...story of change@JEEEVIKA Shehore

Group Name:- Sapna SHG

Village Name: Bharela Pathar

Work Profile: Villager did not get employment under MGNREGA

Description: SHG is the backbone of unity. So, we promote SHG formation in our target villages. In the Jeevika project, SHGs are working as volunteers. For that matter, all CBO members extend their help for any field level project activities. Their active involvement in the project activities has propelled to bring change in their attitudes. Take for example the Sapna SHG which is having 11 members, takes up many village issues for discussion in their meetings and try to find solution to the problems. They extend support to each other.

People of Bharela pather were without work. So, they migrate to other places in search of work. These people did not know about the employment under MGNREGA. When they came to know about the employment under MGNREGA through the awareness programme conducted by Jeevika project, Sapna SHG was very curious to know more about it and the process that need to be followed to get work. After having come to know all about MGNREGA, the Sapna SHG had a meeting along with other people of Bharala pathar and on the spot took decision to submit application in the Gram Panchayat. After 5 days, all people of Bharala pather submitted their demand application in writing to the Secretary of Gram Panchayat, Dhaikheda. When they found that the Gram Panchayat of Dhaikheda is not responding to their application, the SHG members raised their voice to get the Job in the Gram Panchayat, they succeeded in getting the job. Now, people of Bharala pathar are working under the MGNREGA. Now, we are happy to see smile on their face.

Result: They succeeded in their demand to get work under MGNREGA

Future Plan: Hereafter, the people of Bharla Pathar will WORK together for the common issues

By JEEVIKA ANWC-Bhopal team

....story of change with JEEVIKA!

“Rojiya” is a hilly village and situated about 10 K.M. far from Thandla (nearby town). It is one of our Jeevika Project Villages. Initially, when Jeevika project started, village was in very bad condition. Since it is a hilly village, people didn’t have any water resources other than personal wells and those wells were also not sufficient to fulfill their annual water requirement. Rainy water were forced to flow towards nearby comparatively low villages, which also enforced community to take only one crop and migrate for rest of the year.

In January, 2013, Jeevika staff did micro-planning, at Rojiya, and identified the requirement of public pond, as water resource. We applied it at village level Gram Sabha and sanctioned by local PRI. After completion of pond, villagers understood the importance of attending Gram Sabha, which helped them to make their life much easier. Now they got some water for irrigation also. In August, 2013 villagers themselves applied for another pond, which has been sanctioned in December, 2013, by PRI, Rojiya. PRI has sanctioned a pond, worth of Rs. 5,00,000 /-, which not only solve the problem of water and soil management, but also give some local job opportunities to villagers.

Jeevika feels a true PRI strengthen at Rojiya, where villagers themselves understood their concerns and try to solve by community led process. Villagers always thank Jeevika staff to identify their problems and guide them for proper sustaining solutions.

By JEEVIKA Pragti-Jhabua team

“Samasya Niwaran Diwas” Organized for Project Beneficiaries@JEEVIKA Jhabua

“Samasya Niwaran Diwas” has been organized at Pragati Office, Meghnagar for project beneficiaries, in presence of newly appointed MLA Kal Singh Bhabor, Dilip Singh Bhuriya and other local leaders. Our purpose to organize this event to increase the influence of Jeevika Project in project villages and give project beneficiaries a chance to direct interaction from their political leaders. Although Pragati Office is 10 K.M. far from project villages, but we wanted to organize it at our office, so that community feel attachment with project and, in future, can own the project.

Many PRI members, SHG and Farmer Club members have been participated at this event and shared their problems and achievements with leaders. Problems, like late payment of MNREGA, improper functioning of PDS, Mid-day meal payment to SHGs, FRA and Fake Gram Sabha Proceedings, were in focus and community raised their concerns about it very strongly. MLA and other leaders listened their problems carefully and promised to take action, as soon as possible. Mr. Dilip Singh Bhuriya informed villagers about “PESA Act” and requested villagers to participate in PRI system. He also warned people that it is their ignorance, which destructed the shape of this system. Their ignorance about PRI and grass-root governance gives us chance to do corrupt practices. Villagers understood the concern and praised leaders for their innocent and true guidance.

