Jan-Feb 2011 by ON-LYNE

Vol 8 Issue 1

Regn. no. M A H E N G/2004/15104

Jan-Feb 2011

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“An age employed in

edging steel, Can no poetic raptures feel” www.ngoconnect.org

A ‘SHAKTI’ PROJECT

- Philip Freneau

I n d i a ’ s Fi r s t N G O N e w s ta b l o i d CONNECTiNG The Jaitapur disaster nvironmentally conscious citizens have been shocked at the conditional clearance for the Posco steel project in Orissa, in flagrant breach of the Forest Rights Act. But a bigger, more flawed project, was cleared two months back with equally vacuous and irrelevant conditions. Jaitapur, in Maharashtra’ s Ratnagiri district, is expected to be the world’s biggest nuclear power station and generate 9,900 MW (India’s current nuclear capacity is 4,780 MW).

It will be based on the untested European Pressurised Reactor (EPR), not approved anywhere including in France, where the financially troubled nuclear company Areva designed it. The project is being imposed on a beautiful ecosystem, a segment of the Sahyadris where the Krishna and the Godavari originate, with a flourishing farming, horticultural and fisheries economy. It lies in one of the world’s 10 greatest biodiversity hotspots. Only an irrational mind would want to risk degradation of this region to build nuclear reactors that will displace 40,000 people, disrupt water flows and uproot fruit-yielding trees. Seismicity is also of concern. Jaitapur is an earthquake-prone area, with a rating of 4 on a 1-5 scale. This violates an official committee’s recommendations against locating hazardous industries outside Zone 2. Yet that’s what Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), a subsidiary of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is doing. It zeroed in on Jaitapur in 2003, assuming the site would be approved; the DAE always prevails. Jaitapur’s six proposed EPRs were cleared in an extraordinarily sloppy Environment Impact Assessment by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute that has no competence in seismic or nuclear safety-related matters. It evades biodiversity issues and generation and storage of large quantities of radioactive wastes. The EPR’s safety design is problematic because of its large (1,650 MW) size,. Finnish, French, British and US nuclear regulators have raised 3,000 issues about its safety. The NPCIL has now decided to import six EPRs, ignoring the generic problems with nuclear power. ..The EPR produced power will be costlier than Enron, Rs 5-8 per unit. Jaitapur’s highly literate people are dead against it as it will destroy livelihoods and expose them to the dangers of nuclear power. More than 95% have refused to take compensation for forcibly acquired land, despite it being raised from R1.6 lakh to R10 lakh an acre. The government has unleashed savage repression against the resistance prohibiting peaceful assembly’. None of this has broken the people’s resolve --the nuclear juggernaut is allowed to roll. It must be halted. Praful Bidwai

Indefinite accumulation of funds by NGOs Of Herman Schher and solar power model

he proposed Direct Taxes Code has various new points which NGOs should check.

The law pertaining to the accumulation of income of NPOs is quite complicated and it is important to understand the various options available. NPOs currently are permitted to accumulate 15% of their annual income indefinitely. In other words, every year an NPO has been provided with the benefitof creating long term fund to the extent of 15%. It may also be noted that the 15% of income so accumulated is not required to be spent in future. Therefore, it is as good as a corpus. DTC WITHDRAWS INDEFINITE ACCUMULATION The 15% indefinite accumulation has been totally withdrawn in the proposed Direct Tax Code (DTC). This is probably the harshest provision of the DTC. In future, NPOs cannot accumulate even a single rupee from their current year’s income, they have to utilise 100% of their income. Re. Accumulation Utilisation in next 1 year--under the existing law, apart from the 15% indefinite accumulation as discussed above,

Jairam Ramesh’s pro-POSCO decision

he report presented by Jairam Ramesh is nothing but a capitulation to corrupt forces both within India and abroad. After all POSCO, though a Korean company, is held largely by American corporations,. For the single largest project FDI investment in India at 2005 prices (Rs. 51,000 crores or USD 12 billion capital cost), analysis reveal that this investment can be recovered in less than a decade given the pittance of a royalty that POSCO will pay for iron ore extracted. (Rs. 30/- tonne at the official ore valuation of Rs. 300/tonne, compared with the commercial value of Rs.7,000/tonne). It is to make such unprecedented profits from the plunder of India’s natural resources that POSCO demanded a coastal location for its super large ships to be berthed to cart away our precious iron ore. What India would be left with is the toxic residue of its dirty ore processing, while the refined ore (perhaps not even the finished steel) would be exported to Korea and elsewhere to add more value to POSCO’s profits. This is not merely a flight of the nation’s natural wealth but also a massive planned political exercise for erosion of financial resources with questionable legal sanction.

if the NPOs want to accumulate current year’s income to be utilised in future years, it can only defer the utilisation by 1 year or 5 years. The NPO can accumulate the income for 1 year if the money is received towards the end of the year or it is unable to spend for legitimate reasons. In such cases, the NPO can just write a letter to the Assessing Officer (AO) and utilise the amount in the next year. The amount so utilised in the next year will be deemed to have been utilised in the previous year. The NPO could also accumulate the income for 5 years if 85% of the income is not utilised within the year. The NPO has to file Form 10 with the Assessing Officer (AO) and can utilise the amount in the next 5 years. However the proposed DTC proposes that only 15% of income could be accumulated for the next 3 years (Earlier 15% could be accumulated indefinitelt and 85% for 5 years. With the DTC there will be no indefinite accumulation and only 15% for next 3 years. This provision may cause hardship to NGOs who are getting funds for long-term projects spanning several years.

less than 85% is utilised during the year, after DTC- NGOs will have to pay tax if less than 85% is utilised.(excerpts from Standards and Norms—www.fmsfindia. org .or contact Sanjay Patrra mfogla@yahoo.com)

NGOs with Rs 50 cr revenue must follow accrual accounting.. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has recommended that all nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) that have gross revenue of, and above, Rs 50 crore must follow accrual system of accounting account for all receipts and expenses as and when the transaction happens - to maintain transparency in public money. There is a serious need of financial control in some NGOs operating in the country-- as it is important to curb money laundering and suspected terrorist financing, accounting regulator ICAI has said in its report on the Accounting and Reporting Requirement of NGOs submitted to the ministry of corporate affairs last month.

Currently there is no tax liability if The struggle against POSCO in Jagatsinghpur will continue. This is a struggle to expose the most corrupt and socially and environmentally disastrous deal ever legitimised in India’s history. POSCO ---Pratirodh Sangram Samithi. Contact Prashant Paikray, Spokes person 09437571547 prashantpaik ray@gmail.com.

solar power they needed, and to sell the remaining power to the agent. The agent acted as an aggregator of such power which he then sold to the power grid at a guaranteed price of 15 cents per unit for a period of 20 years.

Solar power as a win-win

(d) Today 2% of Germany’s power comes from such solar generating units. On sunny days it is as much as 10%. And its share is likely to increase dramatically.

ermann Scheer, the pioneer of Germany’s solar feed-in tariff (FIT) policy, died on October 14, 2010. And in his passing away, the solar power industry lost a great visionary, and a champion of green energy. He was the prime mover of FIT, which was first explained in Germany’s 2000 RES Act. What Scheer did was to create a set of laws that: (a) Allowed each rooftop of each house to be fitted with subsidised solar panels. (b) Allowing for the creation of agents who would fit such panels on rooftops of houses, allow households to use as much of the

(c) In just eight years, the solar power industry in Germany employed more people than the automobile and engineering sectors.

As a result, by 2009, feed-in tariff policies got enacted in around 63 jurisdictions around the world, But what makes Germany unique is that it allowed every household to become a power generator.This is of critical significance to a country like India, where there are more buildings per square kilometer than in most countries in the world, and the rooftop suddenly begins to have both economic and national significance. As Germany’ s experiment gained momentum, the cost of photovoltaic or PV solar power modules to fall from an unacceptable high of almost $30 per watt of installed capacity to less than $3 and slated to fall to $1. Solar electricity costs too are continuing to fall. By making every house a power generator, Germany effectively did away with the exclusive monopoly of a few producers to enter into (often cozy) relationships with government owned grids. India could do with this type of policy because it would make every house in every city a power producer.

Iit is time now for PPSS to actively challenge this gross violation of Constitutional Rights, Statutes and Norms, dubiously legitimised by Jairam Ramesh ignoring substantive findings of Enquiry Committees that he himselft constituted.

