Government Renovate Pipeline and Villager's faith too

International Women’s Day, 8 March, 2014

International Women’s Day, is a global day of celebration where women from all Adhikar villages and of different economic, social and ethnic backgrounds join together. They reflected on the struggle for equality over the past centuries, and to celebrate the achievements to date and identify the challenges for the future. We believes that women's empowerment is the key to success and impact of the project. On this occasion women shared their successful intervention on bringing different issues like related to gender inequality.   

 

Information Education Communication (IEC-Expo) Kotdwar, Uttrakhand 3-5 February 2014

                FIRST PRIZE

Adhikar Lucknow team kept their innovative products which they use for facilitate communities for the better access to their rights and entitlements. The products were very simple but very creative which can be easily used with the rural community. Products were like block games, snake and ladder, magic cards etc. Award given to implementing partners Fr. Melwin, Director, Mr. Vimlesh, Project Coordinator. 

                                                                                              FIRST PRIZE

Adhikar Gorakhpur team shared the first prize with Lucknow. Adhikar Gorakhpur brought very practical model to facilitate communities to access their rights and entitlements. The products were very simple but very user friendly which can be easily used with the rural community. Products were like helpline numbers, mobile applications, simple formats for registering grievance etc. The team shared their successful attempts using this government mechanism. The team in this process also enabling the community to follow the mechanism on their own to access their rights and entitlements. The Award was given to implementing partners Fr. Jose, Director, Mr. Pawan Kumar, Project Coordinator. 

          SECOND PRIZE

Adhikar Buxar team got the second prize. The team has brought very innovative and user friendly model of MNREGA ‘Suvidha Kendra’. In this Suvidha Kendra the Adhikar Buxar team is facilitating the smooth implementation of MNREGA. The Suvidha Kendra provide information related to MNREGA. They also facilitate for the service like job card, work demand, pending wages etc. Suvidha Kendra is equipped with Internet enables computer which provide access to NetNREGA for villagers. The facilitator helps the villagers to know about their MNREGA account. The Award was given to implementing partners Fr. Anil, Fr. Sahay, Mr. Ashok, Project Coordinator.                                                                      

                                                                                                     SECOND PRIZE

Adhikar Ajmer team shared the Second prize with Buxar. Adhikar Ajmer brought very practical products to facilitate communities to access their rights and entitlements. The products were very simple but very user friendly which can be easily used with the rural community. Products were like handbooks, posters, Cartoon stories etc. The Award was given to implementing partners Mr. Mahadev Kumar, Project Coordinator. 

Mid Term Review-Adhikar Program

FRIENDS WE ARE HAPPY TO SHARE AN UPDATE ON ADHIKAR PROGRAM RUNNING IN 3 STATES i.e. BIHAR, U.P, RAJASTHAN. 

We are conducting a review of our 2 years interventions, we’ll look into the process and quality of the interventions so far and identify the factors responsible, if the quality is not up to the mark. We’ll also look into the approach and strategies that are being adopted for implementing the program and the appropriateness of the same, in relation to achieving the desired outcomes.  

The review is going to cover the following aspects of the Adhikar program: 

1. Relevance of the interventions in the prevailing context /background
2.  Effectiveness and Quality of various interventions including effectiveness of the functioning of the CBOs formed under the program
3. Process and Methodology applied, strategies adopted,  
4. Results / Changes so far      
5. Linkages established with other actors / stakeholders
6. Partnership Management: strengths and concerns of the collective functioning
7. Program Management including PME
8. Overall challenges and learning  

A team has been formed to carry out this entire exercise. They are moving around all the 13 NGO partners to review in your intervention with the support of your staff. The team will bring mid term review outcomes which will be officially released in Kotdwar on 3^rd February 2014. 

