april12 by ON-LYNE

Vol 9 Issue 2 ●

Regn. no. MAHENG/2004/15104

Mar-Apr. 2012

If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.

I n d i a ’ s Fi r s t N G O N e w s ta b l o i d CONNECTiNG India at bottom of UN eGovernance meter

espite being the largest democracy in the world with the need for effective and transparent public governance, India stood at the bottom of the UN E-Government Survey 2012 rankings among less known nations like Samoa, Tuvaluand Vanuatu. Even nations like Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Chile, Latvia, Colombia, Barbados, Barbuda and Uruguay have performed better than India, which stood at 125th position in the UN survey with an EGDI (E-govt. Devpt. Index) of 0.3829 . EGDI measures the willingness and capacity of national administrations to use information and communication technologies (ICTs) to deliver public services. The current ranking is ironically down from the previous ranking of 119 in 2010 in the UN survey for that year. Neighboring countries Sri Lanka, Iran and Maldives are ahead of India in the e-Governance index, while Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan are below India’s ranking. However, India is making efforts to move forward to use technology for delivering social benefits to its poor with its Aadhaar scheme and other IT applications. According to the survey, India is among the one quarter of all countries publicly committed to considering the results of eparticipation in the policy-making process. India also belongs to the half of all countries who provide a gateway to regional and/or local governments by linking to them from their national page or portal. The survey, based on a study of government Web portals of member states, showed that South Korea retains the top position with EGDI score of 9.283/10, ahead of The Netherlands and the UK, followed by Denmark, the US, France and Sweden. UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Sha Zukang said the increasing role of e-Government in promoting inclusive and participatory development has gone hand-in-hand with the growing demands for transparency and accountability in all sectors. With more and more govt. offices being computerised in the cities and villages, one hopes that India, considered to be an IT-savvy country, will improve on that score.Particularly in the MNERGA and such sectors where corruption is rampant. Where’s the governance? On the non-e-governance score, Karnataka still does not have a Lok Ayukta, months after the post fell vacant. Aspirants suggested by the State have been found to be corrupt again and again. It is apparent that the State does not want an honest man for the job.---Rima Kashyap

-- Booker T. Washington

www.ngoconnect.org

A ‘SHAKTI’ PROJECT

Implications of the Budget & Finance Bill 2012 on Charitable Organizations in India

inister of Finance, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee presented the Union Budget for 2012-13 and the Finance Bill 2012 on March 16, 2012. Networks of voluntary organizations in India like Voluntary Action Network of India (VANI), Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy (CAP) and many others had earlier met Mr. Mukherjee and submitted memorandums requesting certain legitimate reliefs and more enabling tax provisions for India’s dynamic and evolving voluntary / nonprofit sector. However, all petitions made seem to have fallen on deaf ears. Budget Highlights The Direct Tax Code (DTC) has not been enacted as yet. The Parliamentary Standing Committee submitted their report only on March 9, 2012. Mr. Mukherjee has said that he will examine the report expeditiously and take steps for the enactment of the DTC at the earliest. The Finance Minister has provided no increase in the threshold of Rs. 25 Lakhs to organizations falling under the category -”advancement of any other object of general public utility’— u/s 2(15). He has further proposed and with retrospective effect from 1st April 2009 (in other words applicable for financial year 200809 and subsequent fiscal years), that Section 10(23C), Section 13 and Section 143 of the Income Tax Act be amended to ensure that such organizations do not get benefit of tax exemption in the year in which its receipts from commercial activities exceed the threshold of Rs. 25 Lakhs, whether or not the registration or approval granted or notification issued is cancelled, withdrawn or rescinded.* No tax deductions shall be allowed under Section 80G or Section 80GGA for cash donations in excess of Rs. 10,000/-. These amendments to Sections 80G and 80GGA will take effect from 1st April, 2013 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the financial year 2012-13 and subsequent fiscal years. The Service Tax provisions in the Budget mention 17 areas (a negative list) in which service tax will not be charged but for absolutely everything else that involves a service, there will be *service tax @ 12 % (plus cess) instead of the earlier 10% (plus cess). The negative list (i.e. services not chargeable to tax) includes pre-school and school education, recognized education at higher levels and approved vocational education, renting of residential dwellings, entertainment and amusement services and a large part of public transportation including inland waterways, urban railways and metered cabs. The Finance Minister has specified that in addition to the negative list, there is a list of exemptions which include health care, services provided by

charities, religious persons, sportspersons, performing artists in folk and classical arts, individual advocates providing services to non-business entities, independent journalists, and services by way of animal care or car parking. Contact: Noshir H. Dadrawala Centre for Advancement of Philanthropywww.capindia. in

Our pictures, our words A visual Journey through the womens movement By Laxmi Murthy and Rajshri Dasgupta. Pgs 229, Rs.695 Publ: Zubaan; zubaan@gmail.com

- a picture t’s an old cliché that speaks a thousand words. And in this book, consisting of a historical journey through posters and writing, of the contemporary women’s movement the pictorials give you a fascinating

Direct Tax Code Bill Standing Committee on Finance Recommends Several Reliefs: The Committee has suggested that NPOs be allowed the option to adopt either the cash system or accrual system of accounting for computing their income as per the existing Act. Under the DTC, NPOs have been allowed to carry forward 15% of total income or10% of gross receipts, whichever is higher to be spent within 3 years from the end of the relevant financial year. The Committee has recommended that the existing provisions may be restored so that NPOs become sustainable entities in the long run. The Committee has desired that genuine charitable activities should be promoted and sustained and tax policies and procedures should not act as a hindrance in this process. The Committee has suggested restoring the existing provision in section 11(1A) of the present Act enabling NPOs to reinvest in a prescribed manner sale proceeds of their capital assets held under trust wholly for charitable or religious purposes. Inclusion in regard to organizations engaged in an activity intended to promote international welfare in which India is interested and is approved by Central Government, may be incorporated in the definition of NPO. Contact: Noshir H. Dadrawala Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy [noshir@capindia. in]

Income Tax exemptions for donors No tax deductions shall be allowed under Section 80G or Section 80GGA for cash donations in excess of Rs. 10,000/-. Donation eligible for 50% deduction are Prime Minister’s Drought Relief Fund, National Children’s Fund, donation to charitable trusts and societies notified by the tax department. In the case of donations to private trusts, the actual amount of donation would be 50% of the qualifying amount. Moreover, the tax-payer must note that the deduction under Section 80G cannot exceed one’s total taxable income. As per the Income-Tax Act, 1961, the total amount of deduction is

restricted to 10% of the gross annual income of the tax-payer. To get tax benefit for donations to charitable institutions, the tax-payer must ensure that the institution, trust or the society is registered with the income-tax department and is valid on the date on which the donation is given. The tax-payer must also realise that donations in kind like giving blankets, food packets, medicines and shoes for any charitable cause are not eligible for any tax benefits under Section 80G.

Green tribunal cancels clearance to Posco

glimpse of how and when the Movement began and where it is now. Especially for the young woman of today, used to wearing what she wants, studying where she wants and working because she wants to, this book gives a graphic look at how this independence has been achieved. Over the last 3 decades, the women’s movement has spanned issues from price rise to education and rape. And the poster has been visually the most effective way of conveying the messages women wished to convey. …beginning with patriarchy which “requires violence or a threat of violence to maintain the subordination of women and the authority of men”…and “can be

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on March 30 quashed the green clearance to the proposed steel plant of South Korean steel major Posco in Odisha. The tribunal directed the MoEF to review the clearance afresh and attach specific conditions which Posco would have to follow in a defined timeline Hearing the petition of Prafulla Samantray from the state, the tribunal asked the Environment Ministry to review the environment clearance accorded to it in January last year. A bench of tribunal comprising Justice CV Ramulu and Devendra Kumar Agarwal said the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) should take policy decision that in projects of such magnitude the environment impact assessment should be done for the complete project--not only the initial phase. It said that the environment impact assessment should assess it for the full capacity right from the beginning. The tribunal directed the MoEF to review the clearance afresh and attach specific conditions which Posco would have to follow in a defined timeline. It also directed the MoEF to set up a special committee to monitor the compliance to the environment clearance thus granted. — iGovernment Bureau

sustained not only with coercion but also consent”. Whether it be the family, kinship or the State, they have preferred to push women to the margins. The contemporary women’s movement of the 70s had their work cut out for them. The book traces the many issues they dealt with through chapters titled “Body Politics : Rape, Domestic violence, Sexual Harassment, Health, Desire; “Community Politics: religion and Personal laws, Honour Crimes, Religious Extremism; “Societal Politics: Political participation, Citizenship and Governance; “Politics of Access”: Environment, Land of one’s own,Labour pains. That’s a long list but it shows just how many issues the women of the 70s fought, and how much further there is to go. The posters tell an eloquent story…..and sadly they are still relevant today!!

NGO Connect

Mar-Apr. 2012 ○

○

NGO News WEBSITES A website called “Nav Vani Matrimonial Services for the Deaf” is a free service exclusively meant for the deaf and hard of hearing. Check. http://navvani.in/ Contact:Fr. Ronald Nav Vani School for the Deaf, Varanasi http://www.maidan. in/index. Welcome to Maidan.in (Urdu, an open ground primarily meant for sport and other forms of physical activity). Maidan is a comprehensive resource on Sport for Development (S4D). The Sport for Development platform is for everyone interested n sports on how sport can make a difference, irrespective of what form it is, where it comes from, and what it takes.

Majlis to set up Counselling centre Mumbai: Majlis Legal Centre plans to set up a socio legal counselling centre for victims of Rape in Mumbai. “A victim who is already traumatised by the incident, has then to go on to tackle the ever daunting system of police, doctors, courts… Each investigative report produced at this stage is evidence, that will be used in court during her trial. Most victims are either illiterate or not familiar with medico-legal terms and find the system extremely complicated. Even though all documents are available to her, she cannot scrutinise these documents to check if she has been misrepresented or there are technical errors. Most rape cases do not stand in court due to these errors. The victim needs support, counselling, advice at every stage of the investigation and trial. Her self esteem, how to face the community and believe in herself, is of crucial importance. Majlis’ team of socio legal activists aims to represent victims of sexual abuse, through the entire process of investigation, counselling and trial of the case. They will be by her side and help her understand the procedures and processes; guide her regarding medical examination andtreatment, applying for compensation, police investigation, chargesheet, be a watching advocate and guide the public prosecutor. But most importantly they will be there for her. Majlis’ commitment to working with women for the past twenty years and legal knowledge of police investigation and court procedures will help to offer emotional and legal support to a victim at every stage.This intervention will help women get justice. The centre will also work at creating awareness about ‘do and don’ts’ regarding incidents of sexual abuse to community organisations; conduct sensitisation programmes for the state machinery; build campaigns against negative judgements and work with government on policy intervention that can help victims of sexual abuse. Contact: Majlis, 4, A-2, Golden Valley, Kalina Market Road, Kalina, Santacruz (East), Mumbai 400 098.Tel: 022 26661252 / 26662394 email: majlislaw@gmail. com Website: www.majlisbombay. org

Children rescued, Agents Arrested New Delhi: Trafficking for child labour continues in the capital with children in large numbers being sold

away for bonded labour. Acting on a complaint filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan, 16 minor boys including 4 children from Nepal were rescued on April 5 from Old Delhi Railway Station. These children were being trafficked to Ludhiana by “Bhramaputra Mail” via Delhi andbelonged to villages in Bihar, West Bengal & Nepal. The rescue operation was conducted by Delhi Police, Railway Police and activists from Bachpan Bachao Andolan. Five local agents who were taking the children have been arrested.

