ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2022-23 ON THE ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY ORGANISATION FOR PROSPERITY, EDUCATION & NURTURE (O.P.E.N.)
I most humbly share with you, as some of you are well aware, how O.P.E.N. commenced its work in 1985. Initially we were involved in providing training for some craft and trade to girls and other womenfolk in Nagal Hatnala. Limestone mining was one of the major source of earning in most of the villages in and around Nagal Hatnala on Sahastradhara road, from where labourers and drivers of small trucks (known as Gattus) were engaged in limestone mining on the hills in and around Mussoorie. But when the limestone quarrying was stopped, the villagers had no other work to do and found it very difficult to earn a living, as most of them did not have even land to grow something for their own use. At this juncture, we trained girls in carpet weaving and started a Carpet Weaving programme.
Later, when we got support for starting a community health programme, initially we began our work in the remote areas of Dehradun with Community Health Centres covering villages in and around Nagal Hatnala, then Mal Devta and villages around. In a few years the need of people coming to these Community Health Centres for treatment from Tehri Garhwal prompted us to extend our services in Tehri Garhwal in villages Kathu-ki-Chail and Ringalgarh. Both centres in Kathu-ki-chail and Ringalgarh were very remote areas and there were innumerous T.B. and leprosy patients in and around these villages. We also served communities in Blocks Mori, Purola, Bhatwari and Naugaon of Uttarkashi District.
Later O.P.E.N. was engaged by the State Health Department to be the District ASHA Resource Centre for Dehradun. With passage of time and improvement in the Government health services District and State Health Services took over these areas. As District ASHA Resouce Centre, Dehradun, covering all the six blocks and three urban areas of Dehradun District. Besides, we also conducted Community Lay-leaders Health Training Courses(CLHTC) at HCH Herbertpur and LCH Mussoorie where practical on-hand trainings to the candidates was also provided, alongwith the theoretical classes. During the COVID period, we provided the trainees health kits and medicines which they could provide to other needy people in and around their place. We were also one of the partners in BURANS, an EHA project on mental health. Our BURANS team members also continued their work all along, during the COVID lockdowns amongst the communities they were serving. Later the BURANS project was shifted to HCH as the funds for this programme were coming through them and as per latest government policies, the same could not be extended to others by the organization/entity getting these funds. From 1st January 2022 had to also close our CLHTC programme, since our FCRA renewal was denied in December 2021.
While carrying out these programmes in the communities a need was also felt that we commence a school for the children of the nearby villages near our base (Rajpur). In April 2011 we commenced Phillip Memorial School with five students. Over the years, the strength slowly increased and in January 2020 the school was registered as Junior High School. However, as all of you are aware, COVID lockdowns began in March-April 2020 and continued till the fag-end of 2021, when the diminishing strength of the students in our school was of concern. The number of students has steadily increased after the COVID lockdowns.
On 14th November 2022 we celebrated Children’s Day. It was a fun day for children to enjoy without being in school uniforms and without books, as they were asked only to bring their water bottles that day. Children had been eagerly looking forward to this day and enthusiastically participated in all activities. They had lots of fun, playing games, dancing within and outside their classrooms and enjoyed climbing the inflated Micky Mouse. It was a nice day in the first half, but later when it started raining Micky Mouse had to be shifted from the open area to the space in the verandah, under the roof. Senior-class students thoroughly enjoyed the Treasure Hunt with all students joining in Tug-of-War, Lemon Race, The Toffee Race, climbing up and sliding down the Micky Mouse. Later after serving food and sweets to the children, the day ended with thanksgiving. A couple of photographs depict the events :-
Before closing for the winter vacations in 2022, we held our Annual Programme, which was graced by our Chairperson, Miss V. Sherring, who very kindly spared time to join us on 17th December 2022. A few glimpses of the programme :-
On 26th January 2023, we celebrated our Republic Day with gaity.
Sports and games form a part of our co-curricular activities. The Annual Sports Day was held on 28th January 2023, where all teachers and students actively participated in various events.