Meanwhile, villagers have been told about organic cum traditional farming and health issues. They have been motivated to take leadership and lead a movement in their own villages.

One positive thing has been seen through this program is increased women participation. Beyond all expectations about 50 % participants were women. Not only us but leaders also noticed this positive change, about women leadership. Villagers seemed excited about event and promised to increase direct participation in project activities.

By JEEVIKA Pragti-Jhabua team

Micro Planning at Project Villages@JEEVIKA Jhabua

January is a month of Gram Sabha. To utilize this event and raise people participation at Gram Sabha, Micro-plannings have been organized at 3 project villages, Saagwani, Chota Julwaniya and Maanpur. Our purpose of conducting this micro-planning is to aware villagers about village problems and their possible solutions. We ensured maximum participation at this event, so that community participation has been achieved, and true picture of village can be identified. We also ensured that participants from all community sections and wards participate in this event, to achieve inclusive participation of village.

In this process, we used various tools, like social mapping, transit walk and wealth ranking. Villagers have been divided according to wealth ranking and prioritization of village level activities has been done, so that villagers demand can be fulfilled on time. Villagers seemed excited about this event and motivated to sanction all activities in 26th January, 2014, Gram Sabha. About 70 to 80 people participated at each micro-planning, to get effective results.

Caritas India JEEVIKA is a Caritas India and Caritas Spain supported programme in 7 tribal pockets of Madhya Pradesh and being implemented by 7 local partner organisations in 104 tribal villages. For more on JEEVIKA log on to www.jeevikacaritas.blogspot.com or log on to www.caritasindia.org

by JEEVIKA Pragti-Jhabua team

IMPACT OF JEEVIKA: MNREGA sanctioned at Rojiya @JEEVIKA Jhabua

MNREGA work has been sanctioned at Rojiya, for pond formation. A pond has been required from last few months, to overcome the shortage of village water resources. Last year, villagers, at Rojiya, applied for another pond and that was also sanctioned by local PRI and has been completed in time. Villagers are using that pond for irrigation practices. Jeevika project played a very important role to sanction that pond. Now villagers have understood the importance of MNREGA and PRI governance, which enabled them to sanction this pond themselves.

PRI, Rojiya identified shortage of village water resources and sanctioned this pond, worth of Rs. 5,00,000 /-. It was also necessary because Rojiya is a hilly village and water just flow towards adjacent villages, due to low ground level, which not only creates water shortage but also increases soil corrosion.

About 50 villagers are working here. This new pond construction has reduced migration a little-bit, as compared to last year.

By JEEVIKA Pragti-Jhabua team

RTI and Social Audit Training at Project Villages@JEEVIKA Jhabua

Having January Gram Sabha in mind, RTI and Social Audit Training have been organized at 2 project villages, Maanpur and Rojiya.

RTI is very important for social development. RTI provides a right to know more about administrative procedures and other public related information. Awareness about RTI must be spread throughout the village level. In this training, we ensured people learn about the concept of RTI, RTI procedures, RTI application, etc. Total 24 participants participated in this training session. Training was completely participative and practical based; in which community also write some RTI applications, so that the purpose of RTI training can be fully utilized. We motivated the participants to spread this information in their community or village-level. 10 RTIs have been submitted during this event by villagers, about their respective concerns. Training on social audit has been conducted at various panchayat levels. 2 trainings on social audit have been organized this month. 34 participants have been attended this training. In this training, we ensured people could easily understand the concept of social audit, its procedure and related issues. We conducted training in such a way, so that people could be better motivated to conduct social audit at their village level. We told them to make social audit committee and ask about it during 26th January, 2014, Gram Sabha. Villagers completely understood the importance of social audit and promised us to conduct social audit at their village level. We also motivated them to analyze the situations and condition of various village level resources, so that better result can be produced from village-level social audit. We also told them to conduct social audit of Jeevika Project at village level, for better understanding of this process. Communication material has also been developed on social audit, so that they can use it during their social audit procedure and do it more efficiently. People, at every village, were very happy after getting this information.

By JEEVIKA Pragati-Jhabua team

Zindabad-ज़िंदाबाद –why we should be Zinadbad in 2014?

