Samman- A Project for Promotion of Rights of LGBTI People
Project Samman, which means respect, aims to promote rights of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) people and protect their dignity as equal citizens. The project is supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in New Delhi. The objective of intervention is to facilitate holistic development of targeted people and strengthen their collective voice by promoting communitarianism. Implemented in West Delhi district of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the project supports 1000 LGBTI people with the mechanisms of a Samman Centre and a Community-based Organisation.
Targeted Intervention for Injecting Drug Users
HDS has been implementing the targeted intervention (TI) project for injecting drug users (IDUs) in West Delhi since July 2010 in collaboration with Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS), Government of NCT of Delhi. Starting with 400 IDUs in eight sites, the project now covers over 1000 IDUs in 11 sites. This is an intervention under India’s National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) IV. The key objectives of TI project are to conduct proactive screening for HIV at least once in six months, register all HIV positive people at ART Centre, strengthen community participation in programme operations, and ensure total coverage with needles, syringes and abscess treatment. We also implement many context-specific activities from time to time like campaign for Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, training of spouses of IDUs on health and hygiene issues, and mehendi festival.
ANAND- Academic Nurturing and Nutritional Development
Project ANAND- Academic Nurturing and Nutritional Development aims to achieve holistic development of children of families of drug users and other non-school going children who are deprived of education, healthcare, nutritional support etc. and are vulnerable to drugs and deviant behaviour. Its objectives are to provide non-formal education, nutritional support, routine medical checkup, recreational and extra-curricular activities and counseling of parents and other stakeholders on importance of education and rights of children. It is being implemented in Raghubir Nagar and other nearby areas in West Delhi district. Presently, 50 children attend our non-formal education classes. They are also provided healthcare and nutritional support.
OST Dispensing Units
HDS manages two Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) Dispensing Units in Shadipur and Ranhola areas of West Delhi district with the support of Delhi State AIDS Control Society. The Units dispense recommended OST tablets to injecting drug users (IDUs). These are functioning since November 2022 under the Hub and Spoke Model of OST service delivery promoted by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). Under the initiative, Hubs with the responsibility of administering access to OST is located in a government hospital and Units in different field locations where targeted intervention projects are implemented act as Spokes. The target of NACO is to bring 50% of IDUs under the ambit of OST.
Project Aditi
Project Aditi (boundless, free and safety in Sanskrit) is a community-based intervention in West Delhi for empowerment of girls and women living in slums, unauthorised colonies and areas known for habitation of low-income group people. The project has been designed as a bouquet of services which include, inter alia, pre-marital counselling, awareness of healthcare and hygiene practices, awareness against domestic violence and skills training. The goal of the intervention is to empower the targeted women by unshackling them from stereotypical thoughts and actions.