Convention and Seminars under Mental Health & Development program

A convention of PWMIE (people with mental illness & epilepsy), their caretakers and NGOs working for them was organized on 18 August at NBJK, Ranchi. This convention was attended by federations of PWMIE and partner NGOs of Jharkhand-Bihar for Mental Health & Development program by NBJK with support of BasicNeeds, Bangalore. The resolution moved by Mr. Girija Satish (ED, NBJK) to form a national federation of PWMIE was welcomed unanimously and people have elected Mr. Kumar Kant Singh as president while Mr. Angura Mahto, Mrs. Radha Arya and Mr. Satyajit as secretaries and Mrs. Meena Devi as treasurer along with a 17 members executive committee of this national body. This will help to formulate an inclusive mental health policy and program with a say from PWMIE, said Mr. Girija Satish. On 19 August, a seminar upon “Impact of Mental Health & Development Model in Jharkhand” was inaugurated by Dr. K. K. Sinha (Director, RINPAS) at Ranchi. He applauded NBJK-BasicNeeds for a large number identification, treatment with support of RINPAS and rehabilitation of people suffering from mental illness. Mrs. Uma Sunder (BasicNeeds) has discussed about different modules of mental health & development program which ensured mainstreaming of more than 6 lacs PWMIE in India while Mrs. Reema Ghosh (BasicNeeds) has shown statistics for high escalation rate of patients with treatment, IGAs and their association with SHGs or local federations. On 30 August, another seminar was organized at Patna to discuss the impact of the model in Bihar. As the chief guest, Mr. K. K. Singh (President, National Federation of PWMIE) has stressed over replication of mental health & development model by the government for PWMIE suffering due to lack of treatment facilities in Bihar. Mr. Girija Satish has expressed gratitude to BasicNeeds for the comprehensive model to ensure basic rights of PWMIE with support of 23 NGOs in 24 districts of Bihar and Jharkhand. This provided almost free treatment and medicines to 6652 PWMIE, out of that 5503 are in far better condition and 3825 are associated with IGAs or any productive work. The seminar was addressed by social workers and beneficiaries of the model.

Aids & Appliances for CWDs

53 children with disabilities from villages in Hazaribag district have been provided aids & appliances by Remedial Coaching Center project with support of Axis Bank Foundation, Mumbai. In the camps held during 25-27 June, there were 20 children from 14 villages like Dumri, Chakrasar, Basaria of Chouparan block, 16 children from 10 villages namely Baiheri, Silwar, Mandai and others in Sadar block while 17 children from 12 villages like Bodra, Jordag, Nano etc. in Churchu block have got hearing aids, calipers, wheel chairs, CP chairs, tricycles and others as per assessment made earlier. On this occasion, Mr. Prabhu Nath Sharma (Treasurer, NBJK) was hopeful for further utilization of these aids & appliances to bring normalcy and academic mainstreaming for challenged children and has conveyed best wishes for their bright future also. Mrs. Sujata Prasad (program manager) said that school education for girls and children with disability are priority areas for RCCs running in rural pockets of Hazaribag.

Tool Kits for SWABAL (Axis Bank Foundation) Trainees

Challenged youths finished employability training through skill development under SWABAL project have received sewing machines and cell phone repairing kits at NBJK, Hazaribag on 10 May. In a simple ceremony, Mr Akhilesh Jha (Manager, Axis Bank-Hazaribag) handed over 03 sewing machines to Tamanna, Sunita and Lalita from Mandaikala, Oriya and Mandaikhurd villages respectively while 02 cell phone repairing kits were provided to Sintu Kumar and Dashrath of Jagdishpur and Oriya villages. All these are differently able youths who will initiate for their livelihood engagements with this support as seed capital. Mr Akhilesh Jha has assured for financial assistance of Rs. 10000 to very poor trainees apart from the regular budget of SWABAL, an innovative Community Based Rehabilitation program by NBJK in Hazaribag and Dumka Sadar blocks with support of Axis Bank Foundation, Mumbai. This has the target to train 100 Person With Disabilities (18-45 years) in different earning trades for their economic independence. On this occasion, Mr Satish Girija (Secretary, NBJK) has expected that SWABAL will prove its worth for obstructed youths by their realization of own power. Mr Rupesh Mallik (Program Manager) has informed that at present 05 hearing impaired, 05 visually impaired and 15 with other impairments are getting training of sewing, computer, mobile repair, blacksmith, beautician and each trainee will be provided a seed capital of Rs. 3250 (half refundable after income) to be engaged with income generation activities of their choice.