According to the accounting regulator, there “is need of one single regulatory authority for all NGOs” as currently they are established under different laws ranging from Societies Registration Act to Trust Act. This leaves a wide regulatory gap and hence helps in laundering the public money, an ICAI source said. There are two kinds of funds received by the NGOs— restricted funds and unrestricted funds. Restricted funds are purpose specific. The ICAI has suggested that these NGOs must follow “fundbased accounting”, which means that there should be a separate bank account for restricted funds and the NGOs must maintain a separate balance sheet, income and expenditure account and cash flow statement. ”This will help in curbing funds diversion,” the source added. The regulator has also suggested that it should be made mandatory for NGOs having gross revenue above Rs 50 crore to follow all accounting standards framed by the ICAI while those having gross revenue up to Rs 50 crore may follow the standards subject to certain relaxation by the ICAI.-...Shruti Srivastava(Source www.indianexpress.com/) At the village level, solar power could do wonders. Since power is already being offered to rural areas, at highly subsidised rates, the government could work out a method whereby they could capitalise the subsidy amount for the next 15 years, and actually allow a reverse-bidding process to set up the most cost effective solar plant. On a typical day running costs of solar power station are zero. A village with 10,000 houses would need a 1 mw farm which generates power during the day to feed pump sets and sends the excess to grids for city consumption. The electricity board can charge the panchayat only for the net power consumption (if any!) by the village which will be a strong motivation for the village to both conserve and maintain the facility. Moreover, since there would be little need for power transmission lines, the capex and recurring costs in maintaining gridlines up to villages could be avoided. The amount saved could be used to finance rural solar power plants. Overnight, the country’s dependence on coal and diesel for powering electricity plants would diminish. Thus, India could create more jobs, decentralise power generation, reduce capex on transmission and distribution lines, and even make households earn some money for the surplus power they sell to the grid. Equally important, it allows India to reduce the amount of pollution coal-based thermal power plants are known to cause. -- R N Bhaskar. ( Source : http://www.dnaindia .com) ***

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NGO Connect ○

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NGO News Micro-Pensions for poor Invest India Micro Pension Services (IIMPS) is an independent agency established in 2006 by 6 leading pension and micro-finance experts. UTI AMC and SEWA Bank own equity in IIMPS. IIMPS has pioneered the delivery of pension and long term savings products to the working poor and is already helping over 200,000 low income workers in roughly 100 districts of 10 states to save for their old age through a proprietary “micropension” model. IIMPS enrols and services low income workers for micro-pensions through a range of channel partnerships with leading MFIs, cooperatives, banks, NGOs, worker unions and other such entities that already deliver financial or other services to the poor. IIMPS partners include SBI, BASIX, Janalakshmi, SEWA, Government of Rajasthan, etc. IIMPS channel partners encourage and enable their individual clients/ members to open micro-pension accounts on a voluntary basis and to make periodic contributions for their old age. Savings of individual customers are sent to UTI who invests these savings in a SEBI regulated and GoI Notified pension scheme . When a customer reaches age 58, a part of the retirement savings she has accumulated over the years in her account are returned to her as a lump sum. Her remaining savings are converted into a monthly pension payment for the rest of her life. The lump-sum and monthly pension payments are delivered directly into the bank account of each customer. Contact www.iimps.com

Another activist threatened Bangalore:The South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM) has been informed by Mr. Susai Raj Babu, the Coordinator of SICHREM District Human Rights Centre in Kolar District in Karnataka, about the intimidation and the false case filed against him, by the Robertsonpet Police, KGF, Kolar District. Mr. Susai Raj Babu was the District Human Rights Monitor (DHRM) from 2006-2009 in the National Project on Preventing Torture in India, working on the issue of documenting instances of torture and intervention in the courts and with human rights institutions. And later became the Coordinator of the Kolar District Human Rights Centre. According to the information received, on Feb.5, one, Mrs. Krishnamma W/o Venkatesh had called repeatedly Mr. Susai Raj Babu toherhouse for some talks, he initially refused to go but due to the calls that repeatedly kept coming, he went along with an advocate friend Manohar. On reaching her house, he realized that there was a trap being laid to implicate him in a case and immediately left the place. Later through informed sources, it has came to our knowledge that the Robertsonpet Police have registered an First Information Report (FIR) against Mr.Susai Raj Babu for house-trespass, criminal intimidation. The present case is being filed on a complaint by Mrs.Krishnamma at the behest of the police, since a case of torture and illegal detention by police on Nava Kumar (her estranged son) was taken up by SICHREM with the State Human Rights Commission. The police in

order to intimidate and restrain Mr. Susai and SICHREM from taking up this, and other cases (several others have been filed earlier with the National and State Human Rights Commission) is indulging in filing false cases through the help of local persons. SICHREM is gravely concerned about the intimidation tactics employed by the police. The State authorities must ensure that police forces comply with international human rights standards on law enforcement, in particular those relating to the defenders rights. The State must carry out a prompt, effective, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the filing of false case (FIR) on Mr.Susai Raj Babu., the result of which must be made public, ensure that all such human rights defenders can freely conduct legitimate activities promoting and protecting human rights without fear of reprisals, in accordance with the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. To support SICHREM, Bangalore Ph: 080-25473922 / 25804072-73 Fax: 080-25492856 Email:mano rights@gmail. com, manoharr @sichrem. org Website: www.sichrem. Org Mobile: 9535037596

RTI Awareness Mumbai: Continuing with its RTI awareness campaigns, Mahiti Adhikar Manch once again organised its “Mass Awareness Campaign of RTI Act 2005” at the premises of a Public Authority, with a 3-day Campaign at MCGM’s KEast Ward Office Building from Feb. 8-10, which was inaugurated by Shri Sudhir Naik, Dy. Municipal Commissioner Zone III. Persons visiting the Municipal Ward were made aware of the RTI Act 2005 and the possibilities of using the same to address issues that they have as individuals as well as resident groups or in public interest. Contact PCGT<public concern@gmail.com>

Global Walk for India’s Missing Girls’ Mumbai: Last year, film director Nyna Pais Caputi founded the Global Walk for India’s Missing Girls. The Walk aims to raise awareness against pre-birth sex selection which has caused the worst form of genocide in India’s history with over one million girls missing from India’s population every year. Over 1000 people walked for the cause of the girl child in San Francisco, Delhi, Mumbai, Jamshedpur, Pondicherry, Kuwait and Melbourne. This year the walk will take place on March 6 all over the world. Population First is co-organizing the Walk in Bandra, Mumbai (The Walk will also include a twenty minute Street play by Mujeeb Khan) Contact Shraddha9920827009 or Sudeshna9892890161 or mail info@populationfirst.org

Help for the aged Nainital: Presently 42 old aged people have registered forday care facilities at the HEM Memorial Society in Haldwani, Uttrakhand. The society is helping old aged and disabled in many ways and needs help tp contonue its work. Check Orkut or Facebook for Harish Dhondiyal profile. Contact Email: hdhondiyal@gmail. com

Devpt funds unused Mumbai: In the last eleven months, the state government’s various departments have spent just 36.7% of the planned budget, while a little more than 49% of the funds have actually been made available for spending. Experts say this points to red tape and an overall inability to take swifter decisions. Poor spending has been the trend in the last three years of the DF government. While the planned budget has increased from Rs 30,662 crore to Rs 63,668 crore (in the election year of 2009), overall spending has decreased from 52% in 2008-09 to 36% in 2010-11. Most of these funds were budgeted for development work like infrastructure projects, construction of basic amenities, upgradation of health care and education besides purchase of modern equipment and technology that could have improved the life of the common man. But, key departments like revenue, home, social justice, rural development, urban development, housing, public works and forests have utilised less than 50% of the funds allocated under various state and central schemes. “In most cases, funds get released too late and there is too much centralised control by the finance department,’ ‘ said a senior bureaucrat, requesting anonymity. (Hindustan Times)

Women & Climate Change Bangalore: To highlight the plight of widows of farmers who committed suicide and to bring awareness of the effect of gloablisation and climate change on the lives of women in the rural areas, Indian Social Institute organised a three day workshop from Feb.23-25 on “Women and climate change”. Films and talks referred to history of climate change; carbon trading and Kyoto protocol; Global warming; green revolution - farmer suicides and women; globalisation climate change and women; and Genetically modified crops etc. The workshopwas coordinated by Ms Shanti. Contact:isiblr@org

NGO manual helps police in NE Shillong: A manual brought out by an NGO is proving a boon for police in the Northeast where trafficking is a major issue. The manual details: What does human trafficking mean, why is it done, what punishment can it attract and how do we rehabilitate victims? Impulse, the NGO, has simplified the law and put it together in a handbook which has been adopted in police training schools across the northeast and it is bringing in winds of change in the region. Hasina Kharbhih of Impulse has her focus clear — to combat trafficking and rehabilitate victims “because without rehabilitation there is always the risk of the victims being pushed back into the vicious cycle”. ”If awareness level is low, then prosecution of the culprit becomes difficult. From our ground-level experience we know that a lot of cops are not aware of the antitrafficking laws,” said Kharbhih. Therefore, three years ago, the NGO decided to put together a comprehensive handbook which starts from scratch and explains what trafficking means and the reasons why it is done — commercial sexual exploitation, paedophilia, forced marriage, camel jockeying, child or bonded labour, domestic servitude and organ transplantation.

Republic day was celebrated at FS on 26th Jan.. Dr. M.N. Parmar, Dean, Faculty of Social work, M.S. University was the Chief Guest. Highlight of the program was a skit by tiny tots of our Balwadi representing various birds. Dr. M.N. Parmar offered necessary support in terms of expertise from Faculty of Social Work. <jaya.anuj1@ gmail.com>

The handbook simplifies the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and the Juvenile Justice Act and also gives a summary of various offences under different sections of penal provisions and the punishment or fine for them. It also talks about how to prevent trafficking, the investigation process and alternative strategies to combat the menace. The manual also gives guidelines on victims’ protection and rehabilitation. The handbook has been approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs and is backed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). ”The reality is that NGOs can’t work alone. It has to be a collaborative effort in which all stakeholders, like law-enforcement agencies and society as a whole, are involved,” Kharbhih said. The 15-year-old NGO has also developed a model, the Meghalaya model, which has been verified for replication in South Asia by the USAID, the UNDP and the Indian Government. After a child or woman is reported missing, the information is fed into the NGO’s database, publicized in media and passed on to its partners in other States and a First Information Report (FIR) is registered. Once a victim is rescued after raids, he or she is sent to a shelter while the NGO or its partners start tracing the victim’s family.”We follow up the progress of the rescued victim for two years. The final step is hopefully the prosecution when we follow up with police on the progress,” she added.

