Caritas India Chairman Bishop Lumen visit to Adhikar Project area in Bihar

Reaching Community by Walking Extra Miles 

Bihar is one among the priority states for Caritas India to intervene. Bihar is also known for rigid caste systems leading to discrimination in all form especially in south Bihar. Caritas India Adhikar cluster programs being implemented in both south Bihar. Adhikar project is an initiative for the poor and marginalized community for ensuring 100% entitlements for all especially dalits and tribals. Caritas India Chairman Bishop Lumen along with Fr. Paul Asst. Executive director and Mr. Philip Head of Department visited 2 cluster programs in Bihar i.e. Partners for Resilience and Adhikar. In Adhikar Project of Bihar the following 2 visible changes in are.....

Community Organization: Villagers of Dharampur, Nokha block, Rohtas district through Adhikar project formed 2 community based organizations i.e. MNREGA workers forum (MWF) and Women self-help group (SHG). The MWF is formed with the basic objective of streamlining the MNREGA implementation through removing the obstacles created by service providers. Some of the problems were like Job card making, job card not in the hand of beneficiaries, no planning meeting for MNREGA the MWF took such issues to Gram Sabha and forced to solve their issues. Due to the pressure from community the service providers were forced to solve the problem.  

Women Empowerment: Women of Chewara block Sheikhpura district got together in the form of SHGs and acting as pressure group in their respective villages to ensure entitlements for all. The SHGs formed under Adhikar project is not only doing thrift and credit business but also working as strong pressure group in the community. They strongly ask the service providers like ANM, Anganwadi workers rojgar Sewak and BDO reasons of not getting their due entitlements.    

While looking on the above 2 positive visible changes in Bihar some new dimension are also brought out. The challenges like, community sanitation issues, leadership development, safety and security issues while working on rights and entitlements. The team also brainstorms on the usage of renewable energy as prime factors for the overall development.