Forest Rights Act be implemented in the Hoshangabad district and community forest rights be granted over forest resources.Committees under the provisions of the Act should be formed again by thevillagers.c) Local adivasi communities need not be relocated in the name of wildlife protection -they should be made part of the process of conservation.Contact: Sunil. Vill+post : Kesla, Via Itarsi, Distt : Hoshangabad – 461111. Tel: 09425040452.Email: sjpsunil@gmail.com (Source (Kalpavriksh PAU April 2012)

In this operation, acting on a tip-off from activists in the source areas, BBA rescue team immediately filed a complaint with the Crime Branch which is investigating the supply chain of trafficking.

Bird inventory for tourism

The boys between 9-16 years of age were being trafficked on the pretext of better employment opportunities and high regular wages to Ludhiana’s garment factories, shops and farms. Some of the parents of the children were not aware that their sons were being trafficked to Ludhiana. Mr. Kailash Satyarthi, Founder Chairperson, Bachpan Bachao Andolan commented, ”The capital is the epicenter with children from different states being trafficked via Delhi. It is one of the biggest transitory camps with 2000 illegal placement agencies in the capital. Contact media@bba.org.in

Gandhi Res. Fdt. Pune: President Pratibha Patil inaugurated the Gandhi Research Foundation in Jalgaon, on March 25 where memorabilia and writings of the father of the nation would be housed. GRF has so far collected, from authentic sources, 7350

The NGO Samrakshan Trust recently prepared a bird inventory and carried out a REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) feasibility exercise in the Balpakram Baghmara Landscape (BBL) in the South Garo Hills. An inventory of 212 birds has been prepared based on which Samrakshan proposes to design a detailed bird tourism package outlining important areas for sighting specific birds. Contact: Samrakshan T rust, Meghalaya-, – 794102, Tel: 03639234187Email:contact@samrakshan.org (Source:Protected Area Update April ‘12 )

EOTO News Mumbai: Eye Checkup Camps were held for students from various EOTO Centres on Feb. 5 and 19 by Dr. Navin Gupta, an Ophthalmologist and his assistants. Basic vision screening of students was conducted-- and students diagnosed with vision problems were asked to visit Dr. Navin’s clinic. EOTO has a tie up with Toy Bank and opened its second Toy Library at Rajawadi Municipal Schoo on Feb. 27. Toy bank donated games and toys for the library

books, 4090 periodicals viz. Harijan, Navjeevan and Young India etc., 4019 photographs, 75 films, 148 audio of Gandhiji’s speeches, philately items from 114 countries etc. They have over 1,75,000 pages of scanned documents relating to/from the collection of Gandhiji, Vinoba Bhave, Mahadev Desai and historian Dharampal.

NGOs allege atrocities in TR Bhopal: Tribals, activists and NGOs in the Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh have alleged atrocities in the Satpura Tiger Reserve and have made a list of demands in a recently issued note. The allegations are related to an incident on Feb. 2, at the Sonpur check post where a confrontation occurred between some adivasi women and forest staff when four women from village Nankot had taken their cattle to graze in the park. The forest staff posted here, led by the Forest Ranger is alleged to have misbehaved with the women. These are the findings of an investigation team of local people that the Samajwadi Jan Parishad (SJP) had formed to look into the iincident. The team also made a list of three demands: a) Forest staff ,including the Ranger alleged to be involved in the incident, be booked. b) The

EOTO started its program atTardeo Municipal School on March 1. EOTO supports the students in the school by conducting various developmental activities for them. On Mar. 5 a session on Story Telling through puppets was conducted by Clinical Psychologists Ms. Anjali Gokarn & Ms. Kavita Bhatia from Vishwa Education Trust. Contact: 00000000

World Street Animals Day Mumbai: April 4th is observed as World Street Animals Day and the Welfare for Stray Dogs (WSD) organised an awareness drive about street dogs as well as rabies awareness at Churchgate station. The drive entailed FAQ’s about issues related to street dogs and valuable information, and myths about rabies through posters. The Welfare of Stray Dogs (WSD) is an animal welfare NGO that sterilizes and immunizes stray dogs. It also has an adoption program for abandoned pets and pariahs, an onsite first–aid program and an education and awareness program in schools, colleges, streets and slums. One of the methods of raising funds is a regular garage/jumble sales and a Maha sale was held from March 21- 24, at Girgaum, On Sale were Books, LPs, C.D’s, DVD’s, VCD’s, Artefacts, Glassware, Crockery, Gift Items, Linen, Clothes, and Electronic Items at throw away prices!!! Books donated from Mr Pritish Nandy’s book collection were also on display. The Welfare Of Stray Dogs(WSD) Helpline : 64222838 Website :

www.wsdindia.org wsdindia@gmail.com

E mail :

PEOPLE Green Peaceniks Assam: Two men in Assam have spent their lives spreading their knowledge of medicinal plants and its manifold benefits. Not everyone that Gunaram Khanikar, 65, attends to daily is a patient seeking his herbal remedies. Ffarmers come to learn about Sweet Flag, a high-value crop that controls pests in his paddy fields, and also yields a tuber that combats epilepsy, piles and brain cell damage. Others want Khanikar’s advice to grow medicinal plants in their kitchen gardens. In 45 years of practising herbal medicine, Khanikar has developed 30 medicines for battling an array of ailments such as diabetes, obesity, asthma and malaria. “I am awaiting patents (through Ahmedabadbased National Innovation Foundation) for a few of these,” he said. His patients - both Indian and foreign - aren’t fussy about copyright. Khanikar has received numerous awards and his birthday, March 22, is observed as Medicinal Plants Day in Assam. His love for plants and their medicinal properties was accidental. “My mother applied the juice of kolakochu, a local plant, on a wound during my childhood. “Oral traditional knowledge of medicinal plants is so rich in India. My mission is to pass on the knowledge on a much wider scale.” And that is exactly what he is doing. Schools, colleges and universities in Assam conduct regular educational trips to his garden of herbal medicines. He also edits an Assamese periodical on medicinal plants and anchors a TV show focussing on a plant a day. ”His tireless and persistent efforts for promoting and popularising tradition knowledge about herbal medicine are exemplary,” said Kulendu Pathak, former vicechancellor of Dibrugarh University. Besides, the sick and the farmers, the ‘botanical’ cottage of 90-yearold Ananda Chandra Dutta in Jorhat, is visited by botanists, teachers and students of plant science although Dutta himself, couldn’t study beyond high school. Apart from their obsession with plants and their poverty-dictated childhoods, Khanikar and Dutta have few things in common. They are selftaught botanists who ‘feel the heartbeat’ of everything that stands on roots. Ananda Dutta is obsessed with the study of every plant across the North-east. His research on tea taxonomy, morphology, anatomy and work on expansion of the region’s Tocklai herbarium is legendary.Botanists swear by Dutta’s tomes which include the twovolume Asomor Gos Gosoni (Trees and Plants of Assam).which contains 1,550 illustrations made by him. “ For decades, botanists and scientists questioned my books as I lacked the necessary qualifications. But they ended up at my doorstep after I received critical acclaim from University of California years ago.” Their efforts to acquaint people with trees and medicinal plants are paying off. Farmers are using Khanikar’s formula for making manure from water hyacinth and cow dung; many have planted thorny lemon trees instead of bamboo fences to check invasion of plantations by goats and tea-leaf

thieves on his recommendation.

Handicraft cluster Dalhousie: Handicrafts produced by women artisans of the region have caught the fancy of the district administration as well as an NGO, which may lead to the formation of a cluster.These women have for years been producing intricate and colourful embroidery but their earnings have been paltry. The sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Panthankot, Ravinder Walia, approached an NGO Patiala Handicraft Workshop Cooperative Society (PHWCS) to mobilise the women and organise them to form a cluster,” After an extensive survey conducted in 12 villages of the district, PHWCS shortlisted nearly 1,000 women to be registered as artisans in the society. (It already has over 8,000 registered artisans engaged in embroidery and stitching in Punjab). Rekha Mann, the secretary of the PHWCS, said the Rajpura cluster has been shortlisted for development as an Innovation Centre under the Prime Minister’s Innovative Cluster Scheme. It is one of four chosen from out of 79 clusters across the country by the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises. Mann explained that women in the belt are keen to learn and upgrade their embroidery skills in Kullu and Kashmiri embroidery. “We will promote phulkari designs. Artists from NIFT, Gandhinagar have been hired to explore a blend of Kashmiri embroidery and phulkari.” Working from home, women artisans in PHWCS earn between Rs 1,500 and Rs 5,000 a month.

Wind-solar power for schools Chennai: A micro wind turbine provider has developed a 1-KW wind-solar hybrid system that can be installed in schools to generate captive power. The energy generated is sufficient to power a computer, a fan and LED lights for few hours a day, according to Mr C. Raghuraman, president of EHands Energy, which makestheseturbines. The system costs about Rs 1 lakh and comes with a 600-Watt micro windmill and a 300-W solar panel, together weighing 30 kg. The company is in talks with The Rockefeller Foundation and Clinton Foundation to work out a pact to promote these systems since the company does not make profits on this. E-Hands has launched an initiative called “Wind for schools” where the company will help schools set up a Wind ApplicationCentre. The company has sold 19 such systems to schools across the country such as Valley School, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya and The School-KF. “Eighteen more schools have placed orders,” Mr Raghuramanaid. Considering the fact that the megawatt wind farms are located in the hinterlands, children in schools may now have an opportunity to get close to these big wind turbines to understand how they work and get light in their classrooms. Contact: www.ehandsenergy.in/ enquiry@ehandsenergy.in Tel : +91 44 245 13771

Art for Humanity Mumbai:The non-profit Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP),which

NGO Connect ○

○

Mar-Apr. 2012 ○

○

NGO News has put its weight behind the restitution of justice to the victims of violence and terror in Gujarat, Kashmir and Mumbai, used art to raise funds for its activism. CJP launched Art for Humanity curated by Kria Creative Art Consultantsfrom April 5 to 9 at Coomaraswamy Hall, through which they sold art by some of the country’s top-billed artists, The proceeds from the exhibition and sale go mainly towards paying legal retainers on behalf of victims. This year, Art For Humanity exhibited 70 works by 69 artists, including Ram Kumar, Arpana Caur, Raghu Rai, Ram Rahman, Pablo Bartholomew, Arpita Singh and Manjit Bawa. “The creative community in India has been steadfast in taking a stand for social justice and against communal violence,” says Ram Rahman.“This initiative by CJP, especially their continuing struggle for justice for the victims of communal violence in Gujarat, is particularly important to many of us. As creative artistes, we feel that funds raised by our work, even if it is a drop in the ocean, can add in some small measure.”

