With Caritas India JEEVIKA approach 1st time gram Sabha happened in history of Kalapatha village/Panchayt ( Khandwa-Madhya Pradesh)

The constitution 73rd amendment act 1992 has recognised the gram sabha as a statutory unit. It is defined as a body consisting of person recognised in the electoral rolls relating to a village comprised with in the area of panchayati Raj at the village!

Can you all imagine in 2013 there is a village and Panchayat called KALAPATA ( Khalwa Block, Khandwa) where till Jan 2013 there was no Gram Sabha Happened in the history of village!

Yes it’s difficult to imagine, but this is hardcore reality of KALAPATA village and we can imagine without any gram sabha how rights/entitlement could be secured and (or) ensured?

But with Caritas India JEEVIKA development initiative we have changed the situation and first time in the history of KALAPATA Gram sabha happened on 26th Jan 2013 and further continued on 14th April 2013.

There are 23028 formal gram panchyats in India and with JEEVIKA we work with JEEVIKA we work with .29% of Gram Panchayts and that too from tribal pockets

How this all happened?

When we did baseline for the project formulation, at that time itself we have identified KALAPATA as one of the key village to intervene on Gram Sabha aspect and with the initiation of JEEVIKA development initiative in October 2013 , we have started operating JEEVIKA through field based cluster office near to the KALAPATA and other project villages-this helped in regular interaction with community and PRI members and village stay by JEEVIKA KDSS-team members has made JEEVIKA KDSSS team a hand support for community! Along with to generate awareness on gram sabah amongst the community of KALAPATAJEEVIKA team has adopted campaign style of working and did campaign throughwal paintings, rallies , individual informal interactions and also has opened a Vilage Information Center to facilitate community and PRI members on various information related to Gram Sabha. Overall in 3 months after initiation of JEEVIKA team has worked extensively with community-PRI on day to day basis and on individual household to household basis and share the importance of Gram sabha. Along with this JEEVIKA team has also formed community collectiveness in the form of farmers club and women group in KALAPATA and through tem also channalise the process of strengthening importance of Gram Sabha and this all worked in the form of 1sst Gram Sabha meeting at Samudayik Bhavan in the history of KALAPATA on 26th Jan 2013 , with total women participation of about 35-40% of total women population of KALAPATA , where as men participation of about 30-35% of total men population. This has also shown a clear cut mark of women empowerment through JEEVIKA in Gram Sabha. The Gram Sabaha process has continued and 2nd Gram Sabha has happened on 14th April 2013.In both these gram Sabhas there were discussion on NREGA, water issues and process of continuing Gram Sabah. In total about 14 Prastav ( Proposals) has been submitted by the community and get passed by Gram Sabha. JEEVIKA team has supported PRI in maintenance of records for Gram Sabha, writing Prastav (proposals) and taking it foreword!

What we with Caritas India JEEVIKA development Initiative through KDSSS-Khandwa we have convinced community and PRI?

The Gram Sabha is expected to be an epitome of participatory and direct democracy, and is the only body, which should provide valuable inputs to gram panchayat to lead local governance effectively. At the same time, Gram sabha is also to act as a watchperson in the interest of village communities by monitoring the functioning of the gram panchayat

Is this a change?

We can’t quote this as a case study or a process of change , but its sorrow and sad for us that still in 2013 villages and panchayts are there where till now no Gram Sabha has happened , probably more empowerment is needed amongst community and more realisation of such actions at government planning and administration!

Jeevika Caritas in relation with impact on gram Sabha?

With JEEVIKA if we see in last 6 months ( including Jan 26th and april 14th gram sabha) in 67 panchayts about 122 gram sabhas been happened, which is about 93-955 increase before Caritas India JEEVIKA development Initiative intervention through its 7 valuable , professional and capable development partner organisations!

The realisation of the concept of ‘Gram Sabha’ is totally dependent on a change in the attitude of the local people, who are the members of the gram Sabha, so let us promote campaign towards conducting gram sabha in rural India!

Building JEEVIKA team capacities@Umariya

Organic farming is a form of an agricultutre that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control. Organic farming uses fertilizers and pesticides but excludes or strictly limits the use of manufactured fertilizers, insecticides and fungicides, plant growth regulators such as hormones , livestock antibiotic, food additives, genetically modified organism, human sewage sluge and nano materials. Organic agriculture methods are internationally regulated and legally enforced by many nations, based in large part on the standards set by the international federation of organic agriculture.

