A stagnant society cannot progress. Change in social habits and traditions is necessary for its survival. It is a slow process because adults have a natural resistance towards reform. Pre-teens and teens are keener to emulate ideas that appeal to their innate reasoning. This idea, mooted by Health Promoter Maya, (who witnessed too many idle children on the streets) created CASE, which came into being in November 2008.

Developing Indigenous Resources–India (DIR-I), a non-profit NGO, has for the last five years striven to bring  positive health to the people of Janta Colony and Adarsh Nagar, Nayagaon, Punjab. In the past two years, education and income generation programs have been started. These two colonies are peopled by migrants from other states, and earn a daily wage. Their incomes are low, living conditions deplorable. DIR-I tries to empower people to live healthy and economically viable lives. A popular notion amongst slum dwellers is that every negative condition is due to poverty and karma, and nothing can improve unless they become rich, some-how, any-how. This is disproved by some visible examples like Kerala and China. The per capita income in Kerala is lower than China, but life expectancy higher in terms of Infant and Maternal mortality. Kerala has taught us that education in health, hygiene and nutrition can bring dramatic changes to the physical well being and surroundings of people.

The CASE program ensures social changes as well as improves the health of local residents, who number around 15,000. At present, 150 children (47 girls and 103 boys) between the ages of 9 and 14, participate in the project. More girls need to join as on becoming mothers they wield a greater influence on their progeny. There are 10 teams. Each is led by a Health Promoter appointed from DIR-I. HPs are young adults, trained by DIR’s Physicians and Nutritionists. The teams meet once a week, after school, for over an hour. They play games, created around health modules, which are preferable to monotonous lectures. Every week, a new activity puts forth a fresh idea, under the guidance of an H P. Ensuing discussion and debate ensures that the capsule is understood and retained. Most significantly, 150 children are off the streets, indulging in informative, exciting activities.

In 18 months, topics like hygiene, disease, immunization schedules and proper diets for children and women at different stages of life, have been covered. The idea is not to create expertise amongst the participants, but to impart knowledge that can disseminated amongst families, friends and neighbours. Some of these children will be trained as HP’s when they become adults.

Members spread messages via street plays, puppet shows and cultural events in their neighbourhoods. To keep interest alive, picnics are held at regular intervals. Donors organise these. Competitions draw the best from each child. If individuals or teams bring about a particular change, they are rewarded. At present DIR-I is running one such competition called GEM- Goal: Eradicate Malnutrition. The competition, which started on 5th May 2010, makes all CASE participants responsible for improving the health of two severely malnourished children in their assigned area. An assessment of improvement in these children will be made by the end of August, 2010. The first prize is a bicycle. Group prizes include racquets, foot balls, chess etc.

Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru said "Children are a country’s greatest asset."  At CASE, young minds are moulded to reform society. Such a change will take place for two reasons: Firstly, being members of a family, they can act from within familial confines, making the process easier. Secondly, in 6 to 10 years, these adolescents will become adults and put their knowledge to good use in their own homes, thus improving living standards. This point is proven through CASE, which is an exciting work-in-progress.

Perhaps, this module created by Dr. WF Shaw, is the grass-root answer towards a better society. If adopted by the state it can bring life changing reforms.