School Intervention with Quiz on #Disability @ActionVillageIn

14 October, Ichak (Hazaribag):   Multiple questions around disability like it’s myths & realities, causes & prevention, laws & entitlements were addressed by students during a quiz held under Disability Rights program. The quiz was organized at Upgraded High School in Teuj village of Ichak block in Hazaribag. There were 88 participants of class X in the event who have tried their best to respond the volley of questions related to disability.

After proper evaluation of each respondent, five girl students namely Manisha Kumari, Sapna Kumari, Nidhi Kumari, Sejal Kumari and Savita Kumari were declared winners. They received prizes and appreciation on behalf of the school. Mrs. Sujata Prasad (Program Manager) has mentioned about social obligation of each of us towards persons with disability and appealed to promote an inclusive society with space for PwDs. The school management has welcomed the approach for rights to disabled and cooperated for quiz amid students.

The program team of Mr. Annu Kumar (District Coordinator), Mr. Om Prakash Gupta (Block Coordinator), Mr. Bhuwaneshwar Prasad (Field Worker) and Mr. Sudip Kumar (MIS Coordinator) has arranged the event.                   

Workshop on #Disability&CBR @CBMIndia

29 September, Dumka: A workshop on Disability was organized under CBR program with support of CBM India & DFAT, Australia. The stakeholders like Mukhiya, Aanganwadi Sewika, Sahiya, Teachers of Government Primary School, CwDs & Parents from all 10 blocks of Dumka district have participated in this workshop.

The occasion has aimed to sensitize Government and PRIs towards Disability and community based rehabilitation of the sufferers. District Child Protection Officer Mr. Amrendra Yadav has praised CBR related groundwork by NBJK and its effort to make Disability, an issue to be addressed differently. The DCPO has assured for all cooperation and to work together for CwDs. During the workshop, 12 PwDs have been provided aids & appliances like tricycle, hearing aid and cane along with a grant of Rs. 5000 for each to initiate any livelihood activity of their choice like tea stall, betel/grocery shop, toy center etc.

Mr. Kumar Rajan (Program Coordinator) has outlined the CBR program across 10 blocks of Dumka district which capacitates challenged people inclusively for community based rehabilitation and self-reliance. NBJK identifies them, provides skill development training and a small amount of money also, if they begin something new in their lives, he said. There were around 200 people present in the workshop.

Workshop on #FinancialInclusion & Literacy @AxisBank

30 September, Hazaribag: There was a workshop upon Financial Inclusion and Literacy held under the Program of Sustainable Livelihood with support of Axis Bank Foundation, Mumbai. This aimed to promote self employment among youths completed or carry on skill dev. training at Rojgar Training Centers.

Mr. Satish Girija (Secretary, NBJK) has welcomed all on this occasion and briefed about programs of the organization. Mr. Akhilesh Chandra Jha (Branch Manager, Axis Bank) has favored technical skills for youths and said about post training role of banks to provide capital for any self-employment initiative. Mr. V. B. Nayak (DDM, NABARD) has assured the trainees for financial support under Mudra/Startup/Standup India if they want to convert their skill into entrepreneurship. He discussed about PM Jandhan Scheme/Bima Suraksha Scheme/Atal Pension Scheme/Crop Insurance Scheme etc. and motivated the youths to have financial literacy. Mr. Nayak has thrown light over inter-bank linkage, tracking of trainees by NGOs and relevance of Adhar card for available services. Mr. Ashish Chakravorty (Fin. Literacy & Counseling Center) has appreciated women SHGs by NBJK and appealed youths of Skill training program to get basic knowledge of banking sector if they want financial support for self-employment.

These bank officers have replied to various questions came from the youths. The workshop was anchored by Mr. Kaushal Kishor (State Manager, PSL) and a team of Mr. Kirti Rawat, Mr. Lalan Saw and Mr. Subodh Kumar from RTC, Hazaribag has supported the event.

School Quiz for Awareness & Sensitization around #Disability @ActionVillageIn

28-29 September, Churchu & Katkamsaandi (Hazaribag): Under school intervention activities of AVI-BLF, UK supported Disability Rights program, a quiz was organized at Government High School, village-Aango in Churchu block on 28 September. There were 124 students participated in the quiz competition with common questions around disability like it’s myths & realities, causes & prevention, laws & entitlements and entitlements available for CwDs/PwDs. Mr. Roshan A. Marandi (Principal In-Charge) and teachers have offered their full cooperation to hold the event. The students namely Kauleshwar Mahto, Shambhu Kumar and Vinod Kumar Mirdha (all from Class X) were declared 1st, 2nd and 3rd among the participants.