This month another significant achievement of Jeevika Pali team has been to promote one day workshop on organic farming Mr. Ramveer Singh , Team Leader from ASA Dindori team, was the Resource Person of this Concept Seeding programme . During the training session, Mr.Ramveer Singh emphasized on the following points- options for organic farming, individual or group certification ,types of grower groups , farmers co operative models, minimum requirement of group certification, legal entity, qualified and well trained personnel written policies, procedures, documents, record and formats, internal farm inspection, internal approval, complaints and yield estimation internal organic standards and additional information. Mr. Ramveer Singh explained above points in a simple & practical manner with acute clarity. On 23rd May 2013 session started 10.30 a.m. and closed up 4.3o p.m. We were privileged to participate in this training and got the new method and input to work in our own field. This training was mainly based on organic farming.

Organic farming means developing agriculture and practicing profitable organic cultivation, using only traditional or certified seeds. Organic Test-1. Chemical composition through lab test

2.Certificate

We need to increase agriculture productivity, seasonal farming and marketing systems to increase farm production and deliver it to consumers at competition price. The major parts of the production should be self consumed by the farmers.

On cropping system-Among the different crop sequences variety of rice, cropping sequences can prove to the most beneficial. Looking at specific situation of farmers in the village, the use of chemical in paddy cultivation should not be used now we need to make them aware understand that farmers using chemicals so they are getting less (farming less things) for maintaining soil health and sustaining yield levels recommended organic matter is the key for the same suggestion is to incorporate organic matter in to soil to increase and sustain yields. First of all farmers has to take interest in organic farms then only some changes can come out they can change their life style and clothing and cultivation.

By JEEVIKA Umaria ( JDSS-Jabalpur team) .

Development "Dabba"

Caritas India believes in empowering and strengthening her partner organisations and almost every second some where someone from Caritas India is putting effort for it. In recent scenario where revenue based development project models are quite vita, we from Caritas India think to initiate a learning platform (online) for our valuable partner organisation. In line same we are initiating a Development Dabba to learn from failures and success of “revenue based model”.

What is Development Dabba?

• It’s a platform of open learning (through online and interactive sessions) of revenue models • It opens a platform of knowledge on different development revenue based projects • It talks and shares legal procedures for revenue models • It provides communication experts to address the issues of communication and publicity in revenue models • It includes marketing linkages learnings from experts • It provides suggestions on branding of products • It guides on lnking with universities/technical institutions and industries for support

And in that this week we are sharing and online discussion of one of the most successful model-Mumbai Dabbawala. Just watch this on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kIYR4ryKXg and we hope this will add value and experience to all our revenue based development models. This is one of the most effective learning I have ever received. All such videos related could be watch at Development platform at www.jeevikacaritas.blogspot.com or http://jeevikacaritas.blogspot.in/p/development-platform.html

What is further plan?

• Every week we would be learning from one successful/failure organisation • Probable interaction ( live with some of them) • Live online conferences with the models shared on Development platform

What we need from you?

•Your interest, passion and time to learn and share and use it the project field.

Why Important to learn on Revenue models?

• Revenue models brings out the concept of sustainability of the development initiatives • Revenue models generates livelihood opportunities for many other deprived individuals • Revenue models ( in the form of development initiatives) promotes usage of local resources and shows presence at global market • Revenue models ends the concept of external support • Revenue models generates many other revenue models • Based on concept of six sigma

Project Coordinator building capcities of JEEVIKA team@Umariya

May 2013: Mr. Rajesh ( Project Coordinator -JEEVIKA JDSSS-Jabalpur, a post graduate in Agriculture science and technology) facilitating training cum workshop for the team members on organic cultivation in weekly meeting. Mr. Rajesh has organised one day training program for Jeevika staff on preparation of Nadep composting topic in reporting month. In this training program, we covered all topic of training program and we have organise training program in our Jeevika project village to understand the think very minutely and this training program help the staff in improving knowledge and capacity building

Changes in thinking and living style through JEEVIKA approach@Umaria

In Umaria Distt. Pali block is the undeveloped, remote area. The villages are situated in the forest area. They are not aware of many things and facilities. These villagers are adiwasi (ST) village. There we have seen their conditions and experienced their problems and difficulties. Many of them have nothing in their house, not enough to eat, no proper clothing and no proper house to live. Most of them live in the forest in small houses. But we could see happiness glowing in their eyes. By seeing them we can understand their background and life style better. They have limited means for their livelihood. Though they are very poor yet very simple and happy people and cope with the struggle of life. As they live in the interior, have no facilities to go to anywhere. Their life taught us, as well as challenged us to work with them. Though now a day they are taking interest is agriculture and especially women are coming forward through our guidance, we can bring some changes in the village women are saving money in SHGs and they are aware of their right and duties and they are very eager to learn from us whatever we tell them. Now they (women) are interest to go outside for exposure visit before they were not allowed to go anywhere. But now we can see that they are free from their bondage. Women are participating in gram sabha in panchayat level. Now can see many changes in their living style, thinking pattern, dressing etc. Hope is future they will be stand firm for the own right, own development.

