Rural Development
Although Deep Griha's work is primarily focused within the urban slum communities of Pune, we also work within nearby rural communities.
Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC)
We are working in collaboration with the Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM) Department of AFMC, who have recently adopted Kasurdi village - where Deep Griha's City of Child is based - to run a rural medical centre. Since we have strong links with the area and local people we have been able to promote AFMC's services. Every week AFMC runs a consultancy clinic, with dental, gynaec, orthopaedic and general physicians visiting in turn. These services are well utilised by people from the surrounding villages, with more than 5000 beneficiaries attending this year.
Special Medical Camps
Deep Griha organise annual eye camps in collaboration with Vision Aid Overseas, a team of optometrists from the UK. These camps provide eye care to disadvantaged people in several rural villages. We also organise gynaecological camps in partnership with medical professionals and organise medical checks of students in local schools.
Women's Empowerment
Having seen the women in the urban slums benefit from literacy classes, self-help groups etc, we are running many of the same projects in rural areas. These include: Women's Development Seminars Self-help Groups / Credit Cooperatives Tailoring and Embroidery Classes Skills Training (henna, rangoli, crafts, cookery etc.)We also run seminars aimed at girls providing education incorporating sexual awareness, family planning, health issues related to family members, HIV & AIDS, women's rights and so on.
DISHA Mobile Awareness Vehicle (DMAV)
The DMAV goes to rural areas in Pune District once a week to run HIV & AIDS awareness programmes for local people. The programme typically includes a street play, talk show and condom demonstration and distribution. The team performs in markets, truck stops, village squares, schools and bus stations - wherever there is a mass of people to listen. We are determined to educate people about modes of transmission, preventative measures and the facts (rather than the myths) surrounding HIV.