On 29 September, another quiz competition took place at Government High School, village-Datokala in Katkamsaandi block of Hazaribag district. The theme was almost same and 39 students have joined the question-answer session in presence of Mrs. Sujata Prasad (Program Manager) who emboldened the teachers and students interested to know more about Disability. Mantu Kumar Singh, Jitendra Turi and Shanika Munda were winners ranked first, second and third during the quiz. The program team comprised of Mr. Annu Kumar (District Coordinator), Mr. Om Prakash Gupta (Block Coordinatoor), Mr. Sudip Kumar Sinha (MIS Coordinator), Mr. Shailesh Kumar (Microcredit Officer), Mr. Sujit Mishra (Block Coordinator) and Mrs. Neelam Sharma (Field Worker) has organized the events.

#TrainingforVOs on Office Management, Documentation and Project Proposal @bread4theworld

27-28 September, Hazaribag: NBJK Network Voluntary Organizations from Jharkhand and Bihar were offered 2 days residential training on Office Management, Documentation and Project Proposal Writing. They have been provided an idea to run a formal office set up and the documents needed by any VO for its active continuation.

Mr. Shankar Rana (Asst. Program Manager) has shared new developments related to legal obligations for VOs with a discussion over FCRA, Audit and Annual Report etc. He demonstrated proper scheme of filing and digital copies of all requisites. Mrs. Nalini (Advance Planning, NBJK) has presented a basic outline for project proposal writing and pointed out some common reasons behind any negation for proposals. She has alerted upon criteria, survey, budget plus outcome for a proposal and suggested to avoid any aerial design of work. During exercise session, the VOs have practiced to come forward with such ideas.

There were 24 VOs in the training represented by their Secretaries or capable staffs. Mr. Rajiv Singh has coordinated the training took place under the program of Support to Social Activists with BFW, Germany.

#CarersDay Celebrated @CarersWorldwide

24 September, Hazaribag: The Carers of their PwDs and mentally ill family members have celebrated Carers Day under Carers Promotion Program with support of Carers Worldwide and Commonwealth Foundation, UK.  More than 60 women office bearers of Carers’ SHGs from Sadar, Daroo, Katkamsaandi, Katkamdaag, Ichak blocks in Hazaribag district have joined the Day to share their activities and problems as a community in need of recognition.

On this occasion, Mr. Sanjay Prasad (District Child Protection Officer) has talked to mothers of CwDs and suggested them to make Aadhar Card for themselves and their dependents as all government facilities will be linked to that soon. He said that in case of new entry or delay in payment of government pension to PwDs, one must contact CDPO office to get a clarification and support. Mr. Satish Girija (Secretary, NBJK) has described Carers as the people seeking social and governmental support for the service they provide to their vulnerable family members. He requested the carers to call the Chief Minister on toll free no. 181 and to join the Prime Minister via his program “Man Ki Baat” to talk about their grievances.

Mr. Rajiv Singh (Program Manager) has presented a brief review of Carers Program with 828 carers, mostly women organized in 54 SHGs and 4 block level federations. He has informed about livelihood support to 117 carers and facilitation for disability certificate (43), pension (21), ration card (279), toilet (138) and other entitlements (34) under the program now going to cover more carers of K’saandi and Chouparan blocks.

Md. Nayeem (Asst. PM) has anchored the Carers Day celebration and anticipated for a strong recognition of this serving community. The carers like Mrs. Rekha Devi (Maheshra), Usha Devi (Meru) and Mr. Vijay Paswan (Hutpa) have shared their current activities and asked for toilet, ration card, disability pension and livelihood support for their dignified survival. A support team of Mrs. Vimla Rana, Mrs. Pratima Devi, Mr. Paras Mahto, Mr. Kamalkant Pandey and Mr. Sujit Mishra has contributed to the event.

