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.

  

Caritas India Chairman and Administrator visit MSS, Meerut

Rt Rev Lumen Monteiro, Chairman of Caritas India and Rev. Fr. Chinnappa, Administrator of Caritas India participated in the women's day celebration organized by Meerut Seva Samaj on 14th March 2013 at the campus of MSS. Bishop Lumen addressed 1400 women and adolescents assembled over there with special focus on the theme "atrocities against women". He advised the women to be more cautious and create awareness among other women on various rights and entitlements of women.  Secondly, he emphasized the need of women to be self dependent which give them more freedom and empowerment. 

The chief guest of the celebration Bishop Francis Kalist while addressing the august gathering pinpointed media, cinema and corporate sectors for utilizing women as a commodity or object in advertisement to attract the customers. This has created a negative impact towards women which ultimately degrades the value of women in the society. Another prominent women Mrs. Neeta, Director, Personality Development Center and Honorary Magistrate of Juvenile Home  in her speech advocated the women particularly girls to focus on the need of education of girl children and treat the boys and girls equally.  An educated girl can play an equal role of a boy in the society.   To reduce the crime against women, she spoke that we must strengthen the women to face all the challenges of modern age by giving proper and due education and awareness to the girls. 

After the celebration, Bishop Lumen met with target groups of Adhikar Project and project staff . During the meeting they interacted with the target group such as adolescent girls, some school going children and SHGs and obtained their views.

The chairman  expressed that women became more vocal and coming out of their den and happiness in the on-going program implementation under the ADHIKAR project.  

   

People Centered initiative brought remarkable results in UP

ADHIKAR project launched in the month of May 2012 to facilitate the community to address rights and entitlement issues. Tremendous changes brought by ADHIKAR within 8 months among the people in terms of attitude and knowledge are commendable. Cooperation and support extended by service providers in materializing ADHIKAR a people centered initiative, thousands of eligible people received their due rights and entitlements. Constant support offered by project staff also remarkable. Major interventions done and results generated in Agra, Allahabad, Bijnor, Jhansi, Lucknow and Gorakhpur are given below.

