Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the Setco Foundation in Kalol block, Panchmahal district, Gujarat. The Setco Foundation, established in 2007, is dedicated to executing CSR initiatives of the Setco Group, with a primary focus on healthcare, nutrition, education, and the empowerment of underprivileged women and children in the Panchmahal district of Gujarat. The Foundation’s unwavering commitment is evident in its comprehensive approach towards fostering a self-sustaining and progressive society, with 5% of Setco Automotive’s annual net profit dedicated to its noble cause.
The project model has evolved into a holistic one of collaboration with the communities for equitable access to healthcare, education, and sustainable systems for alternative means of livelihood. This less-traveled road started in 2009 as a simple initiative to improve the quality of life of the local
communities around Setco Auto. Ceaseless work has been on for 15 years, covering 18 anganwadis and enabling empowerment in communities in various ways. The beneficiaries are the rural communities of the Panchmahal district in Gujarat, India.
Of particular significance to me is the Khushi program, which embodies an integrated and holistic approach towards fostering well-rounded and healthy child development, supporting motherhood, and promoting adolescent health within communities. This initiative, guided by a 360-degree perspective, encompasses interventions in community-based management of maternal health, combating malnutrition, nurturing child development, providing disability support, and addressing adolescent health issues.
The Community Level Helpdesk Project–Sarathi is the outcome of the assessed need for correct documentation for the utilization of government schemes and benefits for the communities.
Khushi-Aayushi Adolescent health services expand access to services and improve motherhood and maternal health. Their methodology supports pregnant and nursing mothers for correct pre and postnatal care services and practices, reducing child malnutrition by 14 overall. Aayushi focuses on mothers, children, and adolescent health, with intensified interventions below age six through nutrition, behavior management, and medical referral.
Nandghar, a Montessori-inspired program, focuses on play-based joyful learning, ensuring the holistic development of children through an integrated approach fostering physical, motor, cognitive, and socio-emotional development. Early childhood care and education are provided through 18 anganwadis of the Kalol taluka under the Nandghar program at Setco Foundation.
Pahel, an Early Childhood Development & Disability Support Program, captures a critical window of opportunity to prepare the foundation for lifelong learning and participation for children with developmental disabilities and delays. Within the Khushi program, the Pahel initiative particularly resonates with the core objectives of my project. Pahel, the Early Childhood Development & Disability Support Program, strategically targets a critical window of opportunity to lay the groundwork for lifelong learning and active participation for children facing developmental challenges. Given the alignment between Pahel’s objectives and those
of my project, I am genuinely eager to gain firsthand insights into this impactful programme.
The Pahel Centre is a space where children with special needs are fostered in overall development with a focus on achieving basic independence with physical, social, emotional, and cognitive skills along with language learning. Additionally, the focus on nutrition and growth directly improves
cognitive and motor development in children. Digital and video-based interactions were created as an urgent need in the Covid years for consistency of assessments and interventions. This methodology is
used even today in cases of locational and physical inaccessibility due to any reason.
Key Interventions – Look, Ask & Listen (LAL) and Guide for Monitoring Child Development (GMCD) are assessment tools used to screen and monitor child development. Children with identified delays are further referred to the Pahel Centre for appropriate diagnosis and interventions. The Pahel programme provides therapy services to children at the centre as well as at home for those who cannot access the centre. Family-based intervention and parental counselling are important components of this approach. Development Assessment Scales for Indian Infants (DASII) – The DASII assessment tool is used to provide specific diagnosis and intervention mapping for children with delays and disabilities.
Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Speech Therapy camps are held
periodically to assess progress in children as well as develop appropriate action plans.
I met community workers, Jalpa Ben and Sonal Ben, who are trained as Child Development Aides (CDAs) through the CDA Training Program bu Ummeed CDC. The program aims to equip workers in the community to aid in preventing disabilities, promoting typical development, assisting families in early disability identification, monitoring at-risk children, and empowering underserved communities without access to professional healthcare. The Child Developmental Aide (CDA) can help parents promote their child’s development to prevent at-risk children from developing full-blown disabilities. Early identification ensures that intervention begins as soon as possible, often through simple strategies integrated into the family’s daily routine.
These interventions are usually straightforward enough for family members to conduct, addressing delayed development in specific areas effectively. This program serves as a model for replication in communities across India, ensuring adequate availability of childcare resources for less-privileged children and their families. CDAs like Jalpa Ben and Sonal Ben, trained by the Ummeed CDC team, exemplify the success of this approach. They shared their journey towards disability support, highlighting their six-month training period in Mumbai under Ummeed CDC’s guidance, showcasing Ummeed’s significant role in this process.
This project underscores the effectiveness of community-based and cost-effective rehabilitation strategies, leveraging existing resources efficiently where specialized services may be lacking.
Ummeed’s train-the-trainer programs have been instrumental in certifying community workers like Jalpa Ben and Sonal Ben as CDAs, focusing on their work with children and caregivers.
My firsthand experience with the dedicated team at Setco Foundation further deepened my understanding of effective interventions and provided invaluable insights for advancing similar projects. Witnessing their operations in the field reinforced the importance of collaborative efforts in enhancing developmental support within communities.
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