by Mahesh Kumar
MUMBAI, MAY 10, 2017: The Don Bosco Development Society (DBDS) Matunga in collaboration with Anna Haq Parishad (AHP) and SNEHA organised a workshop on May 
6, for social activists and volunteers working in the field of food security and health issues in Mumbai.
Father Rolvin D'Mello, executive director- DBDS said, "This is an ongoing initiative of DBDS to strengthen civil society's participation, to strengthen rights and entitlements of people at the bottom of socio-economic pyramid."
Affsaran Kaur, project director - SNEHA and Akshay Kamble, programme coordinator- SNEHA were the resource persons for the workshop. They introduced the participants to the concept of Mahila Arogya Samiti (MAS) and its functioning in the slum communities.
A MAS should consist of ten women members and each woman will cover ten families. So effectively a MAS will cover 100 families, taking care of issues such as health, sanitation, domestic violence and education.
As MAS is a government recognised unit it will automatically co-ordinate and link to other government schemes as well. The workshop also focussed on the process of forming MAS, role of U-PHC, NRHM etc.
In the next session, the Anna Haq Parishad activists explained about the progress made in review of Food Security Act in relation to Public Distribution System (PDS), informed participants on the new Government Resolution (GR), GR for creation of State Food Commission, GRs for increasing food supply quota, formation of Vigilance Committee at ration shop level etc.
At the end of the workshop the future line of action was discussed and all the activists resolved to unite and fight for these issues.