Ministers’ discretionary powers under review Delhi: A Group of Ministers (GoM) was considering abolition of discretionary powers enjoyed by ministers to enhance transparency in public life, President Pratibha Patil said, delivering the customary address to a Joint Session of Parliament on the inaugural day of the Budget Session. Patil said a Group of Ministers (GoM) was considering “all measures, including legislative and administrative, to tackle corruption and improve transparency”. ”My government has also decided to ratify the United Nations Convention against Corruption,” Patil said. ”Introduction of an open and competitive system of exploiting

natural resources, fast-tracking of cases against public servants charged with corruption and amendments to the relevant laws to facilitate quicker action against public servants” will be also considered by the GoM

International Women’s Day Mumbai: Women Networking plans to observe the International Women’s Day on March 5 at YWCA, Andheri with cultural programmes, films- Jor Se Bol – and a monologue- Mein aurat hoon by chief guest- Babli Rawat. Women Networking is an informal network of various women’s groups, community organisations and interested individuals, to provide a platform to address women’s issues such as livelihood, labour, violence, food, health and shelter. Women Networking Partners: Aakar, Aashankur, Asha Deep Community Centre, Centre for Legal Services, Jagruti Kendra, Jan Jagruti Kendra, Justice and Peace Commission, Malad Women’s Cell, Mukti Sadan, Prayas Kendra, Prayatana Community Centre, Roshni Griha, Sanmitra Trust, Shakti Social Research Centre, Vikas Adhyayan Kendra, Vimla Vikas Kendra, Women’s Grievances Redressal Cell, Yuva, YWCA, Andheri and individuals. Contact: Jaya Menon, c/o Centre for Legal Services,Email:jaya11200@yahoo.co.in Bangalore: Indian Social Institute’s Women section along with Prakruthi Abhivruddhi Seva Sanstha- (which works with women, children and disabled on a rights -based approach) organized a cultural programme with schools along with a talk on ‘Women Entrepreneurship” on March 8 at the Institute premises. Contact isiblr@yahoo.co.in or tel. 23526189

Child Rights Bangalore: INSA-India (International Services Association) organised two National Consultations to get more buy-in from Child Rights Specialists and leaders for strengthening the Child protection processes and facilities in the country. Over 700 organisations are now well recognised for addressing priority challenges in their areas. For example, in Orissa community involvement was strengthened using cultural festivals for malaria control; in Rajasthan, the child-tochild process was used for complete immunization of under five children; in Tamil Nadu, self help groups and

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NGO Connect ○

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NGO News village health workers radically reduced female infanticide} However our child survival and protection indicators remain stunted. Hence INSA-India is hoping to pilot an approach promoting convergence and community accountability to ensure that child protection is better realized. INSA-India is now planning to strengthen “child-at-risk’ program through developing 20 sites locally and 15 sites nationally to be best practice sites for child protection and survival. In this model INSA India is working towards building convergence between the community and care providers at one end and between care providers {governmental, educational and nongovernmental} at the other. Expected outcomes at the end of two years include active advocacy and child survival/ protection strengthening through creation of 170 Children Parliaments nation wide, 170 child protection committees that follow the ‘Every child-Our Child philosophy for prevention of child exploitation, sexual abuse and trafficking, Opening safe spaces for dialogue on sexuality, violence and disease that impact survival { over 500 child care providers {teachers, anganwadi staff NGO staff} will undergo traiing to build their skills for this purpose}; Strengthened advocacy for child protection implemenation through Forum building { over 2000 organisations membership}; 30 Resource centres developed for child survival and protection advocacy where their child survival programs and statistics are demonstrated. Inputs on The Offenses Against Children Bill which was proposed by Ministry of Women and Child {2005}Development are welcome. Contact: International Services Association,INS-India,Bangalore Tel +9180 23536633; 23536299 Mobile 9449865413 {Edwina} 9449865400 {Florence}. Web www.insa-india.org.in Friends Society Events Baroda: The Annual event of Friends Society - “XVIIth All Vadodara Special Children Sports Meet - “Shourya- A Feat Of Courage” for differently-abled children, was successfully held at Convent School, Fatehgunj in Dec. Shri Balkrishna Shukla, MP, was the Chief Guest. He handed over the torch to a participating child and declared the Sports Meet open. This Sport Meet covers all of Vadodara in terms of nature of disability and geographical reach. Over 400 children from 20 Institutions (in the area of Physically challenged, Mental retardation, Hearing Impaired & Visually impaired) participated. Competitions were held for specific

category of disability so as to help each participant discover and test his/her hidden potential. Baroda Dairy, Goodies & Indian Overseas Bank sponsored food & caps, financial support was provided by Babaria Institute of Technology & M/s. SABIC Research & Technology Pvt. Ltd. (through their Corporate Social Responsibility budget).

Community minimarathon Mumbai: The H/West Federation teamed up with Wake Up Bandra to organise the H-West Ward’s first ever mini-marathon on Feb. 27 when the citizens of Mumbai hit the streets of Bandra, Khar and Santacruz for– The H-West Federation’s ‘MUST Run’! Joining the Federation and Wake Up Bandra in this endeavour are the Diocesan Youth Centre, the M4CR initiative of CRY, KRIPA Foundation and The Teenager magazine. A couple of critical causes underlie the event – that of ensuring a good education to our youth, -the M4CR programme in our municipal schools, that of protecting the few empty spaces that are left in this city ; to honour the work of KRIPA, which has, for the last 25 years, been working among people afflicted with chemical dependency and HIV infection. The ‘MUST Run’ was flagged off from St Stanislaus High School, Bandra along with a number of events to reach out to the citizens in the ward. The Diocesan Youth Centre organised a 2-day sports festival for the youth on March 5/6 —a Throw ball Tournament for girls and a knock-out Football Tournament for the boys. The event, Youth For Kripa, every score converted into cash for the KRIPA Foundation. Contact Praful Vora, Convener JNM. (Cell: +91 90 0401 7654)

National Election Watch asks for regulations Chennai: Over 1000 people attended the 2-day workshop organized by Election Watch and the Association of Democratic Reforms to discuss ‘A Comprehensive Bill to regulate working of political parties’ along with ICAI guidelines for IT returns of political parties The comprehensive draft bill on regulation of political parties would be drafted under the guidance of former Chief Justice of India, Mr Venkatachaliah. (Contd.. on page 4)

