State level Review meeting - Bihar region

A step towards entitlements for all is started in Bihar through Adhikar Project. With the active participation of project frontline workers Bihar project review happened on 18-19 October 2012 at Sewa Kendra, Patna. All the 3 partners of respective districts Sheikhpura, Rohtas and West Champaran participated in this review workshop. The main theme of this review was ‘strengthening MNREGA implementation’ in their respective area. Case Studies from NACDOR, Development Alternative working on MNREGA & CBOs shared by their representatives.

The resource persons demystify the MNREGA provisions and gave detail information on grievance redressal mechanism. The Rohtas team will demonstrate the Model MNREGA implementation in their respective panchayats.  There will be facilitation centre at Block level in the respective blocks. This facilitation centre will provide services to bridge the gap between poor and marginalized families and Gov. Service providers.  These facilitation centres will be names as ‘SUVIDHA MANCH’. This facilitation centre will be equipped with a computer with internet services. The beneficiaries will avail the service initially free of cost and later minimum charges will be taken. The information regarding entitlements namely MNREGA, IAY, PDS, Pensions etc. will be provided to the poor and marginalized families. The services will be offered not only to the families belongs to project panchayats but also to the other panchayat families also.

2500 families targeted in Adhikar project by 3 partners in 3 Districts, 3 Blocks, 11 Panchayats and 50 villages. The community will be organized in the groups namely SHGs. In the long run these SHGs will be a mechanism at community level to track entitlement status of poor and marginalized. They will help those families in availing there due entitlements. These self-help groups will also do thrift and credit so that they become economically strong.

Significance of Liaising and Networking with Govt Departments

Liaising and networking with various government departments have a pivotal role in realizing ADHIKAR programme with envisaged results. Role of NGOs in materializing various government programmes is again showcases in Harakh Barabanki district of Lucknow. Smt. Indara Devi, Assistant Basic Shiksha Adhikari (ABSA) has been convinced the purpose and expected results of ADHIKAR programme and issued a letter to all school Head Teachers requesting to support Diocesan Social Work Society, Lucknow  for improving the education system in the targeted schools. 
 

“Nai Subah”- A Case Study on RTE

Profile of case

Name of child         :Kalawati

Age                       :13 Years old

Sex                       :Female

Mother’s Name        :Smt. Shiwani

Father’s Name         :Naththaram

Village                   :Dhiraikpurwa

Description of situation before intervention: Kalawati hails from a lower class family in which starvation is a close acquaintance. She had been attending schools regularly till 6^th Standard. Her father looks after family by doing daily labor and her mother engages in household chorus. Unfortunately both parents are illiterate and unaware on significance of education and prospective of education.  Consequently, parents did not give much emphasis on education of their child and she discontinued studies in the age of 11. Gradually, Kalawati has become a helper in household work with mother.

Intervention made: During the baseline survey, ADHIKAR animator Miss Neelam Devi identified this case and shared with all during monthly staff meeting. Then, some animators visited to Kalawati’s house and met with her parents. Staff made an attempt to orient parents on importance of education and its benefits. Fortunately, parents were motivated and convinced through frequent visits by animators. Later, Kalawati had taken to school, where she was studying, along with her parents and discussed on possibility of re enrolment of student under RTE act. Surprisingly, teachers were very cordial and congratulated the good work done by animators. Moreover, teacher has given the permission to re enroll Kalawati in VIII standard of Government Junior High School, Teergaw.

Challenges faced: In the initial stage, her parents were not in a position to even listen to animators, especially mother. Though her father was ready to send Kalawati to school, mother was a little ambiguous on re enrollment due to lack of knowledge and information on RTE.  

How challenges were overcome: Frequent visits of animator with inspiration led parents for a second thought. In addition, exposure of schools by parents made positive in sending their child to school.  

Present status or changed situation: Kalawati has been reenrolled to Government Junior high school , Teergaw in standard  VIII on 12/9/2012 . Now she is   going to school regularly and concentrating on her studies with more vigor and confidence. She has been able to bag many friends that helped her in studies. 

