#NBJK/AVIPartnersForumProgram @ActionVillageIn

05 – 13 March 2018, Hazaribag: United Kingdom based Gandhiaite Organization Action Village India has called it’s Partners Forum meeting at NBJK, Hazaribag. NBJK is one among it’s partners in India with ASSEFA (Karnataka), Stri Shakti (Jharkhand), CRUSADE (Tamilnadu), DAC Trust (Tamilnadu), Ekta Parishad (Odisha) and Kerala Gandhi Samarak Nidhi (Kerala). AVI supports varoius community development projects being implemented by these VOs and partners with NBJK for Rights to PwDs programme in 5 districts of Jharkhand and Bihar.

AVI Partners Forum meeting was initiated with welcome address by Mr. Girija Satish (President, NBJK) who briefed about NBJK activities towards integrated development with Education, Health, Livelihood, Support to small NGOs, Advocacy-networking & governance. He said that schemes or issues by government/funding agencies needs people’s views instead of imposing ideas. In India we need a strong anti-liquor law, less rituals, gender equality, irrigation & price support to farmers, simple regulations for non-govt. input to education & health and other systemic reforms, he explained.

Later on all the partners have presented about their activities including AVI supported programs. There was a special session led by Mr. Anand Abhinav on CSR in India, related law, fundraising from individuals and other concerned aspects. The representatives of AVI and partners have visited villages and small VOs covered under programs like Rights to PwDs, Support to Small NGOs, Girls Education Sponsorship by NBJK and Stri Shakti. AVI team members have visited LNJP Eye Hospital at Chouparan and Lord Buddha Home for Chilldren at Bodhgaya also. They were greeted warmly by orphan children at LBHC and impressed by the cultural program staged on this occasion.

This meeting became important with the farewell ceremony for Mr. Ivan Nutbrown (Head, AVI), now replaced by Ms Anna Griffiths and Ms Esther Trienekins from his active role. He was presented a memento from all partner organizations. The people present in this partner forum meeting were Messrs Stefan Lugo Labiejko, David Smith, Bishnu Priya Swain, Umakant Mahanty, R. Shakthivel, C. Thiyagarajan, V. Tamilselvi, Andy Rutherford, Dr. R. T. P. Rani, S. Radhika, A. Vasantharasan, S. R. Jothi Ramalingam, Rakesh R. S., Caroline Beatty, Libby Blake, Bimla Chandrasekaran, Filman Bakhla, Rajiv Ranjan Sinha, Sujata Prasad, Rajiv Singh and others.

Workshop on #BetiBachaoBetiPadhao By #FamilyCounsellingCentre @MinistryWCD @MoHF_INDIA @HRDMinistry

08 March 2018, Hazaribag: On occasion of International Women’s Day, a workshop was organized over the theme of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save Girl Child, Educate a Girl Child) by Family Counselling Centre (FCC) at Amrit Nagar High School. The FCC is run by NBJK with support of Central & State Social Welfare Boards and intervenes for reconciliation in family or marital disputes to safeguard women or girl children.

Mrs. Sheela Kumari (Secretary, Stri Shakti) has chaired the programme while Dr. (Mrs.) Kiran Rana (Associate Lecturer in Deptt. of Economics, VBU) was the chief guest and Mrs. Veena Kumari (CDPO, Sadar, Hazaribag) has graced the function as a guest of honour respectively.

In course of introducing the programme, Mrs. Meera Gupta (Counsellor, FCC) expressed her deep concern over the issues like female foeticide, rape, atrocity and imbalanced birth ratio against women in India. She applauded the campaign of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao by the Honourable Prime Minister and called this as a responsibility to be carried by each & every citizen. Mrs. Emeltina Ekka (In-Charge, Women’s Police Station, Hazaribag) has focused upon proper functioning of our family system in favour of daughters and to make them educated, awared and self-reliant. Ms Anu and Ms Komal (students of AN High School) have stressed upon change in the scenario of declining population of girl children and their poor educational status to empower girl children.