By JEEVIKA Umariiya ( JDSS-Jablpur) team

JEEVIKA Khandwa team thinking for change action in their weekly meeting in May 2013

Weekly meeting amongst the team members are one of the key reason for success of JEEVIKA initiative within 6 months of its initiation. Weekly meetings are arranged on every Saturday at cluster office Deolikala centre ( near the project villages), in which Project coordinator, field coordinator and all cluster coordinators present their weekly progress report over their weekly action plan and activity schedule. Here we discuss about problems on field level and strategy of each person for learning from each other and develop some communication material like Slogan for wall painting and banner etc.

By JEEVIKA KDSSS-Khandwa team

Using wall communication@JEEVIKA Khandwa

Communication through wall paintings are one of the key tools or generating awareness and sensitization amongst the literate as well as illiterate community ( illiterate through those who are literate, read it and share it). With JEEVIKA ( at Khandwa-madhya Pradesh amongst Korku tribes) in last one month we did campaign on sanitation and social audit process through usage of wall painting media tools. Alsong with Wall painting JEEVIKA team has conducted trainings at the same place where wall paintings are painted and sensitized community on saod issues. Result came in the form of happening social audit in 7 panchayats out of 9 Panchayts at Khandwa JEEVIKA project panchayts and 5 households have started construction of toilet on their own.

Moving towards launching JEEVIKA brand clothe outlets@at JEEVIKA Dhar with jan Sikshan Sansthan

With JEEVIKA we beleive in strengthening linkages and in line with the same in Dhar ( JEEVIKA project district of IDSSS-Indore) we have coordinated with Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), Dhar and established another tailoring centre at Girwalpura village. 30 interested identified tribal girls are getting skill building training on cutting and tailoring and further on plan is to introduce JEEVIKA clothe brand in the Indore market based on supply chain management. About JSS: Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) is a unique scheme crafted by the Government of India.JSSs are institutes of People�s Education focusing on the poor, the illiterates, the neo-literates, the under-privileged and the un-reached.The Jan Shikshan Sansthans are unique in that they do not provide just skill development, but link literacy with vocational skills and provide large doses of Life Enrichment Education (LEE) to the people.They do not work in isolation but aim for convergence with other stakeholders in society.It is their endeavour to shape their beneficiaries into self reliant and self-assured employees and entrepreneurs. By JEEVIKA IDSSS-Indore team

JEEVIKA signed Official MoU with KVK @Ujjain

Dear all,

Let’s we all once relook in to the mission of Caritas India:

“Restoration of human dignity of the poor and marginalized by partnering with intermediary organizations in extending support and facilitation and advocating for the rights of the people”

We at Caritas India as a facilitating agency development agents accentuates on “empowering our partner organisations with sustainable government formal linkages” and in this regard with JEEVIKA project we have formally signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with KVK ( Krishi Vigyan Kendra ) at Kripa Ujjain and this is first such formal initiative to collaborate and work formerly with KVK at Kripa Ujjain also. The MoU is expected to support Local resource mobilisation and technical support for our partner organisation. Credit for this goes to the active involvement of Kripa Ujjain Director-Fr. Sunil, JEEVIKA team of Kripa Ujjain lead by Project Coordinator Mr. Sumit and efforts by field and cluster coordinators.

Now we are in process of signing official MoU with rest of 6 KVKs in 6 JEEVIKA project districts and hope by the end of this month this will be done. This a big break through in linking dioceses with government programmes.

Let’s continue the process of change!

Let’s promote change!

Regards Vinod Pandey

Bringing back mothers for many children: Caritas India Initiatives in MP-Rajasthan-Bundelkhand!

Dear all,

I have born and bought up in Army ( my farther) and a entrepreneur (my mother) family , I have received almost all sort of good growing in my life-initiating from birth in a well maintained Army Hospital of Jammu Cantt, studied in good schools in colleges and indeed love and affection , care and support of my both parents specially my Mother throughout and till date of my life!