RTI Fill Vacancies in the SIC Mumbai:The Public Concern for Governance Trust (PCGT) and other NGOs in the city weredeeply concerned about the vacancies in the State Information Commission which will result in the virtual demise of the RTI Act. A delegation of RTI activists met the Chief Minister Shri Prithviraj Chavan at his residence ‘Varsha’ on April 5, . 1. It was pointed out to the Chief Minister that the Chief Information Commissioner and four other Commissioners had retired and their vacancies had not been filled for long. The Chief Minister promised to find suitable replacements preferably by the end of this month. 2. The activists complained that the government official in charge of the administration of the Act had changed rules without public consultation. The Chief Minister said he would look into this complaint and ensure that consultations as required by the Act would invariably be held. In fact, the Chief Minister said he would set up a Council consisting of government officials and RTI activists to advise on such issues. The Chief Minister also agreed to nominate an official to meet with RTI activists at frequent intervals to sort out glitches. Contact: publicconcern@gmail.com Mumbai: Volunteers of Mahiti Adhikar Manch in co-ordination with F/South -Brihanmumbai Mahanagarpalika Ward Office held a Mass Awareness Campaign on the RTI Act on April 9/10 at the Office of the F/South Ward, Parel, as part of an initiative by Brihanmumbai Mahanagarpalika under section 26(1) of RTI Act, 2005 Mumbai: To make it easy for the common man to draft RTI applications, G R Vora is creating a pool of specimen RTI applications. These applications will be assigned searchable web links and widely publicized.Anybody can download these RTI applications anonymously (without login or password requirement) , and use them for making similar RTI applications.See this sample: http:// tinyurl. com/RTI-applicat ion-formspecimen. Please email your word files (.doc) or scans of your successful RTIapplications to grvora2@gmail.com . Mention category names in the email subject line. (e.g. RTI

and future generations; Uphold water citizenship, water justice and water democracy

Application-Civic Encroachments/. Ration Cards/. Passports/ Birth / Death Certificates). “We prefer to delete the name and address. If you want your name to be retained please specify. If you are unable to delete from the scanned file, you may instruct us to do the needful.Call G R Vora on 98691 95785. RTI Anonymous comes to the rescue of those afraid of being targeted for filing RTI applications RTI Anonymous is a free online service through which any Indian citizen can file RTI applications anonymously. A young student who applied t find out the amount due as scholarship to him succeeded in improving eventually the condition of all scholarship holders. According to a news report in the New Indian Express there are 2.1 lakh beneficiaries of central government scholarship to poor students in Karnataka and the amount involved is Rs10.58 crore. However, only 44% of the money has been disbursed. There are complaints from hundreds of students in Uttar Pradesh (UP) who have not received scholarships or have received only partial amounts. The educational institutions, in which they study, do not bother to address these complaints. Hence, it is advisable that students in large numbers should file a RTI application. This will form a pressure group and steadily every educational institution will be compelled to give the appropriate money and the social welfare department will be forced to release the money which it sometimes doesnot. RTI Anonymous is an online service, The RTI Anonymous community will file those RTI applications in their name and upload the documents obtained as a reply on this website. The original requester will get an email when this happens. The original requester just has to draft the RTI application as best as he/she can and the RTI Anonymous community will take care of the rest.. Just follow the five steps given. Any PIL lawyers/ journalists/ reporters can also download these documents from this website.

Anasuya needs Volunteers Chennai: A former IAS Officer of Tamilnadu and a Former University Vice Chancellor and Fulbright Scholar about 9 years ago started the Anasuya Foundation for Women and Children. Currently they are working in two villages l95 kms from Chennai, to organize women to demand the welfare and development schemes of the government to reach them through a Field Officer Sri. Pandian inthevillage. Anasuya needs volunteers who can give some steady time/ assistance in kind Contact:.K.Oza I.A.S (Retd), No. 1, First Cross Street, Indiranagar, Adyar, Chennai Tel: 91-44-24422269 / 94442 16627 Email: oza.devendra@ gmail.com

Maher Sports Camp Pune: The Maher sports camp for their children --The Annual Maher Summer Sports camp--was held from April 19 to 22 . All the events took place at Maher, Bhima Koregaon, On April 23rd a celebration as one of the orphan widows will get married. Contact.maherpune@gmail.com. Ph: 020-27033421 / 9011086134

Activists, writers and citizens spoke at the rally organized by the Environment Support Group.

A patient receives an appliance from BLP

Rehab. of Leprosy Patients Mumbai: Bombay Leprosy Project (BLP) has been practicing Integrated Rehabilitation so that leprosy affected and physically challenged have an opportunity of livelihood. This has also helped in eliminating the stigma amongst the physically challenged and leprosy affected. BLP has also been observing the World Disabled Day (WDD) and World Leprosy Day and Anti leprosy Week as leprosy is being integrated with general health services and rehabilitation services. Rehabilitation of the leprosy affected and physically challenged is a long time endeavour which BLP have undertaken in collaboration with allied agencies and philanthropists. At a simple function on Mar.15 at its Main Referral Centre, BLP provided aids and appliances to needy leprosy affected persons checked by ophthalmologists from KL Somaiya Medical College, at the BLPs Referral Centre. (Spectacles were donated by Shraddha Foundation).Contact: blproject@vsnl.net

Grassroot work by engineers Hyderabad: Nearly fifty people, most of them software engineers, came together during a LokSatta meeting and decided to do something constructive. The team surveyed every ZP and Government school of Kukatpally. When the survey was complete, they created a comprehensive report and presented it to the authorities. The report was found to be superior to the annual government report (as the government itself admitted and used it!). Funds were now found from sources within government; and using these, classrooms and toilets were constructed to the maximum extent possible. The team gained the trust of the teachers who now call the members for any help they need. The focus is now on increasing the skill level of the teachers, filling vacancies, providing help with fees to needy students, and talking to dropouts and making them re-enroll. In the next 2 years, the plan is that the schools will be functioning at near perfection. And these are government schools for children coming from families with marginal incomes.www.kukatpallynow.com

World Water Day Bangalore: On World water day, March 22, to celebrate the natural character of water as commons by drowning the anti-water National Water Policy 2012, a rally was organized in front of the Town Hall with the following demands: Protect the Rights of Mother Earth; Drown the National water Policy that is anti people, undemocratic and pro-corporate; Ban all forms of water privatization; Uphold Right to Water of all life forms; Protect all commons for the benefit of present

They pointed out that though private companies have dismally failed to meet even the basic standards of quality and equity in water supply in Mysore, HubliDharwad, Gulbarga and Belgaum where water has already been privatized, there is a systematic attempt to mislead the country into believing that the corporate capture of water is actually good for people. In many countries in South America, Africa, South-East Asia and even in Europe where corporate water supply has been tried and failed, a remunicipalization process has taken over. People of every continent are demanding a ban on all forms of privatization in the water sector. The People’s Campaign for Right to Water – Karnataka totally oppose this anti people, unjust Water policy Contact:Environment Support Group – Trust, Bangalore Tel: 918 0 - 2 6 7 1 3 5 5 9 - 6 1 Email:esg@esgindia.org Web: www.esgindia.org

India Against Corruption Delhi: Anna Hazare observed a one-day fast on March 25 to express solidarity for slain IPS officer Narendra Kumar and others who laid their life fighting against corruption. The protest was also to demand the passage of a strong Whistle-blower bill to provide protection to activists who expose corruption and people behind it. The respective state units of IAC across the country observed rallies and marches in support of the cause. IAC Bengaluru also organized a Solidarity March on Mar 25th to express support to the family of slain IPS officer Narendra Kumar . Former DGP Mr L.Revanasiddaiah flagged off the March on MG Road. More than 500 people participated in the march stretching over 2 km. The march ended with Candle Light vigil at Brigade Road and another 250 extended their support. Similar reports of rallies came from other IAC chapters across India (including Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chennai, etc). Appoint Lokayukta campaign began from April 15 with activists standing at the Basveshwara circle- the heart of Bangalore-during the mornings everyday for two hours and spreading awareness to the public during the evenings on MG Road. Who’s the criminal? Mr Arvind Kejriwal’s spirited and hard-hitting reply to the privilege motion moved by few scrupulous Parliamentarians said the Parliament found it hard to digest the fact that 160 odd colleagues of theirs face serious criminal charges ranging from corruption, rape, murder and other heinous crimes. While we have enormous respect for the good parliamentatirans, and we believe there are many of them in existing house, we find it extremely hard to extend similar respect to the set of parliamentarians who are charged with such crimes. The reply has become almost viral in the Press and on emails throughout the world making a laughing stock of our Parliamentarians. Contact: iac@

For the Girl Child Mumbai: Population First organized a day-long workshop on ‘Contemporary Feminist Theories’ on Jan. 20, at the SavitriBai Phule Gender Resource Centre, Elphinstone Road. 15 participants attended the Workshop. Ms Gita Chadha of RCWS while giving her introductory speech mentioned how feminist theory could be taken to the classroom and how feminism is not only about activism, justice and rights but also explanations. A consultation meeting with senior representatives of advertising agencies on how communication professionals could help Population First (PF) to take the Girl Child campaign forward more effectively was held on Feb 10, attended by S.Subramanyeswar( Lowe Lintas), Priti Nair,(Curry Nation), Prabhakar Mundkur, (Percept), Ramesh Narayan,(Canco India), Anuja Gulati and Dr. DK Mangal ( UNFPA) and Mr. S.V. Sista, Dr. A.L Sharada and Namita Ram from Population First. Dr. Sharada, Director, Population First spoke about stereotypical portrayal of gender roles in Advertisement, women always being shown promoting beauty products and their on-screen roles being highly stereotypical. The members felt that stereotyping is not done consciously but is driven by the prevailing social values and mindsets of the advertising professionals.Suggestions were given by the members to give the Girl Child campaign more visibility before the target audience. Contact: Population First, Mumbai Tel: 91 22 2262 6672 / 76 Fax: 91 22 2270 2217Email:info@populationfirst.org , Website: www.populationfirst.or

Human Rights cases The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took up the case of land-grabbing, diversion of forest land in Patharia reserve forest pushing around 300 families of forest dwellers into the condition of starvation and homeless. The human rights watchdog registered the case on a complaint filed by the Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC) after it conducted a fact-finding study of the situation. The (BHRPC) informed the authorities that around 300 families of traditional forest dwellers in and around Patharia forest reserve in Karimganj district of Assam have forcibly been deprived of their sources of livelihood and now live under severe threat of imminent eviction by some businessmen allegedly in connivance with the local minister, Mr Siddeque Ahmed. The accused persons grabbed the land -- 130 hectares (330 acres) -reportedly for rubber plantation, where the families of the forest dwellers have been living for generations depending on the forest produces for livelihood. The forest dwellers were asked to leave the areas soon and threatened with murders, rape and jail. The BHRPC found that it was *prima facie* a case of diversion of forest land for non-forest commercial purpose of rubber plantation as well as a case of criminal trespass and taking illegal possession of land held by both the department of environment and forest in Patharia reserve forest and the villagers of Pecharpar. The Silchar-based rights group contended that the activities are in flagrant violations of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 as interpreted and applied by the Supreme Court of India.