#WomenTraining on Tailoring & Sewing Machine Maintenance @UshaIntl

19-25 September, Barwadda (Dhanbad): 10 women from Hariyadih, Kadeyan, Sabalpur, Kurmidih, Panduggi, Chhatatand, Bada Jamua and Kalyanpur villages of Govindpur and Tundi blocks of Dhanbad district have joined a 7-days residential training on tailoring and sewing machine maintenance under Usha Silai School Program with support of Usha International Ltd., Delhi.

Gramin Vikas Kendra, a network VO with NBJK has organized the training for local women and Mrs. Nirmala Devi (Mukhiya, Sabalpur panchayat) was the guest of honor during inaugural ceremony. She praised the training for women livelihood purpose and assured for her support. Mr. Shankar Rana (Representative, NBJK) has briefed about the USS program and it’s training for the needy women. He said about clothing & related service as a vital necessity for all and welcomed the trainees who belong to difficult background. Mr. Rana was confident about the service these women will be able to provide after getting standardized training by Usha Silai School professionals.

Mr. Sudarshan Saw (Secretary, GVK) has clarified that 8 trainees are widow, 1 is physically challenged and 2 are abandonees but they want to be self-reliant to look after their children and families. These women trainees will get a new sewing machine to start Usha Silai School at their respective places for tailoring, training to young girls and machine maintenance for others. Mr. Ritesh Lohani, Mrs. Sangita Deshwal, Mrs. Neetu Komal and Mr. Maneendra from Usha International have facilitated the trainees.

Block Level #PublicAdvocacy Campaign for PwDs @ ActionVillageIn

19 September, Koderma: A block level public advocacy campaign has been launched under Disability Rights program by NBJK with support of AVI-BLF, UK. There was a meeting with government officials, PRI representatives and PwDs in Chandwara block of Koderma district. The meeting was inaugurated by Mr. Nand Ram (Circle Officer, Chandwara) and Mrs. Lilawati Devi (Pramukh, Chandwara Block) jointly who appreciated the move to sensitize community as well as the government system over issue of disability.

On this occasion, Mrs. Sujata Prasad (Program Manager, Disability Rights) has introduced NBJK and its initiative towards rights of PwDs in Hazaribag, Koderma, Giridih, Gaya, Nawada districts in Jharkhand and Bihar. She pleaded for associating PwDs to government facilities and entitlements specially made under the law but still inaccessible for them. Mr. Vinod Rana (District Coordinator, Koderma) has informed about program achievement as certification for 70 PwDs, 69 applications in process for Swami Vivekanand pension scheme, school enrollment & parents training for 23 CwDs, and association of 211 PwDs with 23 SHGs formation in Chadwara block. He requested for speedy processing of pension cases ad livelihood support to PwDs & their carers.

Next activity under the campaign was held at Katkamsandi block of Hazaribag distict on 20 September. Mrs. Shruti Pandey (Block Pramukh) has inaugurated the function and shown her full faith in ability of PwDs with a say for government support to them. Mr. Dhirendra Kumar (BDO, Katkamasandi) has assured to provide all available services to PwDs. Many important government officers of the block like Mrs. Meena Thakur (CDPO), Mr. Nirmal Singh Banra (JSS) and Mr. Anil Sinha (BWO) were present in the meeting and promised to cooperate with the Rights program.

RDHS Students Honored by CCL, Charhi @CoalIndia1

19 September, Charhi (Hazaribag): Three 10th pass out students of Roshni Dhruv High School, Churchu (Hazaribag) have been honored at CCL Club, Charhi by Central Coalfields Limited under its CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiative. CCL has arranged the function to promote talented students of the area. Md. Tauhid Alam (83%), Nutan Kumari (72%) and Sumona Sarkar (63%) from RDHS, Churchu were distributed prizes along with students of other schools during a program. They have passed class 10th this year.

The General Manager (CCL, Charhi), local leaders like Mr. Shankar Singh, Mr. Parmeshwar Mahto and others have presented them gifts on this occasion and appreciated their devotion for study despite adverse situation. Also they have called Mr. Dineshwar Singh (Principal, Roshni Dhruv High School) and felicitated him on behalf of school management for grooming of such children.

All speakers have accepted that our village children can do much better if provided timely support and backup. We are grateful to the parents of our students, those live with limited resources but prefer for schooling of their children, said Mr. Dineshwar Singh after getting honored for the school.