But when I have started working in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bundelkhand I have found its not the case of many children…many of them get birth in their homes ( with out any proper medical support), many of them lost their mother at the time of their birth…. many of them do not have good schooling… many of children mother’s do not know when to send them to school…many of the families keep on migrating from one place to another and thus concept of Home –Mother-family is lost…many of their mother work as labour (and is pain to see)…..with all this I have also observed many mother because of lack of source of livelihood not able to give time to their children ( as they have to earn through labour work-working more than 10-12 hours of physical work)…many widows mothers are struggling with financial conditions……and many have mother but not have livelihood options for themselves and their mother…..

With caritas India initiatives in the form of JEEVIKA-HARIT PRAYAS & LIFE in MP-Bundelkhand and Rajasthan we have tried to strengthen motherhood in the region..we have tried that no child will miss his/her mother and no mother miss her child..we have tried to strengthen the livelihood status of mothers and families and improving health conditions through better linkages…we have tried to enlarge the visibility of mother workforce and we have attempted to make mothers successful entrepreneurs ! lets see the result in figures ( its based on small initiation we do on collection of such data through our monthly reports and on day to day field reporting)

For any clarification feel free to write or call: For more on Mothers love and care get in touch with JEEVIKA ( www.jeevikacaritas.blogspot.com), HARIT PRAYAS ( www.haritprayas.blogspot.com) and LIFE (www.liferajasthan.blogspot.com ) Lets strengthen a big “jadoo ki Jhappi” of Mothers for all children! By Vinod Pandey

somebody have to take initiative @ Khorghar panchayat (JEEVIKA Shivpuri)

There are two simple rules when we want to change something bigger in our surrounding either be in system and see silently what’s happening and suffer or take an initiative to change the system. Second one is very difficult for us but history is created by initiatives. So that this time it is did by one of our active volunteer Mr. Santosh Jatav from Khorghar. This story is related with more than 46 beneficiaries under MAY schemes. Related ADO R.K. Moondra and Bank Manager of Syndicate Bank Mr. Jain took Rs. 2000/beneficiary at name of searching (it is a process in which court affidavit is filled through advocate by beneficiary and its fee depends on advocate ranges from Rs. 500 to 800) and said that we’ll do it and Rs. 2000 is a fees of it and all have given that amount. As well as they are asking money for easy release of next installments.

Santosh with other community people opposed it but all went in vain at that time. Then he has decided to teach them a lesson and silently went to Bhopal in March month for complaining it to Chief Minister of MP. He submitted a written application there and went back to village. At 15th April Dist. Panchayat CEO with other officials reached at Khorghar for inspection where all beneficiaries told them about the matter. He strictly warned ADO for it and ordered related bank manager to return money to each beneficiary as soon as possible and assured about follow up of this case. Dhanua Jatav s/o Putariya Jatav from Khorghar became first person who get this 2000 Rs. Back from banks. Rest beneficiaries will also get back their money when they will go to bank for next installments.

(Pic. 1st Right: Dist. Panchayat CEO Mr. Makin with Sarpanch at Khorghar village)

(Pic. 2nd Left: Our volunteer Mr. Santosh)

By JEEVIKA Shivpuri (GCSS-Gwalior) team

Strengthening Self Help Groups through interaction and trainings @Umariya

Self Help Groups are our primary unit of social mobilization at the grassroots. Over the long term, we expect these SHGs to provide an enabling and supportive environment in which women from marginalised communities are able to dream, plan and their situation. In our understanding, these long term gains are only possible when women meet regularly over the long term, and have some experience making small practicable improvement in their lives around the economic and social realm.

We therefore invest significant time and energy to develop robust, high performing groups. This process starts with joint development, acceptance and internalization of SHG rules and norms. An early focuses also on savings and credit, which is an everyday need for most poor families. A Self Help Group is an informal association of women, built around microfinance, and acts as support group to enhance the, being, sense for the members. The SHG carries out microfinance through savings and credits supplemented by bank loans, which help reduce financial vulnerability and also provide funds for enhancing livelihoods. The group facilitates the members to develop a vision, explore and analyse their realities and extend mutual help in issues concerning their lives and livelihoods.

Training on Documentation was organised for SHGs at Barhai village in Mudaria cluster. Mr. Anoop Singh from PRADAN Mandla was the Resource Person of this Documentation Training program. The concept of SHG was shared with the community and finally they make SHG and Jeevika team is leading the roll of capacitating them.

By JEEVIKA JDSSS-Jabalpur team ( Based at Umariya)