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State Level Seminar on Financial Inclusion through SHG (Women) Bank Linkage

NBJK – Ranchi has organized a state level seminar with support of INAFI India and NABARD on Financial Inclusion through SHG Bank Linkage. Mr. K. C. Panda (CGM, NABARD) was the chief guest of this function who praised women SHG program in Jharkhand, stressed over need of its growth and affordable credit facility within access of poor. Before this Mr. Satish Girija (Secretary, NBJK) has welcomed all the dignitaries and shared SHG work experience of NBJK. He termed it as a most constructive developmental program that brought change in lives. Mr. M. Kalayanasundaram (Chief Executive, INAFI India) said that the objective of a strong SHG movement can be achieved by facilitating smooth work culture, strong linkage with banks to work together and leadership development. SHGs of Jharkhand need to be more empowered as already happened in southern states, compared  Mr. M. P. Vasimalai (Chairperson, INAFI India) while he was relating various stages of bank linkage for them. Mr. Dhiraj Horo (NRLM) has focused over the criteria & conditions set for SHGs to proceed gradually. Mr. B. K. Das (DGM, NABARD) was in favor of money utilization skill and multiple loan facility for SHGs.  Mr. Brij Lal (Chairman, Jharkhand Gramin Bank) has observed for more stake of NGOs in the process of bank linkage with constant monitoring for credit utilization and repayment. Other prominent speakers who have expressed their views during the seminar were Dr. Manjunath (SKDRDP), Mr. S. D. Ghoshal (BoI), Mr. B. N. Singh (SBI), Mr. A. B. Jaitley (JGB), Mr. B. S. Gupta (SUPPORT). The seminar was attended by 70 NGOs representatives working with women SHGs in Jharkhand.

Legal Awareness Camp for SHG Women

NBJK and District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Hazaribag have organized a legal awareness camp for SHG women on 29th April. The program was inaugurated by Mr. Rashikesh Kumar (Sub-Judge & Secretary, DLSA) who rationalizes DLSA for easy access to justice as it provides advocate and exemption from court fee for women, SC/ST, PWDs and lower income (less than Rs. one lac yearly) group people. Mr. Girija Satish (President, NBJK) has observed any law with an objective to afford equality to all and rose the issue of human rights to prisoners also who are denied to some basic facilities very often. He referred incidents of atrocity in the name of witch hunting, honor killing and on the spot punishment by aggressive mob when we override due course of law. Bhaiya Mukesh Kumar (Legal Activist) was in favor of Panchayat level court to expand practical implementation of our justice delivery system. He said that duty part of citizenry can be helpful to ensure our rights. Mr. Vijay Singh (Advocate) has focused upon the need of social awareness to prevent violation of human rights, crimes against women and child trafficking. Md. Muazzam (Advocate) has briefed about the laws pertaining to motor vehicle accident and misuse of information technology before the audience. The law can grant security and compensation to victims if followed properly, he informed. Mrs. Meera Gupta (Counselor, Family Counseling Center) was also present in the camp. The program was attended by 67 women from villages of Sadar block, Hazaribag.

Shoes Distributed Among School Children

327 students of Zila School, Hazaribag have got shoes in a function held under joint auspices of NBJK and Plan India at the school premises on 6^th May. Mr. Rajkumar Prasad Singh (District Education Officer, Hazaribag) was the chief guest on this occasion who admired this scheme of shoes distribution among school children. He appreciated the organizers as they have paid attention to fulfill a basic need of school going children, increased their motivation level and provided a major relief to parents also. The DEO has distributed some pairs of shoes among children and expressed gratitude for this support on behalf of education department and district administration. Before him, Mr. Girija Satish (President, NBJK) has briefed about NBJK and its various programs with special reference to Child Centered Community Development Program or CCCD in villages of Churchu block of Hazaribag district with support of Plan India. He said about the target of distributing shoes among 56000 children of government schools in Hazaribag with help of Plan which aims to promote school going children. Mr. Arghyo Mukherji (State Manager, Plan India) has introduced about Plan International operational for children of 68 countries with headquarters in London and works in 7 states of India including Jharkhand also. He stressed over girls’ education for socio-economic changes needed by people. Mr. Ranjan Kumar (Program Manager, NBJK) has informed that canvas shoes from Tom shoes (UK) have been distributed among 48741 girls and boys of 361 schools in 7 blocks of the district with healthy response from all the stake holders. Md. Aszad (Principal, Zila School, Hazaribag) has offered vote of thanks to all.