Special Children at the sports meet organised by Friends society

Choosing the Type of Nonprofit Organization Trust, Society or Section 25 Company By Noshir H. Dadrawala Enabling Legal Environment are usually built on private and family registered as a trust, society or lands and from private and family section 25 company, the next logical The laws applicable to nonprofits in wealth for public good. Trusts offer step is to apply for tax exemption India only recognize “charitable them greater control and autonomy with the income tax authorities. In purposes” and “religious purposes.” in management and administration. order to qualify for exemption u/s “Charitable purpose” as defined Members of the family may remain 11 of the Income Tax Act (i.e., to under the federal Income tax Act is on the board for as long as they exempt the income of the fairly comprehensive and covers, may want to. New trustees may be organization from tax) the nonprofit besides relief of the poor, education selectively appointed from time to organization must apply to the and medical relief, “any other object time and there is no requirement of concerned income tax authority in of general public utility.” The law in a general body of members or the prescribed form. India adequately enables nonprofits annual general meetings. The application must be submitted, to be registered for “charitable purposes” and implement welfare Usually grassroots level together with the certified copies of and development activities. organizations, which require greater the trust deed or memorandum and public participation and involvement articles of association, certified The terms “not-for-profit” and by way of membership, are copies of the registration certificate “nonprofit/s” do not exist in Indian registered as societies. And obtained from the charity statute books. Many voluntary societies become a natural choice commissioner’s office or the organizations in India feel in states where there is no Public registrar of societies/companies. uncomfortable with the term Trusts Act in force. 80G Certificate under the Income “charity” or to be registered for “charitable purposes.” Perhaps, Very few opt for the section 25- Tax Act substituting the term “charitable company format. Many are not even A donor is entitled to a 50% tax purpose” with “not-for-profit aware that this choice exists. rebate for donations made to a purpose” would be more in keeping nonprofit organization having Registering A Trust with modern international trends in 80G(5) certificate. The application philanthropy. The aplication for registration of a for approval of a nonprofit While the legal environment for public charitable trust should be organization u/s 80G(5) of the promoting ‘charitable purposes’ in submitted at the office of the charity Income Tax Act should be made in India is quite enabling, one often commissioner having jurisdiction the prescribed form, together with encounters problems in convincing over the region/sub-region of the copies of the registration certificate the registering officers whether state in which the trust is to be and the trust deed/memorandum objects like “income generation registered. The application should and articles of association. programs for disadvantaged be made in the prescribed form groups”, or “empowerment of providing details regarding name of Approval under Section 35AC of the women” are charitable. Registering the trust, names and addresses of Income Tax Act officers are often known to go by the trustees, mode of succession, Contribution(s) made to a project/ the “lettr” and not the “spirit” of the and other key matters defined by scheme notified as an eligible project law. Registering officers should be law. The trust deed should be or scheme for the purpose of given clear guidelines by the executed on non-judicial stamp section 35AC of the Income Tax Act, Ministry of Finnce regarding what is paper. would entitle the donor to a 100% a “charitable purpose” and acquaint In some states, the trustee applying deduction of the amount of such all registering officers with some of for registration is also required to contribution. Unlike the certificate the new development terminology. submit an affidavit, and all co- granted under section 80G (wherein As long as the nonprofit is not trustees are required to sign a donations made to a qualifying A nominal organization entitles a donor to a established for or carries out any consent letter. 50% deduction), the certificate u/s “unlawful a fairly conducive registration fee is also charged. 35AC is generally not given to any environment for the development Registering A Society organization, but usually for an and growth of all lawful charitable The application for registration of a eligible and approved project. purposes. society should be made to the The application for approval of an The Choice registrar of societies having association or institution for the The legal framework in India gives jurisdiction over the region/sub- purpose of section 35AC should be nonprofits a choice to register either region of the state in which the forwarded to the secretary of the as a trust, sciety or company. The society is to be registered. The National Committee for the question is which one is good? How application should be submitted Promotion of Social and Economic should a ew nonprofit make an together with the memorandum of Welfare. The application in the association and rules and prescribed proforma should be “enlightened choice”? regulations. In addition to the above, submitted in two sets written either In states like Maharashtra and different states require additional in English or Hindi and accompanied Gujarat where a Public Trusts Act documents such as consent letters with details about the name, address is in force, trusts offer simplicity and of all members of the managing and status of the applicant. ease in registration procedures. committee, affidavit, etc. A Two trustees are required to found registration fee is also charged. In The National Committee usually a trust, while societies require a states like Maharashtra and Gujarat recommends to the Central minimum of seven founders. The all societies registered under the Act Government, a project or scheme paperwork to establish a trust is less of 1860 are also required to register for notification as an eligible project elaborate and in certain states or in under the Bombay Public Trusts Act or scheme (u/s 35AC) for an initial period of three financial years. New Delhi where there is no charity 1950. Approved projects/schemes are commissioner the trust deed can be Registering A Company generally for rural development, easily registered with the subregistrar’s office. The sub-registrar The first step towards registration urban slums, etc. simply registers the Deed of Trust of a company (under section 25 of Permanent Account Number and unlike the charity commissioner the Indian Companies Act) is the he does not have the power or application for availability of name Every nonprofit organization which authority to exercise to the registrar of companies, which is required to file the return of income superintendence over trusts. must be made in the prescribed under section 139(4A) of the Income form, together with a certain fee. It Trusts also offer autonomy in is advisable to suggest a choice of Tax Act, has to apply for allotment management and administration. An three other names by which the of permanent account number individual may remain a trustee for company may be called, in case the (PAN). The application should be life and new trustees may be first name, which is proposed, is not made in the prescribed form to the income tax officer. selectively appointed over a period found acceptable by the registrar. of time. In a society or section 25 Registration for Seeking Foreign company there are requirements for Once the availability of name is Funds a general body of members, periodic confirmed, an application should be elections and annual general made in writing to the regional All nonprofit organizations in India, meetings. The setup is more director of the company law board. whether registered or not, come democratic. However here again The application should be under the purview of the Foreign there are instances where the accompanied by three printed Contribution (Regulation) Act. The general body of a society is copies of the memorandum and application for obtaining prior restricted to just seven members articles of association of the permission of the Central and as such the management proposed company, duly signed by Government to receive foreign becomes as autonomous as in a all the promoters with full name, contribution should be made in the address and occupation. Various prescribed form FC-1A. The trust. other declarations and statements application for registration of a Generally schools, colleges and are required to be furnished for the nonprofit organization for hospitals established by wealthy purpose of registration: acceptance of foreign contributions families or corporate houses are should be made in the prescribed founded as trusts. These Registration for Tax Exemption form FC-8. educational or medical institutions Once the nonprofit organization is

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ICAI guidelines on income tax returns presented to the political parties. Representatives of DMK, AIADMK, INC, MDMK, PMK and other parties give broad support to these initiatives The 7th National Conference also recognized the emerging threat of control of the State and Government by money power and strongly opposed it. The other documents distributed at the conference are on the website: http://www.adrindia.org/. Contact: Dr. Sudarsan Padmanabhan, Coordinator, Tamil Nadu Election Watch, 09444782793, 09444782884 padmanab@gmail. com. Anil Bairwa 011 6590 1524; + 91-99993-10100 Association for Democratic Reforms

Dharavi women recount domestic viol. exp. Mumbai:Laying emphasis on the role of public health workers in addressing domestic violence issues, Centre for Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes (CEHAT) and Point of View released a short film At The Crossroads. The film traces the life of a victim of domestic violence who ends up in a hospital after repeated instances of abuse. The film was viewedby around 100 women from Dharavi, many of whom recounted their experiences of surviving domestic violence. “We wanted to do a community screening where women who have experienced domestic violence and are working against it would be able to attend and discuss the film and take it back to their communities to spread the thought,” said Padma Deosthali, coordinator, CEHAT. The film traces the story of Meera who attempts suicide and ends up at a city hospital after facing repeated abuse at the hands of herhusband. At the hospital, a concerned nurse puts her in touch with an organisation attached to the hospital Dilaasa that counsels survivors of domestic violence. “This is the story of our lives. Many of us are Meeras here. We realised quite late that we could seek help,” said a resident of Dharavi after the screening. “Violence is not just on the women, but also on the children and from a psychological perspective it becomes very difficult to erase the hurt for a very long time,” said Ipshita Maitra, director of At The Crossroads. Contact cehat

Bringing Cancer out in the open Mumbai: An awareness programme on Cancer through songs and competition was organized for Cancer Survivor’s Day on Feb. 17 at Horniman Circle Garden in which doctors and survivors participated by V Care Foundation. Contact 9821949401 – 402 Email: vcare24@gmail.com, Website: www.vcarecancer.org

Free Medical Camps held Mumbai: The M.B.Barvalia foundation arranged a free Medical Camp from Feb-19- 25th Feb every morning. It included a panel of Doctors,- Homeopaths, Neurologist. Orthopedics. Physiotherapist, Speech Therapist.Psychologist. The camps wereheld at the M.B.Barvalia

Foundation’s Spandan Holistic Institute in Ghatkopar (east). Cntact: Mr. Rahul Jainar Social Worker - Mobile: 8655105778

Food security is for all The National Advisory Council (NAC) drafted a National Food Security Act and had put it out for public response. It states the proposed food entitlements to be provided through the public distribution system at subsidised rates to ‘general’ and ‘priority’ categories. It also has a section on an elaborately worked out grievance redressal mechanism for food related programmes and schemes.

We must begin to understand the connection between bad weather, increased food prices that add topoverty and the spilling global unrest. It was the spike in food prices that led to the first spark of protest in Tunisia and has now spread across Egypt and other parts of the Arabic world. Clearly, increasing food demand driven by growing population, combined with crop losses because of weather-related events and exacerbated by poor governance, will be the tinderbox of the future. These will add to the destitution of the poorest and make global disparity even starker.

Both are important dimensions for social welfare measures by the government, and we should examine them for their implications as a governance tool from the perspective of the communities with whom we work and the societal impact.

( Despite all this) why in the world is moving backward when it comes to this top-ranking risk?The world has touched rock bottom as far as progress on an effective agreement on climate change is concerned. …. In Cancun, the world agreed to do nothing.

The Prime Minister’s Office has got the proposals examined by the Rangarajan committee, which has rejected some of the proposed provisions and recommended entitlements to a lesser proportion of the people.

Worse, since Cancun the world has moved further back on its commitment to limit emissions. …

These documents reflecting official thinking should be seen in light of the demands and proposals of the Right to Food Campaign which has considered the whole link between agriculture, public procurement and distribution as central to food security. After a one-day meeting on Feb. 19 at Delhi with civil society organizations the NAC presented its views to the PMO.

Davos Assessment is Right and Wrong Sunita Narain The World Economic Forum — the gathering of power glitterati each year in Davos — has assessed the top risks the world faces in 2011. According to this analysis, climate change is the highestranking risk the world will face in the coming years, when its likelihood and impact are combined. What’s even more important is the interconnections between climate change and the other top risks: economic disparity (ranked 3), extreme weather events (ranked 5), extreme energy price volatility (ranked 6), geopolitical conflict (ranked 7), flooding and water security (9 and 10). The world — even according to the richest men — is in deep and desperate trouble. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says world food prices thisJanuary hit a “historic peak”. The reasons for the spike are not just the traditional, -They are newer: extreme weather events, floods and droughts, heat and frost waves. And they suggest a threat even more difficult to contain. Bad weather has taken its toll oncrops across the world. In India over the past two months, paddy ready to be harvested was damaged because of unseasonal rain in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha; chilli crop was hit in Tamil Nadu; frost and extreme cold destroyed crops in Madhya Pradesh,Rajasthan and Punjab. Farmers have committed suicide over crop failures. There are many more cases of damage to crops because of changing weather.Last year several parts of India and Africa witnessed floods- adding to the cycle of destitution because they destroy the gains of development.

The world is precariously placed: on the one hand, the crisis is growing and becomingevident; on the other hand, the response is weakening and losing urgency. This is the most obvious and fatal disconnect of our times. We will all pay for this. Big time.

