Centre For Social Action (CSA) a registered trust has as its vision to be “Facilitators of a Just and Humane Society based on Love, Equality, and Harmony with Creation”. The mission of CSA is to initiate and sustain non-violent, collaborative, and integral development processes for vulnerable individuals and groups and work for the empowerment and upliftment of the poor and the marginalised people in the city of Mumbai and its suburbs, Dharavi Island (comprising the villages of Uttan, Gorai, Manori, Pali, Chowk and Dongri), parts of Thane district and whole of Raigad district. 

CSA functioned as the Office for Social Work being since 1951, however only after the Consultation in 1990 the mandate of a structure was commissioned. In 1997 the then trustees registered this Office as a Trust. A process of Perspective Planning was initiated in 1999 which enabled the trustees and various stakeholders involved in sharpen their focus resulting in the Vision and Mission of CSA which were reaching out to various vulnerable and marginalized groups of women, children, dalits, tribals and prison inmates through their various partners located in Greater Mumbai, Thane and Raigad districts.

As per the challenges and the needs based issues people were sensitized and the issues dealt with have been – Gender and Development, Anti-Human Trafficking, Promotion of Home based care for People living with HIV AIDS, Protection of Human Rights, Environmental Protection and Sustainability, Communal Harmony, Promotion of formal and non-formal Education especially for tribals and responding to natural calamities and disasters by providing relief and rehabilitation.

CSA’s approach has been a combination of various approaches with a focus on responding to the need through Partner Engagement, Community Mobilization, People-led Development, Networking, Awareness building, Engage with Stakeholders – Government and Systems (Socio, Political, Economic). CSA has constantly worked with like-minded organizations who journey towards the same goal and values that are upheld. They are Equality, Justice, Human Dignity, Peace and Harmony, Love, Inclusiveness, Collaboration, Participation, Respect, Forgiveness, Transparency, Accountability and Unity.  

As per the Social Perspective Plan the four broad Program Areas and Objectives of CSA are:

1. Vulnerable Children and Education: 

  a. To restore the human dignity of vulnerable children through the process of empowerment.

  b. To bring about equitable, qualitative and value based education for all.

2. Women Empowerment and Right to Sustainable Livelihood: Every woman in the archdiocese is empowered and her basic rights are guaranteed.

3. Environment and Good Governance – To create sustain and empower CBOs to promote environment-friendly practices and ensuring accountability in governance through a process of participative democracy

4. Communal Harmony and Emergency Response:

   a. We commit ourselves to promote Communal Harmony through a process of empowerment. 

  b. A well-coordinated and secular response to effectively manage emergency situations. 

Setting Oneself Free! - Stress Management Workshop for Domestic Workers 7-7-17

Under Basic Skill Self Enhancement program; Centre for Social Action along with Partner organization Salvation Community Centre has organized the 3^rd session on Stress management on 7^th July 2017. 

A total 21 domestic workers (women) actively attended the session. Dr. Evelet Sequeira was the resource person; who conducted the session and shared 3 techniques of stress management – Learn to be stress free i.e. Breathing technique, Sound technique and Dance technique.

The Resource person also shared the story of an elephant who is tied to a chain. The Elephant still believes that the rope can still hold him, so he will never try to break free.” The visit to the zoo was amazed to note that these animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were. Like the elephants, many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? Failure is part of learning; we should never give up the struggle in life.

After the end of the session one of the women expressed all her emotions in front of the whole group and at then at the end all 8 women individually meet with the resource person to discuss about their personal issues to get solutions on the same.

Capacity Bldg of Bandarpakhadi Women on Effective Teamwork

On the 22^nd June, 2017 a workshop was organized by CSA at Holy Cross Chapel, Bandarpakhadi for Mahila Mandals and SHG women. 29 women participated in the workshop animated by Fr. Sandeep Borges. Through group exercises and interaction with women he focussed on building the women into a team. He asked them about the purpose of the formation of the team. 

“Team is a collection of persons who interact with each other regularly and are work with each other to attain their common goals”. A team brings people together with different expertise and enable them to apply their specialized knowledge in solving their problems. It also helps in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization.

The Women expressed their happiness as their perspective of best utilization of their capacity and working together was enhanced.

Mishal Dabre

Summer Camp - 24th to 28th April, 2017 at Roshini Griha, Poinsur

Roshani Griha CCO, Poinsur conducted a Learning & Fun Summer Camp for vulnerable children during 24^th April to 28^th April 2017 in collaboration with CSA  (Mishal Dabre) & Volunteers (Mrs.Nehal & Ms.Abigel). 27 children from the community participated.

Besides the usual ice breakers, games and fun activities children were introduced to social themes viz.