NGO Connect

Mar-Apr. 2012 ○

○

NGO News The BHRPC demanded the authorities stop immediately felling of trees; take urgent actions to restore immediately possession of the land to the villagers; to provide the villagers with adequate monetary compensation, to conduct promptly a fair and objective inquiry by the CBI particularly into the alleged crimes and involvement of the minister. Contact*Waliullah Ahmed Laskar <Wali.laskar@ gmail.com>+91 9401942234 URL: http://wp.me/ phKmE-ge

Assam notifies Right to Public Services Act Guwahati: The legislation titled “Assam Right to Public Services Act, 2012” will ensure better delivery of public services which the government is mandated to provide to its citizens. The new Act will provide rights to the citizens to get “notified public services” within a definite timeframe and also fixes responsibility on public servants to provide these services in a time-bound manner. The appellate authority or the reviewing authority will be empowered to impose penalty or take direct disciplinary action against the designated public servant for his/her failure to perform. The notified service is likely to include ration cards, birth and death certificates, water, power connections and works related to land revenue departments.Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told the State Assembly that prime focus of the Bill would be on offering good governance.—iGovernment Bureau

Conf. on Affordable Housing Mumbai: Organized by URBZ, Sir JJ College of Architecture and Lafarge the conference built on weeks of pedagogic exchanges with students of JJ College of Architecture, URBZ, leading practitioners from India and abroad and local contractors and masons. They have documented existing construction practices in the neighbourhoods of Shivaji Nagar Govandi, Bhandup and Dharavi and evolved their own visions through this learning experience This study opens up the possibility of re-looking at affordable housing in a manner that transcends, statist, private sector and market driven approaches and strives for a realistic and more effective model based on user’s involvement, community networks and local economic dynamics. Among those who spoke were: B.V. Doshi. (Vastu Shilpa Foundation, Ahmadabad) Claudio Acioly (UN Habitat, Nairobi); Challenges and Potential of NGO Driven Affordable Housing Production—Bijal Bhatt (Mahila Housing Trust, Ahmadabad); Strategic Alliances between Corporations and NGOs in Affordable Housing —François Perrot (Lafarge Affordable Housing, Paris). Web: urbz.net/JJAH, studioplus.lafargeblogs.com For more info Contact Us. Tel: 022 22621649 (Sir JJ College of Architecture)

STUDY India’s AIDS demographic profile shifts Marking a dramatic shift in the demographic profile of people with AIDS, migrant workers and their wives have emerged as a high-risk group (HRG) for contracting the

HIV, with an infection rate surpassing that of injecting drug users, commercial sex workers and homosexual men, according to the latest government data. The change is accompanied by a significant geographical shift from the south and north-east to Maharashtra, Bihar, Orissa and Rajasthan, which now collectively contribute nearly 50% to the new HIV infections. Experts say the findings reflect increasing promiscuity, especially among the migrant population. The emergence of new HRGs and geographies will require a redeployment of resources and a shift in the focus of NACP, which has succeeded in arresting the spread of HIV in states once considered to be the most vulnerable to the virus, theysaid.

SUCCESS State must budget to conserve lakes Bangalore: Following up on the direction of the Karnataka High Court in Environment Support Group’s PIL that State must make budgetary allocation starting 2112 for protection and conservation of lakes, Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda has allotted Rs. 50 crores with the rider that matching monies must be invested by BBMP and BDA. This means Rs. 150 crores would be available for conservation and wise use of Bangalore’s lakes in one year, a first for any urban area in India. Spring-shed development Sikkim: Four years ago, Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Sandeep Tambe met a delegation of Lepcha elders who were troubled as the usually bountiful Himalayan mountain springs-locally known as Mohaan, Kuaan and Dhara-were fast drying up because of the usual reasons: increasing population, burgeoning livestock, soil erosion, erratic rainfall, deforestation, forest fires, roadconstruction. The solution that Tambe hit upon was spring-shed development, which is based on the principles of rainwater harvesting.”The scientific principle of spring-shed development is to conserve every drop of rainwater where it falls, the ‘running’ water needs to be trained to ‘walk’, and the ‘walking’ water needs to be trained to ‘rest’ for a while,” explained Tambe. The concept of water harvesting was a completely alien one to the people of the region as scarcity was new to them. Today, the mountain springs once again gurgle with water--testimony to the success of an initiative that has won the Ground Water Augmentation Award from the ministry of water resources. Tambe credits teamwork for the success of the water conservation effort. NGOs put together a number of engineering measures to harvest rainwater such as conserving soil and moisture with contour trenches and pits, gully plugs and bunds on terraces. The desilting of dried-up ponds and lakes was among the many interventions that were central to the success of Dhara Vikas. Further greening measures included brushwood check dams, the planting of shallow-rooted grass that doesn’t need much water, shrubs, hedgerows and trees. Restrictions were imposed. The recharge area was fenced off. Work is now under way to revive five springs in the south, east and west districts. Information on nearly 200 springs has been collected and a “web atlas” application that shows village springs is being developed

to make the information accessible to all users. The next step is to artificially recharge the Nagi Lake in Namthang. ”The existing national rural drinking water programmes need to explore spring-shed development as a means to ensure sustainability of the spring water sources, especially in the mountains,” said Tambe. “A positive step in this direction is a nationwide aquifer-mapping exercise that is being planned along with mountain spring conservation for effective groundwater management.”

Rahul Bose goes arund NGOIndia exhibition in Gurgaon

Educating prisoners

carbon content, pests and micronutrient content.

and how this could catalyse India’s development.

Mr. Saxena as a director in the All India Committee on Jail Reforms from 1980-82, initiated efforts to stop the practice of putting handcuffs and heavy shackles on the feet of prisoners. He encouraged prisoners to study and arranged books through charitable organisations. “I used educated prisoners as resource persons and got them to teach other inmates.”

Incidentally Baramati is Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s home constituency. A co-incidence?

The organisers partnered with other synergistic organisations including Oxfam; IBM; the National Trust; FICCI; Economic Times, Guidestar to engage the Indian NGO community. and to ensure all participants were credible NGOs”, remarked Sanjeev Khaira, Managing Director, UBM India. At the India debut, the event received an overwhelming response from 2,388 professionals who got a unique opportunity to view best practices and projects related to community and individual development.

Today, 20 years after having retired from his job, Saxena still fights on. He is associated with organisations such as the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) and is vice president of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). He has conducted various workshops for CHRI on improving the prisoner visiting system, decongesting prisons, sensitisation about child protection laws for judicial magistrates; members of special juvenile police units ; and children’s welfare committees, as well as speeding up the process for undertrials. He is also working with the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment to push officials to improve conditions in juvenile homes. He is carrying out a study, funded by Save the Children, of two juvenile homes in Ajmer and Tonk. His achievements within and without the system have been many, but surely fighting the bureaucratic system to bring in reforms couldn’t have been easy.

Mobile soil testing Baramati (Maha): Farmers in remote parts of Maharashtra will now get instant soil and crop analysis as well as recommendations for better farming practices at their doorstep, thanks to a mobile soil testing unit which is available on call. Maharashtra is the first and so far the only state to implement the scheme, sanctioned recently by the Centre, under which the district level government farming centre here has been equipped with a mobile soil testing unit. Earlier, farmers had to take soil samples from their fields and travel to government farming centres, popularly called Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), for soil analysis. The mobile soil testing unit introduced recently has helped farmers on issues like soil infertility, harmful pests and water problems. KVK experts now come to their fields and provide the result and report on the same day. Every day we receive over 1520 calls from farmers in different parts of Maharashtra, “ Dhananjay Bhoite, in-charge of the soil analysis lab at a KVK said. The lab is equipped to test over 50 soil samples in a day for fertility,

Green warning for the Lohit river For local residents, most Himalayan peaks from Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh are divine . One such river is Lohit in Arunachal Pradesh, where Parashuram, an incarnation of Vishnu, was believed to have cleansed himself after beheading his mother. Today, however, the Himalayas seem to be fighting a losing battle against India’s hunger for electricity. “They are raping nature in the name of development, “ Dawa Lepcha, general secretary of the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) said. ACT, an organisation formed by members of the Lepcha community, seeks cancellation of hydroelectric projects that threaten to destroy the region. Most of these projects, which generate about 5,144 MW of electricity, are located on the Teesta river and in Dzongu, the northern part of the area. ”In almost all cases, the sentiments of local residents as well as ecological factors were overlooked,” said Vijay Taram, spokesperson of Forumfor Siang Dialogue (FSD), from Pasighat. The Siang river, which is one of the three rivers that form the Brahmaputra in Assam, had dried up earlier this year reportedly due to dams built by China upstream. “The pro-dam lobby say that if we don’t do it, China will,” Fearing the adverse impact of dams in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam has been protesting several projects including the 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri project. “ Western Assam has already been experiencing flash floods and droughts due to dams in Bhutan,” said anti-dam activist Akhil Gogoi. The Good News is that Nagaland has developed a technology that can tap power withouthaving any adverse impact on nature. The Nagaland Empowerment of People through Energy Development (NEPED) has designed a portable hydroger, which can be installed on mountain streams to generate 3-25 KW of power without affecting the water flow. “At least 125 villages rely on hydrogers,” said Takum Chang, a member of NEPED.

Through the forum of NGO India 2012 the NGOs collectively had the opportunity to deliberate on advocacy and share their concerns over fund raising. Nisha Agrawal, Chief Executive Officer of Oxfam India said funds from foreign donors have dried up and “it is extremely important that both individuals and corporate houses step in to fill the void created by the departure of foreign aid from India”. At the inauguration, Poonam Natrajan, Chairperson of the National Trust, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment pointed out that, “at the moment we are not imparting adequate training on skill sets that can enable the disadvantaged to get employment in the mainstream”. A prayer dance was performed by girls from Manthan Apang Kanya Seva Sankul, Gujarat. The two-day conference served to deepen the understanding of key issues in areas such as Health, Livelihoods, Environment, Education, Disaster Response and Empowerment “NGO India 2012 will have made a real difference when connections translate into partnerships, and appreciation converts into engagement and support.” Contact:Rob Sahi Email: rob.sahi@ubm.com Tel: +91 22 6709 2467; Hena Ahmad Email: hena.ahmad@ubm.com Tel: +91 9999600622 www.indi-ngo.org

Online Maths Classes from USA

Gurgaon: UBM India an event organizer, brought NGOs and CSR professionals together on a structured exhibition and conference platform through NGOIndia..

Ajab (Junagadh): It’s a typical 6x6 classroom of a village school - dimly lit and dusty - with furniture crying for repair. But what catches one’s attention is a big TV monitor, a wireless microphone enabling web conferencing and internet connectivity. At 7 am, students of Shri Krishna Vidya Mandir in Gujarat’s Ajab village jostle for space in this room, keenly waiting for Chiman Delwadia, who is about to log on from Birmingham in Alabama, USA.