Adhikar Program internal Midterm Review Schedule
Partners	Person responsible	Date of visit
Diocesan Development and Welfare Society, Allahabad	Girish	14-15 January 2014
Diocesan Social Wok Society, Lucknow	Girish	16-17 January 2014
Purvanchal Gramin Seva Samiti, Gorakhpur	Girish	18-19 January 2014
Meerut Seva Samaj, Meerut	Francis	21-22 Jan, 2014
Jeevandhara Samaj Kalyans Sanstha, Jaipur	Francis	27-28 Jan 2014
Jhansi Catholic Seva Samaj, Jhansi	Mariadas	22-23 Jan, 2014
Agra Catholic Diocesan Samaj Seva Sanstha, Agra( Madura)	Maridas	21-22 Jan, 2014
Bihar Water Development Society, Patna	Girish	25 January 2014
Buxar Diocesan Social Service Society, Buxar	Girish	24 January 2014
Bettiah Diocesan Social Service Society, Bettiah	Girish	21-22 January 2014
Karuna Social Service Society, Uttarakhand	Anjan	17-18 January 2014
Suchetna Social Centre, Barely	Yet to confirm	Yet to confirm

SO KEEP READING THE BLOG TO KNOW THE RESULT OF INTERVENTION  IN 'ADHIKAR'

One human family, food for all

One human family, food for all, is a confederation-wide campaign by the global Catholic confederation Caritas Internationalis aimed at ending hunger by 2025.

Pope Francis’s campaign messageFood is not just a basic need but it is also a right. It is a right which is trampled on every day for the 842 million children, women and men who are hungry in the world.

“We are in front of a global scandal of around one billion – one billion people who still suffer from hunger today. We cannot look the other way and pretend this does not exist. The food available in the world is enough to feed everyone.”

All 164 Caritas member organisations are invited to take part in the campaign. This includes national members and the diocesan Caritas which belong to them. Caritas Internationalis will coordinate the campaign.

The foundation for any real change comes from within ourselves first and foremost and our ability to see the face of Christ in those who are suffering from hunger. When we start to look deep within ourselves regarding the issues around hunger at home and abroad we realise that it is only by working as one human family in a spirit of compassion and unity that we can finally bring an end to a grave injustice: that there is enough food in the world, and yet people still suffer from hunger.

Caritas asks all of its member organisations to pursue national goals which address hunger issues in their country. This could be, for example, on food waste, the promotion of market gardening, advocating to their government.

Caritas believes that the implementation of the right to food in countries where it doesn’t exist is a fundamental step to eliminating global hunger. Caritas will produce a draft framework law on the right to food which national member organisations can encourage their governments to adopt. Caritas will also advocate at the United Nations for a session on the right to food at the 2015 UN general assembly.

Caritas works in 200 countries. However, caritas is also the Christian love for humankind and exists wherever people reach out to perform an act of charity.

Food is essential to living a dignified life, it is also central to the Christian faith since bread is transformed into the body of Christ and shared with the faithful during the celebration of the Eucharist.

The first Millennium Development Goal is to eliminate hunger and poverty. As the MDGs are coming to an end in 2015, the Caritas confederation wants to put its collective power and good will, and join with many other organisations to contribute to the post-2015 Development Process and bring an end to the suffering of millions of hungry people around the world.

Bridging the Gaps....

Situation before intervention 

People were unaware about the animal vaccination and veterinary camps which are freely available from the veterinary department. Many buffaloes, sheep, goats, and cows were dying in these villages. People were not ready to give vaccination to their animals. They believed that it will harm their animals. 

Intervention 

Awareness classes, discussions , meetings , group formation of the livestock owners , input sessions by the experts from the veterinary  college, KVK , and veterinary department doctors, application to conduct vaccination camps & veterinary medical camps with the collaboration of veterinary college and KVK Mathura  brought a drastic change in these villages. 

Turning Point 

The doctors from the veterinary department accompanied the ADHIKAR staff to the different villages from house to house and gave vaccination to the animals and arranged a veterinary medical camp in Junsutty village on 8th December 2012.  Follow up is done by the project staff time to time. 

Challenges faced 

In the beginning people were not ready to give vaccination .Through the continuous effort of the staff and doctors we could achieve our goal. During the camp one goat died and after vaccination some buff allows gave less milk and fallen sick. Communication is one of the major problems in these area. Roads are not in good condition, during the rainy season we cannot go to these area 2 villages get cut off in rainy season. 

Present status or changed situation 

Within 10 months time we could give 6070 vaccination to the animals and conducted 3 veterinary camps along with artificial insemination, operations, free medication to 627 animals. During these months not even one single animal died in this project area. This is the best effect of networking with the veterinary college and KVK Mathura. There assistance is assured at any time by the project staff. 

