Modern Educational Social and Cultural Organization (MESCO) was established by a group of friends in 1968 in Mumbai. The organization works in the areas of education, medical assistance and poverty relief to help the disadvantaged and poor.
The main activities in 2016 are:
- Educational Support Programs:
(i) Educational Aid: MESCO assisted 1,702 students at the school level and 1,273 students at the college level by way of one time financial aid at the beginning of the academic year. Deserving students enrolled for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) courses and aid was provided to Short Term Vocational Courses.
(ii) Educational Adoption Scheme (EAS): This program identifies high-performing students with limited means and supports their educational requirements on a multi-year basis. 518 students were supported during FY16.
(iii) High Cost Education Scheme (HCES): Under this program financial help is provided to academically bright students for professional courses. 216 students were provided education loan during the year. The beneficiaries help MESCO by paying back in their own way.
(iv) School adoption: MESCO has adopted the R.C. Mahim Municipal Urdu School in Mumbai and has been supporting the school and college with academic and non-academic resources and staff support since 1997. This year, over 20% students secured First Class in their class X exams.
(i) Medical Aid: MESCO provides High Cost Medical Aid to persons suffering from diseases, ailments, injuries or burns and undergoing treated at municipal and government hospitals. 400 such patients were supported in FY16. Support is also provided in the form of general medical aid for minor surgeries and medicines.
(ii) Mobile Clinics and Dispensaries: MESCO runs mobile clinics and dispensaries through which several awareness and medical camps are conducted. Emphasis on prevention of diseases is the primary focus to overcome nutrition deficiencies, infectious diseases and unhygienic living conditions. Antibiotics, vitamins, calcium and iron supplements are provided.
- General Aid: During the year 367 families were provided with monthly dry ration. 115 sewing machines were distributed to widows and unemployed women as part of sewing machine donation drive. The NGO provides support for disaster relief and conducts old clothes donation drive.
