Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra
Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra
Training for Carers’ Project Team
NBJK staffs have attended 3 days training during 17 – 19 April on Organization & Advocacy for Carers Empowerment by Carers Worldwide, UK at Bangalore. The main purpose of this training was to emphasize the strategic need of Carers Movement to address the issues Carers are facing in their regions. Other two participant organizations were SACRED from Andhra Pradesh and SAMUHA SAMARTHYA from Karnataka; work over the issues of Carers like NBJK with Carers Worldwide. Dr. Anil Patil (Founder & ED, Carers Worldwide) has shared his concern for the people, who care for their family members with mental illness, disability, old age or any other illness but become losers of employment, education, health and social contacts for themselves. He said that there are no organizations in India, Nepal, Bangladesh or South Africa working specifically among Carers to address their needs. From NBJK, Mr. Rajeev Singh (Team Leader) has informed about baseline survey, identification of 828 Carers (97% women), formation of their SHGs (58 nos.) and expectations from their side. The training has facilitated the participants to reflect on their activities, to understand their role for working with the carers & federations, strategies / process of advocacy and towards the goal of Carers Movement. Mr. Ramakrishna was the resource person and there were 14 participants in the training who prepared plan of actions on behalf of partner VOs. NBJK associates Carers Worldwide in the program upon Carers launched at Hazaribag for the period of Oct’14 – Sep’17.
More Facilities for Children
NBJK managed schools of Chouparan and Churchu blocks in Hazaribag district (Jharkhand) are gearing up with new class rooms and toilets for their growing number of students. Er. Pawan Lal Gupta (branch manager-cum-civil engineer, NBJK) has updated about Surekha Prakashbhai Public School, Bahera (Chouparan), where 2 class rooms (20’x20’) and 2 separate toilets for boys & girls have been constructed. In Amoli Apurva Primary School, Bahera (Chouparan), 2 class rooms of 15’x30’ and 2 toilets became ready now with support from Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation, Mumbai. There is a plan to erect boundary wall around the school also. Another class room of 30’x20’ size was built at Roshni Dhruv High School (Churchu) and we are going to start a rich library at LBHC (Lord Buddha Home for Children), Bodhgaya soon, Er. Gupta has added. He said about NBJK’s plan to make the building of Komal Pujan English Medium Public School at LBHC which will make the Home as a center for all-round community development. Currently it provides vocational training for youths at RTC (Rozgar Training Center) and runs health & dentistry centers in own premises those serve people of 40 villages scattered around LBHC located in village Silaunja, Bodhgaya. It’s noteworthy that Amazon Company has supported children of the Home with books, toys and many useful items for them. These orphan children have achieved good result in their annual school examination and one can support such a child to meet her/his school fee/dress/ transportation for a year by donating Rs. 12000 to Lord Buddha Home for children.
Eye Screening Camp at NBJK Coordination Office
Loknayak Jaiprakash eye hospital, Bahera (Chouparan) has organized eye screening camp on April 2, 2015 for all at premises of NBJK coordination office, village-Amrit Nagar, Hazaribag. The camp was supported by SKS Microfinance and around 250 persons with eye/vision problem from Amrit Nagar and neighboring villages like Oriya, Singhaani, Jagdishpur, Sakhiya, Baheri, Chano, Silwar, Sarauni etc. have come here for check up. There were facilities to check patients of cataract, refraction and diabetic retinopathy also by confirming their blood sugar and blood pressure instantly. More than 50 people were diagnosed as suffering from cataract and their surgery will take place at the base hospital shortly. Most of the patients were old aged, women, children and those do not get chance to avail eye care facilities easily. A number of staffs from LNJPEH and SKS Microfinance have contributed to make the camp successful. LNJPEH will organize more eye screening camps with support from SKS Microfinance on 7, 9 and 14 April at LNJPEH vision center (Hazaribag town), Kariyatpur and Dhamna villages in Ichak and Barhi blocks of the district. Mr. Gandharv Gaurav (Director, LNJPEH) has confirmed that early access to eye care services is always vital for prevention or cure and the hospital aims to reach common people with such initiatives.
Training to NGOs on Office Management, Documentation and Government Schemes
NBJK has organized capacity building training for small, inexperienced NGOs of Bihar/Jharkhand on office management, documentation and government schemes from 12 – 19 March. The training for 93 NGOs from both the states was organized under Support for Small Initiatives program funded by BFW, Germany. This program aims for strengthening of small VOs under network of Swaichhik Manch, promoted by NBJK for sustainability and adoption of proper work culture among its members. During the training held for representatives of 45 VOs from Bihar on 12-15 March, Mr. Rajiv Kr. Singh (program manager) has discussed over organizational profile, proposal writing, implementation strategy and presentation. Mr. Pravesh Singh (Asst. Manager-Finance) has covered the topics like 12A, FCRA, TAN, PAN, society act, EPF, different registrations, TDS along with attendance, tour & leave/fixed asset, purchase & stock registers, project & general files etc. while legal aspect of FCRA was explained by Mr. Sanjay Sinha (Finance Manager). The trainees were provided detail information on various government schemes like Antyodaya, Annapurna, PDS, NRGA, NRLM etc. to facilitate social security among target beneficiaries in villages. They worked out over issues and shared problems in the group to find out practical suggestions. Second phase of the training was scheduled during 16-19 March for 48 VOs from Jharkhand on the same theme with participation of their secretaries or senior staff members. Mr. Girija Satish (President, NBJK) too has visited the trainees and shared his views to tackle obstacles before the sector.
