Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra - July 2011 Newsletter

Disaster Management Resource Centre

5 days TOT in two batches of cluster resource person and sector resource person from district Barabanki and Gonda have been organized at SSK, Luck now. 50 CRP and SRP have participated in this capacity building training. They have understood about how to interact with community, how to present/introduce in front of community, formation of different kinds of task forces in gram panchayat level through participatory process. These volunteers will work in different flood affected gram panchayats of Barabanki and Gonda. The targets of District administration is to reduce the disaster risk reduction through strengthen community capacity building.

2 days Start up capacity building coordination workshop has been organized from 10-11 July 2011 at SSK, Lucknow. All the disaster management resource center staff participated in this training. During these two days sharing about the new project”Mainstreaming disaster Risk reduction into development process in U.P.” and its result areas with the activities was done. All the staff members have understood about his/her role and responsibility in this project.

SSK's work on flood early warning system for Bahraich was selected as one of the finalists for the above contest. The DMRC team members Mr. Santosh, Mr. Amit and Mr. Venu participated in the final presentation ceremony on 23rd July 2011 at New Delhi. We have also put up a stall during this event. Although we didn’t get the award, but this was an excellent opportunity where in we shared our experiences with diverse audience.

Fine tuning of early warning system

Fine tuning of early warning system at District Disaster Management Cell (DDMC) is done. Regularly message was broadcasted regarding release of water from barrages to early warning task force members. Regularly "Apada babu" was recording the massage and disseminating to different telephone numbers. SSK is regularly supporting the district administration in dissemination of the messages. Flood warning messages are very important for the early warning task force members. Immediately after receiving the message, the task force members blow the siren and also disseminate this message through mega phone. This year Baharampur and Ahata gram panchayat community has timely evacuated when they got this message.

Volunteer’s orientation meeting

On 28th July 2011, one day volunteer’s orientation meeting was organized at SSK, Kaiserganj. All the 14 volunteers from 3 blocks participated in this meeting. Main aim of this meeting was to share about SSK,its work strategy and also to orient before he/she will take the 4 days capacity building training at SSK, Lucknow. All the volunteers were introduced to each other. Volunteers also interrogated several queries.

Governance Resource Centre

Democratizing Unban Governance: People Participations Social Accountability

Area Sabha Meeting

Area Sabha meeting was organized on 13 Aug 2011 in Indrapur and Laskar areas. Major issues discussed was related to the services of the municipality.Special emphasis was given to the pathetic conditions of roads due to construction of the flyovers, drainages, water supply, street lights and dumping of the waste at the road corners. Need of prioritizing the problems was realized to initiate some action. Common consensus were build on the issues for demanding container for disposal of waste and repairing of the inner street. An application was formulated for the above mentioned 2 issues with the signature of maximum citizens and was given to the municipal commissioner for necessary action to resolve the issues.

Organizing workshop on RTI and public self disclosure

On 24th July, 2011 a workshop on “Consultation on RTI and public self disclosure” was organized at camp office of Varanasi Municipal Commissioner. The consultancy aimed at actively encouraging good local governance lead to enhance service delivery by urban local Bodies. Under this preview this programme proposes to address the issues related to participatory governance and social accountability. It also intends to enhance citizen’s access to information and basic services through strengthening civic engagement in the municipal decision making process. This programme also proposed to create new platform between government bodies & citizen and improve governance and accountability. Sharing of the Major provisions of RTI as well the present status of existing Social Accountability Mechanism of VMC. In this consultation Municipal Commissioner, Additional Municipal commissioner, 50 other of staff member VMC participated.

Muslim and Dalit Girls Child Education and Women Empowerment Programme

Visiting of Coaching Centres

On 4^th and 6^th July, 2011 SSK had a visit to several coaching centres of Cholapur and Dhaurahara Justice panchayats. As the new session of schools is started from 1st July, it was the time where girls chosen their stream in the matriculation. During the visit, the scope of the science, Art and commerce were discussed with the girls. Through this visit and counselling, girls felt easy to choose their streams for the better career.

Career Counseling for rural girls

In continuation to the personality development activities organized for Rural Girls of Cholapur block under SSK Project Vidya Gyan scholarship programme, one day career counselling was targeted towards developing the understanding of the participants on issues of career development. Girls may analyze various dynamics and unanswered questions regarding career development working and strategize their actions for better career development, simultaneously their capacity as a conscious student may also grow. About 515 girl from 10 intervened panchayats of Cholapur block of Varanasi district participated in the career counseling on 26/07/11 – 27/07/11. The career counseling was organized at Deepraj Inter College, Cholapur and Kashi Bullu Inter College Ugapur .