• Environment (Best out of Waste, Saving Water & Electricity),
• Health (Hygiene & Nutrition),
• Gender Issues (Good touch/bad touch, Respect for Elders, Relationships, Safety & Security),
• Leadership for Transformation (Building Self esteem & Self confidence, Communication Skills & Leadership Qualities).

These session were taken through the use of games, group activities & debates.

Be Bold for a Change! - Women day at Roshini Graha, Poinsur 16-3-17

BE BOLD FOR A CHANGE' was the international theme for woman’s day. Making the woman aware that if you want a change in societies outlook, then the woman the change begins from you. Carrying forward the same theme our woman at Poinsur celebrated Woman's day at Our Lady of Remedy school hall on 16th March 2017 organized by the Roshni Graha CCO.

Ms. Clipsy Banji was the resource person for the day and she conveyed the message of the theme to the woman through games and interactive sessions in their local language. Motivating the woman to be BOLD and stand up for their rights and ultimately there will be a change

The woman enthusiastically performed cultural songs and cultural dance .Women who never come out and spoke in public for the first time that day spoke on the mic in front of 90 woman who were present for the celebration and therefore initiating their first step towards implementing the theme ''BE BOLD FOR A CHANGE'’.

The entire event was planned and executed by the local woman along with the help of Ms. Sushila Pallicha (Asst director CCO) and CSA staff Mishal Dabre

Womans day Celebration - Bunderpakhdi ( Kandivali)

And the celebration does not end .The women of Bunderpakhdi ( Kandivali) belonging to the holy cross Mahila Mandal celebrated women’s day on 9th March 2017 with the theme - ‘Addiction is more Dangerous than Poison”. Fr. Diago Pereira and Mrs. Rashmi Deepak Tawdae (Corporater)were the chief guest for the celebration. Mrs. Shoba Bajpai from Jeevan dhara was the guest speaker. She spoke on Addiction( Drugs, Mobile and alcoholism) The entire event was planned and executed by the women along with the help of CSA staff. 200 children, woman and men were present for the celebration.



The women who have never performed in front of
big crowds; CONFIDENTALLY performed skits, songs and dances to convey the message ‘ addiction is more dangerous than poison’. This day gave the women the motivation to 
continue spreading awareness on addiction and also continue helping local people in the village to fight against the use of these vices

Para Legal Literacy on 22/9/16

3^rd Capacity session was conducted by the Center for social action on the 22^nd September 2016 at Salvation Church Dadar. The topic was legal rights with a specific focus on the Domestic Violence Act (2005). The resource persons for the workshop were representatives of the well known organization Majlis. The participants were around 48 representatives of various CBOs and CCO’s. 

They covered following topics :

1.      Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (2005)

Women  includes – Mother, Daughter, Sister, Mother-in-law, female live-in partner.

2.      A woman cannot file a case of domestic violence against another woman. Hence it has to be against a male person and male family members associated with the abuser.

3.      What is violence- not only physical, verbal , mental abuse. Also depriving food to children,  not providing money for education of children, etc.

4.      When filing an FIR one should take down the name, designation and contact number of the person filling the FIR and also ask for his superior’s name and designation.

5.      A copy of the FIR must be given immediately and free of cost.

6.      If the police is not filing your complaint, you can write your own application, submit it at the inward desk and get a stamp of acknowledgement from the Inward Desk.

7.      If a woman calls 103 in the case of Rape, the Police can go home and record the FIR at home.

8.      You can file an FIR anywhere, irrespective of jurisdiction. This is called a ZERO FIR. This ZERO FIR has to be transferred by the filing police station to the relevant police station within 48 hours.

9.      In the case of Rape or any other sexual offence it is important to get a Medico legal certificate from the Government or Private Hospital. With domestic violence it is better to get the certificate from a Government Hospital.

10.  It is important to preserve case papers/ documentation at the NGO level as such documents can be helpful for a victim at the time of Trial.

   

Under the Dv Act  Protection Officers are appointed. They explained what their duties and responsibilities were and the various initiatives of the State to make these services more accessible to the public. Several trainings and sensitization workshops were also conducted for the Police and other staff to improve their understanding of their responsibilities as representatives of the law enforcement. Also they spoke about the Rights of a Woman at a Police Station, filing of Zero FIRs, things to keep in mind when filling an FIR, how to talk in the language of the Police, and other small tips that social workers could use in various cases. They highlighted 3 main areas of Documentation of cases, Evidence Collection, and Consent terms in the case of dissolving or closing a case. Simple strategies and tips were provided so as to reduce mistakes that would otherwise hurt the client and her case. Although the workshop was a short one the participants felt empowered with more knowledge and information that they could take back to the community and their homes. Feedback from the participants was positive with a stress on more sessions on other laws as well.