Rebuild and get Solar free! Bihar: The World Bank has offered to Kosi flood relief beneficiaries an incentive -- rebuild your houses in six months and get toilets and solar lights worth Rs 7,300 free of cost. The offer stands for 1,00,00 beneficiaries under the $259 million Bihar Kosi Recovery Project started in collaboration with Bihar government. (Bihar’s share in the project is $39 million). Over 30,000 people have already got Rs 30,000 each as first installment . The second installment of Rs 20,000 will be released after construction is completed till lintel level.A house owner will have to build the house on at least 215 sqft area under the project. The three house models were designed by disaster management experts who have worked in Bhuj and tsunami reconstruction, State coordinator with Owner Driven Reconstruction Collaborative, a network of reconstruction agencies helping the government in the Kosi project, Sanjay Pandey, added: “Each house will get Rs 2,300 for a toilet and Rs 5,000 for solar lighting only if the house is constructed within six months as per our specifications. Masons, social workers and engineers will also get incentives for house construction. Beneficiaries from Madhepura, Supaul and Saharasa scramble at respective block offices to complete formalities, and there is a sense of urgency among engineers, masons and social workers too. Over 50 per cent of the 100,000 beneficiaries were from below the poverty line. Madhepura district where 11 of 13 blocks were flooded in 2008 has maximum number of beneficiaries. Besides housing, 90 bridges and 290 km of rural roads would also be constructed under the project.(Source:- http://www.indian ex press.com)

Dehi -- Recycling Clothes Chennai: Working on a simple philosophy of re-using old clothes, a social clothes collection drive, “Dehi” initiated a small effort to help

address the critical clothing needs of the underprivileged. They have successfully held 8 clothes distribution camps in the past one year. Two enterprising young girls hit upon the idea of providing a new innovative home collection service, which allows you to clear out all your unwanted or surplus clothing. “Help us, clothe someone” became their dictum. “Friends, who heard of our initiative, approached us and donated a lot of clothes to boost our confidence and cause.Timely and sustained support from Sri Banaskantha Palanpur Jain Association and the volunteers from the samities has helped this endeavour take shape and grow. Today, this effort has also been extended to Kolkata. “What makes people join “Dehi” is the platform. We take care of the collection, distribution and feedback involved in making sure that the clothes reach the desired recipients.” “Dehi” is proud to work as a volunteer organistion which is funded completely by its self. Contact: “mansi mehta” <mansi78 @gmail.com>

Pratham language books available free Bangalore: Pratham Books, Bangalore is rationalising their books in stock and realised that they had excess stock in the following languages: Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Kannada, Punjabi, Telugu and Urdu. A few of the books are in the 3-6 age category but mostly in the 7-10 and 11-14 category Organizations that could Utilize them effectively, will not otherwise be able to afford them can avail of their free offer. They will have to pay for the shipping costs, be willing to write and photograph the journey the books take within their organization, be able to absorb large numbers of books - preferably 2000+ . Contact: Gautam John gautam @prathambooks.org, http://www. prathamb ooks.org/

Disability NGOs Database Delhi: India Accessible Data Development study-a Civil Society data base development is an initiative of Rehabilitation Council Of India in collaboration with CBR Network. We need dependable data base for planning rehabilitation services in rural and urban India to assess the extent of human resource development required, budgeting rehabilitation programmes such as CBR, Inclusive Education, Early intervention, skill development, employment opportunities. We cannot plan on estimates, we need concrete figures. This is the first of its attempt to develop a data base for all the NGOs, Disabled People Organizations, Special schools, Inclusive schools, Community Based Organizations, Parents groups, Self help groups, Training institutes working in disability sector in India as a single window for the use of Government as well as NGOs. Fill the proforma and send it by ordinary post or fax/ scan/ email or Visit I-ADD website, fill the online form and submit. The organizations working at the village level that need not have any legal entity can also register in this data base. Send filled proforma by March 10 to CBR NETWORK (SA) Bangalore.

Global Day of Protest To end Criminalization of Democratic Dissent in India supporters in 12 cities- in the U.S., Canada and the U.K.- took to the streets to mark the Global Day of Protest on January 30 demanding the freedom of Dr. Binayak Sen and many other political prisoners, the repealing of draconian laws, and the disbanding of vigilante forces in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. The coordinated actionsdemonstrations, vigils, public meetings, film screenings, public marches, etc. were the result of a call by the Free Binayak Sen coalition, a broad grouping of over 57 civil society groups Dr.Ramachandra Guha, talking in Boston urged protesters not to lose sight of the many ordinary adivasis who, like Dr. Sen, are also victims of persecution, and have had their homes burnt or kinsfolk murdered by state-sponsored vigilantes, but in the prevailing atmosphere of intimidation are too terrified to file FIRs or seek justice. Demonstrations were held in front of the Indian Consulates in New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, London, Vancouver. Panel discussions and public awareness events were held in Amherst, Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles. Supporters in the cities of Seattle and Austin held candle light vigils. For Indian supporters of Dr. Sen, his case raises larger questions about the state’s punitive targeting of individuals (through the use of repressive legislation or extrajudicial killings, (aka “encounters”) and communities (through military offensives such as Operation Greenhunt) in response to their dissent against its vision of neoliberal development. The Coalition has worked since 2007 to highlight the increasing assault on civil liberties in India in the name of national security. The case of Dr. Binayak Sen, in particular, has captured the imagination of people worldwide and he has now become a highly visible symbol of a wider resistance to the political corruption of democracy. To support the movement, contributions can be made at SBI branches to Binayak Sen Support Fund, SBI a/c no. 30181020786 or through cheques/drafts mailed to Dr. P. Zachariah, c/o CMC Alumni Association, Christian Medical College, Vellore-632002. Contact: Anu Mandavilli amandavilli @yahoo. com Somnath Mukherji mukherji. somnath@gmail.com

Beautiful Thing By Sonia Faleiro, Publ: Penguin/ Hamilton India When Sonia set out to report on Bombay’s dance bars, she met Leela, 19, charismatic and fearlessly outspoken. She is the best paid dancer in a bar in Mira Road, where she dances to Bollywood music. Leela has a husband, lovers, mother and a best

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NGO News friend...but when the bars are closed down, she is forced into the most precarious kind of sex work and must trade her proud independence for survivial! Beautiful Thing is a vivid, intimate portrait of a young woman fleeing abuse and poverty to build a life on her own terms, in a city equally bent on reinventing itself. And it is the compelling story of an unlikely friendship, as two women from different worlds pit their wits against the whims of mercurial Bombay.

Cycling for child labour Gurgaon: A group of nine cyclists from Gurgaon undertook a 320-km ride to Ajmer on Feb 5 in a bid to sensitize people against child labour and raise funds for two NGOs Gurgaon Ki Awaaz and Shakti Vahini working in the field of childrights. The funds generated through the event will be used for buying a vehicle for NGO Shakti Vahini, which runs Childline in Gurgaon. It will be used for the purpose of rescuing children. The cycling group comprises lawyers, doctors and management gurus among others. Advertising and brand consultant Manas Arvind, who is participating in the event, said. “This event has given each one of us a purpose to do something for kids. It is a sheer misfortune that these children are forced to work, when they should ideally be going to schools”. http:// twitter. com/samhitadotorg

Free Legal Services by Govt. Mumbai: There is a government provision for free legal services for those who cannot afford it. Contact Maharashtra Government District and Suburban Legal Services Authority, High Peak Apartments, S.V. Road, Bandra(W). Mumbai 400050. This government department, provides free legal aid to women ,children and eligible persons having income of not more than 50000/- per annum. They also conduct various programmes for free legal aid and advise to needy persons with the help of NGOs. Those interested in conducting such seminars, programmes, or assistance, or giving legal aid to your associates, contact Tel. 26401240, 26402175. N.R.Naikwade, Secretary.

Solar mobile charger Mumbai:Students of National Institute of Industrial Engineerin NITIE) doing Post graduation diploma in Industrial Engineering have designed and developed a Solar Mobile Battery Charger currently in use by the villages/ people residing in non electrified villages of Madhya Pradesh. NGO Shiv Ganga foundation is helping in this project which has a strong base in such villages. Since the mobile phone as a means of communication has become a basic essential device, this solar charger will definitely serve the needs of non electrified community. (The product is a copy right product of SIFE NITIE.To expand the target customers, we are looking for NGOs which can help us to identify such non electrified villages, propose our plan and implement it. Many similar products concerned with environment have been developed by the team. Contact: Pankaj Sonawane Organisation: NITIE Powai, Mumbai Email 1: pankaj21187@ gmail.com www.nitie.in

Home is where the hurt is Delhi: Maitri, in collaboration with the Jodhpur School of Public Health, Jodhpur National University hosted a national conference: Home is where the hurt/ is: A National Conference on Public Health Implications of Domestic Violence on Feb10/1l in New Delhi at Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, Delhi. The public health implications of domestic violence, is increasingly attracting the attention of academic, civil society and policy makers. The social phenomenon, widely known as domestic violence or intimate partner violence is any form of abusive, violent, coercive, forceful, or threatening act or word inflicted by one member of a family or household on another. The Domestic Violence Act 2005, provided a comprehensive definition of domestic violence. The law defines Domestic Violence in broader terms, which includes specific definitions of physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal and emotional abuse and economic abuse. Though, domestic violence is increasingly perceived as a criminal offence, very limited attention has been made on the public health implications of Domestic Violence. Research reports indicates that the public health implications of domestic violence during the pregnancy and child birth has disproportionate health burden on women. This conferencewas a call for greater research and civil society action toaddress the public health burden of Domestic Violence and mitigating it’simpact on the health and well being of women and children. The two-day session, developed ecommendations to strengthen national commitment and action on violence against women and it’s public health implications. Contact Sonal Singh Wadhwa <Sonal.singh@ maitriindia. org

