1. Yusuf Meherally Centre
Yusuf Meherally Center (YMC) was founded in the memory of Shri Yusuf Meherally, founder of National Militia and Bombay Youth League, who had played a leading role in peasant’s organization and trade unions. The organization had been inaugurated by Dr. Zakir Hussain, Vice-President of India in the year 1965.

3. Geographical Span of the Organization
Tara region & the Konkan region Maharashtra in general
Bhadreshwar in Kutch Dist., Gujarat
Betul in Madhya Pradesh
Nagapatanam in Tamilnadu
Jammu & Kashmir
Uttaranchal
Beihpor in Bihar
Orissa
Utter Pradesh

4. Activities in Kutch, Gujarat
YMC has adopted integrated approach for community
development and work on several issues like:
Education for children of migrant community
Health
Livelihood
Water & Sanitation Management
Women empowerment through micro-finance
Micro-insurance

5. Focus Community for Education Program in Kutch Region
Fisherman community
Saltpan workers
Migrant industrial workers –from Hindi bhashi state

6. Impact of Migration on Education
The community must migrate 5 to 80 km away from their native village. As a result:
Children are unable to attend the government school during the migration period which lasts between 8 to 9 month
Lack of education facility in work place compel children to join family labour
The communities have very low literacy rates

7. Education Initiative for Children of Migrant Workers
Early child care centers
Support schools for children between 6-14 years on the sea shores
Year round hostel facilities for upper grade children in nearby villages
Adolescent Learning Centers
Schools for child labourers

8. September 2001, the YMC began running its education program in two of the bandars near Bhadreshwar
June 2003, the YMC began a two year partnership with the international organization, TDH to expand their education work into other settlements.
2004 to 2005, the YMC used internal funding to continue its educational program in the fishing settlements.
October 2005, the YMC partnered with CARE for the SNEHAL Project. Under this project, the YMC expanded its education projects in eight fishing villages along the coast of Kutch. The project was completed in March 2009.

9. Map of Fishermen Settlement on Mundra Coast

10. Saltpan Workers About 10,000 Agariyas
employed in thisindustry80% of them are landless labors
They have been working here for generations
They fall under the DE notified Tribe list and are called Agariyas

11. Problems Social Economic Health issues Drinking Water Migration
Education

12. Agarias: Status in the society
Feel exploited
Little leverage tonegotiate
Mal-Nutrition driven
Fragmentedcommunity
No electedrepresentative totake their cause

13. The Solution
Government
NGOs
Industries
Community

14. Suggestions for improving the quality of life of Salt Pan Workers
Identification of Salt Pan Workers
• Health
• Occupational Health Hazards
• Education
• Food
• Gender Focus Planning
• Credit
• Insurance
• Reducing the cost of Salt production
• Technological Extension to increase the skill level
• Quality control in Salt Production

15. Hindi medium school for children of migrant labourers
Hindi medium school for children of migrant labourers coming from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Nepal. This school was started 2 years ago in order to provide education to the children of labourers so that they do not work as child laborers. Children of this school are taught in Hindi language. Today this school is running in two different places of Mundra taluka, namely, Mundra and Samagoga, catering to the educational needs of more than 700 children
The education is provided free to these children. Besides, they are provided with bus facility, uniform, books and mid-day meals' have also got recognition from the Gujarat government for classes 1 to 8 of these schools.