Jharkhand State Lok Samiti Convention
On 20 March, Jharkhand State Lok Samiti has organized it’s convention at Jaiprakash hall of NBJK- Ranchi. Mr. Girija Satish (President, National Lok Samiti) has inaugurated the convention and reminded about the need of governance and justice for common citizens. He said that decentralization, accountability and transparency are the tools to be used for such long awaited reforms in our system responsible for services delayed or denied to people. We must have empowered PRIs & urban bodies, panchayat/block level courts for justice and a restructured IPC in order to establish a just society, he pointed out. The national president of Lok Samiti has talked about plight of rural India and land acquisition bill that discourages agriculture. Mr. Girija has supported an alternative model for development and exchange of ideas over the issue. The program was chaired by Mr. Satish Girija (President, JSLS) who expressed concern over poor performance of legislative, judiciary and executive organs of government that could neither control poverty, migration; trafficking, women atrocity and corruption, nor be able to earn people’s faith in the system. Mr. K. G. Azad (LS national coordinator) has established relevance of Lok Samiti as a platform for common sharing and way out upon public issues. The convention has offered rich tribute to late Narayan Desai, a noted Gandhian scholar and passed resolutions for withdrawal of land bill, self-government by PRIs/urban bodies, wide-ranging reforms in judiciary & election system, price/subsidy support to farmers, complete ban on liquor and membership campaign for Lok Samiti. Mrs. Wilchen Ekka, Mr. Shankar Rana (coordinator, JSLS), Mr. Wazir Ahmad (vice-president, JSLS), Mr. Bhaagwat Ravidas, Mr. Abdus Subhan, Dr. Vishwanath Azad, Dr. C A Kumar, Mr. Gautam Sagar have expressed their views during the convention participated by 105 delegates from different districts/blocks of Jharkhand.
2.5 Lacs Pairs of Shoes for School Children in Hazaribag
NBJK has already distributed around 1 lac pairs of shoes among school children in 7 blocks and the process is going on to cover 1.5 lacs more school children of other 7 blocks in the district with support from Plan India, said Mr. Girija Satish (President, NBJK) during the shoes distribution ceremony held at Hindi Middle School, Pelawal (Hazaribag) on 19 March. He affirmed for child centered development initiative by the organization and shared related work experience from Churchu that includes families, schools and surroundings to carry child rights. Mr. Rajkumar Prasad Singh (District Education Officer) has appreciated the Shoes for Children campaign by NBJK & Plan as an impetus to school going children in villages. There were 307 children (girls-166, boys-141) who got shoes on the day. The function was addressed by Mr. Chatthu Vijay Singh (SDEO), Mr. Ghulam Samdani (BDO) and Mrs. Tejendra Kaur (BEO) also who have inspired children to use provided footwear as a dress quorum that prevents infection and keep safety for their tender feet. Mr. Ranjan Kumar (branch manager, NBJK-Churchu) has presented a brief timeline and objective of the campaign before officers, teachers and children. The event was anchored by Mr. Sanjay Tiwary (Jharkhand Education Project) while Mr. Praveen Kumar (headmaster) has offered vote of thanks. Mrs. Anupama Rani (CRP, Katkamdag), Mr. Shivesh K. Verma (Supervisor, Plan India), Mr. Pritam Soni and other staffs from NBJK have assisted school management to arrange the function.
