Apeksha Homoeo Society

AHS addresses malnutrition-related issues among vulnerable children by strengthening linkages between the community and government. Efforts have led to 40 villages becoming Kuposhan Mukt Gav (Malnutrition Free Villages). Health and nutrition interventions have impacted over 10000 children, identifying and referring 236 children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) to CTC/NRC. Focus on improving the availability and utilization of medical and nutritional treatment at the family level for children has resulted in a significant reduction in under-5 children mortality and prevalence of severe malnutrition.

Recognized by the Government of Maharashtra, AHS's work in children's education involves enrolling more than 15000 children into mainstream schooling. The model of short-stay home, introduced in the Melghat area in 2010 to prevent the migration of children with their families and retain them in formal schools, has been adopted by the state government. AHS's 'Bridge Course,' designed to open doors for formal and mainstream education for dropout students between the ages of 6-14 years, has won accolades from the Principal Secretary of Maharashtra. Founder Dr Madhukar Gumble serves as a Council Member of the National RTE Forum and one of the Conveners of the Maharashtra state RTE Forum, representing the state of Maharashtra in the first committee of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

AHS advocates for women's collectives, fostering economic, social, and political independence for women. Over the decades, the organization has been instrumental in creating and promoting more than 2000 Self Help Groups (SHGs) that provide support to women in health and livelihood. A specific focus is on Single Women, locally known as Ekal Mahila, who lead their families due to widowhood, divorce, or separation. AHS has established the Ekal Mahila Kisan Sanghatana as a platform to raise awareness about the issues faced by single women, with 6000 members from the Vidarbha region.

To empower single women economically, various small-scale activities have been initiated, including goat rearing, poultry, shops, vegetable selling, tailoring, food processing, vermi compost production, and more, aimed at income generation.

Additionally, 'Samvadini' has been created as a platform offering legal aid to facilitate better access to rightful property rights, credit, and government schemes.

During the Covid-19 pandemic period, AHS conducted the Ration Kit distribution program for families headed by single women. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in India in March 2020, resulting in a humanitarian crisis, AHS teams have been actively engaged in assisting those in need. While recognizing the ongoing challenges, the organization has accomplished the following:
* Distributed relief kits to 1056 needy families, containing dry rations or sanitization materials, benefiting at least 4125 individuals partially. This initiative was carried out in collaboration with ActionAid, NAAM Foundation, SwissAid, and Kisan Mitra Central India.
* Provided dry rations to children in Anganwadi in 40 villages from Dharani, Dist. Amravati, supporting Anganwadi workers in the process.
* Ensured the functioning of APJ Abdul Kalam Amrut AAhar Yojana in the Melghat area, which offers one full hot cooked nutritious meal to pregnant and lactating women in tribal areas.

AHS actively engages in advocacy for legal and policy reforms aligned with the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child. Through awareness programs covering over 5000 villages, approximately 260 villages have been declared explicitly child labor-free. A holistic approach involves empowering about 2000 personnel from NGOs, school teachers, and government departments to facilitate Personal Safety Education, emphasizing Child Protection to prevent the risk of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). The establishment of a three-tier structure of children's collectives—from child groups and child parliament to child rights protection committees at the village to district levels—acts as a platform to prevent cases of child marriage, child trafficking, and child labour.

Apeksha has been dedicated to strengthening the social accountability of public health and social services by promoting multi-sectoral community-based processes. As one of the pioneering organizations in Maharashtra, Apeksha has played a crucial role in fostering discussions around health. Over the decades, the organization has established and empowered a cadre of community health workers, providing paramedical aid to villagers. Collaborating with government and private frontline health personnel, including doctors, ASHA workers, Aganwadis workers, and ANMs, has been a consistent effort.

An innovative initiative, the Building Community Action for Nutrition (BCAN) process, was launched in 2019 across 40 villages in Melghat. This process involves community-based monitoring to strengthen nutrition services. By creating awareness about their rights and entitlements, community members can identify and highlight gaps in nutritional services, leading to improved healthcare in the region.

AHS has achieved success in enhancing the income of rural families through sustainable agriculture, livelihood development, and watershed management. The organization has effectively increased farm productivity in the region by providing training to farming communities in planning, climate-resilient practices, and crop diversification. To address the challenge of physical water access, AHS has implemented in situ soil moisture and water conservation interventions, covering over 14500 hectares of land in more than 100 villages.

The implementation of water harvesting measures, including the construction of cement structures, earthen Nala structures, rejuvenation, and repair of old structures, has aided communities in coping with dry spells and reducing crop failures. AHS has also introduced and promoted diversified livelihood means, such as livestock rearing through dairy management, goat farming, and poultry practices, contributing to enhanced income for marginal families.