The Crèche programme of RASS was started in 1981 with 6 centers, in 6 relatively backward villages, with a total intake of 150 children. RASS currently runs 320 centers in Chittor, Kadapa, Anantapur and Nellore districts of Andhra Pradesh, covering 9000 children annually. The community plays a major role in the regular running of these Crèches providing rent free accommodation, their maintenance and upkeep. These Crèches have received very good response from the public, especially the rural working mothers. The recurring and non-recurring expenditure up to 90 % is provided by the Central Social Welfare Board, New Delhi.
 |
 |
 |
| Top |
RASS has undertaken the task of promoting early childcare through establishment of pre-primary centers providing a joyful atmosphere in imparting education. These centers were christened as ‘Bala Vihars’ in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. The programme was effectively organized with 600 centers in 600 habitations for the benefit of 18000 children in the age group of 3-6 years by the end of 2002. Funded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, the early childhood education programme aims at inculcating school going habits among pre-school children and awakening their creative intelligence. These centers were phased out due to introducing of Anganwadi centers in the same villages.
 |
 |
 |
| Top |
In the drought prone Rayalaseema region, children and mothers are the most vulnerable groups. Therefore, as a modest attempt to contribute to child development, RASS has undertaken the implementation of ICDS. Funded jointly by the Government of India, Government of Andhra Pradesh, UNICEF and CARE, RASS is the First NGO in the country to have been entrusted with the task of running the ICDS Project since 1984.
The programme aims at delivering an integrated package of basic services to children below 6 years of age and women in the age group of 15-45 years at their doorsteps. The project provides a package of services through a network of 111 Anganwadi centers, covering 15000 women and children in Tirupati and surrounding locations. Additional interventions were implemented in the project area such as early intervention of disabled children and women SHGs, non formal education and skill development etc.
The smooth transmission from ICDS to the primary schools is ensured through another project initiative in Tirupati urban area. Pre-school education and ICDS Anganwadi centers are supported through the project. The initiative is supported by Save the Children.
| Top |
RASS with the assistance received from Child Fund India (CCF – Formerly known as Christian Children’s Fund), has started a child development project in the backward villages of Chittor district. The project aims at promotion of physical and mental growth of children by providing them appropriate nutritional, educational, medical and economic support, besides opportunities for children to develop their skills leadership abilities and to safeguard their rights.
The affiliation of Balaji Bala Vikas to CCF in 1984 was a landmark in the development and growth of integrated child development activities of RASS. The project was initiated with 1400 children in 15 villages of Pichatur and Puthalpat mandals. The project was successfully implemented over a period of 13 years in these mandals. Impressed with the progress of the project, the CCF accepted to shift the programme to needy villages of Renigunta mandal, during the year 2000. The project is a head of sustainable community programme with corpus fund of Rs.2 crores.
| Top |
The Bala Bharathi Project, taken up in association with Aide-et-Action, is another major initiative by RASS in the area of child development. The programme was initiated in Yerpedu Mandal of Chittor District with the objective of improving the conditions of poor children through education and better health. The interventions were moulded in way to reach the child indirectly through the family and community at large. In addition, the project has also taken up activities like land reclamation, soil conservation, farmers training, irrigation development, live-stock development, income generation, organization of people and promotion of village education committees for the benefit of the community at large.
| Top |
The tribal child development initiative of RASS, undertaken with the support of Aide-et-Action, is the Orissa tribal development project. The project was conceived in response to the multifarious problems of the children of school age in 211 villages of Koraput district of Orissa State. The mission of the project is to provide basic needs for 6600 children and their families through promotion of awareness, leadership elements, participatory planning and implementation of programme inputs through CBOs.
See more Photos of Orissa Tribal Livelihoods
| Top |
RASS has taken up a pilot programme in collaboration with International Labour Organization – Andhra Pradesh State Based Project (ILO – APSBP) for the prevention of child labour. As many as 47 villages of Kuppam mandal of Chittor district were adopted on an experimental basis. This action programme has four basic components viz., ensure full enrolment of all young children, building links between the ICDS and DPEP/SSA programmes, identifying dropouts through early warning signals and support to prevent their dropping out. RASS successfully implemented this action programme with the institutional arrangement of National Institute of Public Co-operation and Child Development (NIPCCD), Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy Institute of Human Resource Development (MCHRD) and National Institute of Small Industries Enterprise Training (NISIET).
| Top |
RASS has successfully established 1100 non-formal education centers spread over Chittor and Kadapa districts. The programme was started in 1983. It had a focus on the dropouts. RASS set up 100 centers exclusively for girl dropouts with an enrolment of 2500 in the age group of 6-14 years. The programme was withdrawn by the Government of India during the year 2000 in view of introduction of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan which was entrusted to the State Government.
The successful implementation of non-formal education programmes by RASS has made it a model for the NCERT and other research organizations as demonstration centers for field level research. It was gratifying to mention that as many as 30500 dropouts completed middle school through non-formal education centers and that these children were admitted into normal schools over a period of time. The children of above 14 years who are related to join formal school were given life skill training basin on the affordable and market demand.
 |
 |
| Top |
RASS has taken up an initiative to safeguard child rights in Tsunami affected areas in two mandals viz., T.P. Gudur and Mypadu villages of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh. RASS intervened through direct awareness programmes, parental support, improving access to the formal school system, supporting education through evening learning centers and networking with like minded organizations. RASS partnered with Save the Children, UK for financial and technical support.
| Top |
The smooth transmission from ICDS to the primary schools is ensured through the project in Tirupati urban area. Strengthening pre-school education and ICDS Anganwadi centers more attractive are supported through the project. Besides, primary schools, which are under the feeding of ICDS are also concentrated for strengthening. The initiative is supported by Save the Children.
1.Capacity enhancement of Anganwadi workers and primary school teachers
2.Child friendly teaching methodology in Anganwadis and primary schools
3.Supporting through teaching learning materials
4.Building repairs and child friendly environment promotion
5.Child tracking for smooth transmission from Anganwadi to primary schools
 |
 |
 |
| Top |
The school going children in the holidays spent without any purposeful activity and when they promoted to higher grades, many of them are unable to recall their earlier learnings. This let to backlog to achieve good grades in the higher classes by many of the pupils. In recognition of this, RASS promoted holiday camps for the children.
Through this camps supportive education including life skill education, joyful learning and moral values, along with games and sports are supported. Around 5000 children have been supported through these holiday camps since 1987 for a period of 10 years.
 |
|---|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |