Training for #HolisticRuralDevelopment Programme Team @HDFC_Bank

06-08 March 2017, Hazaribag:  The programme team of HRDP (Holistic Rural Development Programme), Koderma has attended 3 days residential training at NBJK Coordination office, Hazaribag. HRDP is being run with 2656 HHs in 15 villages of Koderma Sadar and Jainagar blocks of Koderma district under support by CSR initiative of HDFC Bank. The trainees were comprised of Mr. Arvind Singh (Programme Coordinator), Mr. Rahul Saw (Assistant Programme Coordinator), Mr. Raunak Rituraj (MIS In-charge) and 15 Community Mobilizers.

They all have got two days class room training on the topics like Child Rights, Right to Education, School Management Committee, Bal Sansad, Disability & CBR, Rights of PwDs, Mother & Child Health, ANC, PNC etc. and the very third day was scheduled for field visit. The topics were covered by eligible resource persons like Mr. Sanjay Prasad (District Child Protection Officer, Hazaribag), Mr. Amar Kant Sinha (Govt. Health Deptt., Churchu), Mr. Sanjay Tiwary (Jharkhand Education Project) and Mr. Paras Nath Mahto (Special Teacher, NBJK). They dealt with the subject matter authentically due to their specialization and work experience.

On last day of the training, there was an exposure visit to Churchu block, where trainees have visited two schools namely Nav Prathmik Viadyalay of Nagree village and Middle School at Churchu. These schools were important for understanding of SMC, Bal Sansad and implementation of RTE at village level. The trainees have observed wall painting, sanitation, cleanliness, drinking water facility and Mid-day meal at these school. Also they met student members of Bal Sansad and came to know about their roles & reponsibilities.

Mr. Rajiv Singh (Senior Programme Manager, NBJK) has extended support for coordination of the training programme.

#HolisticRuralDevelopment Program for 15 Villages @HDFC_Bank

25 February 2017, Koderma: With support under CSR initiative of HDFC Bank, NBJK has launched a Holistic Rural Development Program (HRDP) for 15 villages of Koderma district. This was initiated in October 2016 with coverage of 2656 households from 15 villages in Koderma Sadar and Jainagar blocks of the district. The project is for three years and it goals to strengthen integrated development of the villages to secure food, health care, sanitation and quality education with environmental sustainability. This is to promote different means of livelihood by adopting appropriate technology in farm/non-farm sectors, to improve quality of education, enrollment and retention in government schools, to improve sanitation & hygiene and to introduce renewable solar energy in villages.

Mr. Arvind Kumar Singh (Program Coordinator) has informed that during the period of five months only, HRDP has provided 13 teachers in village schools and libraries have been established in 14 schools. Each school library has books worth Rs. 50,000 and Remedial Coaching Centers have been started in 13 villages.  These RCCs support 434 weak & poor students to pay more attention upon Maths, English and Science. 14 schools’ management committees have been regularized, schools get decoration with colorful pictures and teachers are updated with Child-friendly school concept as well as RTE. 240 school children were motivated to form Bal Sansad and 3321 children were made aware of hand washing practice with importance of sanitation. This works towards availability of safe drinking water by repair of defunct hand pumps or installation of new ones as per the need and supports for construction of 1000 toilets under swachch Bharat Mission.

HRDP has ensured installation of 108 Solar Street Light in 15 villages for promotion of green energy and natural resource management. Also this facilitated 50 SHGs with 500 women to get institutional credit in future. Repair and construction points for irrigation facilities have been identified and farmers are being trained in advance cultivation. There is a health awareness campaign in villages and two eye checkup camps were held at Koderma (30 Jan) and Jainagar (22 Feb) that catered 295 patients from 15 villages and identified 52 cataract patients got surgery at LNJP eye hospital, Bahera (Chouparan), as Mr. Rounak Rituraj (Office Manager) has supplemented.

Staffs’ Training on #ActivitiesofDailiyLiving & Physiotherapy @ActionVillageIn @BigLotteryFund

22 – 24 February 2017, Amrit Nagar (Hazaribag): 3 days training upon Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and physiotherapy for field staffs, block coordinators and district coordinators was held under Disability Rights program by NBJK in Hazaribag, Koderma, Giridih, Nawada and Gaya districts of Jharkhand & Bihar with support of AVI-BLF, UK. The trainees have got practical knowledge regarding ADL and physiotherapy in light of different disabilities and their sufferers in remote villages of their work areas.

Dr. Mukesh Kumar Suman (Physiotherapist) and Mr. Parasnath Mahto (Special Teacher) were resource persons who covered relevant topics like anatomy of human body & physiotherapy as well as about activities of daily living for children or people with disabilities to improve their lives qualitatively. Dr. Suman has demonstrated different exercises helpful to CwDs/PwDs and introduced about aids & appliances to be considered accordingly. Also he described about some major disabilities like cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, locomotor/multiple disability, muscular dystrophy, hydrocephalus etc and specific exercises to control their symptoms. Mr. Parasnath Mahto (Special Teacher) has given due importance to activities of daily living by any challenged person to develop self-esteem of such persons. This can be performed by CwDs or PwDs themselves through proper training and motivation; he said and offered tips to provide such training to needy people. Mr. Parasnath Mahto has introduced about Individual Education Plan (IEP) for CwDs and assured about qualitative change by following any well-designed IEP for such children.

These resource persons have briefed about all classified disabilities in the law including Progeria, Dislexia, Autism and paralysis also and appealed the trainees to disseminate useful information among ignorant villagers suffering from disabilities. The training has included 60 participants and Mrs. Sujata Prasad (Program Manager) has coordinated it with support of Mr. Sudeep Kumar.

#LiquorProblems and Prohibition Demand in Jharkhand

22 February 2017, Shantman Nagar (Ranchi): A convention on Liquor Problems & Prohibition Demand in Jharkhand was organized by state unit of Lok Samiti with support of NBJK. Mr. Girija Satish (President, National Lok Samiti) was the key speaker who enlisted problems like diseases, anti-women crimes and accidents due to liquor and referred Article 47 of Indian constitution which directs the state to take step like liquor ban in welfare of common people. Liquor selling scheme by the state government is harmful and we must pay attention to women’s opposition to liquor at various places in Jharkhand, he said. Girija Satish has appreciated anti-liquor move by Bihar Government in interest of people and wished for stern action against Liquor business in Jharkhand also.

Mr. Shriniwas (Senior Journalist) has clarified that all intakes are not bad but considering a larger interest, it should be controlled. Kanak (JP movement activist & Sociologist) has expressed concern over logics placed in favour of liquor and said about the choice of either liquor or wisdom. Mr. Wazir Ahmad (Vice-president, State Lok Samiti) has found a commonality among all religions as opposing liquor and said that ordinary people, especially women like to ban liquor. He has rejected the logic of revenue through liquor and suggested to generate it from mineral or other outlets.

Mr. Shivji Singh (General Secretary, Bihar State Lok Samiti) has mentioned about the roles of rural women and Lok Samiti behind governmental decision to prohibit liquor in Bihar. He was hopeful for a countrywide ban on liquor and appealed people to support the issue. Mr. Prabal Mahto (Journalist) has blamed a parallel liquor economy with strong lobby to run it smoothly but they are afraid of people’s opinion, he added. The convention has passed seven resolutions related to liquor as anti-women, its bad effect on family-society, unsecured young generation, liquor born poverty, liquor as representing feudal mindset and constitutional measures for prohibition. This made a strong demand to ban liquor in Jharkhand and decided to observe Women’s Day as Anti-Liquor Day, to organize convention & collection of 10 thousand signatures in favor of Liquor Ban in each district as well as memorandum to Ministers and MLAs.

The program was chaired by Mr. Chandan Mishra (Editor, Dainik Hindustan) who expressed his firm belief in women power and suggested them to unite their scattered efforts for any major policy change. He assured for cooperation from media to highlight the issue. Also Mrs. Kunti Bahen, Mr. Hashmat Rabbani, Mrs. Indira Jha, Mr. Janki Thakur, Mrs. Uma Devi, Mr. Munna Pandey, Mrs. Parinita Singh, Mr. Gautam Sagar, Mrs. Meena Devi, Mrs. Punam Devi, Mrs. Supriya Singh, Mrs. Wilchen Ekka, Mrs. Nilam Devi  have shared their views on the occasion. The dais was anchored by Mr. Kaushal Ganesh Azad (National Coordinator, Lok Samiti) and Mr. Shankar Rana (Coordinator, State Lok Samiti) has thanked all at last.

#StoryGathering Training Held at NBJK @ActionVillageIn @BigLotteryFund

18 February 2017, Amrit Nagar (Hazaribag): One day training upon Story Gathering was held for field staffs under Disability Rights program with support of AVI-BLF, UK. Ms. Claudine and Mr. Mike Heridan from Action Village India have facilitated the training focused upon skills to write true change stories as well as basics of photography to make these more real with good pictures.

Ms. Claudine has welcomed all participants and said that feelings are important, thus we need appropriate words to combine a strong case study that proves our work and expected outcome of any program in the field. Under the section of Preparation, she briefed about personality, positive impact of the project, ripple effect, diversity & scope of support and comment from the beneficiary. A good story contains different aspects of any support, need & solution, more detail about the person like his/her struggles, hobbies or  friendship and it must reflects independence, dignity and empowerment, she elaborated. Ms. Claudine has provided a checklist and questionnaire to be applied for story gathering. Also she explained about top things to remember while developing any good story.

Mr. Mike Heridan has taken a session upon good photography by simple digital camera. He praised real photographs to communicate activity, intervention, family, benefit and feelings of any program beneficiary. His inputs upon light, focus, environment and close-up were quite helpful. Also he checked and improved settings of the cameras allocated to staffs earlier.

There were 20 trainees including all district and block coordinators of Disability Rights program. Mrs. Sujata Prasad (Program Manager) has coordinated the training and thanked the resource persons for such valuable information.

Two Days Training on DSHG Management @ActionVillageIn @BigLotteryFund

07 February 2017, Amrit Nagar (Hazaribag): To empower Disable People’s SHGs with financial activities, two days training was started for 28 members of DSHGs from Hazaribag, Koderma, Gaya and Giridih districts under the Program of Disability Rights with support of AVI-BLF, UK.

Mr. Santosh Kumar Sinha (Block Manager, Poverty Reduction through SHGs Program) has guided the participants towards understanding of DSHG, about people needed to form a self-help group, their criteria, meeting of the group, agenda, relevant rules & regulations, roles & responsibility of group leader and documentation etc. He has stressed upon regular periodical meetings of any DSHG for its smooth functioning and future prospect. On 8th, Mr. Ashutosh Kumar Mishra (Program Officer, SHGs) has introduced about Ledger Book, Cash Book, Pass Book and Group Pass Book to the trainees. Also he threw light over individual as well as group saving and encouraged the members for internal lending within a DSHG.

There were queries and doubts from participants over various related issues and the Resource Persons have tried their best to present the things in a simple way. The training was concluded with vote of thanks from Mrs. Sujata Prasad (Program Manager, Disability Rights).

Komal Pujan Public School Observes Annual Function

04 February 2017, Silaunja (Bodhgaya): NBJK run Komal Pujan Public School at village-Silaunja, Bodhgaya has celebrated first Annual Function gracefully and the program was inaugurated by Mr. Jitan Ram Manjhi (Ex-Chief Minister of Bihar) as Chief Guest of the function. He appreciated Komal Pujan Public School for its rural surrounding and the objective to serve village population with quality as well as affordable education. Merely degree without knowledge can’t work and our education system must promote understanding instead of producing parroting students, he opined during the function. Mr. Manjhi has lauded for Indian culture that made its way in other countries also due to inclusive perspective. The ex-chief minister of Bihar has remembered Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar who obtained education and led a hygienic life despite poverty.

Initially Mr. Girija Satish (President, NBJK) has welcomed Mr. Manjhi with all on the dais and briefed about KPP School, an educational initiative by NBJK for this area. Mrs. Jyoti Manjhi (Ex-MLA, Barachatti), Mrs. Shipra Verma (CDPO), Mr. Devendra Pathak (Niranjana Welfare Trust), Mr. Sikandar (Member, District Council), Dr. Abhishek Mrinal (Lions Club), Mr. Umashankar (Principal) were other important people present on this occasion. Also there were parents/guardian and all have enjoyed a colorful cultural program presented by school children. Ms Yashmeen Parveen and Ms Supriya Sagar (Teachers) have anchored the function.

Certification Ceremony for RTC Trainees @WeareSwades @HSBC

31 January 2017, Hazaribag: The 2nd batch trainees of Residential Rozgar Training Centre have completed their two months training on the skills like Basic Computer Application, Mobile Repair and Bed Side Patient Attendant. They were presented certificates by Mr. Satish Girija (Secretary, NBJK) and Mr. Prabhu Nath Sharma (Treasurer, NBJK) on the very completion day of this training.

Mr. Satish Girija has emboldened them for future and asked for their feedback about classes as well as lodging-food or leisure time. He discussed about self-reliance, service and social responsibility for youths and assured them for support at their work place also if needed. Mr. Prabhu Nath Sharma has requested the pass out batch to follow some rules for self-discipline, character making and time bound performance in future. Also he encouraged them to learn advance skills in their trades for long term advantage.

There were trainees like Priti Verma (Oriya), Shanti Kumari (Latehar), Akash Vishwkarma (Giridih), Dilip Kumar Ravi (Churchu), Ravi (Tandwa), Jageshwar (Koderma), Sangita (Barkagaon), Shama Parveen (Ichak) who shared their experience. We have missed inputs to improve our spoken English and expected for sports facility, they said and praised smart classes for better understanding. The batch has comprised 66 trainees including 6 PwDs and 47 (BSPA-26, Mobile Repair-8, BCA-13) among them have got placement at Ranchi, Durgapur and Hazaribag. The certification ceremony was facilitated by Mr. Lallan Saw (Mobilizer) and Mr. Kirti Rawat (Placement Officer).

NBJK as Top-Ranked Organization by GlobalGiving @GlobalGiving

27 January 2017, Washington: GlobalGiving, the first and largest global crowdfunding community has appreciated NBJK as a top-ranked organization in 2016. Ms Emma Hersh and GlobalGiving team has informed Mr. Satish Girija (Secretary, NBJK) about GG Rewards Superstar status for NBJK that could raise $ 14,033 on GlobalGiving to support orphan children, girls’ education and cataract surgery for poor people.

NBJK has received $ 6,008 in GlobalGiving-driven funds, through bonus prizes, matching money, corporate partnerships, gift card redemption and/or their marketing efforts. Taking this extra funding into account, NBJK’s effective fee was 0% in 2016. Also GG has activated 86 donors to support NBJK and earned a combined Net Promoter Score of 100…which is calculated using the cumulative donor feedback on project reports. The GG team has opened NBJK’s door by hosting site visit and strengthened its partnership by getting to know the organization better.

As a token of GG’s gratitude and celebration of NBJK’s hard work, the GG team has created and sent a badge to post on organizational website, social media, email signature and more. NBJK family feels grateful to GlobalGiving for such support and acknowledgement.