Zindabad…Zindabad….this is an interesting (because it gives speed to blood circulation) word and its amazing using it ...and indeed one of the most powerful word to create passion and enthusiasm….but when look back the usage of this word Zindabad…its seems everywhere its Zindabad…everyone Zindabad…there is no doubt that it cannot be possible , but sad part is that it has mere became a slogan…and like others slogans it could be also used….we often forget that it’s not mere a slogan, but a ray of life ...a way of life…and indeed something to create life….it’s the word to empower…not just for the power…it’s a word to mobilise people for cause…not just to socialise people…

It’s the same word which has been used with all empowerment during freedom fighting period and it’s the same word still many of us are using….purpose has now changed ….and for sure understanding of Zindabad has changed!

Some of the impact through Caritas India programmes are ‘Zindabad’ in 2013 are:

Zero farmers suicide in Bundelkhand, and entire MP project villages of caritas India programme

Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation seeks Caritas India LIFE-Rozgar Dhaba model for National Urban Livelihood Mission

Campaign on food security and Hunger –One Human Family food for all

Response to disaster/Cyclone/flood/drought in Uttarakhand, Orissa, Bihar, Mahrashtra and AP

Caritas India stands for upliftment of Musahar Community-In Bihar

100% Solar village in Indore-MP through Caritas India programme

100% CFL electrified village in Sagar-MP through Caritas India Programmes

Consultation on National Food Security Act and Land Acquisition Act

Windows-North East: Caritas India initiative to reduce opacity between mainland and North East India

Consolation on violence against women-Badla Nahi Badlav

Initiation of Bank Corporate supported programme-ANKUR in Rajasthan

SHGs managing Midday meal in school through Caritas India supported programmes

100 stories from MP tribal pockets on ‘sustainable livelihood’ in the form of compendium –Pehchaan

1st village 100% practicing organic cultivation through Caritas India programme in Bundelkhand

Social Audit of programme in Bundelkhand Increase in tribal farming population in MP ( in programme area) through Caritas India programme

Initiation of Peace clubs and dialogue and sharing with Pakistani students and Indian students (school)

400+ media coverage of caritas India programmes ( highest covered development programmes in India)

Blogs of all major programmes and updated on regular basis

Initiation of Volunteer programme and base of 400+ volunteers

Review meeting of programmes in villages (in Bundelkhand)

Inclusion of other stakeholders in CMDRR through Disaster Risk reduction

Appreciation by Panchayt for bring change in village in MP

Appreciation by CM of UK for disaster work on Uttarakhand

Reached to 317 districts and 2.2 million people in 28 states of India

But now 2013 is going to an end…we need to understand and revive ‘Zindabad” probably in the form that …no one will go to sleep without food- and for that we would be Zindabad….in villages and in cities proper sanitation facilities for women-and for that we would have Zindabad….not only my house, also our society…our road…our country would be clean…for that we would be Zindabad….we respect women and zero cases of violence against women and for that we would be Zindabad!

Now think could it be possible to take Zindabad…more than just mere a slogan!

ज़िंदाबाद...ज़िंदाबाद..ज़िंदाबाद...पर कैसे हो हम ज़िंदाबाद?

सिर्फ़ नारो में...या चुनाव के बाज़ारो में.....या फिर हक़िक़त में किसी बदलाव के सात हो हम ज़िंदाबाद!

कोई भूखे पेट ना सोए-तो ज़िंदाबाद है हम...

हम जिसे लक्षमी, दुर्गा, मदर मेर्री, झाँसी मानते है..हर घर की महिला की इज़्ज़त हो..तो ज़िंदाबाद है हम...

देश मेरे बड़ा सही...लोग ज़यादा सही...पर हर घर में शौचलया हो...तो ज़िंदाबाद है हम...

सिर्फ़ मेरा घर नही..मेरा देश भी साफ- सुथरा हो-तो ज़िंदाबाद है हम...

-विनोद पांडे Let’s see how we can revive actual meaning of Zindabad….let’s use this word to bring change…..let’s use this word to empower…. Wish you all a Zindabad 2014!