The projects implemented through VISION 26 Programme address eight of UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2022, through 600 projects, it was able to reach out to 1.45 million beneficiaries in 339 districts in 23 states in India.
The projects of Vision 26 are designed to transform the lives of weaker sections, marginalised and orphans. Taking forward the mission to empower communities through sustainable development initiatives, remarkable progress was made in 2022 which has been highlighted in Vision’s 2022 annual report.
On the process and formation of Vision programmes, T Arif Ali, Chairman of VISION 26, said, “In 2006, Sachar Committee Report highlighted the backwardness of Muslims after Independence as compared to other communities, caste and tribes. The report was widely debated and discussed across the country because it was only the Muslim community which could not make progress even after Independence. After the report, the Manmohan Singh-led Congress government initiated some steps to implement the recommendations of the report.”
He added, “At that point of time the Muslim community leaders thought that there should be some kind of initiatives from the community to uplift marginalised and Pasmanda Muslims and other backward communities. They did a lot of homework as to how to move forward in that direction. They interacted with people in India and abroad who were interested in community development, social engineering, and had some experience.Those people included intellectuals and social scientists. After some deliberations they decided to initiate the welfare and developmental process with the formation of various kinds of NGOs.
“VISION is a project in India designed to bring Marginalised and Pasmanda Muslims, Dalits and Adivasi who are backward to mainstream.This is the basic idea of this project. Asa result, we are doing work in various sectors like education, healthcare, community development, economic development, and women empowerment. These areas were selected in the light ofeight of UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To implement these projects various NGOs were created so that they can work independently and the vision was to bring the backward community of India to the mainstem.”
The VISION 26chairman further said, “We reviewed the first ten years of VISION 2016 after its formation in 2006 to continue with these projects aimed at social welfare by bringing the backward communities of India to the mainstream with some changes keeping in the mind the decade long experience while implementing these projects. Earlier, welfare work for the poor and marginalised was done through donation and sponsored programmes. In VISION 26, it was decided to avail resources of government agencies, semi-government agencies, various corporates and CSIR and work towards welfare of the backward communities in order to expand the horizons of VISION 26. Leverage of available resources was added into it.”
On the participation, he said, “We try to engage and work together with the government at local, district and state levels. We also added to work for ongoing projects of the government like Ayushman card for the poor and various scholarship programmes, government aid for treatment and pension because it hardly reaches villages and slums. We launched a project called Nagrik Vikas Kendra to ensure that benefit of governmental projects reaches remotest areas.
“We help and facilitate through online process in these areas so that maximum people could avail the benefit of these projects. For example, the Toilet project which is an important project of BJP government and the money received from the government is not sufficient to make a good toilet. What we do is that after talking to village sarpanch we move forward an application to contribute to that project from our side as a principle of our social responsibility so that good toilets can be made.”
The VISION 26 chairman opined, “We facilitate the initiative of the government to reach villages and remote areas. We hope that with the help and support from the government we can implement these projects in villages and remote areas in an effective and more meaningful way so that more people can benefit from villages and remote areas. There is permission to take one foreign contribution and if we are able to avail it in a big way then it would be very beneficial for us to implement our projects as envisaged.”
While referring to Model Village Project, he said, “In villages, basic education is a major problem and many children do not go to school. And those who attend class generally drop out after 5th or 6th class. This is a social reality. These dropout children in the absence of basic education and proper training may deviate towards social disturbance if we are unable to bring them back to the mainstream. If others want to live in peace and harmony then we have to provide these children with education and social culture. And for this we are developing model villages and for that we also seek international support.”
While describing the activities of the Model Village Project, he said, “The basic idea of Model Village project is that we start work and then in five years we ensure that there is 100 percent entry into schools and to reduce the dropout level to zero before 10+2. 100 percent entry is somewhat easy but reducing dropout to zero level is very difficult but even then, we have been able to do that in many villages. And for all these we need funds. India is a land of villages and there are many in BPL category and Pasmanda. Therefore, in order to help them and support we need help and support from the entire world.
“Under the Project, efforts are being made to improve the socio-economic condition of the residents of the adopted villages with better access to health, education and livelihood. The project is being effectively implemented in 50 villages of 15 districts and 9 states of the country.”
On the question of what next after 2026, the VISION 26 chairman said, “After 2016, we reviewed and the review process started in 2015. Keeping in mind the changes required based on our past experiences and challenges ahead, we designed VISION 26. From next year we will once again start the review process and if the need arises to expand the horizons of our projects and introduction of any new programmes or projects, keeping in mind other sectors of Sustainable Development Goals, we will do so accordingly if we can afford to do. It will be decided only after reviewing it in 2026.”
On the concept of interest-free microfinance, Mr. Arif Ali said, “Keeping in mind Human Development Index, linkage to the banks is an important issue. The conventional banks are interest-based and interest-based banks will have only profit motive and as a result of it many problems arise. Many Muslims do no engage with these banks because of interest. We then thought how to address it as per the law and space available in India and by remaining within its ambit. There can be many ways like MBFC, Venture Capital System, but to do micro-level work among Pasmanda legally is Cooperative Society.