Sr. Lima

Junsutty village

ACDSSS, Agra

STRUGGLE FOR MNREGA WAGES

Padria Dalelpur village is 7 km. away from Banda block. The villagers belong to SC and OBC categories. Most of the people are poor and about 90 % women are illiterate.   Major source of income of the people is daily wages and small farm products. Their main cultivation is Paddy, wheat & sugarcane.  Under MNREGA 42 people had worked 15 days in November-2012 for road making. The staff came to know when they visited the village in June 2013 that they have not yet received their wages. Through our motivation people wrote a complained letter to SDM Powyan. On 2nd July 2013 our animators along with the people went to Tehsil to submit the letter. The authorities (PD) accepted the letter. Turning Point: - following day the authorities (PD) visited the village for inquiry.

1

}  Concerned people-Pradhan, Secretary, Rozgar sewak & laborers were called & listened to their complains. Since the estimate was not submitted before the work being done, they were asked by the authorities to pay the wages to the labors within a week from their own money, if not,  action will be taken in favor of labors.

}   Challenges faced: Pradhan threatened the animators & the people who complained saying that they will not support for any other program.

}     Overcome challenges: ADHIKAR team assured the people that they will be with them in their struggles to get the justice being done.

}   Changed situation: 35 labors received their wages on 17th August 2013.

}   Rs.142/- per day for 15 days.  These achievements encouraged all villagers & they gained confidence in MNREGA.

Village: Padria Dalelpur, Block- Banda, District-Shahjahanpur, State U.P

Adhikar Lucknow activating School Management Committee (SMC)

‘LOKPAL’ In SAPAHI PANCHAYT, WEST CHAMPARAN, BIHAR

On 2nd August 2013, Mr. Nagina Prasad, Lokpal, West Champaran District Bihar along with Mr. Goutam Kumar , MNREGA Technical Officer Ramnagar Block visited Ramnagar Block ,West Champaran. They visited Ward No. 6 Sapahi Panchayat of Ramnagar Block. Nearly 85 villagers and ward members Mr. Jata Sankar and Ramiya Devi were present. Mr. Nagina Prasad, Lokpal got introduced to the villagers and explained the purpose of his visit. He come today to Saphi Panchayat to know about the about the MNREGA program and its functioning. Mr.Nagaina Prasad, Lokpal asked the people about the MNREGA Payment made by the Officials.  Then he told the MNREGA Technical Officer to take the name of the beneficiaries who are not paid. He also discussed the problem related to payment, job card & pass book. Many members raised their voice against the corruption in MNREGA Scheme.

Adhikar Project Staff Sr. Nirmala, Mr. Amit with Lokpal

a) Some people complained that they have worked in pond digging but they are not paid so far.

b) Some expressed that they are partially paid; some said their money has been taken by Meth. After that Mr. Nagina Prasad went to the Bakhari Post office and enquired about the payment in MNREGA with regard to partial payment and money withdrawal by meth from the beneficiaries Account. Mr. Nagina asked the MNREGA Technician Officer to clear their pending payments and to help the people in solving the various problems with regard to MNREGA Scheme in collaboration with BDO and other Block officers.

Villagers said that 

”Hammar Jindigi main Pahila bar koi Bada afisar iee gaon main aail baa”

Improving Access to Social Security Schemes (Widow Pension)

Ranju age 22 an empowered women lives in village Asthawan, Panchayat Lahna, Block Chewara Sheikhpura District.  Her husband Pappu Mahato died on April 1, 2011 in Delhi in a gas cylinder blast in a private company. She had lost her hope of survival without any support of family members. She has got 2 children 1 girl of age 2years and a boy of 5 years. She has to take care of her children so she made up her mind not to marry again.  On the other side she is facing problem from her in-laws who is attempting to capture her agricultural land. Life has been difficult for her with lot of struggle. Ranju belief that, together with her 5 year-old son, she can manage her family in future. She very often get harassed and forced by her in-laws and family members to go back to her father’s house leaving behind her children.  She discussed this problem among her fellow members of Rajmani SHG. She is a regular member of Rajmani SHG and does regular savings too. SHG members suggested her not to get panic from her in-laws. She got full protection and confidence from the SHG members

She acknowledges the support of SHG members who always helped in reducing her sufferings that was really unbearable for her. In her words as she said that group members not only helped me in accessing the ‘widow pension’ and also to take the benefit from other government provisions. She is getting Rs. 300 as widow pension every month and work under MNREGA to feed her children and run the family. She acknowledged that due to continuous support of ADHIKAR PARIYOJNA group members and she started to live at in-laws house. Thus Ranju found the rays of hope in despair and taking care of her family. Sr. Francis, Mr. Aloysius, Patna, Bihar. 