CONF HELD The third convention of Jan Sansad was held on March 4,5 in Mumbai, where a strong movement against uprooting slum dwellers and against land grab by city development authority .In nearby district of Ratnagiri, a strong movement against 10,000MV Jaitapur Nuclear Plant will be supported on March 6, Peace Mumbai held an important discussion on the issue of Blasphemy, Law & Democracy. on Feb 4 at the Press Club, Mumbai in the aftermath of the assassination of, Salman Tasseer, Governor of Punjab, Pakistan, for trying to pardon Ms. Aasia Bibi, a victim of Blasphemy Law. Speakers were Asghar Ali Engineer, Flavia Agnes, Vahida Nainar-- in the Chair - Jatin Desai. Department of Political Science, Newman College, Thodupuzha held a National Seminar on Gandhian Strategies for Sustainable Communal Harmony and Development on March 3/4, For more details visit www.newman college. ac.in or email: newman seminar@ gmail. com Bombay HUB held a session to understand the need for Good governance within your organization on Feb.25. The workshop looked at What kind of a Board is needed for an organization, how to engage the Board etc. The workshop was conducted by Aarti Madhusudan, founder of Governance Counts and an alumnus of TISS and NIMHANS. Contact:

bombay.hub @unltdindia. org As a part of its ongoing campaign, SPJ organized a Public Hearing on violations of Child Rights – Malnutrition, Childhood Huger, Anganwaadi’s; Children’s Health, Primary Health Centers; Access, Quality of Schools & Hostels at Bijapur district.on Feb. 25. Contact Y.Mariswamy, State Organiser, Samajika Parivarthana Janandolana, SPJ,Bangalore Mobile: 99805 90985 A Social Business Lab was conducted at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) on Feb 20 at Mukesh Patel School of Technology Management & Engineering, NMIMS. Email Aarti.Wig @grameencl.com The Grameen Creative Lab had an interactive session with Hans Reitz, co- founder of The Grameen Creative Lab and Creative Advisor to Prof. Muhammad Yunus. This lab explained the meaning of social business, to interactively work on ideas to address social problems with entrepreneurial spirit.The Grameen Creative Lab organizes and conducts social business labs worldwide. Many social business ideas have already been realized as a result of these labs. “Potable water in Bengaluru:Today and Tomorrow, seminar was organized by CIVIC. Panelists Mr. Narayana Mr.Rajendran Prabhakar , Chief Engineer Social Activist, BWSSB Bangalore spoke on Feb. 21 at SCM House to debate the demandfor water. Will there be equitable distribution? Will it cost more? Will the BWSSB increase its efficiency and reduce the current level of unaccounted water? How can the BWSSB achieve this total solution? Contact CIVIC Bangalore. South Asian Fund Raising Group & Canadian International Development Agency(CIDA) held their first Regional Workshop in Gujarat: ‘Fundraising & Communications’ from March 45, at the Gandhi Labour Institute of Ahmedabad for NGOs and development professionals working in the region. Contact: rosaline@ safrg. org or Tel. 011 -26132024 / 86 National Council of Educational Research and Training, New Delhi & SNDT Women’s University Library, New Marine Lines, Mumbai held the Savitribai Phule Memorial Lecture :Sevanti Ninan, Journalist talked on Media and Inequality : Mapping the Media’s Role in Unequal Society. Prof. Anjali Monteiro, Professor, Centre for Media and Cultural Studies, TISS chaired the Session “Centre for People’s Forestry” held a three-day training program from Feb 24-26 aimed at orienting Managers and staff of NGOs, representatives of CBOs and their networks, field level officials of line Departments on the nuances of collaboration for sustainable livelihoods in the context of forest and forest-based communities. The course was conducted in English; translation in Telugu, Oriya, Tamil & Hindi. Contact, “Centre for People’s Forestry”, Secunderabad Tel/Fax: +91 40 2715 4484/94, Email: info@cpf.in Carbon Footprint’ workshop on Feb.21 at Bombay hub. The No2Co2 Project (www.no2co2.in) is the first citizen’s movement in Urban India to stimulate individual accountability for Global Warming through three vital stages of ‘Realize, Minimize, and Neutralize’. The Carbon Footprint workshop focused on individuals realizing and minimizing ones Carbon Footprint

The Inner Mirror : Compiled and edited by A.R.Vasavi Publ: Present Continuous Kannada writings on society and CUlture with articles by KV Narayana,Murari Balal, KV Subbanna, Veena Bannanje, etc. Contact ART, Bangalore Tel: 41124556 info@artscapeindia.org

through a simple yet reliable, measurable and verifiable approach. The workshop was conducted by Vivek Gilani Co-founder of No2Co2 Project. Contact: bombay.hub @unltdindia.org International Conference on Compliance and Liability in Climate Change Negotiations was held in Delhi on, March 1, The Centre for Science and Environment brought experts from across the globe to discuss these challenges and illuminate upon solutions that we must work towards. The panel comprised renowned environmental lawyers, professors and climate negotiators who faced NGOs, campaigners, researchers and together will try to find answers to one of the most challenging quandaries that climate change harbingers. For details, contact Adityo Ghosh at g_aditya @cseindia. org

Grants Nominations invited for the WISE Prize for Education The Qatar Foundation is inviting nominations from NGOs, and others for the 2011 WISE Prize for Education.The WISE Prize for Education will reward individuals – or teams of individuals – who have made an outstanding contribution to any field or level of education. Winner will receive an award of $500,000 and a gold medal at the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), Selfnominations will not be accepted. The deadline to submit nominations is April 30. For more information, visit www.fundsforngos.org The Laadli-National Creative Excellence Awards for social change was instituted by Population First with the support of UNFPA. This is a nationwide initiative to support the Girl Child campaign and very specifically the campaign against sex selection.

The awards were instituted with the aim to develop a pool of creative, qualitative and compelling communication material for the campaign against sex selection and make them accessible to the organizations online. The themes that can be explored in the 2nd edition of the Awards are: 1. Pre-birth sex determination is a crime under the PCPNDT Act 2. Squealing is good if it is to protect the Girl Child from discrimination. lodge complaints on www.hamaribeti.nic.in The contest is open to all.The communication material can be anything- submit any number of entries under any/all category; published or non-published material in any language. Material must be online and free of cost for different campaigns through the free and open source i.e. www.creative- excellence. org The selected (appropriate and usable) material will be made online for users. The best 3 entries in all the 8 categories are given a trophy and citation in an award ceremony which in Mumbai. Read the brochure/ communication brief available on the website www.creative- excellence. org. Develop the material in the required format for submission so that it can be accessed by other organizations for their campaigns (details in the website); fill the entry form (download from website) and submit it along with the material online or by post in a CD/DVD. Entries can be uploaded directly on the website after registration The deadline for sending entries is Mar 30th, 2011. Mercy Barla, Population First, Mumbai. Email 1: info@population first.org, Email 2: laadli.creative excellence@gmail. com

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O P P O RTUNITIES Volunteers to teach English As an annual feature, YWCA Mumbai organises a career counseling workshop and vacation English speaking classes between April & June for regional medium girls who have appeared for their SSC exams and are awaiting their results before they can join college. Around 120 girls are admitted in 4 batches of 30 each. This year the workshop is on March 30 at YWCA, Andheri 3.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m. The English speaking class will be from April 4 - June 15, 10.30 am to 12.30 noon, Monday to Friday. We are looking for women volunteers to handle these classes. Training arranged for the volunteers. Contact Lalitha Dhara (981 9683 940 )

Sports Coach for Rural Athletes Sanskriti Samvardhan Mandal is a village based voluntary organization established in 1959 at Sagroli Dist. Nanded, Maharashtra to guide rural sportsmen/women. www.ssmandal. net. We have been implementing Sagroli Sunrise sports project since 2005 with a specific objective: That rural youth could bring laurels to the nation in sports if they get guidance Our candidates bagged maximum prizes in various national level marathon events. Most of the children in the project are orphans and with rural background. Wanted--A Sports Coach who could properly coordinate the sports project, monitor the performance of athletes and guide them properly. Salary will be paid as per qualification and experience. Please contact Mr.Arvind Deshmukh, Project Director Cell No. 9823309335 or mail your CV to add_ principal@ rediff.com or to sudhir.ssmandal@ gmail.com

Humana People to People India Partnership Coordinator -State Government, Delhi, Last Date: March 8, Email: swhq@humana.or Wanted a full time highly specialized and qualified person with many years of experience in negotiating with State Governments and a proven track record of successful partnerships. To negotiate with State Government on behalf of Humana People to People India for a public-private partnership Humana People to People (HPPI) has developed a two year pre-service teacher training programme with the aim to prepare teachers with the skills to teach in rural primary schools with quality.The HPP Teacher Training Programme is an innovative programme - includes extracurricular subjects that equips the students with knowledge about the world, community work, computer skills and English. The job of the Coordinator: to visit various States in India, present the programme to the Department of School Education and to negotiate an agreement of cooperation that will enable HPPI to implement the HPP Teacher Training Programme, funded by the Government. Qual/Exp: The job requires knowledge about education and the educational system in India. It requires knowledge about how the State Governments work. good English and Hindi writing skills to be able to develop MOU’s, proposals, letters, etc.; planning and reporting skills. Salary is negotiable. Send applications to swhq@humana.org Top Partnership Negotiator, Delhi HPPI wish to employ a highly specialized and qualified person with a proven track-record of raising substantial funds for development work to raise considerable amounts of funds for the Humana People to People pre-service teacher training programme from national and international organizations, foundations and companies within the idea of partnership for development. The task is to identify potential partners that support education programmes in India, meet with them about the HPP Teacher Training Programme, develop and submit project proposals, follow up until an agreement has been signed and funds released. Qual/Exp: The job requires knowledge about education and the educational system in India. Only highly qualified persons with a track record of raising considerable amounts of funds, may apply. Salary is negotiable. Send applications to: swhq@humana.org