Mrs. Veena Kumari (CDPO) has mentioned about benefits of Laadli, Sukanya, Mukhyamantri Kanyadan schemes by the government and appealed all to reject child marriage as an enemy to opportunities for girl children. Our time asks us about real progress, genuine freedom for women and these are our rights to be realized soon, Mrs. Usha Bahen (Anupam Mahila Chetna Samiti, Hazaribag) opined during her address. Dr. Kiran Rana has assured the audience about ladder of education for a bright future and said that Indian women know well to make a balance between home and career. From the chair, Mrs. Sheela Kumari has appreciated all the views came forward on this occasion and insisted for control over anti-women crimes.

The workshop was contributed by Mrs. Manisha, Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Mr. Paaras Nath Mahto and concluded with vote of thanks by Mrs. Meera Gupta.

District Level #MediaWorkshop on #ChildProtection Issues @Plan_India

28 February 2018, Amrit Nagar (Hazaribag): A workshop with media persons upon Child Protection issues was held at NBJK Coordination office under the programme of Child Centred Community Development with support of Plan India, New Delhi. Mr. Tribhuwan Sharma, the resource person has discussed about child rights to survival, to protection, to participation and to development. He focused upon the right to protection for every child (0-18 years) and said that our children need protection from mental/economic stress, physical abuse, health hazards and domestic violence. There are vulnerable groups of children and media can support for their safety or rehabiltation, Mr. Sharma told. He appealed media persons for cooperation as communication, privacy and ethical reporting to make a child friendly society.

Mr. S. P. Singh (Chairperson, District Child Welfare Committee) has referred about a recent case of honour killing in a local college and it’s consequence as the sufferer girl was not allowed to appear in examination. He accepted that the case was not dealt properly by CWC or other agencies. Mr. Sanjay Prasad (District Child Protection Officer) has called for support from all sections of society to protect children and accepted good result for many cases due to pressure from media. Now special Juvenile Police Unit, Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee provided safety measures for children with systemic support system, he opined.

The workshop was participated by Messrs Murari Singh (Dainik Bhaskar), Arvind Rana, Raman Kumar (Dainik Jagran), Md. Arif, Umakant Sharma (Prabhat Khabar), Shadwal Kumar (Deshpran), Krishna Gupta, Ashok Ram, Ajay Pandey (Dainik Aj), Bablu Kumar (Sanmarg), Kaushal Ojha, Neelkanth (Hindustan) and they shared their experiences towards child friendly jouranalism.

On this occassion, Mr. Girija Satish (President, NBJK) has shown deep concern over children’s security and lack of people’s awareness regarding different child friendly laws. Our media can bridge the gap and the Government should empower it’s agencies in terms of resources and rights, he pointed out and thanked all to make the workshop fruitful. The team of Messrs Ranjan Kumar (Programme Manager, CCCD), Bhaiya Anshuman (Asst. Project Officer) and Parmeshwar Rana (Field Worker) had pivotal role behind the event.

Workshop on #ChildRights Protection @CHILDLINE1098 @MinistryWCD

21February 2018, Chouparan (Hazaribag): A workshop upon Protection of Child Rights with village health workers or Sahiyas was organized as an activity of the project of Childline1098 with support of Childline India Foundation, Mumbai under aegis of Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. The workshop was held at Community Health Centre, Chouparan and inaugurated by Dr. Yogendra Singh (Medical Officer) with Messrs Prabhu Nath Sharma (Treasurer & Programme Director, NBJK), Chandra Kumar (City Coordinator), Rupesh Kumar (Collab. Representative), Rahul Sheetal and Taleshwar Ram (Samadhan) and senior Sahiyas.

