JAGRUKTA SE MILA KAAM

Profile

Name of the Gram Panchayat-Shivpuri Khanji, Bhawalkheda

Name of the village: Patna, Kalyanpur,

Block – Banda.           

District – Shajhanpur.

State – Utter Pradesh

The above mentioned villages are 8 – 12 km. away from Banda block. The target group belongs to SC and OBC categories. Most of the people are illiterate and the major source of income of these people are daily wages and involved in the labour work in the agriculture fields and during the unseason they migrate to the towns in search of work.

Situation before intervention:

Most of the People in the villages- Patna, Kalyanpur, were depending for their livelihood on daily wages far away in the cities. They were ignorant about MNREGA ACT. Persons in authority (Pradhans, Rojgar sevaks, secretaries) did not take any interest to communicate /motivate the people about MNREGA. People were unaware of getting the job cards and jobs. Due to lack of knowledge, people do not apply for job, and they did not try for job under NREGA. They used to go to cities in search of jobs for their livelihood. Many of them go to work in the fields of land holders of the village. These land holders make use of the poor people maximum and pay minimum.

INTERVENTION

The ADHIKAR Project team conducted base line Survey of target people and collected the information on status of MNREGA work in the target village and noticed that people are not availing the work under MNREGA.  As a result the team decided to motivate the target people to get cards and jobs under MNREGA. Very many times the animators met the people individually and collectively to convince the people on the benefits of MNREGA through awareness program, and training on MNREGA.  The animators conducted the training to 270 people and they were oriented on the procedure of obtaining the work under MNREGA

Turning Point

The village level awareness meetings paved the way to the people in understanding the provision of work under MNREGA and procedure of submitting the application.   Before the intervention of the ADHIKAR animators, the people did not know the provisions and procedures under MNREGA.  When the community people got the knowledge on the NREGA work they expressed the willingness to avail the job under NREGA.  They prepared the application and submitted to the village secretary and sarpanch with the signatures (Thumb impressions) of the people..  Several times the representatives of the people and animators met the authorities of MNREGA and requested them to sanction the benefits available under MNREGA to the people of above mentioned villages.

Adhikar team organized series of meetings with Pradhans, Rojghar sevaks, Secretaries, B.D.O and facilitated the process of sanctioning of the work. As a result 146 poor and marginalized people who had the job cards applied for job and the application were accepted and within 15 days of submission of the application 80 people received job in road construction work.

Challenge Faced

ADHIKAR program was viewed as a threat by Pradhans, Rojgarsevaks, and secretaries.

They were not available in the office in spite of giving the appointments and therefore, meeting and submitting applications to village secretaries was a big challenge faced by the people representatives and ADHIKAR team.

The misconceptions about the MNREGA work influenced the people and they were not convinced about the getting work under MNREGA in the beginning. 

How the challenges were overcome

Relentless and continuous efforts of the animators and the friendly meetings with the authorities changed their attitude and facilitated their willing to co-operate with ADHIKAR team.

The Adhikar team motivated the people through street plays and ensured their support in obtaining the work under NREGA.

Present Status or Changed Situation

80 people obtained the work for 25 days and they received the wages for the work done.   By seeing these people the other people in the target villages started submitting the applications to sarpanch and village secretary for the work in the villages.   The availability of the work under MNREGA reduced the migration of the people to the nearby towns and now the people are trying to demand for more working days in the villages.   Good rapport is developed between the people and the service providers like sarpanch and village secretaries in the villages.  

Zonal review meeting of ADHIKAR at RCDSS, Ajmer

Review meeting is a platform for cross learning and strategy formulation to overcome challenges through collective reflection and decide upon way forward. Caritas India had conducted a review cum planning workshop on 10-11^th December 2012 at RCDSS, Ajmer in which 11 ADHIKAR partners and 3 IDEA partners from Delhi, UKSVK and Bihar regions took part in the meeting. It was an amalgamation of sharing of work with special emphasis on Result Based Management, brainstorming and input sessions. Moreover, partners could strategise programmes in accordance with objective utilization of available resources for availing optimum outcomes under IDEA and ADHIKAR project.  