Hosted at the Epicentre, Gurgaon from March 16-18, the event attracted 150 NGOs working at a grass-roots level, as well as, participation from corporates and actor Rahul Bose who emphasised the value of a win – win relationship between the NGOs, Government and Corporate India –

As soon as Delwadia appears on the TV monitor, students throw a volley of maths problems at him. He patiently takes them and starts solving the problems. The class continues for 90 minutes, where mathematics is combined with fun

NGOIndia Exhibition

Mar-Apr. 2012

NGO Connect ○

○

NGO News for the students of classes VII, VIII and IX. They have also started conversing in English. The online classes, held thrice a week, have ensured that a subject most dreaded by students has become a favourite of nearly 36 of them in this obscure village. Delwadia, 58, born and brought up in Ajab, migrated to the US in 1978 and works as a systems engineer for Southern Company Services, a utility company covering four US states. ”Whenever I came to Ajab, I was pained to see that education in government schools was so pathetic and poor children can’t afford to go to private schools. So, we decided to come up with free online interactive classes,” Delwadia told TOI from the US. He was joined in this initiative by two Alabama-settled women Kalyani Jani, a research associate and native of Gondal, and Tara Roy, a medical technologist who specially learned Gujarati to interact with the students. “Children are learning a lot and are very dedicated,” says Jani. Savan Nishu, who recently took the class X exams, said, “I don’t fear maths anymore. I expect to get at least 80 marks.”

About Music Basti Delhi: Music Basti believes in music for community building and personal development. The program focuses on children-at- risk and urban youth through creating participative music education programs and life-skills. Its aim isto create and promote selfconfidence and creativity through interactionand sharing in and through music actively, The network of Music Basti includes musicians, volunteers and partners iin Delhi, nationally, and internationally. Activities and programs of Music Basti have included the participation of over 400 children and 500 volunteers so far, and has reached out to over 1,00,000 persons through public programs and online content. Its partners include “Dil Se” Campaign(Center for Equity Studies and Aman Biradari), The YP Foundation, Bridge Music Academy, Hard Rock Cafe Delhi, Gibson Foundation, EFICOR, HarmoNYom(New York), British Council, Max Mueller Bhawan etc. The programs of Music Basti are managed and administered by IntegratedDevelopment Education Association (IDEA), an NGO working for the empowerment of the powerless especially dalits, women and children, and differently gifted persons. www.musicbasti.org/

More funds for Leprosy Mumbai:The increasing prevalence of leprosy in urban areas has emerged as a cause for concern for the state health department. More leprosy patients are found in the citiy -in Govandi, Kurla and Vile Parle Bhiwandi town, than in rural areas,Health minister, Maharashtra, Suresh Shetty said. In a recent survey, in which19 districts and 24 urban areas were studied for leprosy prevalence. ”Most countries in which the disease was endemic have nearly eradicated it at the national level, The state has decided to increase the funding for NGOs working for cure and rehabilitation of leprosy patients in Maharashtra from Rs450 per patient per month to Rs2,200

from April 1, 2012.The decision will help 13 hospitals and 16 NGOs who are working in different districts of the state, including Maharogi Seva Samiti, set up by Baba Amte at Anandvan, Chandrapur.

Friends’ Society Vadodara: Daily in the morning the Friends Society campus is buzzing with children from the Balwadi involved in playing, learning and fun. These 50 kids belonging to lower socio-economic class from neighboring community, will be

cost of Rs 10.5 crore in UP Jharkhand, Odisha, AP, MP and Chhatisgarh. A Memorandum of Understanding to this effect was signed between the Rural Electrification Corporation and the National Literacy Mission Authority in New Delhi on Tuesday.(iGovernment Bureau)

Electoral Reforms Mumbai: Chief Election Commissioner Dr SY Quraishi spoke on’Democracy at

uncertainty, the mercy of donors and related challenges was hard, but not unsurmountable. (His project on the hand-powered charger funded by the state government, for instance, was wound up when the government lost interest in it). Das established his name as an independent inventor a decade after he quit his job. From research to design, procurement of raw materials to assembling, he has been doing it all single handedly. He does not keep a research assistant for fear that his blueprints may be leaked. Das had done what he had set out to do. His inventions were not about rocket science but the routine needs of the people. Some time in 2005, the presence of arsenic in Kolkata’s groundwater caught Das’s attention. In 2011, his invention, the Zynga, an automated chlorine doser, was installed in a small village near Gobardanga, Bengal. It was installed in five slums of Dhaka this January. So far, 3,500 slum dwellers of Bangladesh have used it.

Children from Friends Society Celebrating

taught to get into the mainstream of society. In the evenings the Friends Society campus is buzzing with the Youth Club involved in their activities. .. 50 children studying in Class II to VII, mainly through non–formal education, are provided a supportive atmosphere. On March 17, these children visited Ajwa Fun World (25 kms. from Vadodara thanks to donations from well-wishers Kshitij Yadav & Abhilash Sundaram from U.K and the generosity of the Fun World.. As a part of Friends Society’s activity “Sunday School for mentally challenged non-institutionalized children” picnic was organized for children on Feb.26, to Kabirvad. with each MR child having a volunteer. Contact: jayanuj@gmail.com

Free artifical Limbs Noida: Centre For Empowerment and Initiatives(CEI), is a registered Charitable Trust set up conduct public charitable activities including activities relating to health, medicine, education, etc for the benefit of the ‘poorest of the poor’, is operating and managing a Centre in Noida, Uttar Pradesh for fitting of artificial limbs, calipers, etc. to the physically challenged in collaboration with Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti Jaipur, Rajasthan. It provides Free artificial limbs and calipers which are fabricated, assembled by qualified and trained experts as per specification of each individual. Since the commencement of its operations in December 2011, the Centre has served more than 80 patients.CEI needs volunteers and help to organize a fundraiser etc. Contact R M Sanjeevi :email info@cei-india. org

CSR REC to set up 100 adult education centres New Delhi: About 100 Model Adult Education Centres (AECs) will be set up in urban areas under the CSR programme of the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), across the country under Saakshar Bharat Programme. Another 220 such centers in rural areas will also be upgraded at a total

Crossroads – Need for Electoral Reforms’ on March 27 at the Nehru Centre. He explained why Electoral reforms are crucial to a free and fair election, and how they will enable citizens to elect a better government. The talk was followed by an interactive discussion with Dr Quraishi and NGOs supporting the event: India Against Corruption, Karmyog, Tarun Mitra mandal,The Bombay Catholic Sabha, janhit Manch,PCGT,Loksatta, Mahiti Adhikar Manch,etc Dr Quraishi has done a lot to ensure that elections are free and fair and asserted the independence of the CEC. Contact 022-24441058-60 or email<mail@mlfoundation.in> log on to www.mlfoundation.in

Tech. without electricity Kolkata: Suprio Das was asked what drew him to invent low-cost technologies for the poor. Das’s answer was typical - find out what sucks and then fix it. He applied this thumb-rule to all his inventions. The poor couldn’t afford electricity, so his gadgets left it out. It was a career-defying choice: the 55-year old scientist was a trained electrical engineer. “To me, the idea is very clear. I need technologies that will not be complex, be easy to maintain and have minimum recurring expenses,” said Das. Consider some of them. His first project, a wheel-cum-pulley attached with a mobile battery charger charged the cellphones of Sunderbans residents without any electricity when cyclone Aila struck in 2009. In 2006, he devised a unique battery, the Firefly, fitted on the wheels of a cycle-rickshaw that could be charged with a few hours of pedalling. The charged battery, when attached to a LED light, could illuminate a room. “Six hours of light with four hours of pedalling,” summed up Das, with some pride. The process cut down the recurring cost of kerosene for lamps usually used in the households of rickshaw pullers. “My invention will reduce capital cost by 50% even when compared to solar power,” added its inventor. The leap from a comfortable and well-paying job into a life of financial

In May 2012, Das will choose a few villages in North 24 Parganas to install the instrument with the help of a local NGO. Approximately, 6,000 more villagers are expected to be benefitted by the project. The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research of Bangladesh, and a team from Stanford University, is now carrying out research to ascertain whether the innovation would help generate bacteria or arsenic-free water.”The cost for making a single Zynga is around Rs 5,000. It could be reduced 50% if it is produced in bulk. Most important, it requires no electricity, “ said its inventor. Das greets all questions on his future projects with caution. “Let me first see the fate of my Zynga. I am an inventor and there is no end to inventions,” he says. (Source-Hindustan Times) C o n t a c t : research@hindustantimes.com

Disability project Bangalore: “My manager is the lead for the CDAN program ie Cisco Disabled Action Network. This year they wanted to hire about 30 disabled /challenged persons but they were able to hire only 2 since they are having a tough time finding resumes. So if you know anybody who is disabled / challenged please let me know so that I can let my manager know. If the person has a engineering or a diploma degree then irrespective of his college or percentage he has a high chance of getting in. Even if the candidate does not have a diploma they are still open to consideration since there are various other job positions. Contact: Avinash Gowda <avinash.avin29@gmail.com>

157 water supply projects sanctioned under JNNURM New Delhi: The Union Government has sanctioned 157 projects for water supply under the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) with an outlay of Rs 20,000 crore. Minister of Urban Development Kamalnath, said 65 cities have been identified for this purpose. He said that water supplies is a State subject, however, Centre

supplements the efforts of State government and Union Territories to provide drinking water to the people. He also informed that four projects accounting for a total investment of Rs 315,600000 crore have been sanctioned under the Asian Development Bank assisted North Eastern Region Urban Development Programme (NERUDP) which covers five capital cities in the North East.— Shillong, Aizawl, Agartala, Gangtok and Kohima.

K’taka to introduce free, compulsory education It will launch the centre-sponsored scheme from June this year that will benefit around 83 lakh students iin the state. The Karnataka Government will introduce the Centre sponsored free and compulsory education in the State from the coming academic year.Minister for Primary and Secondary Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri said

NGOs foreign aid: Rs. 31,000 cr in 4 years Delhi: On March 14, the government said in the Rajya Sabha that more than Rs. 31,000 crore had been received as foreign contribution by 65,500 Indian NGOs from 20072010. The 4 year break up is: Rs. 9914 crore received by 21,365 NGOs in 2007-8 Rs. 10987 crore by 22,544 NGos in 2008-9 Rs. 10340 crore by 21,674 NGos in 2009-10 The answers came about because of the Governments insistence that funds are being diverted by NGOs

Conf.held EMPOWER- Centre for Consumer Education, Research and Advocacy and CitizenConsumer and Civic Action Group held a seminar on Issues with Telecom Sector- A ConsumerAwareness Programme, in Tuticorin on March 28 and at Tirunelveli the next day. Contact:SankarEmpower India 94431 48599 Every year 21st March is celebrated as World Forestry Day. BNHS CEC celebrated the same by holding a painting competition for school students on 25th March 2012 at at Conservation Education Centre, Goregaon.. World Forestry Day has been celebrated around the world to ring a bell among the society about the importance of forests and the scores of benefits which are gained from them. Contact: cecbnhs@gmail.com. Durban Disaster - where do we go from here?Dr T Jayaraman, Professor and Dean, Centre for Science, Technology and Society, School of Habitat Studies, TISS, addressed these issues on March 30, at Centre for Education and Documentation, Bangalore.Ph.25353397. Email: cedban@doccentre. net, Vikas Adhyayan Kendra (VAK), Mumbai organised a national workshop “Dalit Emancipatory Politics Today: Issues and Challenges” on 24-25 March 2012 at Mumbai covering Caste-based violence and atrocity, Dalit culture, art and literature, Right to food and dalits, Dignity and caste-based occupations, Land rights and dalits, Contemporary dalit movement and Way forward. contact Sundera Babu, :mail:director.vak@gmail.com

