“I would like to provide training to the younger generation girls/boys those who are showing interest in taking up tailoring classes,” said Ms. Poonam (Name changed).

She lost her tailoring job during the Covid pandemic and had to depend on her husband who is a labourer. She expressed her happiness to receive such overwhelmed support- sewing machine from Caritas India funded by Caritas Australia. This support will help her and others to start earning, raise their living conditions and will also make them self-reliant.

Caritas India under the Gram Nirman Program with the support of Caritas Australia donated hand sewing machines to 6 economically weaker section people (5 Female & 1 Male) belonging to urban slums of East Delhi. The support was extended to provide employment to the high-risk group of people to make them independent, handle their own income & take care of themselves & their families.  The main objective of this support is to assist high-risk group people (HIV infected) so that they enhance their family income and provide a bright future to their children. Secondly, this support aims to empower women to become financially independent.

The handing over event was clubbed with one-day review meeting on the Gram Nirman-Urban component focusing on the social-economic rehabilitation of families living with HIV/ AIDS was organized on 10th March 2022 in Caritas India Head Office.

Fr. Paul Moonjely, Executive Director of Caritas India highlighted appreciated the initiative towards economic rehabilitation of people living with HIV/AIDS by the local partner Deepti Foundation. He emphasized that working with such vulnerable groups for more than a decade, “our approach should focus on bringing impact through Behavior Changes with special focus on Children affected/infected with HIV and also Groups at Higher Risk for HIV.”

“We are the Agent of Social Change while the true owner is the community people,” said Fr. Jolly Puthenpura, Assistant Director of Caritas. He underlined; Community Ownership should be built within the program which will result in sustainable impact. Fr. Santosh, Director of Deepti Foundation highlighted the important role of a Counselor that adds value in bringing changes in the mindset & attitude of a person.

Caritas India with support from Caritas Australia is directly implementing Gram Nirman program for five years (2022-2026) in 3 states namely Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Delhi catering to the needs of both urban & rural populations. Under the urban population, this program primarily focuses on rehabilitation of families living& affected with HIV and AIDS & other high-risk groups residing in 18 slum areas in East Delhi.