Right to Work
Activities implemented	Results achieved
o   20 block level meetings organized for accelerating MNREGA work and addressing job card issues o   14 street plays performed to create awareness among people on MNREGA benefits o   82 village level MNREGA awareness meetings held o   4 job card application campaigns organized o   19 puppetry on MNREGA performed o   109 people are trained on MNREGA o   72 meetings with Pradhan on issuing job cards o   18 MNREGA unions formed and 54 meetings conducted o   30 PRI members are trained on ways to create job opportunities under MNREGA o   50 PRI members are trained on micro planning	o   6558 people have become aware on MNREGA provisions and benefits o   385 job cards have been recovered by the people from Pradhan in Mathura District o   458 people applied for job cards o   308 HHs received job cards o   416 people newly applied for job o   341 people received jobs under MNREGA between 15 and 30 days with stipulated wages
Right to Food
Activities implemented	Results achieved
·         4 Campaigns on water and soil testing ·         23 livestock rearers’ meeting conducted with an intake of 255 people ·         39 SHGs are formed ·         4 Interface meeting organized between beneficiaries and  Service providers (Agriculture department/banks/cooperative societies/NABARD/social welfare departments) ·         2 training on Social Security Schemes conducted in which 60 eligible people participated ·         Training on farmers on agricultural schemes ·         Training on veterinary schemes and food security ·         6 puppet shows performed on agricultural programmes ·         82 people were sensitized on modern farming through training programme ·         Training on RTI for CBO members carried out ·         Training on livestock management practices ·         114 SHG members are trained on Book keeping ·         27 farmers group formed ·         17 JLGs formed	·         1003 people have become aware on KVK schemes and its benefits ·         667 people became aware on NABARD schemes and schemes under cooperative bank & agriculture department ·         225 farmers received technical inputs,11 farmers received equipments and 319 farmers received subsidized fertilizers from KVK ·         259 people could examine their soil through KVK ·         10 farmer group regularized their meeting ·         2562 domestic animals were vaccinated ·         7 livestock owners group formed ·         Established network with veterinary college in Mathura and through which veterinary medical camp organized &528 families benefitted ·         100 people received ration cards ·         21 people got old age pension ·         6 widows received pension ·         3 disabled got pension ·         5 people received benefits under Bindhelkhand package ·         51 farmers benefited veterinary scheme in Jhansi diocese ·         92 people have become aware on food security scheme in Jhansi ·         40 farmers obtained seed and other services from agricultural department
Right to Health
Activities implemented	Results achieved
®    21 mass awareness programme on health entitlements through wall writing slogan conducted by Lucknow ®    144 visits done by animators to AWC and Health centers to ensure registration of eligible beneficiaries ®    3347 family visits done by animators to motivate parents to send their children to AWC ®    18 pregnant and lactating mothers’group formed ®    170 meetings conducted for women and children with an intake of 2405 members ®    2 training for VHSC members and PRI members on monitoring the work of health service providers with an intake of 25 members done ®    3 liaising done with CDPO and supervisor  by staff and discussed on various issues ®    29 adolescent groups have been formed ®    12 medical camps organized in association with local hospitals in Mathura district ®    10 street plays performed to sensitize community on health issues and entitlements ®    10 training on safe motherhood and child survival ®    1 training conducted for TBA (traditional Birth Attendant) ®    Networking with various Government departments ®    15 Awareness on Health schemes conducted and through which 76 beneficiaries updated their knowledge ®     2 Interface meeting with PHC officials/ANM/ASHA/AWW/PRI/VHSC members ®    2 Interface programme with service providers / VHSC members and CBOs ®    5 VHSC meetings carried out ®    VHSC members monitored the work of heath duty bearers 8 times and sent report to PHC once in Barabanki district ®    10 trainings conducted for VHSC members on their roles and responsibilities ®    1 training for VHSC members on preparation of health plan	®    783 children immunized (BCG,DPT,measles,booster,polio) ®    125 children obtained 3ANC ®    274 people received TT ®    11 women received 3PNC ®    85 women benefited JSY ®    191 women and children received supplementary diet ®    160 adolescents received supplementary diet ®    23 women received iron tablets ®    147 children received preschool education ®    73% of women and adolescents have become aware on their due rights and entitlements in Lucknow diocese ®    82% of eligible children, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women are registered with AWC  and ANM in Lucknow diocese ®    204 pregnant women and 255 lactating mothers are registered with AWC and ANM ®    3031 people have become aware on health entitlements ®    322 children are regularly attending Anganwadi ®    1695 people benefitted out of medical camp ®    693 people have become aware on reasons and precaution to be taken from spreading of HIV/AIDS and TB ®     420 people have become aware on safe motherhood and child survival ®    Received expertise/shared manpower and medicine from Government department during medical camp,immunization and TBA training ®    6 VHSCs are meeting regularly ®    9 VHND held regularly and ANM, ASHA and AWC present in every VHND ®    20 VHSC members are able to prepare village health plan ®    1 health Sub Centre established in Uttarkhand
Right to Education
Activities implemented	Results achieved
§  21 wall writing on entitlements under RTE §  1 School Chalo Abhiyaan organized §  1296 house visits done on a fortnightly basis to motivate parents and children on relevance of schooling §  Animators visit schools on a weekly basis §  61 quarterly meeting with parents done by animators to motivate parents to send their children to school §  15 Village level sensitization meeting on right to education §  1 VEC training on their roles and responsibilities organized §  7 quarterly meetings of VEC organized with an intake of 64 members §  11 SMCs have been reorganized and regularized meeting §  24 meeting held with Pradhan and SMC members by staff §  Frequent liaising with Assistant  Basic Siksha Adhikari by coordinator	§  1895 people are aware on their educational rights §  1037 parents are sending their children to school regularly §  225 parents are visiting schools regularly to obtain feedback from teachers on their children’s education §  1540 parents are aware on entitlements under RTE §  150 children newly enrolled into school §  283 dropouts are re-enrolled into school under RTE §  260 eligible children got scholarship §  1168 children received school uniform §  4 Village Education Committees have been reconstituted and systematized in its functioning §  25 people have become aware on role of VEC in improving education in the village §  11 School Management Committees have been reconstituted and systematized in its functioning §  1233 children received books, safe drinking water and getting midday meal regularly