Mar-Apr.2012 ○

○

NGO Connect ○

○

AWARDS 2012 UN-Water Award The Environment Support Group (ESG) has been awarded the 2012 UN-Water “Water for Life” Best Practices Award at a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, Rome on 22 March 2012, World Water Day. ESG was given the Category 1 “Best Water Management Practices” Award for its initiative: “Protection of Bangalore Lakes for Posterity – Setting a Legal Precedent for Conservation of Lakes as Commons”. This multi-year multipronged effort based on appropriate interventions involving local governance bodies, under the direction supervision of the Judiciary, is considered by the UN as an “outstanding contribution towards the conservation of water bodies in Bangalore, India, and its demonstrable and tangible impact on the food and water security of urban, peri-urban and rural communities in the region”. According to the United Nations, the basic purpose of these awards is to “promote efforts to fulfill international commitments made on water and water-related issues by 2015 through recognition of outstanding best practices that can ensure the long-term sustainable management of water resources...” Contact: Mr. Leo F. Saldanha, Coordinator/ Trustee of ESG, Tel: (080) 26713559-61 Email: esg@esgindia.org ,Web: www.esgindia.org

Visually impaired woman is ‘Super Idol’ When she was one-year-old, a congenital cataract defect robbed her of vision in her left eye. At 33, she lost vision in her right eye as well after facing domestic violence. But Sachu Ramalingam, a resident of Mulund, did not lose hope or give up. Ramalingam, now 37, works as a programme officer with Sightsavers, a development organisation working with the visually impaired in the country. For the past 13 years, she has trained more than 5,000 children and adults with low vision to carry out their daily chores independently. Ramalingam was conferred the ‘Super Idol’ title by the IBN18 Editorial Board for her work. The award ceremony, which is in its third year, honours those who have not allowed their circumstances to deter their dreams. For Ramalingam, the honour is a great platform to reach out to parents of children with low vision problems ”During my childhood, there were no counselling centres to help me cope with my disability. It was at the age of 12 that I decided to ensure that no other visually impaired child had to meet a fate similar to mine,” said Ramalingam.

CONFERENCES BhoomiHabbaFestival May 5, 2012 at Visthar, Bangalore An annual festival, Bhoomi Habba - Celebrating Justice and Peace will be held with the objective to increase peoples’ awareness of justice and peace issues. It includes an International Food Festival, a Documentary Film Festival, Poster Exhibitions, Dolls Exhibition, Art Workshops for Children, Music, Dance and Theatre. The Food Festival will showcase traditional foods from 10 countries – Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, India, Burma, Bangladesh, Philippines and Africa. The focus this year is on traditional foods that are resilient to Climate Change. The Documentary Film Festival screens documentaries from around the country on urgent, contemporary issues - Nuclear energy, Dow Chemicals’ legacy in Bhopal and the effects of Agent Orange. The Poster Exhibition and Installations will highlight peoples’ struggle around India against the Violence of Development. “Dolls Speak”, an Exhibition of Dolls by the celebrated Belgian doll-maker Francoise Bosteels. There will be stalls selling traditional handicrafts and traditional varieties of rice. Contact Shirley Sundar at rlc@visthar. org For more details, please contact Sham at: 9845242453 or write to mail@visthar. org.

Work, Gender and Health May 28 – June 1, 2012 , Noida A Training Programme on Work, Gender and Health is being organised by the V.V. Giri National Labour Institute, Noida, Uttar Pradesh on May 28 – June 1, 2012 to provide an overview of the basic concepts of gender and health, to sensitise and enable the participants to incorporate such issues in research, and to assist in developing research methods in these issues. Contact: The Programme Officer, V.V. Giri National Labour Institute, Post Box No.68, Sector – 24, Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar, Noida – 201 301, Uttar Pradesh. Ph. (0120) 2411471, 2411534, 2411538. Fax: (0120) 2411471, 2411474 Email: jkkaulvvgnli@rediffmail.com Website: www.vvgnli.org

○

CONFERENCES Orientation on CSR

Conference on Translation The 3rd International Conference on Translation, Technology and Globalization in Multilingual Context, jointly organised by Indian Translators Association and Linguainda, will be held on June 23-26, 2012 at the Instituto Cervantes (Official Cultural Center of Govt of Spain), New Delhi. Fees per participant: Rs 7500 for corporate, company or institutions and Rs 2500 for translators, interpreters, writers, teacher, publishers, agencies. Contact: Tel: (011) 26291676/ 41675530 Mobile: +91-8287636881 /+91-9711207677 E-mail: info@itaindia.org Web: www.itaindia.org

Excellence in Higher Education June 28-30, 2012 at Delhi. The 2nd National Conference on ‘Excellence in Higher Education’ with the theme Transformational Leadership is being organized by the Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi. The conference would be useful in idea dissemination, learning innovations and would help in taking your vision to a higher level. Last date of registration for the Conference is May 15, 2012. Contact: Ankur Saini Mb: +91 9999051119, Email: info@ifehe.com www.ifehe.com.Web link: www.iitd.ac.in/cws_

28 April 2012 at Pune This seminar aims to make CBOs and development professionals aware of the need and ways to include men in their approach. It is the introductory step to a long-term capacity building process in order to increase resources and resulting scale of impact of gender equality programmes. Contact: Meera (Mireille) Vos - mireille.vos@ecf.org.in Rujuta Teredesai-Heron – rujuta.teredesai@ecf.org.in Mobile: +919890658362 http://www.ecf.org.in/2012/04/first-step-forengaging-men-for-gender-equality-6/

Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation 27 - 28 April 2012 in New Delhi. The “National Consultation on Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in India” is organised by ECPAT International along with its affiliates: EQUATIONS, Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO), SANLAAP and STOP Trafficking and Oppression of children and women (STOP), This consultation marks the completion of fifteen years of the 1st World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) held in 1996 in Stockholm, Sweden. The “Report on Global Monitoring on the Status of action against commercial sexual exploitation of Children: India” will be launched by Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, UN Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography on 27 April 2012 and she will also deliver the key note address. Contact: ICYO (icyoindia@gmail. com / icyo@icyo-india. org)

You can:

In an effort to develop a responsible and ethical business culture, “Green Earth Alliance” is organising series of “Orientation, Awareness and Sensitization programs on Social Responsibility (CSR)” across India. The “CSR Essentials” will be held on 30 April, 2012 at Rudrapur Uttarakhand) with knowledge support from “FICCI – Aditya Birla CSR Centre of Excellence” , “Uttarakhand Open University”, Govt. of Uttarakhand and many regional civil society organisations. Contact: Anil Jaggi, ICT4D, Social Entrepreneur and CSR Consultant CEO Green Earth Alliance ( www.greenearthalliance.in ) Cell: +91-9412009273

National Conference on Case Studies 27 July 2012, Bangalore The Objective of the conference, organized by the Christ University Institute of Management, is to encourage case study writing among academicians and practitioners of business. No registration fee. Contact: Bharathi S. Gopal.Website:/www.christuniversity.in

Engaging men to end gender inequality

S ATE R . d A

30 April, 2012 at Rudrapur For the past few years, the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) movement has made headway in developing and implementing systems that enable Corporate/ Pvt. Sector to improve productivity, while complying with social and ecological standards and working towards inclusive development and equitable growth.

Courses in Social Entrepreneurship, Mumbai SVKM/ NMIMS offers one-year part-time Diploma programme in Social Entrepreneurship and Three Year Part Time MBA in Social Entrepreneurship to provide management education to potential and current social entrepreneurs to professionalize their approaches to accelerate social change, and to help social sector practitioners and volunteers to incubate new ideas, adopt hybrid business models and spin out new social ventures. These programmes are aimed at:- NGO Executives, Board Members of Public & Charitable Trusts, Foundations, Cooperative societies, CSR Executives, and community based organisations seeking management guidance to strengthen an already established organisation. For program details log on tohttp://business. nmims.edu/ programs/ Eligibility : Graduation in any discipline and minimum one year work experience in social sector either as NSS/NCC student or as a volunteer or as full time or part time staff member. Work experience shall be exempted for fresh graduates having BSW/MSW or M.A in Social Work. Selection to both the programmes will be based on selection test which will comprise of a) Essay Test and b) Personal Interview. The Selection. The course commences from June 16, 2012.Contact: Ms Shobha Pereira, Course Coordinator (shobha@nmims. edu; 42355715), Dr. Meena Galliara, Director (galliara@nmims. edu 42355807)Center for Sustainability Management & Social Entrepreneurship, NMIMSJVPD Scheme, Vile Parle (West), Mumbai - 400 056

“f you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else. --Booker T.Washingtom

* sponsor an issue for Rs. 20,000/- per issue * release an ad (10cms. x 1col.) for Rs. 1000 per issue. This newstabloid goes out to hundreds of NGOs, Corporate houses and the public. If you would like to insert an ad/ sponsor an issue, pls contact us. All ad copy/ news should be sent/ emailed to: shaktisrc@yahoo.com SHAKTI TRUST 5E, Gulmohar, c/o ERA, 1st fl. 20, Convent Road, N. M. Wadia Bldg. Bangalore 123 M G Road, 560025 Mumbai 400001 Tel: 09341867487 email: shaktisrc@yahoo.com 6

Mar-Apr.2012 -

Please enrol me as your subscriber at the price of Rs.150 / USD 15 / GBP 8 per annum for 6 issues (Including postage). Please mail ___ copies at the address given below. DD/ cheques should be in the name of “Shakti Trust” Name: _______________________________________________ Organisation: _________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Type of activity: ________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ _____________________________Pin code: _______________ Phone No:_____________ E-mail: ________________________ Cash/Cq/DD No: ___________________ Amt. Rs.____________ On Bank : ________________________ dated:______________ Mail to: SHAKTI TRUST 5E, Gulmohar; 20, Convent Road, Bangalore 560 025 Tel. No: 093418-67487 E-mail: shaktisrc@yahoo.com.