Rev. Fr. Cyril, Executive Director of UKSVK region addressed the gathering with sharing inspirational thoughts quoted from Catholic Social Teachings on commitment and dedication of staff in providing qualitative services which will bring improved changes in the lives of the poor and the marginalised. Rev. Fr. Amal Raj, Executive Director of Bihar Forum made a deliberation on recent advancement of ADHIKAR programme and its effort to realize various entitlements for marginalized under right to work and right to food. Mr. PU Francis, Zonal Manager-North Zone enlightened the participants on Micro planning which includes process, people’s participation, identifying issues etc. It was suggested that all partners should take concerted effort to mobilize community in obtaining their due entitlements through participate in Grama Sabha. Mr. Ashok Sinha, Consultant oriented the participants on Right to Education Act and its provisions.

Mr. Arun Kumawat, MNREGA practitioner associate with an NGO from Chittorgarh gave input session on MGNREGA.  He highlighted the origin of MGNREGA Act and its features and present situation of the MGNREGA work in Northern region.  He felt that the success of the MGNREGA program is connected with the awareness creation among the people in rural villages.  He advised the group to motivate the villagers to put in writing their demand for work in their area. The Zonal Manager along with Zonal team facilitated the group presentations and entire two days program.    The participants expressed their satisfaction over the two days program as the review provided an opportunity for mutual learning that helped them to intensify their understanding on various rights, concerned legislations and its application.  

 

In a brainstorming session, coordinators identified major challenges foresee and prepared strategies to combat the same in the near future.  The diocesan directors designed an action plan for capacitating staff as well as Community Based Organizations, better implementation and accompaniment of ADHIKAR program & Liasioning with Govt. officials and to facilitate the Micro planning in Grama Sabha meetings.

Role and functions of School Management Committee

• A school management committee shall be constituted in every school, other than unaided school, within its jurisdiction and reconstituted in every two years
• SMC shall consist of 15 members out of which 11 shall from among parents, guardian of children; provided that 50 % of members shall be women. 4 members shall be Ward member, ANM, Lekhpal and Head Master of school.
• SMC shall meet once in a month and minutes is recorded and made available to the public.
• SMC shall monitor the functioning of school, prepare and recommend School Development Plan
• Monitor the utilization of grants received from State Government or local authority
• Ensure the enrolment and continued attendance of all the children from the neighbourhood
• Bring to the notice of the local authorities any deviation from the rights of the child, in particular mental and physical harassment of children, denial of admission, and timely provision of free entitlement.
• Where a child above of six years has not been admitted in any school, for his/her age appropriate learning level, identify the needs, prepare a plan, and monitor the implementation of the special training.
• Monitor the implementation of the Mid Day meal programme in the school and ensure its enrichment
• Monitor the receipts and expenditure of the school
• Monitor the identification and enrolment of and facilities for education of children with disabilities, and ensure their participation in, and completion of elementary education
• The school management committee shall prepare a school development plan at least three months before the end of the financial year
• The school development plan shall be a three year plan comprising three year sub plans
• The school development plan shall be signed by the chairperson or the Vice- chairperson and member secretary of the school management committee and submit to the authorities concerned before the end of the financial year in which it is to be prepared. 

Village Health and Sanitation Committee

It is an undeniable fact that role of community in taking up leadership at local level, related to health issues could bring  tremendous changes in the execution of health programmes more effectively. Obviously, it will be possible only when the community is sufficiently empowered to take leadership in health matters. Moreover, involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions in the management of health system could be possible under the guidance and leadership of Grama Pradhan, PRI members, ANM, ASHA, AWW and community representatives.