Scientific Officer – Groundwater Hydrology & Remote Sensing/GIS International Water Management Institute Hyderabad, Contract Duration: Two years WMI wishes to recruit a qualified and motivated person for the position of Scientific Officer – Groundwater Hydrology and RS/GIS to work on regional hydrological modeling (primarily groundwater) across a range of spatial scales and settings in India to offer practical solutions for water management. Job is : To develop groundwater models; Apply GIS and remote sensing tools to support hydrological modelling;. Design and implement and/or supervise field data collection and analysis and Prepare research reports, journal articles for publication. Qual/Exp.: PhD or M.Tech in the field of hydrogeology/

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(despite deadlines, you are advised to apply) engineering or a closely related discipline; • Strong computing skills, particularly with respect to GW/RS/GIS software;• At least two years work experience in hydrological modelling and remote sensing/ GIS applications Last date: March,15. Applications to: r.navanita@cgiar.org

District CoordinatorDecentralized District Planning Jamshedpur Fees: Rs 25000 CTC + Travel &DSA + Communication cost (as per norms) Qual/Exp: Seven years village planning process; aged 30 to 40 Yrs.; MSW/MBA; Experience in District Planning Processes of Govt.; Well versed with PRA technique. Fluency in written and spoken English and Hindi is essential. Computer knowledge is compulsory. Reporting to: District Planning Officer , he/she will: provide support to the “Planning Unit” for entire preparation of decentralized Block and District plan; establish liaisoning, networking and coordination mechanism within various departments and stakeholders for better programme implementation; facilitate policy framework to develop capacity of officials and PRIs on District Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation. Apply with cover letter and CV to ashish.kumar @mafoirandstad.com by March 5 2011—mention the name of the post and location in the subject line of your e-mail. Applications should contain the following points in separate attached sheet: - Current CTC -Summary of Exp-Total number years of Exp - Notice period - Expected CTC –Current location

Forest Project Officer, Delhi For The Forest Trust (TFT) India, Delhi based - with extensive travel within India : No deadline Term: 2 years with possible extension Must know English and appropriate Indian regional languages (e.g. Hindi, Punjabi and Rajasthani) The Forest Trust (TFT) is a UK based charity that works in partnership with both producers and consumers of wood. In partnership with forest companies, local communities and other stakeholders, TFT provides expert advice and guidance to improve forest management practices towards the achievement of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. TFT is launching its office in India in 2011 to expand its presence in India to support sustainable forest management and FSC certification, and to link forest products into the international market for certified and responsibly produced products. The TFT Forester tasks will include:1. Identifying appropriate forest management operations that can link to TFT members’ needs,. Helping develop a forestry program through outreach and recruitment of forestry operations; Helping promote and develop support for TFT’s India programme, Providing forest management support to forestry operations that supply into TFT member companies with emphasis in providing assistance on social and environmental issues Qual/Exp: Graduate/MSC degree in Forest Management, Social Forestry, Agronomy or related discipline; Ideally at least three years professional experience in the forest, working with farmers and communities, and plantation management; Understanding of current issues relating to forest certification, especially certification under the FSC system; Salary and benefits: to be agreed but based on experience. email to l.malco@tft-forests.org or m.pescott@tft-forests.org (People who have previously applied for this position need not apply again). More information on TFT can be found at: http://www.tft-forests.org/

Free Automobile Training As a part of Corporate Social Responsibility, Toyota India wants to help rural financially poor students of Karnataka to acquire world class training & education in Automobile Engineering. Check admission details Toyota Technical Training Institute admission 2011 <http://www.karmayog .org/ message/ upload/3958/ 1/App form 2011-TTTI.pdf> NGOs in Karnataka State ( only) dealing with rural children education are requested to apply. Contact T.Somnath, Principal, Toyota Technical Training Institute, No. 1, Bidadi Industrial Area, Bidadi 562 109 Email 1: tsomanath@toyotakirloskar. co.in

Faculty at Muktangan Founded in 2003, Muktangan is now the sole initiative of the Paragon Charitable Trust. Muktangan has pioneered a model that simultaneously incorporates all aspects of quality education, i.e. the ‘Whole School Approach’. This model is run in 7 Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) schools in partnership with the Municipal Corporation. Muktangan trains members from local low-income communities to become effective English-medium teachers.. Muktangan is now institutionalizing its teacher education program to create a three year D.Ed course for women from local low-income communities to become accredited Englishmedium teachers.

Positions Vacant as faculty in departments of: Math and Science. Language. Psychology. Social Studies. Child Development (Candidates for the Child Development Department must possess Masters degree in Human Development) As part of the Subject Specific Team, You will share responsibility for creating curriculum in your area of expertise to be incorporates in the D. Ed course. This will involve skills of research, writing, pilot testing, team work and vetting against existing national and state guidelines; You will be the educator responsible for delivering the modules to the trainees. This includes holding workshops, meeting individuals or groups to revisit challenging concepts and ensuring that the trainees have understood the material; You will share responsibility for the ongoing professional development of Muktangan teachers in your subject area; Developing the English (oral and written) skills of the trainees and existing teachers. (For English Language Department Faculty only). Competencies Reqd: highest-level communication skills in English (written and oral) Able to work effectively in a multistakeholder environment, Set high standards for quality and consistently achieves project goals,Strong passion for education and working with low-income communities. Salary commensurate with your experience? Please submit your C.V and a short paragraph of interest to sunilsmehta42@ gmail.com after visiting our website and viewing the 10 minute documentary film on our home page www.muktanganedu. org

Volunteering abroad Volunteering with VSO is a chance to use your skills to make a tangible difference to fighting poverty across the world. You could make a difference in 1 of over 44 countries, mostly in Africa and Asia. As a volunteer you will have a job with real responsibility. You will be living and working alongside local communities and in partnership with local organizations. Together, you will help them develop their own skills, manage their resources and build strong organizations in areas as diverse as education, livelihoods, HIV/AIDS, and disability. You will be working with limited resources and need to garner the support of a wide range of stakeholders. So your professional skills will have every opportunity to grow. And have an experience you will never forget. Most volunteering opportunities are for 2 years. Currently we require professionals with skills in one of the following areas and at least 3 years of relevant work experience. • Business Management • NGO Management • Livelihoods • Natural Resource Management • HIV and AIDS • Fundraising • Social work and Community Mobilization • Microfinance and Small Business Advice Health and Education The volunteering assignment will make sure that you can live comfortably & get supported by comprehensive grants. Itravel, medical insurance & accommodation. For a detailed working of the financial support and other support that we provide please visit http://www.ivoindia.org/volunteer/support/ If you have skills and experience and you are interested in becoming a volunteer then visit www.ivoindia.org Alternatively you can email your current CV at vso@ivolunteer.org.in and we will guide you on how to proceed further.

Free Hotel Management Training Presidency College of Hotel Management (an initiative of Royal Orchid Hotels) has offered to prepare individuals for the hospitality industry at entry level. The courses are offered in Front Office, and F&B-S. This will prepare individuals to join this industry and take advantage of the soon-to-come explosion. Drop me a line just in case you would like to recommend someone for this course which is free for students as a part of our CSR initiative. This program is aimed at people hailing from marginalized segment of the society. We will dwell on our known strengths i.e. course delivery, excellent faculty & superb infrastructure (library, lab etc.).We have been successfully running Presidency College of Hotel Management at Bangalore since last 16 yrs. Our programs have been approved by the Govt Of Karnataka under MES (Modular Employable Skill) program. We propose to run the program/s for five days a week from 2 pm to 6 pm where students can specialize in either one of the following subjects: Front Office, & Food & Beverages-Service for an entry level job. The inputs will be:Theory - 30% and Practicals / On-the-job Training - 70%. We will not charge any fees from the students. The entire process is aimed at “skilling” the candidates and preparing them so that they are competent enough to take up entry level jobs in the hospitality industry. Contact: Sanjeev Khalkho Faculty,Presidency College of Hotel Management, Hotel Royal Orchid Complex, #1,Golf Avenue, Adjoining KGA Golf Course, HAL Old Air Port Road, Post. kodihalli, Bangalore. Phone No. 9844215594 (Somjit) 9448688964 (Sanjeev) Email: learning@royalorchidhotels.com, head.academics@royalorchidhotels.com Website: www.presidencycollege.edu.in

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A WARDS / CONFERENCES Activist Mr. Simpreet Singh, on behalf of the National Alliance for People’s Movements(NAPM), received the National RTI Council award instituted by Arvind Kejriwal’s Public Cause Research Foundation for its use of rTi to expose fraud and misappropriation of public assets. NAPM used the RTIto investigate Adarsh, the Tower Mumbai meant for Kargil war widows, but usurped by state bureaucrats, politicians and defence personnel who had no role to play in Kargil. Dr. V. Shanta, chairperson of the Cancer Institute, Adyar, Chennai, has been selected for the Y. Nayudamma Memorial Award for 2010. Dr. Shanta has been chosen “in recognition of her tireless efforts for over five decades towards bringing solace to lakhs of men, women and children, afflicted with cancer.” Jce. NV Ramana of the AP High Court presents the award to her on March 5.