○

NGO Connect ○

○

Mar-Apr. 2012 ○

○

OPPORTUNITIES FELLOWSHIPS/SCHOLARSHIPS

PUKAR Youth Fellowship 2012-13 Are you enthusiastic about your city, and your locality?If you are a resident of Mumbai and/or its nearby surroundings and if you are curious and enthusiastic about your city, your community and your locality and if you are willing to explore this curiosity and/or concerns then you may be interested in applying for PUKAR Youth Fellowship 2012-2013. Contact us at:PUKAR, 272, Muncipal Tenement, BMC colony, Kherwadi, Bandra (E), Mumbai ’51.Phone: 022 6505 3599 Email: youthfellowship@pukar.org.in Website: www.pukar.org.in

R. D. Sethna Scholarship Fund Applications are invited from Indian students of all communities for grant of Loan Scholarships for Scientific, Technical, Medical and other Professional courses in India and abroad. Application Forms may be obtained from the Trust office on payment of Rs 50/- either in cash or by Postal Order. Candidates requesting for forms by post must send a selfaddressed Rs 10/- stamped envelope of size: 23cm x 10 cm. Duly completed application forms should reach the Trust office not later than 31st May, 2012 for studies abroad and by 31st August, 2012 for studies in India. Contact: Esplanade House, 29, Hazarimal Somani Marg, Fort, Mumbai - 400 001 Tel: 22077044. Email: office@rdsethnascho larships. org Website: www.rdsethnascholar ships.org

Scholarships for Management Education for the Social Sector SPJIMR announces the 2nd Batch of the Post Graduate Certificate in Development Management (PGCDM) starting June 16, 2012. Apply now to avail scholarships. Special preference to be given to candidates from SC/ST category and candidates working towards enhancing livelihoods. Scholarships to be offered on basis of merit and work experience. See http://www.spjimr. org/ for details of how to apply including eligibility requirements. Contact: Rukaiya Joshi, Professor Chair Person – PGCDM, Email: pgcdm@spjimr. org

Internship program, UP Milaan Be the Change, a youth-led organization working for children in rural areas, is offering a unique internship program at a school in rural Uttar Pradesh. We are looking for young motivated individuals who are passionate about making a difference. ‘Transform a School’ is an initiative to create young leaders who can bring transformation at the grass-root level. We offer you the opportunity to bring change in the very heart of rural India. The opportunity to put your ideas into practice and let that practice become a remarkable, transformational and sustainable change in the field of education and in the lives of our children. For further details please visit: http:// bit.ly/HpP1mw. Applications are being accepted till the 30th of April 2012.

Volunteers, Mumbai/Delhi NASSCOM Foundation is looking for paid volunteers to do the outreach with NGOs for the Foundation’s various program and in particular, Connect IT. The volunteer should have knowledge of computer / internet and should be conversant in English and Hindi. Contact: Vikas Kamble, Manager-Programs, NASSCOMoundation, Mumbai . Tel. 022 28328519/18; Mobile: 9223501938 www.nasscomfoundati on.org

Volunteers for Experimental Programme, Mumbai Sujaya Foundation gives underprivileged children and youth an opportunityplatform to launch them into the bright future they deserve. We bridge the digital and linguistic divide through Education, teach underprivileged school-going children Mathematics, Science, English and Computers; And English and Computers to underprivileged youth, giving them a much needed equal opportunity boost. We also run an Experiential Learning Programme where students and differently- abled youth are given an opportunity to experience a work-like environment. We then try and offer opportunities for employment in the BPO industry. We are looking for volunteers to teach Art, Craft, Music, Theatre and Dance.Also we are looking for volunteers to proofread the documents. A stipend can be given if required.Kindly email us on sujayafoundation@ sujayafoundation .org with a copy to sujaya.rai@sujayafo undation. org

Director, Mumbai Rainbow Foundation ... reports to Board of Directors http://www.partnershipfoundation.nl/en The Rainbow Program offers a long term solution to the issue of street children through a professional and businesslike

○

(despite deadlines, you are advised to apply) approach combined with egalitarian compassion to protect the rights of vulnerable children. The Rainbow Homes model has been successfully implemented in 4 states in India with 22 Rainbow Homes in 4 cities. Basis this success, the organization now aims to set-up up to 100 Rainbow Homes that can shelter 10,000 children on the street by 2018. The candidate will need to build up of a team of employees reporting into this position 12 months from the candidate joining. Qualifications required: Post graduate in Business Administration / Social Entrepreneurship; At least 10+ years of work experience. Must have been in the management function from the corporate / nonprofit / social enterprise sector and should have a proven track record in setting up & managing operations independently. Salary: Rs. 20,00,000 – 25,00,000 per annum. Contact: Aparna Joshi Khandwala, Head of Operations +91 9820915899 aparna@jobsforgood.com website: www.jobsforgood.com

Teachers (6 vacancies), Mumbai Aashansh is a start up registered organisation based in Mumbai working on the issue of lack of quality education for street children/ slum children with a team of dedicated and skilled professionals since the year 2006. For more information on our activities please see www.wix.com/ aashanshfoundati on/aashansh Location: Mumbai (Lower Parel), Centers:*Bandra (Hill Road) and Worli (Century Bazar). Timing: 8 hours (including sessions hours). Bandra center: 12 noon to 8pm, Worli center: 7:30 to 3:30pm Volunteers most welcome. Salary: As per market standards and relevant academic qualifications and experiential background of the selected candidate. Rs. 6000/- will be paid during the probation period + travel conveyance + incentives based on performance after probation. Send your resume with 2 references to aashanshfoundation@ gmail.com. Contact: Ramesh Joshi,Founder and Director,The Aashansh Foundation, Mumbai. Tel: 9730344974 /7507829598 (11 am to 6 pm)

Volunteers for social audit of NREGS & ICDS, Bihar Volunteers are needed for conducting social audits and surveys of NREGA works and ICDS centres in East Champaran district of Bihar. This involves conducting awareness campaigns, organize public meetings, monitoring the functioning of MNREGA and ICDS, helping MNREGA workers file work application and related activities. Volunteers should be prepared to work in rural areas for at least three weeks, without modern comforts. Prior experience of fieldwork, and fluency in English and Hindi, are preferred but not essential. ICDS directorate will pay a fixed amount to those who are engaged in SocialAudits in East Champaran district (travel allowance plus minimum wage, i.eRs 144/day) which will cover all your expenses. For otheraudit exercises there will be no stipend. However, since this is not a moneyakingopportunity, we encourage you to apply for volunteer work with an openmind. If a stipend is essential for you then please specify that you willonly work on the ICDS social audit in East Champaran. Also clarify the dates when you will be available. Audits will be conducted in the months of May-June. Please send your resume to ashish.ranjanjha@ gmail.com by 20th April, 2012. Contact: Ashish at 09973363664. Kamayani Swami and Ashish Ranjan for the Jan Jagaran Shakti Sangathan. ICDS directorate/ JJSS will issue participation certificate — Website: www.jjabihar. Org

Resource Mobilization Director, Mumbai/Delhi Rural Development Trust (RDT) is an NGO working in South India in more than 3,000 villages in the areas of Health, Education, Women, Housing, People with Disabilities and Ecology. RDT is looking for a Resource Mobilization Director to head its new Fundraising Unit in India. The candidate will have the support of the senior management team in developing and implementing a fundraising strategy. Qualifications : Postgraduate degree in business, marketing, communication, public relations or other related business discipline. Minimum 8 years management experience at senior level. Experience in fundraising and/or in management in large-well known national and/or international NGOs will be preferred. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English necessary and Hindi is an added advantage. Also required excellent project management and networking skills. Attractive salary according to qualification and experience. Please send your bio-data by May 4 to indiaforindia@gmail.com with references.

Amnesty International India, Bangalore Amnesty International India aspires to build a large and inclusive movement that has a significant impact on the burning Human Rights issues of contemporary India while sustaining a long term effort to the establishment of a rights respecting society in India. It has vacancies for the following posts in Bangalore: Team Member – Human Rights Friendly School (HRFS) Program: The team member will help develop and build a program that will create a human rights-friendly environment in schools where children will imbibe values that uphold Human rights and are sensitized to issues of marginalization and discrimination which in turn will contribute to creating a rights respecting society. Skills and experience required: Strong passion and belief in rights based education, preferred experience in curriculum development and teacher trainings, understanding of key human rights issues in India and excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Kannada Head – Operations: A dynamic, multi-tasking manager to lead the finance, accounts, administration, legal (statutory), IT and human resources functions of the organisation. Exp: Relevant management experience, with at least 2 years as a team leader preferably in the NGO sector, experience in setting up of organizational systems and processes in finance, administration, IT, legal and HR. Start-up experience preferred, experience in strategic financial planning, developing and implementing strategies in HR, finance, administration and IT and experience of organizational legal risk management is preferred. Researcher: To use thematic expertise, excellent research skills and sound political judgment to monitor, investigate and analyze political, legal and social developments and human rights conditions to prepare human rights action materials that set the ground for campaigning and advocacy. Must have a background in research, field work, activism, academia, law or journalism with the ability to identify and thoroughly investigate those issues and ensure our voice has authority. Skills and experience: Specialist knowledge of human right issues and an in-depth understanding of the nature of key human rights concerns, as well as the relevant political, social, legal, economic, cultural, ethnic, racial and gender issues; extensive professional experience of undertaking research on human rights and issues of marginalization and discrimination. Web Designer: To Plan, design and produce the visual presentation of Amnesty India’s websites and other online assets. Use web publishing skills to develop and support a range of online initiatives (websites, applications, html emails etc.) that inspire people to support Amnesty’s campaigns, and input into online campaign strategies. Skills: Experience working as a web designer for a website, portal, community site or blog; excellent web publishing skills including HTML, CSS and image editing; eExperience working with image and/ or video editing and publishing software such as Photoshop, In-design, Illustrator and Premiere, Flash and knowledge of image-optimization. Head – Digital Campaigns: To create a splash online and make people pay attention to the burning issues of human rights through creative, innovative campaigns. Exp: Relevant senior management experience in leading successful online campaigns for a business or NGO. Experience strategising and creating successful online mass campaigns, public outreach and strategy development and an understanding of strategic and tactical communications Send in your application by e-mail with the position name in the subject line. Please include cover note of not more than 300 words explaining why you are interested in working for this position at Amnesty International India along with your resume by May 6 to amnestyindiajobs@gmail.com.