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. 

Caritas India Chairman Bp.Lumen Monteiro visited Adhikar Bihar Project area on 14-15 August 2013

in above Chairman in MNREGA Suvidha Kendra Nokha, Rohtas

in above Chairman addressing the Self Help Group Women 

in Chewar block, Sheikhpura

Stay Connected to get the full report of Chairman Visit in Adhikar Project Area,Bihar.......

Shri Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar gave statement on MDM incidence of Chapra Bihar

Death of 23 school children and hospitalization of more than 50 children due to consumption of mid day meal at Chapra Dharmasati Gandaman primary school on July 16, 2013.

FACT FINDING TEAM VISITED THE SITE .....(COMING SOON FACT FINDING REPORT)

 fact finding team at Patna PMCH Gov. hospital (on left) Child out of danger in Patna PMCH Gov. hospital (below)

 A snap of class room were this children use to study (above) Direct telecast from the village school (Right) 

Deceased children buried in school campus (left)

Bihar's mid-day meal disaster: Forensic report confirms presence of pesticide in food

.A forensic report on the free lunch served to children in the school in Chhapra on Tuesday, has confirmed traces of insecticides in the food sample. The Forensic Science Lab report found the pesticide in the samples of oil from the container, food remains on the platter and mixture of rice with vegetables on aluminium utensils, all of which were collected from the school.

"It was observed that the peak area of the poisonous substance in the oil was more than five times in comparison to the commercial preparation used as a control. It is a matter of investigation that how it came into the food," said Ravinder Kumar, Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, Patna.

Caritas India and Bettiah Social Work Society a adhikar partner today 19th July 2013 finally visited the village. They need to struggle as the local crowd of that locality became violent after these incidence. They are not allowing any outside vehicle to come in their village. They were damaging the vehicles and destroying government properties. The local support from Sr. Jyoti from Chapra and her team supported in making the visit possible. The following were the team compositions

a. Mr. Uday Kumar, Lawyer

b. Sr. Jyoti, Social Worker

c. 3 Volunteers expert fact finding

d. 2 volunteers from Local parish (who has good rapport in community)

The report found Monocrotophos in the samples of oil and the food sample that was collected. Monocrotophos is used as a pesticide for agricultural purposes. It is very toxic to human beings and animals.More than 20 children died after consuming the mid-day meal. A report by the Bihar government said that there was widespread mismanagement among all those people involved in implementing the mid-day meal scheme. The tragedy has left the village of Gandaman broken and furious, and triggered a national debate over the world's largest school feeding programme. The principal of the school where the children died remains missing. She is guilty of criminal negligence, says the report prepared by local administrative and police officials in Chhapra. The Union government is planning to set up a special committee that will to review the implementation of the mid-day meal programme and monitor the quality of food and the standards of hygiene. India's free mid-day meal scheme, the largest free food programme in the world catering to around 120 million schoolchildren across the country, was introduced as an incentive for children to go to school. After Bihar's tragic deaths on Tuesday, shocking reports are emerging from other parts of the country, forcing state governments to order strict checks on the hygiene standards. On Thursday, 170 children fell ill after lunch at a school in Neyveli, in Tamilnadu's Cuddalore district.

22 Deaths due to Mid-day meal in Bihar: NHRC issues notices to the State Principal Secretary (Education) and SP, Saran.

New Delhi, 17th July, 2013

The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo-motu cognizance of media reports that nine children lost their lives and nearly 50 fell seriously ill after consuming mid-day meal served in the Gandaman Primary School, Jajauli Panchayat, Mashrakh Block, District Saran, Bihar. Reportedly, the children, aged 03-12 years, were served rice, dal, potato and soya bean vegetable.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raised a serious issue of violation of rights to food of the deceased and issued notices to the Principal Secretary (Education), Government of Bihar and Superintendent of Police, Saran, calling for reports in the matter within four weeks. They have also been directed to inform whether any legal action has been taken in the matter. The officers have been asked to inform the Commission the compensation, if any, proposed to be granted to the next of kin of the deceased

Caritas India Sending a Fact Finding Mission......