Role of the VHSC

o   The VHSC will be responsible for overall health of the village. It will take into consideration of the problems of the community and the health and nutrition care providers and suggest mechanism to solve it.

o   Creation of public awareness about the essentials of  health programmes, with focus on people’s knowledge of entitlements to enable their involvement in the monitoring.

o   Discussion and development of  village health plan based on an assessment of the village situation and priorities identified by the village community.

o   Analyze key issues and problems related to village level health and nutrition activities, give feedback on these to the Medical Officer of the PHC.

o   Monitoring of all the health activities that are conducted in the village such as Village Health & Nutrition Day, mothers meeting etc.

o   VHSC along with the ANM will be responsible to conduct household survey in the village.

o   It will maintain village health register and the health information board. The health register and board will be put up at the most frequented section of the village and will have information about the mandated services in the Sub Centre/PHC. 

o   Ensure that the ANM visit the village on the fixed days and perform the stipulated activity as per the Sub Centre work plan; oversee the village health and nutrition functionaries like ANM.

o   The committee will monitor all the health activities that are conducted in the village such as Village Health & Nutrition Day, mothers meeting etc.

o   ANM will submit a bi monthly village report to the committee along with the plan for next two months. Formats and contents would be decided by the village health committee. Discuss the report submitted by ANM in the village level meeting and take appropriate action.

o   It will discuss every maternal or neonatal death that occurs in their village, analyze it and suggest necessary action to prevent such deaths. Get these deaths registered in the Panchayat.

o   The committee will organize regular monthly meeting to discuss various issues in the village and document the minutes of the meeting.

o   The committee shall ensure that Public Dialogue is organized at regular intervals (once in six month) in the presence of Medical Officer of the Primary Health Care Centre. The committee shall ensure that all the issues discussed are recorded and action taken on the issues discussed.

o   The VHSC will also play vital role for selecting and supporting the ASHA from the community

o   Other than health related issues VHSC will also be responsible for the development of the village.

o   The VHSC will also take care of the Sub Centre.

o   The VHSC will be responsible to inform the community about all the government schemes.

Village Education Committee- Roles and responsibilities

Village Education Committee (VEC) is a regulatory body that exists at school level in a village to ensure community participation in smooth functioning of the school. VECs have been formed as part of the decentralized management structures envisaged under District Primary Education Program (DPEP). A VEC consists of 6 to 14 members and is elected by  the Gram Sabha. It constitutes of individuals interested in promotion and development of education in the villages.  50% of the members must be female and representation of the deprived sections of society is ensured to mainstream them and enable their articipation in decisions affecting their interests. The Village Sarpanch is the Chairperson and school Headmaster is the Convener of VEC.VEC’s role is to establish a link between school and community and to create awareness about the importance of formal education. In addition, it is also expected to take up the task of management of school affairs along with school administration. VECs are considered vital for promoting enrolment and retention of children in school, especially of girls. It is the responsibility of VEC to ensure that every child in the age group of 6-14 years gets enrolled in schools and completes elementary education.

Roles and responsibilities of VECs are follows

 

Hume Mila Hamara Hak

Profile:

Name of Gram Panchayat:- Junsutty

Name of Villages:- Junsutty, Daniya Nagla, Seetanagala, and Radhe Nagala)

Block:- Mathura

District:- Mathura

State :- Uttar Pradesh

Junsutty Grama Panchayat is 15 K.M. away from Mathura block. The major sources of income of households are agriculture and livestock rearing. The  women are mostly house wives and involved in farming, rearing livestock (cow and buffalo) etc. Paddy & wheat crops are chiefly grown in these areas.  

