In response to the needs of the Gamru Community, Community Growth is developing the following projects:

Gamru Village Medical Clinic

Where as the Gamru Village School first aid room provides basic medical assistance to the students, the Gamru village clinic will provide assistance to the entire community of Gamru Village

On average 17% of the local population suffers from water born diseases. With the cost of medicines and doctors fees, most of the sick or suffering cannot afford treatment. This places huge pressure on the financial aspect of the family. Without these people being able to work as they have to look after the sick the family suffers large financial constraints, placing them further down the poverty scale.

The Gamru Village and surrounding area has a population of approximately 25,000 laborers, carpenters and masons. There is a high level of illiteracy and most families have incomes below the national poverty level. Until recently, when the slate mines were closed, the men would supplement the meager returns from small scale farming by working in the mines. Now they travel further a field seeking laboring work as no alternative form of employment is available in the locality. This exacerbates the endemic problems of drinking and gambling among the men and places considerable economic and social strain on the families. Their access to health facilities is limited, particularly for the women and children who rarely venture out to seek medical help due to financial and social restraints.

With the help from Community Growth and Gamru Village School, I plan to open a clinic in December 2005 to provide free medicines and medical supervision.

Gamru Village Clean up program

Without a refuse collection service in India and without a road leading to Gamru Village there is a large problem with the pile up of rubbish in the village. Besides largely disrupting the environment, it is unsafe for the children of the village as they tend to play in the piles of rubbish and can easily pick up disease through injuries with glass, rusty old cans and general dirtiness.

Community Growth will establish a clean up program including the community mobilization of the villagers and Community Growth by providing 12 bins situated across the village and 2 incinerators at either ends.