| Yusuf Meherally (September 23, 1903 - July 2, 1950) was in the vanguard of India's struggle for independence. The founder of National Militia and the Bombay Youth League, he played a leading role in peasants' organisations and trade unions. He was imprisoned eight times during the freedom movement. It was during his stint in Lahore jail that he was elected the mayor of Bombay in 1942. The 'Quit India' slogan coined by him was adopted by Gandhiji for India's final Nationwide campaign for independence. One of the founders of the Congress Socialist Party, Yusuf Meherally wrote, "I hate ugliness and cruelty and that is why I am a socialist. My socialism is based on aesthetic and ethical premises and not on Economics." A voracious reader and a connoisseur of arts, he himself was a writer of a couple of books and had founded a journal.
In the words of late Dr. Zakir Hussain, the Vice President of India, who formally inaugurated Yusuf Meherally Centre in 1965, "It was the primaeval sorrow of Man for what Men do to each other , knowingly or unknowingly, which moved him and not any idea of a more efficient and a more utilitarian organisation of industry and economy."
"This sorrow could have made him a philosopher, a man of religion or a poet. Yusuf Meherally was more fortunate. It made him into a friend. His gift for friendship struck all who came into contact with him and it made his concern for them something deeply inspiring।"
A BRIEF NOTE ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE YUSUF MEHERALLY CENTRE IN KUTCH: YMC’s association with Kutch dates back to its Manav Jyot Yatra for promoting communal harmony in 1993. The yatra started at Bhadreshwar in Kutch, home to the ancestors of the Late Yusuf Meherally, and ended at Tara in Raigad district, the address of one its most significant projects that contributes to rural development in the region. YMC went to Kutch again in 1997 for building contacts and working there. But a more enduring relationship with this region took root immediately after the Earthquake of January 26, 2001 which devastated lives and property. YMC decided to work in Bhadreshwar and its surrounding areas after surveying the untold misery the earthquake had left in its wake.
After the initial relief work, YMC started planning for the rehabilitation of the victims of the earthquake in Mundra Taluka. In the course of it, it made a survey of the lives of the migratory fishermen community and found out, among other things, that their children lost out on both childhood and education. The survey revealed that without educating the children, it would not be possible to bring the community into the mainstream. The parents were least interested in the education of their children, as in the scheme of things, the children had to be an active participant in their family profession.
Ultimately, YMC decided to take education to the doorstep of the community, rather than attempting to get them to the portals of education. Thus came into existence the Non Formal Classes in the worksite of fishermen in the sea shore, popularly known as Sagar Shalas. Still, the parents were required to be motivated to send their children to those sagar shalas. And convincing them of the need for educating their children took some doing.
Education work: Since 2001, the Centre has been working to provide educational opportunities to children from vulnerable migrant communities. For the first time during the year 2008-09, teachers from the site schools accompanied their students to their respective villages, where they continued to work with them either in the government schools or in informal classrooms in the village. Beginning in September, 2008, the Centre opened 6 pre-primary, 14 primary and 9 adolescent learning centers for the children of salt pan workers and migrant fishermen. These schools would run until April, when exams will be administered and the children will return to their home villages. During the monsoon months of June, July and August, the fishermen are not permitted to go to the sea. Hence the children study in government schools in their respective villages from the beginning of the academic year till they return to the seashore along with their families to resume their fishing trade by August end or September beginning. Once they come to the seashore, which is the work site of their parents, they will continue their studies in the respective syllabi in the Sagar Shalas run by YMC. The activity benefits on an average 1000 children every year. YMC has received, from time to time, financial support and cooperation for this venture from Rashtra Seva Dal, Terre Des Hommes, Sarvashikshan Abhyian (Government agency), Care India, Asha Pura group, America India foundation and the Government of Gujarat. Collaboration with SSA: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is a national government program to ensure the enrollment of all primary school aged children in schools. The Centre recognizes the importance of involving with government in its work with migrant children, to encourage the government to take responsibility for their education. To this end, the Centre has worked with SSA to secure partial salaries for teachers at the seven site schools that qualify for government funding under law. Child Labor project: In collaboration with the Gujarat government, the Centre implemented a project in the slums of Gandhidam to discourage child labor and encourage school attendance. The government scheme provides a bank account and 100 rupees a month to former child workers who attend school. The Centre’s work on this project includes advocacy to ensure that payments are made. In addition, the Centre administers a school for former child workers. Other activities: Ford project: The Centre worked to improve the incomes of approximately 485 fishing families in four settlements in Mandvi block. This project, began in 2007 in collaboration with the Ford Foundation, provided training and support to families on how to improve the quality and marketing of their products, and thereby increase their incomes. In addition, the project provided the families alternatives to high-interest loans by establishing self-help groups and revolving fund groups. This project also aims to work with the fishing communities to improve their stewardship of the fragile environment in which they live and work. Water And Sanitation Management Organisation (WASMO) Project: In partnership with the Gujarat government, the Centre worked to improve water systems and oversaw the construction of sanitation facilities in three blocks in Kutch. In addition, the Centre organized villagers into Water Committees to help them maintain the new water systems. Dispensary: The Centre provides a 24 hour, 7 day a week dispensary service to the people of Bhadreswar. In addition, dispensary staff provides check-ups to the children in theSagar Shalas. Self-Help Groups: The Centre began its work with women’s self-help groups in 2001. Today, we support 40 SHGs in 22 villages in Mundra block. Ten groups achieved a new level of independence by establishing bank linkages. These ten groups additionally received training from the NABARD. Yuva Biradri: The Yuva Biradri, started by the Centre in 2001, is a group of 18 – 35 year old youth activists based in Bhadreswar which works to promote social justice and communal harmony. The Yuva Biradri intervened when Adani port officials tried to close the road to the Shekhriya settlement of village of fishermen families, in order to build an airport. After meeting with the fishermen community, the group was able to negotiate the re-opening of the road. Earlier In Bhadreshwar, the Centre constructed 322 permanent houses and handed over them to the victims of the earthquake, promoted income generating activities by imparting special skills to about 550 women in ethnic embroidery, among other things. UNICEF-IKEA project Child Line project (Mundra) | 