Review cum learning workshop for ADHIKAR staff

Caritas India North Zone office has organized two days review cum learning workshop for ADHIKAR staff of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarkhand and Rajastan partners on 6-7 February at Meerut Seva Samaj. Mr. PU Francis- Zonal Manager, Mr. Sinu Mathew & Mr. Kumar (SOs) facilitated whole process in which 10 coordinators and 24 animators actively participated and learned new skills on facilitation as well as role of various community based structures under Right to health, Education, Food and Work in improving the situation of rural areas. Mr. Ashok Sinha- Consultant enlightened the group by providing information with pragmatic approach in addressing various aspects of rights.

Rev. Fr. Borgia, Founder Director of Meerut Seva Samaj inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp followed inspirational speech stating that social work should not be taken as a job and should be coupled with kindness and concern for the suffering people to realize the actual meaning of social work. Rev. Fr. John Chiman, Executive Director of MSS addressed the gathering with special focus on relevance of ADHIKAR in the present scenario where marginalized are being exploited due to lack of knowledge on their rights. Mr. P.U Francis expressed the significance of review meetings through which cross learning and capacity enhancement of staff take place. 

Mr. V. K. Srivastav,DDM of NABARD- Meerut  shared with participants on various programmes in which NGOs can be associated with NABARD. He also extended collaboration of NABARD through SHG formation, Financing agriculture through JLG, Farmers' club programe, Farmer technology transfer fund, capacity building adoption technology, rural innovation fund, non formal sector, SHG or farmer club federation and producer organization development fund.

Mr. Aloknadh chowdary, Chief Medical Officer, Meerut enlightened the group with  various health entitlements available for the poor and marginalized people and he requested the participants to play a mediator role between  people and government. Also he distributed a leaflet on various health entitlements that will help staff members to disseminate information in the community on their rights. 

All ADHIKAR team presented their progress, challenges,learning and plan of action by using audio visual aids in Result Based Management frame that created a platform for realizing the participants on how to improve the quality of programmes and how to address the issues/challenges through appropriate strategies. Moreover, partner-wise evaluation led by Caritas India team broaden the horizon of proper planning and effective project implementation. 

A demonstration on facilitating sessions in the community on various topics by Animators with the support of Coordinators were the highlight of this learning workshop. Topics dealt by the group members were various health and education entitlements, roles and responsibilities of VHSC, VHND functioning, Social Security Schemes, formation & functioning of farmers' club and linkages with Government and Non Governmental organizations. As per the evaluation, it was worthwhile and informative. Moreover, animators could  ease their stage fear. In addition, clarity on functioning of various community level structures emerged as an output of this session. It was also stated that they learned from others how to tackle the obstacles and challenges in the field and how to prepare the systematic presentations.Mr. PU Francis introduced  grading system, to ensure qualitative reporting and documentation at partner level, based on 10 parameters and awarded points to each partner, according to their performance, during the review meeting.

While summarizing, Mr. Sinu Mathew appreciated the hard work of ADHIKAR team and for their active participation throughout  meeting. It was suggested that more concrete effort is required to strengthen networking with government departments and motivated them to change project mode to campaign mode.Facilitating the process of conducting Grama Sabha in the operational areas also highlighted. The programme was concluded with vote of thanks by Mr. Vimlesh- Coordinator of Lucknow diocese.