Webkurse
• Knitting courses
• Production of school bags, uniforms
• Management of a small shop

14 women work in this project.

Women's Council

This program is set out that women are more involved in decisions about the community and that creates a peaceful atmosphere in the village community. The Council meets every day for 2 hours to discuss various local issues. You will also visit families who have problems, and work with the people on site to solve these problems. This program also helps to promote the self-esteem of women.

Daycare and home for the disabled

Meanwhile, IIMC has 14 years experience in the field of health, education and development. There are many women who work all day in factories or in agriculture. Most of them have no education, perform simple tasks and do not know that education is the most important thing for their children. Many children are thus victims of child labor and exploitation. At the age of 5 years, they begin to work instead of going to school. To combat this problem, IIMC has set up a daycare. Thus, the mothers leave at least one of their children for free in the daycare, to which is then taken care of while the mother works. A very bad position to have children with disabilities, who are often violated even from the family. They are taken up in the foster home at IIMC.

Outdoor Clinic in Dhaki

Dhaki is located 110 km south of Kolkata. Also there IIMC has developed a system of basic medical care, micro-credit and education. Before IIMC started there, the nearest health center was 30 km and most people could not afford a doctor. Pregnant women could not afford care or supervised release and brought their children most at home in their tents to the world. The children suffered from malnutrition, worm infestations and skin infections. 2003 built IIMC his mission from after Dhaki and founded there in 2006 the Women's Health Center. Also IIMC has funded an ambulance boat.

Agriculture Project

Under this program, run 3 projects:

Dukherpole project This project is the very first agricultural project of IIMC. It includes: management of farmland that IIMC has bought provision of water for poor farming families expansion of fish farming in ponds, which has built IIMC

Purjata project in this area live 80 % from agriculture and 10% of fish farming. More than 60% live below the poverty line. The project includes: management of farmland that IIMC has bought expansion of fish farming in ponds, the IIMC has built

Dhaki project This project also serves to expand and efficient management of the fields.

Financing

IIMC is funded primarily through donations and most of the donations come from individuals. The donations come from all over the world. More and more attempts IIMC also even make money by the mozzarella making, weaving, sewing, laundry or dyeing.

Milk and mozzarella production

The IIMC Director Brahmochary discussed once with an Italian businesswoman on the production of mozzarella in West Bengal. The idea then became a reality. The Italian businesswoman Anna Maria from Rome sent a technician and trainer, and as two boys were trained at IIMC. Since it is a part of the micro-credit system. About 100 women who own a cow, daily sell the milk at a fair at IIMC and fixed prices. IIMC is produced therefrom mozzarella and sells it to restaurants. IIMC pays the women Rs 18 (about € 0.29 ), although the market price at Rs 15-16 is. From 10 liters of milk 1 pound mozzarella is made.

Management

Over 550 volunteers work in the schools, in daycare, in weaving, sewing, laundry or dyeing.

IIMC - Gramin Bank Mother

The Gramin Bank was established to consider also the social and not just the financial aspect of the loan. She does not need security proofs before outputting a loan, because the loan is issued to a group of women who respect each other out that the money will be refunded. It is the duty to repay the full amount of the loan. Currently, the return rate at 98 %. IIMC has taken this idea has already had some good success.

Legal Status

The project is officially registered:

• - Registered under public trust Act.
• - Registered under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.
• - Registered under Section 80 -G of Income Tax Act.
• - Registered under 12-A of Income Tax Act.