UNDERSERVED STRATEGY

1. UNDERSERVED STRATEGY

2. Who Are Underserved?(From the perspective of polio eradication campaign) Polio is a disease of poor Poor – with specific characteristics (specific social, economic, historical, psychological experiences) Ghettoized conditions (which are more conducive for the virus than the conditions of other poor.) Level of vaccine acceptance (among underserved and other poor.)

3. Social Stratification among Muslims TOTAL POPULATION OF INDIA :1,028,610,328 Muslims in India Total population of Muslims in India: 138,188,240 Total population of U.P. : 166,197,921; Muslim Population is 18.5% of the total population of U.P. Muslim Sects in India Qadiani / Others Sunni Shia Bohra Population-wise, these sects are extremely minuscule in comparison to the Sunni and the Shia sects all over the country and much less in U.P. Their social indicators are much better. For insignificant presence of population and much better social and economic indicators, immunizations level is high (if it is possible to segregate sect-wise SIA/EPI data, we’ll surely find either ZERO or insignificant WPV cases among the children of the sects like this.). This is the main reason why USS does not recommend intensified efforts for immunizations for this sect. Muslim Sects in UP Sunni Deobandi Bareilvi Population-wise, the Sunni sect is the biggest sect in India and also in U.P. Most of the Muslim underserved communities belong to this sect. Some of the Main underserved communities: Qureshis, Ansaris, Ghazis, Alvis, Saifis, Salmanis, Migrant poor, Neo Converts, Informal sector labour, etc.

4. Underserved Strategyof Communication for Polio Eradication CRUX - “Despite underserved conditions, ensuring the acceptance of OPV by underserved communities for every child, every time.” How to ensure it? By partnership and confidence building in the underserved communities for the polio eradication campaign. Beginning of partnering with Muslim institutions: In the second half of 2003, formal partnership with AMU, JMI & Hamdard in coordination with SMNet and other polio partners. followed by a rapid growth in partnership:

5. SMC /DUC DM CDO BSA ADM / SDM BMC BDO / ADO CMO/DIO ABSA DIOS Tehsildar / Lekhpal CMC MS / MOIC GPVA / SHG Principal Teacher Inter college / Teachers/ Students ANM DYC/NYKS DSO NSV Sup. Ins Missed Child NYM Kotedar Pradhan BDC Volunteer NGOs Block Pramukh NGOs ZPA Vol. / Cadets YMD AWW Scout / Guide BO PC / PO Sabhasad Volunteer NSS/ NCC ZYKA Dal Nayak CDPO Mayor/ Chairman Supervisor Scout Guide DPO Nagar Nigam /Palika Rotary Formal Partners Abbreviations: DM: District Magistrate CDO: Chief Development Officer CMO: Chief Medical Officer DIO: District Immunization Officer DYC: District Youth Coordinator NYKS: Nehru Yuva Kendra Sanghatan ZYKA: Zila Yuvak Kalyan Adhikari DPO: District Project Officer NSS: National Service Scheme NCC: National Cadet Corps ZPA: Zila Panchayat Adhikari DSO: District Supply Officer DIOS: District Inspector of Schools BSA: Basic Shiksha Adhikari SMC: Social Mobilization Coordinator ADM: Additional District Magistrate SDM: Sub-Divisional Magistrate BDO: Block Development Officer ADO: Assistant Development Officer MS: Medical Superintendant MOIC: Medical Officer Incharge NSV: National Social Volunteer BO: Block Officer CDPO: Child Development Project Officer PC/PO: Project Coordinator / Project Officer ABSA: Additional Basic Shiksha Adhikari BMC: Block Mobilization Coordinator GPVA: Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari SHG: Self Help Groups ANM: Auxilllary Nurse Midwife NYM: Nehru Yuva Mandal YMD: Yuvak Mangal Dal AWW: Anganwadi Worker CMC: Community Mobilizer BDC: Block Development Committee

6. District leadership of Underserved Communities Sub-District leadership of Underserved Communities Grassroots Occupational Communities, Religious Leaders / Institutions, Educational Institutions, Women, & Others local leaders Bottom-Up Approach Intensification of grassroots mobilization

7. Underserved Partners Institutions at District and Block level SOCIO-RELIGIOUS COMMITTEES / ASSOCIATIONS Jametul Quresh Saifi Conference, Ansari Conference, Mewati Samaj, Alvi Conference, Jamate Ulema e Hind, Dargah committees All India Milli Council Al Barkat networks Abbasi Samaj Salmani Samaj MUSLIM UNIVERSITY NETWORKS Jamia Milia Islamia Aligarh Muslim University Hamdard University Shibli College Falah é Aam OCCUPATIONAL NETWORKS Rickshaw Pullers Association Brick factory worker Rural workers organization Brass Workers Lock Workers Glass factory workers Beedi (local cigarette) workers Embroidery workers KEY RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS NETWORKS Darul-Ul-Uloom, Deoband Nadvatul – Ulema, Lucknow Jamaitul Falah Community level – Caste, Occupational & Religious leaders RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS MASJID: Mosque {Includes Jama (Main Mosque / Eidgah (Mosque for Eid)} MADRASAS: Muslim education centers DARGAH/MAZAAR: Sufi Shrines RELIGIOUS INFLUENCERS Pesh Imam: Leads male collective prayer at local mosque Muazzan: Calls for prayer at a mosque Mutawalli / Mohtamim: Local management body for mosque Qari: Recites Kuranic versus Qazi: Performs marriages Mufti: Issues Religious decrees (Fatua) Sajjada-Nashin/ Gaddi Nashin / Khadim: Spiritual authorities at Dargarhs LOCAL CASTE / OCCUPATIONAL LEADERS: Querishi / Saifi / Mansuri: Chaudhary (usually) Ansari: Sardar Idrisi: Masterji

8. Impact • The USS leveraged the influence of three Muslim universities to neutralize institutionalised opposition to the polio campaign • It was able to identify social stratifications of the resistant communities – their events / rituals / practices (Sufi shrines / melas etc) and strategically engaged local leadership in a planned & systematic manner to reach out to the most vulnerable children in high risk areas with Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), in some cases for the first time. • This led to a narrowing of the immunity gap among the children of these communities (from 29% in early 2004 to < 4% at present) and resulted in a fewer number of reported polio cases in Muslim children.

9. WayForward • Capacity Building of district and block level functionaries of the SM Net and other communication partners • Integration with other programs like girl child education / RI / sanitation / nutrition etc. • Sensitization of implementing agencies.