Pragati Manav Sewa Sansthan

The program promotes community health through improved nutrition and healthcare services, targeting eligible women (15-49 years), children, and adolescent girls and boys (10-16 years). Addressing the deteriorating nutritional status of children is a key concern, and the health and nutrition of adolescent girls are deemed important for their future roles as mothers. However, there is limited information on adolescents' diet and nutritional status, particularly in rural areas. The project is strategically designed to tackle health and nutrition issues systematically, incorporating interventions such as awareness generation, referrals, and nutrition and medicine supplementation. Its objectives are to enhance access to and utilisation of primary and preventive health services, especially among poor and marginalised populations, and improve healthcare quality. Additionally, it aims to strengthen community and local-level monitoring of health services.

The program's primary objectives are to provide quality day care for children, ensuring their healthy development and promoting the well-being of working mothers. It focuses on holistic child development and early child care and health. Program activities include offering integrated day care services, providing nutrition and healthcare, creating stimulating learning environments, raising awareness in communities, establishing health linkages, and training community workers. PMSS operates 105 crèches in rural areas, with support from ICCW and CSWB, and collaborates with other organizations. They also advocate for early childcare policies and work with local government institutions to demonstrate effective models for child care and health.

The program’s goal is to offer affordable and quality education to families residing in rural areas. In the education sector, the organization operate three CBSE schools in Guna District, which were established in 2010 and have enrolled over 2,000 students from low-income families, ranging from playschool to grade 10. Additionally, in 2014, they initiated a teachers' training college that offers both a 2-year master's program and a 4-year undergraduate program. Their educational endeavours benefit from collaborations with knowledge partners like Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Teachers College, and Avanti Fellows.

Hindupat ITI (Pvt.) in Guna, Madhya Pradesh, offers ITI trade courses in Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA), Electrician, and Welder, focusing on preparing candidates for the workforce through industry-aligned training. Established in January 2015, the institution is part of a network of Industrial Training Institutes under the Directorate-General for Employment and Training, Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship, Union Government. Successful candidates receive the National Trade Certificate (NTC) for various trades in engineering and non-engineering fields. To address youth unemployment, Hindupat Institute of Skill Development (HISD) provides courses in computer training, fire-fighting, security guard training, electrician training, and welding training. The institute holds NCVT affiliation and has established a dedicated placement cell to connect skilled workers with relevant job opportunities, fostering local talent development and employment prospects.

Despite the proliferation of vocational training institutions, the increasing number of unemployed and underemployed youth necessitates a unique and market-driven approach to address the issue. The Rural Livelihood Education and Development program, by PMSS, is designed to provide employability skill training to marginalised youth who have dropped out of the education system. The program emphasises a demand-driven approach, ensuring training is aligned with the needs of potential employers. It seeks to reduce the number of families below the poverty line in target areas by creating employment opportunities for low-education marginalised youth. It also provides life skills and establishes linkages for their sustainability and improved quality of life. The program aims to expand to other districts and advocate for similar approaches in employability and entrepreneurship training, aiming to address youth unemployment nationwide.