On 15th August 2023, we celebrated our 77th Independence Day, by unfurling our National Flag, singing and playing our National Anthem. Each and everyone was congratulated on this auspicious day and reminded as to what were the aims of our freedom fighters and all those who sacrificed their lives for the country. Our soldiers were remembered with gratitude, who guard our borders, especially with China and Pakistan and spend sleepless nights, so that all of us can sleep in peace and enjoy the independence that we as Indians should always be proud of. Religion, language, caste, creed or region should never be a dividing principle in our lives and we should all, always strive hard to do our bit for making ourselves, our parents, our school, our state and our country proud of us. All teachers and students took active part in the celebrations, joining vociferously in reciting the National Anthem and then to give us glimpses of their talents and pride that each one takes in the Nation and its National events. Sweets were distributed to all after the unfurling of the flag. A few photographs are appended below of the celebrations :-
Court Case with KK Lamba & Others A STAY ORDER was passed in our favour on 28th July 2022 by the learned High Court Judge Mr. Sharad Sharma after hearing arguments of both parties, rejecting the appeal of K.K. Lamba and others. Meanwhile the opposite party in this case has withdrawn their second appeal and their Second Appeal stands dismissed by the Hon’ble High Court.
Court Case with Mrs Lalita Arya and Others : This case was finally decided by the ADJ-6 on 17th July 2023, wherein the learned Judge declined to grant us a permanent stay in this case, leaving us with no option but to file a Second Appeal in the High Court at Nainital, where the Judge granted us a Stay on 10th August 2023, till the next date of hearing i.e. upto 8th November 2023. Meanwhile, the people involved in this case, including some land mafia, after orders of the ADJ-6, started constructing boundary wall on the land on 21 July 2023, to which a written complaint was again made to the SO Rajpur. He said, he could’nt restrain them and be of any help as the opposite party had produced the orders of the ADJ-6. By the time the Stay Orders from the High Court were passed on 10th August 2023, these people have been successful in constructing a wall, fixing a gate on the wall and also constructing a tin-shed on the North-East corner of the land, adjacent to the property of one Mr. Jain. However, on obtaining the Stay from the High Court, we again met the SO Rajpur (Mr. Jitender Chauhan) on 22 August 2023, handed over the copy of the Stay orders of the High Court in Second Appeal No 96/2023 and requested him to restrain the opposite party from any further construction/transferring of the land on any other party’s name. We also sought his help in fixing a Legal Notice on the site, stating that the property is disputed and there are two Stay Orders on the construction/transferring of the land. A yellow sign-board was painted on tin and fixed on the site on 02/09/2023. The pairokar of Mrs. Lalita Arya (Mr Bhagwat) and one Mr. Pradeep Sahu, a third party involved in this land issue came over and said they will not let the board be displayed there. As they were saying these, some photographs were taken and a written complaint lodged with the SO Rajpur same time. On 3rd September 2023, in the morning around 11.00 am, when the site was checked, the board had been removed. The SO Rajpur was again approached on 3rd September 2023 and apprised of the situation. The SSP Dehradun, the SP (City), the Sub Registrar Dehradun, The Nagar Nigam Dehradun and the Nagar Nigam at Rajpur, Dehradun have all been given copies of the two Stay Orders of the Uttarakhand High Court, so that the other parties involved in these cases are not able to involve innocent people and sell off the land.
FCRA Registration Renewal :
The FCRA registration renewal was not agreed by the competent authority in MHA even on submission of the review petitions twice (in hard copies once and online again) referring to certain general rules, which we know we have not disobeyed or disregarded in conduct of the activities done by OPEN. However, they have mentioned in their letter that we can apply afresh for registration. Our auditors have been requested to initiate needful action, bringing out the fact that OPEN had all along obeyed the rules and regulations under the FCRA, having done voluminous service to the communities we served in the most remotest and difficult areas of Districts Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal and Uttarkashi since 1985.
We have never ever differentiated in our dealings, services and activities on grounds of region, colour, gender, creed, religion or status. Nevertheless, our aim has always been to help the people who are in need. We have been instrumental in bringing a smile on the faces of innumerous needy people in the most remotest areas.