Dr. Yogendra Singh applauded the programme of Childline 1098 and said that our children have right to be healthy. Sahiya Didis can monitor village children to provide them support in time, he said and assured for full cooperation to the causes of children. Mr. Prabhu Nath Sharma has stressed upon the need of safe childhood for a humane society and expressed his sincere concern over violation of child rights, specially the right to their protection. Mr. Chandra Kumar has briefed about Adoption Law for the people lack own children but willing to adopt any orphan child while Mr. Rupesh shared about Childline activities in Hazaribag during last year. There were total 347 cases we intervened within the period with highest 46% cases of abuse, he revealed. Mr. Rahul Sheetal presented main features of POCSO Act, Child Welfare Police Officer at police stations and other systemic changes to help any child in need of protection.

During the workshop, an animation film Komal was shown to the participants that drawn their attention to child abusers and defence strategy for children. Mr. Narayan Rajak (Childline Team, Chouparan) cautioned for child marriage in villages and reminded about responsibility of Mukhiya and PRI members to check such incidents. Mr. Brij Nandan Singh (Block Coordinator, Lok Samiti) has anchored dais and the workshop was concluded after vote of thanks by Mr. Birendra Kumar Sinha (Team Leader-Childline, NBJK).

#AwarenessCampaign over #Disability Issues@VSOIndia

14 February 2018, Ormanjhi (Ranchi): NBJK has launched a Mass Awareness Campaign for People with Disabilities across 80 villages of Ormanjhi block in Ranchi district. This is being supported by VSO India Trust, Delhi and named as Viklang Jan Jagrukta Rath Yatra.

The campaign over Rath (a MUV car) covered with posters upon Disability issues became a centre of attraction for rural community now. This is in progress from 29th January with a 9 members team including one campaign coordinator, a mobilizer and a group of folk artists. The Rath visits 2 villages each day after prior information dissemination by the mobilizer. The campaign team identifies Children or People with Disabilities, make people aware of rights & entitlements for CwDs/PwDs, ask for the services/schemes they avail or denied and distribute issue based ICE materials like booklet, posters, handbill etc. among villagers. This is a campaign towards demand creation and access for the services made for any person with disability. The folk artists present campaign’s theme before villagers beautifully in their own dialect with song & music-drama and sensitize them to be responsive.

The Viklang Jan Jagrukta Rath Yatra has covered 25 villages till today and total 217 CwDs/PwDs of OBC/SC/ST/Muslim communities have been identified during this period, Md. Nayeem (Campaign Coordinator) has informed from the field. He said that these people are in need of disability certificate, pension, assistive devices (wheel chair, tricycle, hearing aid, crutch, calliper, CP chair, artificial limb), old aged pension, skill development training, sewing machine, medical treatment, education etc. and we mention such detail in the data sheet.

The VJJRY has passed through villages like Chakla, Kurum, Tirla, Bundu, Madhukama, Ganeshpur of Chakla, Chutupalu, Chandra, Jaidiha, Barwe and other panchayats of Ormanjhi block. Mr. Teerath Nath Mahto (Mobilizer) and cultural team led by Mr. Devdhari Karmali establish perfect rapport with villagers and motivate them to be a part of the change. The yatra will continue up to 20th March 2018.                                                               

#AssistiveDevices to #ChildrenWithDisabilities @ActionVillageIn @BigLotteryFund

12 February 2018, Amrit Nagar (Hazaribag): Assistive devices for children with disabilities were distributed among 28 such identified children under PwDs Rights programme with support of AVI-BLF, UK. The programme is being implemented by NBJK in Hazaribag, Koderma, Giridih, Nawada and Gaya districts of Jharkhand-Bihar. These recipient children have come from different villages of Hazaribag, Gaya and Giridih districts with their parents or carers.

There were 19 callipers, 13 CP chairs, 02 artificial limbs (leg), 01 spinal support and 02 cockup splints for them and an expert has provided individual fitting and demonstration of the process before their parents. All these children belong to poor families and they were in dire need of assistive devices.

On this occassion, Mrs. Sujata Prasad (Programme Manager) has counselled the guardians and explained about effectiveness of these aids & appliances as ease for difficult lives because of disability. These devices result more positively for children due to their tenderness, she said.

