Plan India Annual Progress Report 2010

A YEAR IN

INDIA

2010

SUMMARY REPORT

A community health volunteer receives an award in Bhubaneshwar

3

GOOD REASONS

OUR PRIORITIES

why Plan works in India

in India

• An estimated 1000 children die of diarrhoea every day

• Protecting children from abuse, discrimination and exclusion

• Only 28 per cent of the population has access to decent sanitation

• Promoting the health of children, their families and communities

• A third of adults cannot read and write

• Making sure children and their families enjoy clean water, decent sanitation and a healthy environment • Working with families to improve their financial security • Helping children play a part in decision-making in their communities

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KYRGYZSTAN

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Darya

TURKMENISTAN

KAZAKHSTAN

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Amu

UZBEKISTAN

‘Since she took on the role, Tulsi has worked tirelessly toNarimprove the health of children and yn Tarim Kongi families in the village’ TAJIKISTAN

87% of children now finish primary school in this Plan program area

India Facts Capital: New Delhi Population: 1.16 billion Languages: Hindi, English and

18 others Climate: India’s climate is strongly influenced by the Himalayas and the Thar Desert, both of which drive the monsoons. The Himalayas prevent cold Central Asian katabatic winds from blowing in, keeping the bulk of the Indian subcontinent warmer than most locations at similar latitudes. The Thar Desert plays a crucial role in attracting the moisture-laden southwest summer monsoon winds that, between June and October, provide the majority of India’s rainfall.

The boundaries of Jammu and Kashmir shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by Plan International.

The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not been agreed upon by the parties.

AFGHANISTAN

Uttarkashi Gairsain

IRAN

Economy: With an average

annual GDP growth rate of 5.8 per cent for the past two decades, the economy is among the fastest growing in the world. It has the world’s second largest labour force, with 523.5 million people.

In terms of output, the agricultural sector accounts for 17.6 per cent of GDP; the service and industrial sectors make up 53.4 per cent and 29 per cent respectively. Major agricultural products include rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes, cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry and fish.

Lunkaransar us IndBajju New Delhi

Delhi

NEPAL

Varanasi

PAKISTAN

Ganges

Udaipur

CHINA

Brahmaputra Maharajganj Muzzafarpur Patna Kolkata BANGLADESH

Bhubaneshwar Mumbai Deodurg

Nizamabad

Chilika Koraput

MYANMAR

Hyderabad Vijayawada Krishna Krishna

Bangalore

INDIA Country Office Program Units

Bank

Chennai

SRI LANKA

INDONESIA

Focus On: health for all

Plan is working to protect the health of the poorest children and their families and bring quality health services within their reach.

Our work includes giving pregnant women access to antenatal care and safe deliveries.

We offer advice and support on childcare for mothers. We monitor children’s growth and protect them from malnutrition. We

ensure they receive their vaccinations.

We support adolescents on issues like sexual and reproductive health. We also teach families about good hygiene practices and how to keep children safe from disease.

Health in Tulsi’s hands Tulsi proudly shows off the shiny new trophy she won in a health competition in July last year.

It’s a daily reminder of just how much she has learnt since she first became a community health volunteer three years ago.

Tulsi was awarded the trophy, and 2000 rupees (about A$47) after entering a quiz on her favourite radio program, Amari Swathya Ama Hatare (which means ‘Our Health in our Hands’). She was delighted to win, but her success came as no surprise to families in Taramara, the village in eastern India where she lives.

Enthusiastic and energetic, Tulsi was the villagers’ natural choice to be their local health volunteer. Since she took on the role, she has worked tirelessly to improve the health of children and families in the village.

It has not been easy. Like many of the communities that Plan works with, Taramara is a tribal village and residents have little status within Indian society. Most families here live in absolute poverty. They cannot afford to give their children nutritious food, pay for schooling or buy decent health services when they are ill.

Better understanding Tulsi worried that families did not know how to keep themselves or their children healthy. Most were unaware that following simple hygiene rules like washing their hands could protect their children from common but potentially fatal illnesses, like diarrhoea. Children were dying for lack of knowledge.

She was also concerned that families tended to rely on people with no medical training, or worse, followed superstition. Pregnant women were giving birth without proper medical support, putting themselves and their babies at risk.

With support from Plan and our partner organisation CYSD, Tulsi is making sure her neighbours in Taramara have a better understanding of health issues, and access to quality treatment they can afford.

Her duties are varied. She works closely with local midwives and every fortnight meets with expectant women and new mothers to check their health, make sure they have safe deliveries and offer advice and support on caring for babies and young children.

Produced for India by Plan International Australia.

She is particularly concerned with the health of teenagers, sharing information on reproduction, and advising on the risks of marrying and getting pregnant too early.

To build Tulsi’s knowledge, Plan and CYSD have helped her to attend training courses in subjects like maternal and child health, first aid, malaria prevention and HIV/AIDS. Commitment brings rewards Tulsi’s commitment has won her the admiration of families in the village. Hearing she’d travelled 30 miles to Karanjia Sub-Divisional hospital to make sure a local farmer got the treatment he needed for tuberculosis, villagers understood just how seriously she took her responsibilities.

This moped was brought with the proceeds of a microfinance business and is now part of a new vegetable enterprise for this family

The Bigger Picture Plan is working with children, families and communities to find sustainable solutions to the challenges in India. We have only given you a small insight into Plan’s work in India with this report but over the past year we also: • Launched the Learn Without Fear campaign across the country, to promote children’s right to a quality education without the threat of violence • Worked with communities to build or upgrade 898 latrines, protecting their children from the health consequences of poor sanitation • Supported the running of 3505 savings and loans associations to give poor families access to finance

She proved it again when she organised for villagers to take part in the community health insurance scheme, putting healthcare within reach of even the poorest families.

• Promoted children’s rights and trained 952 community members and volunteers on child protection issues

They in turn are responding to Tulsi’s dedication. Parents understand that sleeping under a mosquito net will protect their children from malaria. Families are also practising good hygiene measures and keeping their homes and surroundings clean.

Your support as a sponsor is crucial to achieving these results. With the resources provided by sponsors, Plan expertise and the collaboration of communities and local partners we are making a big difference to the lives of people in India.

Tulsi is modest about her achievements, saying: ‘The recognition and award put value to my hard work.’

Thank you for your involvement!

Local investment Plan knows from experience that often the best way to improve lives in poor communities is to train and encourage local people to make improvements themselves, because local people will have the trust of their communities and really understand the challenges faced.

That’s why a lot of our work is about investing in people like Tulsi. She and thousands of others are amply repaying our investment.

Some names have been changed for child protection and privacy reasons

‘With support from Plan, Tulsi is making sure her neighbours have a better understanding of health issues, and quality treatment they can afford’

To learn more about Plan’s work in India visit plan.org.au/ourwork/asia/india

‘Plan in India is highly motivated and committed to work for millions of Indian children who are excluded and disadvantaged because their basic rights are violated on a daily basis’ – Roland Angerer, Plan’s Country Director in India