Note: This case study has been emerged from Lucknow diocese

Progress towards realizing entitlements

ADHIKAR project has been implementing in the operational areas since May 2012. Agra, Allahabad, Bijnor, Jhansi, Lucknow and Gorakhpur dioceses have put utmost effort to reach targeted population for realizing entitlements which is guaranteed by the constitution of India. Baseline survey, community mobilization, sensitizing community on various entitlements, awareness generation on roles and responsibilities of service providers, rapport building with various Government Departments etc were the major interventions initiated by partners in targeted areas.

Major interventions under Right to Work

Activities	Achievements
Sensitization on MNREGA in 41 villages	Around 4000 people have been sensitized on MNREGA and its provisions through Street play/ Puppetry  , input sessions etc Output: ·         107 job card holders applied for job and received job ·         12 people applied for job cards
Motivational training on MNREGA group formation	13 MNREGA unions formed
Training on MNREGA for CBO members	83 CBO representatives from 2 villages were oriented on MNREGA and its provisions
Training for GP members on MNREGA	54 GP members made aware on MNREGA especially responsibilities of Grama Panchayat /Grama Sabha members, development plan preparation and works under MNREGA
Training on MNREGA for job card holders	48 job card holders who are not receiving full benefits under MNREGA were the participants
Interface meeting with block officials, GP members, beneficiaries etc	54 people took part in the meeting in which information on MNREGA, role of Block officials and GP representatives were discussed.

 

Major interventions under RTF

Activities	Achievement
Training on modern farming	121 farmers trained on soil testing, organic fertilizers, improving unproductive land, minimum land fertility etc. Also given information on various schemes under KVK, Cooperative society and rural banks
Village level sensitization on agriculture	326 people from 6 villages were sensitized on various schemes under KVK and agricultural department
Training on livestock management	82 people trained on vaccination, injections, symptoms & reasons of sickness, ways to improve quality and quantity of milk, post birth caring, balanced diet and medicines. Output: 6 vaccination camps organized through which 2265 animals vaccinated
Awareness creation on Social Security Schemes	129 people from 7 villages were  made aware on various social security schemes of government
Formation of Farmers’ group	4 groups formed
Formation of SHGs	20 SHGs have been formed
Formation of Mahila Mandals	15 Mahila Mandals formed

 

Major interventions under RTH

Activities	Achievements
Street play on Health	Around 2000 people from 10 villages were made aware on various health issues, importance of cleanliness etc
Health education to adolescent girls and women	124 adolescent girls and 175 women got awareness on basic health practices, safe motherhood and child survival Output: 90 children immunized (BCG, DPT I,II&III, measles and booster) in 4 villages 6 pregnant women immunized (TT1 & TT2) in 3 villages
Medical camps	1100 people from 8 villages benefited out of this programme.
Awareness of Government health schemes in 15 villages	People made aware on VHND Services and role of VHSC members, responsibilities of ASHA/AWW/ANM Output: ·         All pregnant women are being registered with ANM and ASHA worker in 15 villages ·         0 to 1 year children are being registered with AWW
Formation of adolescent groups	2 adolescent groups have been formed

Major interventions under RTE

Activities	Achievements
Village level sensitization meeting on RTE	873 people from 12 villages oriented on RTE through discussions/meetings
Formation of PTAs	Preliminary meeting conducted in 4 primary schools in Ambekarnagar. 8 PTAs formed in Barbanki
School Chalo Abhiyan	602 people took part in the programme including principals, teachers , children, community members and animators Output: 132 children enrolled into schools and 43 drop outs are re- enrolled into schools
Puppet shows on RTE	2 puppet shows conducted in 2 villages where around 650 people made aware on importance of education, why education and advantages of education
Quarterly meeting with parents	12 meetings done in which  568 parents  participated. Emphasis were given on •       Regular attendance in school •       Important of basic education •       Entitlements and facilities for children under RTE and SSA
Quarterly meeting with VEC members	Lucknow has organized 4 meeting at Panchayat level in which 63 members participated. Major discussions held on •       RTE Act •       Role and responsibility  of VEC members •       School Monitoring during class time. •       Preparation of plan for school development •       Enrolment of children between the age group of 6 and 14 years.

