Swami Sivananda Memorial Institute of Fine Arts & Crafts (Regd)

The School of Social Enterprise, established in 2015 by SSMI, shares the organisation's extensive experience in serving underprivileged women and families across five decades. It offers a platform for learning and experimentation in social service delivery, bridging theory and practice. Through internships for Indian and foreign students, it provides hands-on exposure to social issues such as nutrition, education, health, female livelihood, and NGO management. Moreover, it conducts training for NGOs, corporate entities involved in Corporate Social Responsibility, and Government bodies, offering consultancy services to governmental administrations like those of India, Andhra Pradesh, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Additionally, it facilitates half-day social tours to familiarize individuals with the challenges faced by underprivileged groups.

SSMI’s nutrition programme is a key initiative addressing malnutrition, serving over 17,000 women and children in Delhi's Jehangirpuri, Madipur, and Nawada slums. Embracing the "Jehangirpur Model," it adopts a decentralized approach by engaging local women and establishing kitchens within the communities, ensuring transparency and food safety. The program focuses on employment generation, offering training, minimizing manual labour through technology, and empowering women through self-help groups to eventually manage these kitchens. Encouraging entrepreneurship, SSMI supports initiatives like a school, staff canteen, a "tiffin service," and Earthspired product manufacturing, thereby aiding local farmers. Over 14 years, it has provided nutritious meals for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and adolescent girls, contributing to the Government of NCT of Delhi's Integrated Child Development Scheme.

SSMI collaborates with the R.P. Center for Ophthalmology at AIIMS and Vision for All to extend crucial medical aid for eye conditions to the impoverished. Recognizing the lack of access to eye care in slum areas, it conducts educational sessions and distributes leaflets to raise awareness. Running bi-weekly eye clinics within the slums enables direct screening, treatment, and referrals for various eye issues, benefiting nearly 50,000 individuals in a decade. Additionally, SSMI provides free eye tests for school children, subsidizes spectacle costs, and trains 20 women from the community to offer pre and post-operation care, aiming to transform lives through simple yet impactful procedures.

SSMI passionately provides holistic, free education to 1000+ underprivileged children, ensuring talent recognition without labelling any as non-performers. Supported partly by Government grants, it nurtures around 125 nursery children and offers primary education to 375 pupils with a focus on academics, arts, sports, and special needs support. Its 500-strong secondary school achieves a 75% pass rate, imparting life skills and health education. SSMI trains local girls as teachers and conducts workshops in Delhi, promoting an inclusive education approach. Students exhibit motivation, curiosity, and strong work ethics, reflected in academic excellence, competitive victories, and sports achievements, making SSMI proud.

SSMI aligns with its founder's vision by empowering local and migrant women towards financial independence. Through vocational training in embroidery, printing, tailoring, and merchandising, it equips women from low-income families with textile skills, fostering employment for 80 individuals. Identifying and retraining those with traditional craft backgrounds, SSMI aids in reviving abandoned skills. Additionally, it established Subha, a micro-social enterprise managed by artisans, and initiated HINDBAG in 2014 through an internship programme. HINDBAG, a major supporter of this movement, provides livelihood opportunities for women while catering to local and international clients. This thriving textiles department generates substantial revenue, with an annual turnover of Rs 3.1 crore, supporting SSMI's charitable endeavours and exploring global markets for further growth.