करुणा सोशल सर्विस सोसाइटी ने की बाढ़ राहत के मुआवजे की पैरवी, उत्तराखंड

दिनांक १४ से १७ जून २०१३ तक उत्तराखंड छेत्र में लगातार भारी बारिश एवं अतिवृष्टि हुई। मानसून इस साल लगभग २० दिन पहले उत्तराखंड पहुंच गया और लगातार ६० घंटे हुई भारी बारिश एवं अतिवृष्टि ने पुरे राज्य में काफी तबाही मचाई। सबसे ज्यादा प्रभावित जिले रहे चमोली, रुद्रप्रयाग, उत्तरकाशी, टेहरी, एवं पिथोरागढ़। यूसैक के निदेशक के अनुसार 15 और 16 जून को दो दिनों में केदारघाटी में ६०० एमएम से ज्यादा बारिश रिकॉर्ड की गई। चौराबाड़ी ग्लेशियर और उसके सहयोगी ग्लेशियर की जड़ में एकत्र मोरेंस (जड़ में एकत्र कंकड़-पत्थर) में जब बारिश का भारी पानी घुसा तो वह मलबे में बदल गया। पानी की वजह से ही मलबे ने रफ्तार पकड़ ली, जिससे गांधी सरोवर टूट गया। भारी पानी और मलबे का वेग ज्यादा होने की वजह से यह तबाही हुई है।

आपदा से तबाह हुए सिल्ली गांव अगस्त्यमुनि ब्लाक रुद्रप्रयाग जिला के लोग अब मुआवजे के भरोसे जिंदगी नहीं देखते हैं। सिल्ली गांव में नदी किनारे कई घर डूबे हैं। राजेश जो सिल्ली गांव निवासी है उसने बताया कि मंगलवार मध्य रात्रि को जब बारिश तेज होने लगी तो ग्रामीणों को किसी अनहोनी का अंदेशा होने लगा था। उन्होंने कहा, बारिश बढ़ती जा रही है, इधर-उधर चलो, लेकिन सब अपने घरों में ही दुबके रहे। ठीक तीन बजे बिजली चले गई। अंधेरा होने पर राजेश अपने परिवार सहित कमरे में चले गया, लेकिन पल भर में मकान ढह गया। जमीदोज हुए मकान के एक कोने में बैठे राजेश ने बताया कि भरापूरा परिवार देखते ही देखते तबाह हो गया। इस गांव में पच्चीस मकान धड़धड़ाते हुए बहे और बाईस मकानकभी भी ढह सकते हैं। अधिकांश खाली हो गए हैं। पूरा गांव दहशत में है।

यात्रा सीजन में यहां के अधिकांश लोग केदारनाथ चले जाते हैं। वहां छोटे-मोटे कारोबार से लेकर घोड़ा, कंडी का काम करते थे। इससे गांव की आजीविका चल रहीं थी। इस आपदा ने सब खत्म कर दिया। यही कारण है कि मुसीबत में पड़े लोगों को दो तीन दिन तक यह भी पता नहीं था की अपनी बात कहे तो किससे कहे । यह बाढ़ तबाही के साथ कुछ सवाल भी बहा लाई है, जिसके जवाब तलाशने आसान नहीं। 

करुणा सोशल सर्विस सोसाइटी ने कारितास इंडिया एवं अन्य संस्थाओ के मदद से उत्तराखंड में आई आपदा में लगभग १०००० लोगो को सहायता पहुँचाया। संस्था ने अपने सारे कर्मचारियों को बाढ़ राहत में लगा दिया । संस्था ने करीब १००० मरीजो का इलाज मोबाइल स्वास्थ शिविर द्वारा किया । संस्था ने करीब १०५० परिवार को सुखा राशन एवं उपयोगी सामान वितरण भी किया । संस्था ने इन मुश्किल घडी में लोगो का साथ दिया और आगे सरकारी कर्मचारियों से मिल कर उनके अधिकार (पूरा मुआवजा) दिलाने के लिए प्रयासरत है।