Interface Meeting, Nokha, Rohtas Bihar

Adhikar project is being implemented in 18 villages of Nokha Block Rohtas district of Bihar. Buxar Diocesan Social Service Society & Navjeevan Development Centre, Sasaram has arranged an interface meeting with block official and Panchayati raj institutions members on 19 August 2012 at Gov. Block Office.  The main purpose of this interface meeting was to share with the concerned authorities of the Block as well as with the people’s representatives about the present status of the implementation of the schemes like MNREGA, ICDS, PDS and other social security schemes based on our survey findings. A detail plan was prepared how the community, PRI and Block officials will work together. This meeting created an atmosphere of co operation between the delivery system of the government and the people and NDC would function as a link between the two. There were 32 members from the PRI, most of them Ward members, both men and women present. In an atmosphere of peaceful sharing, several of the ward members expressed their ignorance or lack of good knowledge about the MNREGA scheme. All without exception admitted that there are lots of corrupt practices in the implementation of the scheme. The deserving ones do not get the benefit. Some of the ward members mentioned that they do not even know which schemes are sanctioned and which one is implemented. At the end of the sharing, NDC MNREGA Expert Ashok Kumar explained to them what our future plans are and asked their co operation to make the two entitlement schemes Right to Food and Right to Work an effective one.

Convergence of service providers and beneficiaries – A best example

Agra Catholic Diocese Samaj Seva Sanstha (ACDSSS) has organized a memorable event- launching of ADHIKAR project on 22^nd August 2012 at St. Michael School, Mathura District in the presence of representatives from various government departments, Pradhans, ward members, local community and project staff. The inauguration has been enriched by entertainment programmes and puppetry shows on MNREGA & PDS. Introduction of ACDSSS was also given prime focus as partner is quiet new in this block. Moreover, objectives and activities of ADHIKAR project also shared among people gathered with special emphasis on how it will cater to the needs of people. Around 400 people took part in the programme and obtained information on Right to Health, Right to Food and Right to Work.

Mr. Namchand Agarwal (Agriculture Dept.) in his message promoted the idea of using organic fertilizers and promised to extend his support to the project and the farmers. Dr. Suresh Gupta, Deputy CMO marked his gratitude and express his willingness to help the needy. Also he stated that the project is making the work of hospital authorities easy at least in the 16 villages of the project. Mr. Ramadaniram (District Development Officer), Fr. Joe (Vicar General of Agra Diocese), Fr. Vinoy P.M. (Director of ACDSSS),  Mr. Harveer Singh (Agriculture Dept.), Dr. S.P. Sharma (Supervisor of immunization Dept.), Mr. Boby, Rohtan singh, Govind Singh Ballo (Gram Pradhan), Mrs. Reena, Mrs. Vatsala (ANM’s), BTC, Ward members, AWW, ASHA, project staff and the office staff.

ADHIKAR launch at KSSS Bijnor

Karuna Social Service Society, Kotdwar organized launching of ADHIKAR programme at Government Inter College, Sendhikhal on August 18,2012. Mr. Dalip Singh Rawat, MLA of Lansdowne Constituency inaugurated the program by lighting the lamp in the auspicious presence of Mr. P. L. Shah-SDM of Lansdowne,Mr. Rajender Singh-Principal of GIC, Mr. C. M. Joshi- ADO of Jaiharikhal Development Block, Mr. Brij Bihari Sharma- Range Officer, Sendhikhal Forest Range, Mr. Suraj Pal- Gram Pradhan of Bansi Gram Panchayat and Fr Pious Philip- KSSS Execcutive Director. Distribution of job cards to the households also done during the inaugural session. 

During  welcome speech, Fr Pious explained about the focus of the project and expressed that success and failure of the programme rely on qualitative participation of stakeholders.

Mr. Dalip Singh Rawat acknowledged the dedicated and honest initiatives of KSSS for the upliftment of the downtrodden people, during his address to the gathering. 

Mr. P.L Shah also commended KSSS on its worthwhile effort to empower people and requested people to access all entitlements which are guaranteed by constitution of India. 

Mr. Narender Singh Rawat, ADHIKAR Coordinator while addressing the gathering, explained on project as such emphasizing features, strategy, implementation plan and role of organization. The SHG women from Bansi village presented a role play before the audience on environment protection. There were also a few cultural programmes by the villagers . The programme was witnessed by over 250 people including Gram Pradhans, Ward members, BDC members, SHG women, School teachers and government officials.