The session was very interesting for the participants as most of them knew about the DV Act; however, there were still several misconceptions and questions regarding the same which were aptly addressed by Ms.Sindhu and Farhat.

Basic Cap. Bldg - 3rd Session - Para-Legal Training 22-9-2016

The third basic Capacity Building Session was conducted by CSA on the 22^nd Sept, 2016 at Salvation Kendra, Dadar. The topic was legal rights with a specific focus on the Domestic Violence Act (2005). The resource persons for the workshop were representatives of the well known organization Majlis, which is a legal centre that offers legal services, legal awareness trainings and also work at policy level interventions, PILs, etc. The participants were around 48 representatives of various CBOs and CCO’s. The session was very interesting as the participants knew very little about the DV Act and had quite a few misconceptions as was evident from the questions raised.

 

Ms. Sindhu and Farhat covered the following topics :

1.       Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (2005)

Women  includes – Mother, Daughter, Sister, Mother-in-law, female live-in partner.

2.       A woman cannot file a case of domestic violence against another woman. Hence it has to be against a male person and male family members associated with the abuser.

3.       What is violence- not only physical, verbal , mental abuse. Also depriving food to children,  not providing money for education of children, etc.

4.       When filing an FIR one should take down the name, designation and contact number of the person filling the FIR and also ask for his superior’s name and designation.

5.       A copy of the FIR must be given immediately and free of cost.

6.       If the police is not filing your complaint, you can write your own application, submit it at the inward desk and get a stamp of acknowledgement from the Inward Desk.

7.       If a woman calls 103 in the case of Rape, the Police can go home and record the FIR at home.

8.       You can file an FIR anywhere, irrespective of jurisdiction. This is called a ZERO FIR. This ZERO FIR has to be transferred by the filing police station to the relevant police station within 48 hours.

9.       In the case of Rape or any other sexual offence it is important to get a Medico legal certificate from the Government or Private Hospital. With domestic violence it is better to get the certificate from a Government Hospital.

10.   It is important to preserve case papers/ documentation at the NGO level as such documents can be helpful for a victim at the time of Trial.

Under the Dv Act  Protection Officers are appointed they explained what their duties and responsibilities were and the various initiatives of the State to make these services more accessible to the public. Several trainings and sensitization workshops were also conducted for the Police and other staff to improve their understanding of their responsibilities as representatives of the law enforcement. Also they spoke about the Rights of a Woman at a Police Station, filing of Zero FIRs, things to keep in mind when filling an FIR, how to talk in the language of the Police, and other small tips that social workers could use in various cases.

They highlighted 3 main areas of Documentation of cases, Evidence Collection, and Consent terms in the case of dissolving or closing a case. Simple strategies and tips were provided so as to reduce mistakes that would otherwise hurt the client and her case. Although the workshop was a short one the participants felt empowered with more knowledge and information that they could take back to the community and their homes. Feedback from the participants was positive with a stress on more sessions on other laws as well.

Mishal Dabre

Senior social worker

CSA

Cancer awareness session on 22/8/16 at Bunderpakhdi.

On Monday 22^nd August 2016, Cancer awareness session was  organized by Holy Cross Mahila Mandal under the guidance of CSA staff Mishal Dabre.

Dr. Prachi Thakar  and Dr.K.Thakar, Oncologist  conducted a cancer awareness session. A presentation based on cancer and its root-cause was shown to 32 women of bunderpakhdi community. With the rising cases of breast cancer in the country, it becomes necessary to create awareness among the women about this deadly disease.

The women were acquainted with the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer. Changing trends in eating habits, symptoms, risk factors and warning signs and prevention were some of the points that were discussed in the session.

Social worker Mishal Dabre said that the objective of conducting the session was to raise awareness among the community women. After the session, women were requested to conduct a camp of mammography and Pap test.

This Program was supported through WOCKHARDT Hospital by Mr. Madhav, Marketing Manager.

Community based organisation, Mobilization and SHG Formation 11-8-2016

On 11^th August 2016, 2nd Capacity building session was held at Dadar. The topic was community based organization, Mobilization and SHG formation.

CSA staff, Ms.  Mishal Dabre was the Resource person. There were 66 participants who were present  from various community centres.

She covered the following topics using different activities, group discussion and role play. 

They are as follows:

Definition, objective, methodology, process and SHG formation and documentation.

The objectives of CBO are to:
1. Establish community based institutes for sustainable community development.
2. Develop capacity of community to manage their development projects.
 Ensure community participation/involvement and thus ownership.

Community organization is known to lead to greater understanding of community context, and is characterized by community planning, community action and mobilization, the promotion of community change and ultimately influence within the  larger systems.

The participants actively participated and had an enriching session.