Governance Resource Centre

SSK got assignment of “Development of Core Course Content for CB&T of Elected Representatives and Functionaries of PRIs in state of U.P.” As per the service contract SSK, Lucknow is developing 10 course books on following themes:-

Book-A : Core Course Content on Overview of Panchayati Raj with background/ history of PRIs in India and Uttar Pradesh

Book-B : Core Course Content on State Specific Constituional Provisions for Gram Panchayat

Book-C : Core Course Content on State Specific Constitutional Provisions for Kshetra Panchayat

Book-D : Core Course Content on State Specific Constituional Provisions for Zila Panchayat

Book-E : Core Course Content on promoting/building effective leadership among Elected Representatives of PRI

Book-F : Core Course Content on Various Central and State sponsored schemes implemented through Panchayats

Book-G : Core course content Functional Literacy

Book-H : Core course content on Computer training to enable concept of e-governance

Book-I : Core Course Content for Training of functionaries on PRIASOFT accounting software

Book-J : Compilation of Government other/notifications issued by Government of Uttar Pradesh till date in reference to the rules made against the relevant Acts

In the last month, SSK Submitted 2nd draft of 10 course books developed under CDLG Project to Department of Panchayati Raj, Uttar Pradesh.

Reducing Vulnerability of Migrant Workers in Sitapur

The monthly meeting of Advisory committee was organized in this month at DRC Sitapur Office. In the meeting discussion about the previous meeting was held followed by its follow up. The meeting minutes were distributed to the members. In this meeting 3 new members took part which included Retired Bank officer from academia side. A brief introduction of ongoing project activities were shared with the members. Legal issues of the migrants were also shared.

Need to create saving habits among them. Most of the time it has been observed that this particular group is facing problems of snatching, theft etc.

There is a need to understand the migration issue closely. Among their different issues one is education of their children.

To give the benefit of government, we should list out their names and send to the responsible authority for further action.

The monthly meeting of already formed groups was organized in their respective villages. 2 mobilization meetings were organized at Meenapur to form new collectives. In this month data from 5 collectives was collected regarding beneficiaries of social security scheme. Future strategy is formulated on the basis of this data. Women of these collective are reaching to Panchayat level and block level administration to raise their voice for rights and entitlements. It has been observed that these group have started moving towards right based approach and have started accessing entitlements. It has been found that they have started accessing the benefits of govt. schemes and raised their voice for their rights.

In this month kiosk was organized at Rahimabad market of Khairabad block. In the kiosk, services given by Shramik Sahayta Kendra were disseminated with the IEC materials. It is a Muslim dominated area and it has been found that migrants from this panchayat mostly prefer to go to Delhi for Zardouji in sari and dress material. The migrants who understood and felt the need of ID cards came and apply for the ID cards and others who locally migrate, registered themselves in the format of registration. Around 100 migrants registered themselves. It has been decided that another kiosk will be organized in the same place to maintain the follow up with the migrants.

Monthly meeting of youth club was organized at Shramik Sahayta Kendra. In the meeting, computer knowledge test was taken of the club members. The youth has started working as a resource pool for the project activities. Whatever information they get from the centre, they use it to disseminate the same in their respective villages and also among their friends. As a result, demand of skill based training is increased. The next batch for Tally and data Entry batch is started and running well. 9 participants of previous batch of mobile training were placed at Sitapur and Lucknow, 4 among them opened their own shop and 5 among them started working in the local shop of Sitapur. The liaision for further place is in process.

Networking and Liaision is done with the govt. and other stakeholders. The update of the project was shared. In the meeting at Labour department with Assistant labor commissioner, a wage related problem of 20 construction workers from Khairabad is shared. The worker worked in Bareily under Kanshiram Sahri Aavas Yojana, but their wages are due in the hand of contractor who belongs from Lucknow. He notes down all issue and ensured to take action as soon as possible.

Registration of migrants and providing photo identity card is in process. In the month of July around 100 migrants registered and 58 ID cards were distributed.

Reducing Vulnerability of Migrant Workers in Ghaziabad

The monthly meeting of the resource group was organized at Sharamik Sahayta Kendra, Ghaziabad. Members took part and gave their valuable suggestions. Ongoing project activities of source end were shared with the members. Members expected roles in these kind of groups were shared. Future plan was shared with the members. It is decided that to organize the interface meeting with government, at first we have to focus on a particular pocket with migrant issue, which will help to interven. The success of 2 health camps was discussed and decided that the camp will be organized on monthly basis to make a rapport with them.

Legal Counselling session was organized at Shramik Sahayata Kendra. Its objective was to create awareness among the migrants who come from outside and can't access their basic rights and entitlements. In the meeting focus was given on the labour rights, during any emergency how to access legal rights etc. The migrants shared their issues with the resource person (Advocate) and got the solution for the same.

Health Camp was organized at Panchsheel colony, Loni road of Bhopura with the source end group. The camp was organized with joint collaboration with Asha Deep Foundation. In this program free medical check-up was done and medicines were provided.

Networking and liaisoning was made with the stakeholders. Contact has been formed with Trade Union. Liaison & Networking is established with Asha Deep Foundation, Insurance offices, CITU, Media, NGO’s , Insurance offices, CITU, Media, NGO’s & stakeholders. The update of the project activities were shared with them.

