Aasra

AASRA Network

The idea behind creating Aasra Network, as assistance for the social wellbeing of the community as self-help group, was first conceived in 2005 by BBF. Like many other good ideas, it languished on paper and never became vibrant program.

In 2022, Bharat Bhavan Foundation engaged to study the demography of our community in Quebec. We used 2016 Statistical Data Tables, publicly available thru Stats Canada. Here are some observations:

South Asians, make up 1.20% of the Quebec population
Indo-Canadian Community is 55,000 in Quebec and growing

Word आसरा – Aasra is difficult to grasp and evokes many thoughts in our mind. Thoughts such as:

उम्मीद;आस; आशा – Hope 2. सहारा – Anchor – Support; 3अवलंब. शरण – Centaury 4. सहायक – Supporter; and 5. आश्रय; आधार – Base foundation; come gushing in our mind.

Sociologists often characterize Neighborhoods as social communities with considerable face-to-face interactions. Neighborhood is generally defined spatially as a specific geographic area and functionally as a set of social networks. Neighborhoods, then, are the “spatial areas” in which face-to-face social interactions occur, where residents seek to realize common values, socialize, and maintain effective social control.

The aim of neighborhood watch includes educating residents of a community on security and safety and achieving safe and secure neighborhoods. However, when a criminal activity is suspected, members are encouraged to report to authorities, and not to intervene.

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