JEEVIKA launching programme (6th Nov 2012)

JEEVIKA is process of change Let’s bring change together! Let’s bring change now! Let’s make Madhya Pradesh My Pradesh with JEEVIKA project!

…. with tribal culture: Launching of JEEVIKA project has started with the above slogans to bring out the change in the life of tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh. Caritas India more than 200 community members, government officials and representative teams from the project partners have launched the Caritas Spain supported JEEVIKA project on 6th November 2012 in PRAGATI pastoral centre of Jhabua diocese. Thereafter the entire gathering of guests, staff and community members together proceeded towards the venue from the main gate dancing to the tunes of tribal music show case of various aspects of JEEVIKA project. After reaching the pastoral center the launch programme was chaired by his Excellency Bishop Dev Prasad Ganava ( Most Rev Bishop of Jhabuwa) and Fr. Frederick D’souza ( Executive Director Caritas India) and Fr. Augustine ( MPSSS forum Director), the chief guest for the day was Mr. Veer Singh Bhuriya (MLA of Jhabua) and the program was graced by the presence of Mr. Sanjay (NABARD AGM-Jhabua) Mr. Tomar (KVK head Jhabua), Cooperative president, Jhabua Tahshildar and directors of all the 7 project partners of JEEVIKA ( ANWC-Bhopal, GCSS-Gwalior, Pragati-Jhabua, KDSS-Khandwa, IDSSS-Indore, Kripa-Ujjain and JDSS-Jabalpur). Apart from the above, the programme was also attended by 35 Panchayat members, 150 villagers and project staff.

…...welcome: Fr. Anthon Katara (Director Pragati-Jhabua) India has welcomed in traditional tribal style to all guests, community members and PRI members and expressed his happiness and positive energy in organising the launching ceremony of JEEVIKA project at Jhabua. After welcome address a film on 50 years of Caritas India has been shown accentuating the work of Caritas India for various causes and to support community in need. ……ceremony: The launching ceremony began with the brief introduction of JEEVIKA project by Mr. Vinod Pandey (Project Officer –Caritas India) especially focusing on the process part of JEEVIKA where he has shared that JEEVIKA is one of the 1st Project project where community has been involved in designing the project and is based on 100% of baseline survey, he has also shared that JEEVIKA is not mere a project but is a process of development. There after His Excellency Bishop Dev Prasad Ganava along with Mr. Veer Singh Bhuriya (Jhabua-MLA-Member of Legislative Assembly) has inaugurated the logo of JEEVIKA project (the logo of JEEVIKA project is designed in support from Caritas Spain by one of the finest designer of Spain Mr. Hayden. The logo represents the tribal art and is based on wasi paintings and inside represents livelihood framework) and address the gathering by sharing about the situation of Jhabua district. He also spoke of the initiatives of JEEVIKA project, its uniqueness in the form of its community participatory based design and he also stressed that JEEVIKA is a process of change not mere a project and wished good luck for the successful implementation of the project.

The MLA of Jhabua Mr. Veer Singh Bhuriay addressed the audience. He shared about his knowledge of the project and his relation with Pragati. He also stated the various initiatives taken by him towards the development of the community. Hence, he sees JEEVIKA project as another opportunity for the development of the community and assured of his support and promised to make MP as JEEVIKA Pradesh. Thereafter the AGM of NABARD Mr. Sanjay addressed the gathering and spoke about the various interventions of NABARD and that they are going to support JEEVIKA in all ways possible. Fr. Frederick D’Souza, Executive Director Caritas India has inaugurated the brouchers of JEEVIKA project (in Hnidi and English) and addressed the gathering and shared about the plight of farmers, farmer’s suicide and lack of resources to pay back loans. He then said that JEEVIKA will help in empowering the farmers and help them stand on their feet. He shared that the JEEVIKA project is not merely a project, rather a movement to bring a change in the lives of the community through agricultural interventions. As the name suggests, it will bring livelihood for the people. He wished all the best wishes and re stressed that change is important and is possible through JEEVIKA! Fr. Augustine (MPSSS-forum Director) has inaugurated the copy of support letters from 35 concerned Panchayats of JEEVIKA projects and stressed that how it is vital that in the beginning of the project itself most of the panchayts has come foreword to support for the project. He also shared that the JEEVIKA in itself is an innovation and is a change based practice which need to be adopted in other projects also. Thereafter, the KVK representative Mr. Tomar addressed the gathering and stated that project like JEEVIKA is a very good and important intervention in the tribal areas. He also said that KVK will render all possible support in the project. In this regard, KVK is going to sign an MoU with Caritas India and Pragati-Jhabua

towards its support to the JEEVIKA project. The Launching programme has also entertained with the cultural programme by Project team members of JEEVIKA project partners of Jhabua, Khandwa and Bhopal. The highlight of the programme was the puppet show by the ANWC-Bhopal team which has addressed the various aspects of JEEVIKA in the story form and represented it through a puppet show. The entire cultural programme has shown the creativity and passion of the project team to work in the project for better results. …an end with a new beginning: At the end of the programme Fr. Sunil (Director Kripa-Ujjain) has thanked all the guests, community members, PRI representatives and JEEVIKA project Partners directors and teams to make the successful beginning of the JEEVIKA and seeing it as step of change rather than just a project… The launching programme has ended with the national anthem.