Online Media Officer Greenpeace India, Bangalore...by May 15 The online media officer will build and maintain media relations with online media sources and bloggers; identify and place organisational messages in the media, input into media planning for campaigns and take ownership of its implementation in the online domain. He/She will Use online media outlets to move Greenpeace’s campaign messages to key targeted audience and Twitter & Facebook through key influencers;• Build and maintain a sound general knowledge of all Greenpeace campaigns and issues, to respond to media inquiries Qual:• 2-4 years’ experience in the PR industry/ journalism;• A degree in mass communication/journalism with a fluency in written and spoken English and any other Indian language;• A background in online media, blogging and social media;• Ability to write basic HTML an advantage;• A good understanding of how the media works and a strong news sense Excellent conceptualizing, writing and editing skills REPORTS TO: Digital Media Manager COMPENSATION: Starting pay Rs. 388, 644 per annum(cost to organization) To apply follow this link - http://hire.jobvite.com

○

NGO Connect

Mar-Apr.2012 ○

○

Media FILMS Radiation Stories Part 3: Koodankulam Prod./Dir.: Amudhan R.P. 86 min; 2012; Tamil with English subtitles; The people’s movement against Koodankulam nuclear plant is a 20 plus years old story. Post Fukushima saw the movement gaining momentum in and around Koodankulam and Idinthakarai villages thanks to the test run conducted by nuclear authorities of Koodankulam which brought in the inland farmers, workers, small traders and lower middle salaried class to the struggle along with the fishing community. When the Government of India and its embedded media are trying hard to malign, harass and corner the people’s struggle which is local, indigenous, independent, non violent and democratic, the film tries to capture few moments of the struggle that can give us a perspective which reflects the movement’s point of view. Some may it is one sided, so be it. www.amudhanrp. blogspot.com The Boxing Ladies 26 minutes, EnglishSubtitles The film is a story of three teenage muslim sisters who are national level boxers and their struggle to make a mark in the society. Zainab, the eldest of the three is like the mother hen. She cooks, takes care of the house and also contributes to the family expenditure sewing and making mobile covers every day. Bushra, the middle sister dropped out of school due to financial pressure. She works part time in an STD booth and with the money that she earns, buys sporting equipment for herself and her sisters. Sughra, the youngest and also the rebel of the family is the most determined about her boxing career. Dropping out of school, she re-joined four years later paying her fees with her own hard earned money.The film is the celebration of women and sports and their journey and their struggles. Fried fish, chicken soup & a premiere show 90 min, Director : Mamta Murthy Producer : Madhusree Dutta A Majlis Production The film is a journey with a Manipuri feature film unit through the landscape of picturesque hills and narrative traditions. As technology and army fatigues permeate the terrain, the people continuously reconfigure their narrative inheritance and the strategies to chronicle the contemporary. Traversing through various sites - the home based filmmaking convention, roads as locations for love and violence, the community imposed censorship and finally their phenomenal love for cinema, the film brings forth the very specific story of Manipur and its public culture. National Award, Best Art/Cultural filmInernational Jury Award, Mumbai International Film FestivalJohn Abraham National Awad for Best Documentary at FFSIK’s Signs festival, Keralam Secrets of Wild India, A three-part series highlighting the diversity of Indian wildlife, recently won the ‘Best Television Series’ award at the International Wildlife Film Festival held at Montana USA

Secrets of Wild India’ was commissioned by National Geographic and is currently being shown in India. Saravanakumar, principal cinematographer of the series, said that the three episodes covered three different ecosystems. The principal cameramen for the series were Indians, a rare occurrence in the international wildlife film-making circuit, Mr. Saravanakumar said. The episodes on the tigers and lions were cinematographed by him. His team members were Kalyan Varma from Bangalore, and Mandana Dillan from Coorg, Karnataka, who recorded the sounds. The film on elephants was shot by Sandesh Kadur of Bangalore. The added bonus was the fact that it was narrated by Sir David Attenborough. Contact: Sanjay.news@gmail.com

and industrialisation, the older generation struggles to keep alive the rich syncretic legacy of Shah Bhitai, that celebrates diversity and non-difference, suffering and transcendence, transience and survival. Rikshawala Dir:AbhishekKukreja Peddling his way in a mad city rush, he not only gets food for his body, but also discovers something for his soul. “Rikshawala” is a self narrated story of transformation. It exemplifies that in the university called ‘Life’, difficulty is perhaps the harshest teacher, but has most virtuous lessons to impart. Watch trailer: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=rRt7Xb30uU0 Web Page http://stickfigurefilms.in/ rikshawala Contact: Abhishek Kukrekja, +91 9999868880

Jai Bhim Comrade

Virus

3 hours and 18 minutes Dir. Anand Patwardhan

Short Fiction 36 Min Hindi w English Subtitles

Winner of the Best Film award at the Mumbai International Film Festival 2011 and Special Jury Award at the National Festival. It also won the best film at Film South Asia, Kathmandu.

This film is about you, your city. A youth, hard-pressed for money, indulges in a road rage brawl. He unknowingly triggers off a chain of events, tragically affecting the lives of many. Plunging into the maelstrom of urban life, the film explores the theme of alienation, loneliness, wonted deceit and class abuse. It depicts the paradox between Man’s desires to gain control over his destiny conflicting with the mysterious ways of working of the forces of nature. Please log on towww.petprojectfilms.com to watch the trailer of the film. Contact: Sunit Sinha +91-9873581424 sunitsin@gmail.com

In 1997, when a statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar in a Dalit colony in Mumbai was desecrated with a garland of footwear, an angry mob gathered in protest. In no time, a police van drew up a couple of metres from the mob, opened fire, and killed ten persons. Vilas Ghogre, a leftist poet, hung himself in protest. Jai Bhim Comrade, shot over 14 years, follows the music and the tradition of Ambedkar. The film details not just the life of Vilas Ghogre and the police firing but its aftermath – the movement for justice that led to the police officer who ordered the firing to spend less than a week in ‘hospital’ (not jail), before being let off on bail by the High Court. It tells other stories – the martyrdom of a young Dalit Panther Bhagwat Jadhav, killed by the Shiv Sena at a protest rally in 1974; the incisive and fiery oratory of Panther leader Bhai Sangare that possibly led to his martyrdom in 1999; the Khairlanji massacre and continuing atrocities in the countryside. Highlighting precarious livelihoods, it paints intimate family portraits of ordinary Dalits across Mumbai and Maharashtra interspersed with protest songs sung in every chawl, basti and galli . So Heddan So Hoddan (Like Here Like There) 52 mins, 2011 Kachchhi and Hindustani with English subtitles

Adda Calcutta, Kolkata Dir. Surjo Deb and Ranjan Palit 52 mins./ 2011 A film about a day in the life of Calcutta or Kolkata. A portrait of the city and its people through the myriad conversations or “addas that happen all over the city, day and night. Have You Dreamt Cinema? by Hansa Thapliyal A cinema theatre in a suburb of a city is pulled down. Three women who live in that suburb reflect on their various relationships with that fantasy of a film in a darkened theatre. Was it ever theirs’?

is a blog with the same name name. Contact<kcsanthosh66@gmail.com 2 nd National Convention of ‘Cinema of Resistance’ The 2ndNational Convention of ‘Cinema of Resistance’ was held on March 1 at Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi to discuss how to take the initiative, started in 2006 way forward in an organized manner. Sanjay Joshi has been made the National Convener and a National Committee comprising representatives of various states and cities as well as some wellknown film-makers was also formed. Addressing the seminar on ‘Cinema of Resistance: Challenges and possibilities’ Sanjay Kak said that Cinema of Resistance is an alternative medium to show the real issues of society which normally don’t find space in main-stream cinema. Contact: 91-9811577426 Email: thegroup.jsm@gmail.com

Voices from the Waters- 2012 ‘Voices from the Waters 2012 - the 7th International Film Festival on Water’ invites you to be a part of the festival by contributing short, documentary, animation and feature films on water and related issues. This festival is conceived as a travelling film festival. The selected films after being premiered in Bangalore will be taken across to educational institutions, non governmental organizations, small towns and villages across India for non commercial exhibition and d i s c u s s i o n s . There is no entry fee. Last date for submissions: June 15th 2012 Contact: Georgekutty A.L, Bangalore Film Society, Bangalore Mobile:+91-80- 9448064513 www.voicesfromthewaters.com

BOOKS Education for Peace: Guideline for Frontline workers

The film explores the life worlds of the three cousins, their families and the Fakirani Jat community to which they belong. Before the Partition the Maldhari (pastoralist) Jatts moved freely across the Rann, between Sindh (now in Pakistan) and Kutch. As pastoral ways of living have given way to settlement, borders

The book has 8 parts: The Janlokpal Bill, Anna: Theme Essays; Anna and the Team: Background, ;Second Gandhi: Second Freedom Movement? ; Interviews; Nature of Movement, Role of Media, and VIII: Communal Undertones and Annexures of interviews with Team Anna: Arvind Kejriwal, Medha Patkar and Prashant Bhushan. The Appendices contains Summary of Draft Bills of Government Draft Bill and Jan LokPal Bill – Summary and Guide to India’s Civil Society Anti-Corruption Bill—Deserves Our Support by Anna Hazare and Lokpal Bill: Aruna Roy and NCPRI’s Suggestions — Aruna Roy.

By E.R. Vasavi Published by Three Essays Collective. Price: Rs.350

January 2012, 133p, Price Rs 150.

To understand the spate of suicides since 1997 by farmers in rural India, the book goes beyond economic reasons of indebtedness. It sees the suicides within the structures of the larger political economy, rural social structures, changing agrarian practices and the growing individualisation of farmers.

This book is an important attempt to give us the background and the prevalent models of peace studies, the UN resolutions, the attempts by educationists and social groups to develop their models which can lead to peace and amity in the society.

The study provides a succinct summary of the complexities and involutions which mark the rural hinterland and the lives of those who live there. The denouement and significance of the suicides are in reality commentaries on the state of the nation.

It gives a comprehensive account of the pedagogy of peace and compares and contrasts various patterns of peace studies. While the

Contact: Three Essays Collective, B-957 Palam Vihar, Gurgaon 122017

NEWS

Friends of Sarat has re-started NOTTAM Travelling Film Festival. The first screening happened on March 27 in Thiruvali, a village in Malappuram district of Kerala. There

Editors: Dr.Asghar Ali Engineer & Ram Puniyani Price: Rs. 160.00 (Paper Back) Rs. 320.00 (Hard Bound) Published by Sahitya Upkram

Shadow Space: suicides and the Predidcament of Rural India

A chronicle of the evolution of urban music in three Indian cities - Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai, the Film examines the transformation in language and orchestration of music with the changing times and the socio-political concerns they reflect.

NOTTAM Travelling Film Festival

Anna Hazare Upsurge: A Critical Appraisal

Contact: Sahitya Upkram, E mail : sahitya_upkram@yahoo.co.in Mobile : 09654732174, 09350809192.

Joydeep Ghosh30 mins./ 2002

Leh, Ladakh. 15-17th June, 2012. For details visit website: http:// www.liff. in/ or http://liff. in/filmentries. htm Contact: Ashok Purang,Core Team, LIFF Mobile: +91- 9911636082 (Delhi) , Mobile : +91- 9167569949, +9198992294039 (Mumbai).

The idea is to demystify the images of the other community to ease the tensions and there by defuse the violence. Contact: Institute for Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Mumbai Email: ipscri1@gmail.com

The Guwahati Film festival will be held from May 2-6 in Guwahati, Assam. It is for feature films onlyof not moere than 20 minutes duration. See www.gisff.com

In Search Of An Urban Ballad

Ladakh International Film Festival 2012,

According to Jain and Rauf education can attempt attitudinal changes amongst individuals making them understand the negative implications of conflict and violence, as well as the benefits of the democratic processes that build dialogue and negotiation.

Guwahati Film Festival

PSBTlikeherelikethere.wordpress.com/

Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, a medievalSufi poet, is an iconic figure in the cultural history of Sindh. Bhitai’s Shah Ji Risalo is a remarkable collection of poems which are sung by many communities in Kachchh and across the border in Sindh (now in Pakistan). .

authors do address the problem in general, their focus is more on communal violence.

by Ranu Jain and Taha Abdul Rauf, Published by Institute for Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Mumbai.

All matter in the newsletter is published with the best of intentions. Printed, Published and owned by Rima Kashyap. Printed at W Q Judge Press, 97, Residency Road, Bangalore - 560 025, Published by : Shakti C/o ERA, N. M. Wadia Bldg, 123 M G Road, Mumbai 400 001 Tel. 09341867487 E-mail : shaktisrc@yahoo.com Editor : Rima Kashyap. 8

○