“As a result, we established Micro Finance Interest Free Cooperative Society and its concept is that in one village or qasbah people come together and from their small savings they deposit money and it becomes a loanable fund. And these loans are given to the members to start small work like for agriculture or farming; and in return we take a very miniscule share from their profit only to run these societies. Even there are cooperatives which are interest-based; after taking note of these societies and after doing research thereon, interest-free micro-finance societies was developed.”
On the impact of microfinance projects, he said, “Today, Sahulat Microfinance project has 2,50,000 members. In 2022, 300 crores loan was distributed, 48,000 persons availed of these loans, Rs. 62,500 was average loan amount payment, it has 47 legal entities and has established 101 societies across India.”
As per VISION 26, the projects which are being implemented are:1. Education which includes opening of campuses, scholarships distribution, school capacity building and career guidance. 2. Healthcare, Drinking Water, Low-costHousing, Nagarik Vikas Kendra, Community Learning Centres, Hunger Relief, Orphan Care, Vocational Training, Livelihood Support, Women Empowerment, Model Village Project, Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation, and Microfinance. The national level core partners implementing Vision 26 projects are Human Welfare Foundation (HWF), Human Welfare Trust (HWT), Society for Bright Future (SBF), Model Village Trust (MVT), Sahulat Microfinance Society, Medical Service Society (MSS),and The Women Education and Empowerment Trust (TWEET).
The educational projects are designed for empowering people through education. Other activities include Centre for Training & Academic Guidance (CTAG), 7 Developing Campuses in 6 States, 593 UG/PG/ Special Scholarships, 740 Psychometric Career Assessments, 69 Career Guidance Sessions and WBCS Residential Coaching Centre in Kolkata. In 2022, 370 students from 10 states were given the Merit cum Means Scholarship. The special scholarship was given to 224 students, among them 4 were given scholarships to study abroad at Princeton University, USA, Stratford University of East London, Central European University, Vienna, and Cranfield University, UK. UG/PG/Special Scholarships to needy students across the country based on their academic performances economic background and social commitment.
National Literacy Campaign, “Freedom from Illiteracy: Each One Teach Ten” is a national-level, year-long campaign launched by TWEET in August 2022. The campaign aims at providing illiterate adult women across the country with functional literacy. The major mission of the campaign is to engage educated women.
VISION established a new PG scholarship programme in January 2022 in honour of Prof. K.A. Siddique Hassan, the principal architect of the Vision project and its founder GS. In 2022, 82 students from 18 states were awarded with this prize.
In healthcare, in Multi-Specialty Hospital there were 1,33,734 beneficiaries, 17 Medical centreswere established, 3 Mobile Medical Vans were included for patients, 619 camps were held which benefited 28,217 people, Cancer Screening Survey & Detection Camp was organised covering 5000 households, 1872 Vaccines to mothers and children, 26 Awareness programmes/workshops/training and meets were organised, 16 Medical camps and 15 blood donation camps were organised, 1 Mobile ICU and 4 ambulances were introduced. Medical Service Society (MSS) was established to work in the field of healthcare with an emphasis on professional and ethical practices. It operates with partner organisations during manmade and natural calamities to cater to the emergency needs of the victims.
In its approach towards nationbuilding through community development, Vision initiated 150 drinking water projects, established 4 Community Learning Centres, 36 Nagrik Vikas Kendras in 12 States, constructed 53 low-cost houses, established 24 Vision Harmony Centre, 29 Community Centre Projects.
Vision completed the construction of the “Vision Harmony Centre” in Brijpuri, Mustafabad, New Delhi, in 2022. The building process had begun in September 2021. The facility is a component of Vision’s rehabilitation initiatives in Northeast Delhi, following the violence that occurred there in February 2020.
By effective interventions in the areas of education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, and skill development, the “Vision Harmony Centre” will offer a platform for many communities to join together and strive towards peace and harmony.
The World Hunger Index 2022 ranks India 107th out of 121 nations, whereas its neighbours Pakistan (99), Bangladesh (84), Nepal (81), and Sri Lanka (64) all performed better. Vision implemented the Hunger Relief Programme to aid thousands of individuals in their struggle against hunger. Under the programme, food kits are provided for the neediest twice a year. In 2022, 1,77,000 families benefited from Hunger Relief Programme in 21 states of the country.
In order to fulfil dreams of orphans, under the Orphan Care Scheme, 4500 orphans received monthly scholarships. There are 10 orphanages in seven states. In Delhi alone 120 orphans are being provided helping hand to realise their dreams.
Disaster Management Project aimed at rescue, relief and rehabilitation covered Public Utility Programme, Volunteers Training and Workshops. It has 1257 volunteers, 359 volunteers were added in 2022, 3300 persons were rescued, 3000 ready-to-eat food was provided, 150 ration kits distributed, 5000 people benefited from relief help desk, 1250 beneficiaries benefited from medical relief camps, 2838 saplings were planted, 9 blood donation camps were organised, 480 people benefited from general health camps, 16 awareness programmes were conducted, 13000 people benefited from Kapada Bank, 15350 blankets were distributed and 5100 packets of cooked food were provided.