Livelihood Project launched by NBJK-Khunti
An An inclusive program on livelihood enhancement of 2500 households in 45 villages under Khunti district was initiated by NBJK with support of Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Mumbai and CInI-Jharkhand began formally on 10 March through the project launching workshop held at CInI office, Khunti. The program was inaugurated by Mr. Edmond Minz (District Agriculture Officer, Khunti) who favored for team spirit and clear vision to make it a success. The DAO has welcomed NBJK supported farming on fallow land with cash crop like tomato, watermelon and assured for scheme based facilities to farmers. Er. Satish Girija (Founder & Secretary, NBJK) has established relevance of the program for Jharkhand where majority of people depend upon rain fed agriculture and migrate due to food insecurity. Improved agricultural practices and allied activities have enough potential to transform rural income pattern, he emphasized. Mr. Sirshendu Paul (Team Leader, Tata Trust-CInI Cell) has briefed about their activities and termed Khunti as a priority district to work with high focus, continuous funding and due commitment. Mr. Ayan Dev (Program Coordinator, Tata Trust-CInI Cell) has shared about achievements of prior work by NBJK-CInI that benefitted 2050 households with increased food security, cash crop farming, livestock rearing and more income. Mr. Ravish Chandra (District Soil Conservation Officer) has stressed over convergence of all related programs for good result. Ms. Sushma Lakra (BDO, Murhu), Ms. Rita Singh (JSLPS), Dr. S. K. Singh (Ex-Dean, BAU), Dr. R. K. Thakur (Sr. Scientist, NFSM), Dr. Ravi Shankar (AVRDC), Mr. R K Pandey (PRADAN), Mr. Umesh Rana, Ms. Garima (CInI) and others have participated in this event. The livelihood program aims for increased annual income of Rs. 1 lac 20 thousand to each beneficiary family of Murhu block within the period of five years.
FCC Prevents Marital Dispute
Family Counseling Center (FCC) by NBJK with support of Central & State Social Welfare Boards has prevented a marital dispute between Anil Kumar Das (husband) and Radha Devi (wife) in Hazaribag recently. On 9th January, Anil (father-Ghameshwar Ram, village-Khirgaon, police station & post-Sadar, Hazaribag) came at FCC and lodged a complaint against his wife Radha (father-late Jageshwar Ram, village-Bijaya, post-Gorio, police station-Barhee, Hazaribag) for family dispute. He was taken seriously by the counselors and they have paid home visits to know detail about the case. It was found that the couple was married in the year 2008 conventionally and they have 3 children also. Anil is a daily laborer while Radha is a housewife and they were sharing a joint family with parents and unmarried younger brother of Anil also. Anil’s father works as a truck driver with CRPF in Madhya Pradesh, once his mother went there and the brother was in home. He is an auto driver and shouldered family responsibility during those days. Due to bad company at work place, Anil has developed liquor addiction and became suspicious for illicit relationship in between his wife and younger brother. The problem became so grave that Radha has tried to end her life and went to her parent’s place. Mrs. Meera Gupta and Mr. Sanjay Kumar (Counselors) have called all family members on 24th January at FCC for a meeting. They talked to neighbors also. Anil’s mother stood by her daughter-in-law and charged the son for his liquor taking habit. It was decided collectively that Anil and his wife Radha will have to leave the old joint family, they did so and live together peacefully with their children.
Focus upon Children & Families
Plan India supported Child Centered Community Development (CCCD) program has put children at the helm of affairs by making 5 selected schools more friendly for them in villages of Churchu block, Hazaribag. Under the initiative “Support My School”, a lot of construction work is going on to install WASH & play facilities for children amid greenery through plantation. Toilets, rain water harvesting structure, boundary wall, playground, swings and hand washing points for these schools are in progress and children will enjoy them shortly. With the scheme of VWSS (Village Water Safety & Security), NBJK facilitated Gram Sabha meetings for approval of toilet construction in 12 villages. Also on site support for crop planning and pest management to 58 farmers in two villages was provided to ensure food security. Vulnerability assessment of families in 2 villages was conducted for their livelihood profiling. Extra curricular activities for children was organized in 2 villages for 78 children and interactive sessions of VCPC (Village Child Protection Committee) members with children have added to communication within the community. During Feb’15, there were 33 meetings with CBOs like SHG, farmers club, mata samiti, youth & adolescent group, children club, CPC, SMC etc. held under CCCD to ensure community participation.
Media Advocacy Meeting on MLE & ECC
Under the program of Strengthening Primary Health & Education with support of Oxfam India, partner organizations like NBJK, SPAR and CINI have organized a media advocacy meeting on 3 March’15 at NBJK coordination office, Hazaribag. This was specially focused upon MLE (Multi Lingual Education) and ECC (Early Childhood Care) in tribal areas where children have no choice for their mother tongue but to start with Hindi or English as the medium of instruction. They find it difficult for conception and face cognitive problem, said Mr. Binod Kr. Horo (Project In-Charge, SPAR) during the meeting participated by 15 journalists from different newspapers & TV channels. He was in favor of multilingual education for pre-school children so that they could be taught in mother tongue to respond their curiosity naturally. Ms. Manisha Jamuar (Advocacy Manager, SPAR) has referred to various studies which suggests for mother tongue in pre-school learning tool. Earlier all media people were greeted by Mr. Prabhu Nath Sharma (Treasurer, NBJK) who introduced about the program being implemented at West Singhbhum, Hazaribag and Gumla districts by partner NGOs of Oxfam India. He said that learning initiated with mother language can reduce drop out rate in tribal areas and adds quality to such crucial phase of learning by child. The meeting was concluded with the idea to continue with advocacy for MLE and follow up to Odisha model that combines Aanganwadi Center with primary schools to support ECC also.