गिरीश

कारितास इंडिया

रुद्रप्रयाग, उत्तराखंड

सेवाएं कब तक पहुचेंगी?- The Hindu Shutterbug

When will the services reach? A Dalit elderly man taking care of his family by collecting fire wood and selling them in market. He has not received the wages for work done last year under Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). Now he manages his family by selling fire wood (fuel) in local market. He spends the morning hours in collecting fire wood and then take them to nearest market. , 
सेवाएं कब तक पहुचेंगी? ये सवाल हमारे मुसहर दलित समुदाय पुच रहा है| इन लोगो ने पिछले वर्ष महात्मा गाँधी रोज़गार गारंटी अधिनियम (नरेगा) में काम किया था | आज दिनांक तक इनकी मजदूरी का भुगतान नहीं किया गया| इन समुदाय से बात करने पर पता चला आजकल ये अपना जीविका जलावन बेच कर चाला रहें है | कृपया निचे लिंक को क्लिक कर अपना वोट कर अपना योगदान दे......
http://thne.ws/12fNcEl#.UdJoWnq6pnQ.email

The Working Elderly - The Hindu Shutterbug

Self Help Group (SHG) Members during interface meeting with Block Development Officer (BDO) Sheikhpura, Bihar

Women Self Help Group Members during Interface Meeting with Block Development Officer in Adhikar Project Sheikhpura Bihar

Women Listening Block development Officer during Interface Meeting at District Sheikhpura Bihar

ADHIKAR Partners Renewed their Resolve to Empower the Excluded

The 13 CSOs and their coordinators gathered in Suchetna at Kathgodam from 14-15th May 2013, to review the Adhikar program which completed the milestone of one year. The 30 participants from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan, shared their experiences and stories of change in their area with excitement. They made very   enlightening presentations of their one year journey with community for accessing the entitlements which were beyond their reach before initiation of ADHIKAR in their respective locations.

Achievements: in last one year, 102 new SHGs have been formed who in long run will get empowered to raise voice for their entitlements. As a pilot in Rohtas district Bihar 38 MNREGA Munch (groups) which consists of the persons seeking employment have been formed. These manch will take lead in facilitating the MNREGA process in more transparent ways.  The marginal farmers from 45 villages were organized in to 60 farmers groups are accessing the services Krishi Vignan Kendra, NABARD, and Agriculture and animal husbandry departments. The groups are working actively and this will lead to achieving the planned objectives in the future.                              

• During the last one year 1,235 people applied for Job under MNREGA works and 351 people received the job cards.
• Due to the efforts  put in by the focus groups the PRI members and block development officers sanctioned the more   works under MNREGA in the target villages during the year. 1,798 landless and marginal people both women and men received this year 50 to 90 days of work in MNREGA in target villages.
• 186 BPL families received the ration cards and getting the regular ration from the ration shops
• 107 old women, 46 old men received old age pension.
• 88 widows started receiving widow pension.
• 8 handicapped people whose pension was stopped was renewed and 39 new handicapped also got the pension
• 298 school dropout children and 308 eligible  children  joined the government schools in 24 target villages

The participants found the panel discussion organized on Government – Non government Collaboration and Ways to collaborate with International NGOs very instructive.

The Quiz contest organized by the Caritas India team on topics related to Rights & entitlements under Health, Education, MGNREGA generated a lot of interest among the participants to learn more on the various legislations and their provisions.

Further moving on, the participants were given inputs on Micro level planning in the villages and also on Rashtriya Swasthia Bima Yojana (RSBY). The partners made the following plan of action for the coming 6 months.

• The partners decided to prepare of micro plans in all ADHIKAR villages during the coming eight months and get it approved by the Gram Sabha.
• Organize regular interface meeting with Govt. Depts. to strengthen collaboration and improve the convergence of efforts and resources for the benefit of the most excluded groups.
• The focus groups will submit the complaints in writing for redressing grievance to the concerned government personnel and also facilitating the process of filing the RTI for relevant purposes during the year.