Mr. Annu Kumar (District Coordinator), Mr. Sujeet Mishra (Block Coordinator) and Ms Shahjehan Khatoon (Field Worker) have played important role in organizing the distribution camp. Its noteworthy that earlier an assessment camp was arranged for the same children on 30th December 2017 at Hazaribag.                     

#AnnualWomenConvention under #LakhpatiKisanSmartVillage @cinicell @tatatrusts

09 February 2018, Khunti: Under the joint mission project of “Lakhpati Kisan Smart Village” by Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra & CInI-Tata Trusts, Murhu Nari Shakti Kisan Producer Company Limited has organised an Annual Mega Women Convension at Kunjala Ground, Khunti. The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Manish Ranjan (IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Khunti) as the chief guest accompanied by Mr. Girija Satish (President, NBJK), Dr. Rajni Sinku (District Animal Husbandry Officer), Mr. Shiv Shankar (Consultant, MGNEREGA State Cell), Ms. Pallavi Kumari (JSLPS Programme Coordinator), Mrs. Dayamani Nag (Secretary, MNSKPC Ltd.) and Prof. (Dr.) S. K. Singh (Ex Dean, Birsa Agriculture University)  for lamp lighting ceremony.

The Deputy Commissioner has applauded various efforts for women empowerment and rural development under the project and shared about Government schemes. Also he asked about progress of PM Ujjwala Yojna for LPG connection, toilet construction in villages and conveyed his best wishes for the producer company led by women. Mr. Girija Satish has explained about NBJK-CInI’s initiatve for inclusive development in Khunti through women oriented activities and their impact with formation of a producer company also. A lot of relevant information upon animal husbandry, MGNEREGA and other livelihood options was shared by concerned Government officials. Prof. (Dr.) S. K. Singh has shared useful tips and his experience upon pig rearing. The tribal women have presented folk songs, dance and theme based plays to promote sanitation.

This mega women convention was participated by about 2000 women from 220 SHGs from many villages like Binda, Bichna, Kudapurti, Digdi, Gutuhatu etc. There are 2800 producer families under umbrella of MNSKPC Limited who rear pigs, produce lac and cultivate cash crops. The company will include additional 3000 shareholders and aims to be associated with production, marketing and financial institutions more systematically. The convention was concluded with the message for promotion of women’s stake in development.                                                         

#AmoliApurvaHighSchool Observes 22nd Foundation Day

07 February 2018, Maangarh (Chouparan, Hazaribag): NBJK run Amoli Apurva High School has observed its 22nd Foundation Day with enthusiasm. The function began at school premises and Mr. Dayanand Singh (Principal) has inaugurated this with ceremonial light. He said that discipline among teachers-students has helped us to continue with grace and it should be maintained without any compromise. The principal has appealed school children to participate in extra-curricular activities for their personality development. Also he briefed about the academic achievements of AAHS and described it as a place to promote girls’ education too in villages.

Also annual sports & cultural activities took place on this occasion and students have participated in friendly matches of cricket, kabaddi and events like chair race, maths race, 200 metres race. These children have presented dance, eloquence and theme based plays as Save Daughter-Educate Daughter and Illiterate Leader in Hindi. Mr. Shacheendra Pandey (teacher) has recited poems.

Mr. Birendra Kumar Sinha (Manager, NBJK Head Office, Bahera) has appreciated Amoli Apurva High School for long term contribution to the society and mentioned about good academic results in spite of limited resources. Many PRI members, community people, parents and teachers like Messrs Pravin Chandravanshee, Suresh Prasad, Bhuvaneshwar Sahu, Ram Lakhan Pandey, Kam Dev Rana, Bhawan Kumar, Navneet Kumar, Sunita Tirky, Chandan Kumar, Rajesh Kumar, Ravindra Paswan, Sunaina Devi, Ram Nath Ram, Uma Shankar Prasad have graced the function.