Situation before intervention  

General public had scant knowledge on importance of job cards and its use, provisions etc. Both Pradhan and Rojgar sewak did not tried to motivate the people to avail job cards and obtaining job that would have been diminished poverty in rural families. It was observed that almost all job cards were partially filled with mandatory information such as Job card number, dates of work and so on. Majority of HHs were not getting work under MNREGA as they did not have knowledge on how to process application. Since people were not demanding jobs through written application, scope of corruption and favouritism arouse. Consequently, service providers exploited the situation maximum and given work for their well-wishers whereas job was credited into other job card holders. In addition, eligible people neither received even 30 days jobs nor stipulated wages on time. Due to lack of knowledge among community on MNREGA, Pradhan turned to be the custodian of job cards and did as he wishes. 

Intervention 

During base line survey, ADHIKAR team got firsthand information on status of MNREGA and how far it reaches to the real beneficiaries. As a result, ADHIKAR team decided to motivate the community to make use of their job cards and avail jobs under MNREGA. Street plays, corner meetings, awareness classes, celebration of Independence Day with special focus on right to work were organized in the villages where 300 people made aware of MNREGA and its provisions. Consequently, 5 villagers put RTI application to get the status of people own job cards. According to the block office, 369 job cards have been already issued and 300 people are not having job cards. In fact, 90% of issued job cards were holding Pradhan and 50 % of the community do not have job cards. As a result, literally, almost 80% villagers were not getting the benefit of Job cards and MNREGA provisions.

Turning Point

ADHIKAR project team along with 3 villagers met Block Development Officer and convinced him about the malfunctioning of MNREGA in Junsutty Grama Panchayat. BDO enquired about the matter to Pradhan over phone but he denied. Again BDO informed Pradhan on his visit to cross check MNREGA functioning as well as availability of job cards with beneficiaries. As a result, Pradhan had distributed all job cards to the beneficiaries within one night.

Challenges faced

Unfavourable attitude of Pradhan in materializing MNREGA in an infallible manner was a challenge.

How challenges were overcome

The project staff oriented the community again and briefed them by showing the reply of RTI filed by community. Also staff ensured the support of Block Development Officer in realizing MNRGEA in favour of needy.

Present status or changed situation

350 people could retrieve their job cards from Pradhan and they started to apply for job as per the norms. Also people who do not have job cards put application for obtaining the same. Since Government authorities are convinced on the malfunctioning of MNREGA, they have decided to hold a social audit in Junsutty.   

Courtesy: Agra Catholic Diocese Samaj Seva Sansta

Interface meeting in Ambedkar Nagar District, Uttar Pradesh

ADHIKAR project is being implemented in 15 villages of Jalalpur Block in Ambedkar Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh. Diocesan Development & Welfare Society, Allahabad has arranged an interface meeting with block officials, PRI members, various government officials and selected people representatives on 26^th October 2012 at Chitauna Kala Center, Ambedkar Nagar. Objectives, strategies, implementation plan, activities and role of organization in catering the need of the marginalized were emphatically shared by the coordinator among 200 people gathered from targeted area. Coordinator has presented the current situation of schools, MNREGA, agriculture with ample supported data. As a result, both service providers and people’s representatives could visualize some strategy to improve the present scenario for the betterment of realizing entitlements.

Mr. Arun Kumar Yadav-Khand Siksha Adhikari of Jalalpur Block motivated parents to send children to school, in his inspiring speech. He also mentioned certain entitlements from the government a child could get under “Right to Education”. Moreover, he urged the DDWS to conduct such type of discussion on regular basis which will resolve various issues and in those meetings various government officials should be invited as their presence is greatly needed in answering a lot of questions / problems raised by the people. Mr. K. Sharma (Agriculture Department) in his message promoted the idea of using organic fertilizers and promised to extend his support to the project and the farmers. In addition, he marked his gratitude and expressed his willingness to help the needy.

The Adolescent girls of Vocational Training Center, Chitaunakala presented a role play before the audience followed a few cultural programmes by the community members, Adolescents, children etc. The programme was witnessed by over 200 people including Gram Pradhans, Ward members, BDC members, SHG women, School teachers and government officials.

Courtesy: Mr Boniface George, ADHIKAR Coordinator- DDWS Allahabad