Civil Society Resource Centre

Last year SSK conducted training on Facilitation for CARE staff. Participants experimented and implemented their learnings in their field situations. The change in the behavior of facilitator yield good results and hence to refresh and sharpen the training skill a refresher program for more or less the same participants were conducted on the subject by SSK during 5th-8th July. Twenty four participants participated in the training. The emphasis was laid on sharpening participatory training skill through live practices. The focus was also on removing the individual and group obstacles in understanding facilitating techniques.

Training on PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) was also conducted by SSK as this is most widely used data collection tool particularly in micro planning. Having understanding of PRA is important particularly for those who intend to collect data in rural context or with those who are less educated, poor communities etc. The training was conducted during 14th–18th July in which twenty in which the number of participants were twenty seven. The focus of the training was given more on understanding the processes apart form the tools and techniques.

Governance Resource Centre

Promoting Education for Minority Women and girls through Community led Change Agents

Cluster level sharing of Report card Survey analysis on School Sanitation

School sanitation survey of 10 gram panchayats was shared at the cluster level on 20th and 27th July, 2011 at Cholapur and Dhurahara Justice panchayats respectively. The major stakeholders who participated in the programme were Village Education committee, SHG women and retired people of the village. In this programme about 50 participants participated and got aware with the current situation. The analysis of the survey data was shared with them. After sharing data, the responsibilities of village education committee were discussed.

Capacity building of Community Change Agents- Phase III

3^rd phase training of Community change agents was carried out from 25th to 30th July, 2011 at Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra, Lucknow. The training was based on Local Self Governance and Joyful learning method.
The objective of the training was:

To develop their understanding on Panchayati Raj system of Uttar Pradesh and aware them with responsibilities of PRI functionaries as well as participation of elected women representatives.

Finalization of III batch of 21 girls for Vocational Training

The 3^rd batch of 21 girls for vocational training at Vanita polytechinic is finalized. Girls are selected from 5 gram panchayats:

Rampur,

Chandravati,

Dhaurahara,

Shrikanthpur,

Chiittampur.
In the selection nomination process, focus group discussion and final selection was carried out in each gram panchayats. The registration and admission process is completed and girls are admitted in 4 different trades as Sewing and cutting, beautician, Jardoji and computer. All the girls of this batch are drop out. The course started from 1st August, 2011.

Organizing Leadership Training for Adolescent Girls

3rd approach of intervening with adolescent girls was to build their Life skill education. In the 1st phase of the training, around 1051 girls participated in the Life skills and Sex education training. 2nd phase training on Leadership for adolescent girls is presently going on. In 2nd phase, about 200 girls are proposed to be taken in 10 batches of 20 girls each. From the 10 panchayats, 10 batches of trainings will be covered. The objective of the training is to form a cadre of skilled and confident girls at villages and formulate strong and confident groups of the adolescent. In this month, this training was organized in 4 batches in 4 different gram panchayats, i.e. Cholapur, Gadsara, Dhaurahara, and Rampur. About 20-25 girls participated in each gram panchayats.

52 adolescent girls getting the vocational training at Village Information Resource Centre (VIRC)

The second batch of village level vocational training was started from 9th July, 2011 at VIRC of Cholapur and Shrikanthpur gram panchayats. About 52 girls were registered for 2 month course of sewing and cutting. In both the centres, the overall girls are drop out and they were presently engaged in household work only. One day orientation programme was organized.

Displaying of Working materials at Vanita polytechnic

With the 1^st approach, 60 girls were targeted for technical vocational training in a technical institute. In this, 22 girls of batch-II are getting the training at Vanita polytechnic in 5 different trades as sewing and cutting, Jardoji, Computer, Beautician and Embroidery. On 14th July 2011, monthly display was organized for this batch to know the progress of the students. Students are displaying their working materials as garments, embroidery works, beauty, culture works etc. 90% students shared their experiences and explained about their enhanced understanding of learning skills. In this occasion, Principal of Vanita polytechnic encouraged and suggested the rural girls for their betterment.

Establishment of Village Information and Resource Center

With perspective of knowledge and information based approach among the Muslim and dalit community, Village information and resource center is established. Under this activity focus group discussion was carried out. Place is finalized by the community according to the need and reach of each level age group. List of the materials available in the centre was finalized. The finalized list has been handover to purchase committee of 3 people. Purchasing committee purchased materials for 10 VIRC. 5 other VIRC are established at 5 gram panchayats (Chandravati, Chhittampur, Gadsara, Raunakhurd and Tisaura).

One day mobilization meeting was organized with the EWRs of Cholapur and Harahua Block. Meeting was organized in 10 different gram panchayats of Cholapur and Harahua Block. The objective of the meeting was to sensitize the elected women representatives about new panchayati raj system and organize need assessment for training. It was environment building programme for coming training. About 100 elected women representative participated in the meeting.

One day training for elected women representatives was organized at 3 gram panchayats (Chandravati, Hariballampur and Udaipur) of Cholapur and Harahua block. The objective of the programme was to strengthen capacities of EWRs and building their analytical skills so that they will be able to analyze their circumstances and issues which they come across as EWR. About 72 EWR and SHG members participated in the training. The methodology used in the training was group game, small and large group discussion and speech, presentation etc.