Participants may bring the budget, Annual reports and annual accounts of their organizations for analyzing financial statements. Contact M. Francis mail@visthar. org Ph: 080 28465294 & 28465295

July 28-30, 2011, Kandy, Sri Lanka The 2011 conference will cover solar energy materials, solar cells and solar energy applications such as photovoltaic and solar thermal conversion devices.The deadline for abstracts/ proposals is 30 March 2011. Sponsored by: Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy, Sri Lanka Contact: solarasia2011@ ifs.ac.lk. Web address: http:// www.solarasi a2011.ifs.ac.lk

Monitoring & Evaluation of Development Interventions Sambodhi Research & Management Institute.

Winner: A Family of One’s Own

Delhi, March 8-10, 2011

Single Women Demanding Land Rights for Economic Security—-Louise Berry |

The training programme is designed to augment knowledge and skills of strategic and operational functionaries involved with M&E and related functions in development organizations. The programme aims to provide conceptual understanding of M&E and de-jargonize the subject for professionals working at the cutting edge of development. The training will not only familiarize participants with the ‘nuts & bolts’ of M&E but also develop requisite skills to incorporate M&E in project design and delivery.

Proposal Development & Report Writing for Development Projects

IIPM Awards- Irom Sharmila of Rs 50 L & Binayak Sen of Rs 5 L

Delhi, March 11-12, 2011,Sambodhi Research & Management Institute.

Binayak Sen, he not only carried on his work silently but also raised his voice against atrocities conducted by the state in the name of anti-Naxalite operations – be it for organizing and mobilizing people’s groups like Salwa Judum (for which even the Supreme Court had lashed out at the Chhattisgarh government) or for killing innocent people during combing operations. At a global level, organizations like Amnesty International, the British House of Commons, the British Medical Journal, The Global Health Council, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School and individuals like Noam Chomsky, Amartya Sen and many others have criticized this recent arrest of Sen by the Chattisgarh government.

The training programme on Proposal Development and Report Writing will provide participants with the skills to improve structure, content and format of proposals for fund raising, documents for routine operations and for developing reports for diverse purposes. The programme focus is on equipping professionals working on development and social issues with the tools to translate good proposals into ‘winning proposals” and good reports into “excellent reports”.

It’s foolish to sentence him and extremely more foolish to lose an opportunity that could have been utilised in neutralizing Naxalism to some extent, at least in Chattisgarh!Instead of putting the real corrupt thieves and terrorists – politicians who run this country – behind the bars, it is a shame that people like Binayak Sen are being given lifetime imprisonment by the country’s judicial system http://www.iipm-iipmiipm.com/ iipm-prof-arindam-chaudhuri- binayak-sen-victimstate.html Adv Kamayani Bali MahabalMobile00919820749204 The World of Children Annual Awards: A Global Recognition & Funding Program Deadline: 1 April 2011

Contact: Anish Kumar Sahay” trainings@sambodhi.co.in Phone : +91 11 49242400-99, +91 931005678

Nat. Seminar on “Economic Devpt.& Rural Poverty in India” Sponsored by UGC, March 28-29, 2011, Bhubaneswar Org. by Dept. of Analytical & Applied Economics, Utkal Uvty., Vanivihar Bhubaneswar. Limited travel grants and free boarding will be provided by the organizers.For detailed information on themes, registration, abstract submissions, and important deadlines, visit https:// sites. google.com/ site/nsedrp orwrite to Dr. Mitali Chinara, Organizing Secretary at nsedrp@gmail. com.

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Workshop on Financial Management & Social Accountability for Non profit & charitable organizations, May 2-6, 2011 at Visthar, Bangalore Good financial management is very important for voluntary organizations and it depends on programme staff and finance staff working together. Effective use of resources depends on programme staff assessing the actual needs of the communities they are helping and the finance staff understanding and supporting such needs. At the end of the course, participants will be able to:· Use Internal Control mechanisms in programmes and in financial systems, · Build project-wise, activity-wise, and consolidated budgets using activity-based budgeting techniques; · · Prepare and analyze financial reports; · Understand various taxation and legal provision The course will be facilitated by a team of trainers includingpracticing Chartered Accountants. The course fee is Rs.5000/- and covers course materials, boarding and lodging expenses. For non-residential participants the fee is Rs. 2500. Apply by March 31.Note:

The Micro Insurance Academy (MIA) has developed a model that empowers poor communities to access and manage financial risks through tailored insurance solutions through a process that the beneficiaries understand, trust and take responsibility for. After training, the participants will be able: to have an overall understanding on Micro-Insurance with specific mention of Micro-health Insurance; to know about the Insurance scenario of India; to learn from live examples how micro-insurance can be designed and managed by the community. Language- English. The number of participants is limited to 30. The cost per person for the three-days workshop are Rs.12,500 incl. food / accommodation, transport from station /airport Coimbatore to KKID and training materials. Only Online- or Fax-Registration for the workshop. For online registration please go to the English homepage of Karl Kübel Stiftung (http://www.kkstiftung.de/13-1-Home.html) and choose the concerned link. Your registration will be confirmed by mail soon after it has reached our office. Deadline: March 15. contact Mrs. Sabine Beier, Karl Kübel Stiftung für Kind und Familie, Germany. Email: s.beier@kkstiftung.de

Int Conference on Sustainable Development Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, June 3-5, World Environment Day. Under the auspices of UBARI, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri and the University at Buffalo, State University of New York The conference will focus on the crucial interfaces and dynamics of sustainable development with respect to indigenous practices and technology.Contributions are invited in the form of oral presentations and poster presentations. Please note that all those applying for a scholarship for the conference,must submit an abstract. The University at Buffalo School of Social Work and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in India established the UB/Amrita Social and Behavioural Sciences Research Institute (UBARI) in 2010 to initiate, encourage, support, and conduct interdisciplinary joint research in the social and behavioural sciences as it relates to identified areas of need, such as HIV/AIDS, trauma, extreme events and disaster management, community development, mental health and alcohol abuse. Reg.fee: Students Rs.1000; academics/NGOs Rs.3000; industry Rs. 4000 For further information, please visit the conference website at: http://amrita.edu/icstsd or :Email: icstsd@am.amrita.edu

“An age employed in edging steel, Can no poetic raptures feel”— - Philip Freneau

The World of Children honors leaders with recognition and grants for their work towards improvement of children...There are three awards for humanitarian, health and youths...The program offers cash grants from $25,000 to $50,0000...

CONFERENCES

Coimbatore, April 6-8 Organised by Karl Kübel Institute for Development Education (KKID (www.kkid.org) Coimbatore in collaboration with Micro Insurance Academy (MIA), Delhi

Solar Asia 2011

Property Rights: Identity, Dignity & Opportunity for All competition.

Single women in Himachal Pradesh, India are demanding thirty year lease rights to land from the state. The social movement of single women (Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan) designed a plan to create a new family formation, the “naya sasural” (new marital family): an older single woman joins with a younger single woman and her children to create an economically viable, mutually supportive family unit. Louise Berry http:// afamilyofonesown.blogspot.com/ Contact: ENSS/SUTRA, 01792 283725 or O1792 283772. SUTRA: Jagjit Nagar 173225 HP

“Workshop on Micro Insurance”

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Media FILMS Delhi: Persistence Resistance 2011 began on Feb. 7 at Max Mueller Bhavan, with a seminar on Film festivals as public cultures . Films premiered: Paromita Vohra’s brand new documentary Partners in Crime followed by You Don’t Belong by Spandan Bannerji. Video reports, visuals and written reports of events can be viewed on : http://www.persistence resistance.in/ On Feb. 8, , Shohini Ghosh’s book ‘Fire’ was released by Sharmila Tagore with a key note address by Colin Gonsalves, advocate and Peter Wintonick, filmmaker. Persistence Resistance 2011 also presented retrospectives of Arun Khopkar, Rahul Roy and Kim Longinotto. And four invited packages: the Doc Alliance films brought by Dok Leipzig, selections from the London Documentary Film Festival, selections from the Asian Network of the Documentary, of the Pusan International Film Festival, and diploma films by students from the Zelig Documentary school, Italy. A workshop on crowd funding was held with Charlie Phillip, Sheffield Doc/ Fest and Jamie King; UN Women (formerly UNIFEM) presented a seminar on Gender and Governance based on the work of Kim Longinotto and Rahul Roy. Organised by Magic Lantern Foundation, New Delhi. Tel.01126273244/ 41605239 E: magic lantern. foundation @gmail.com WWW: http://magiclantern foundation.org Bangalore: The 3rd Bangalore Queer Film Festival 2011 was held on Feb. 25-27, 2011 at the Alliance Francaise, The fare included 56 films from 14 different countries (feature, documentary, short and experimental), a photography exhibition, performances, and a panel discussion with the filmmakers present. www.blrqueerfilmfest.com. Email: blrqueerfilmfest@gmail.com. Guwahati: The 1st Guwahati International Short Film Festival (GISFF) by Creovaent Productions will be held from April 4 -5 at Cinemax, Guwahati. GISSF invites short films for Short Film Competition (restricted only to filmmakers from North-East Region for the first year) and for Indian Kaleidoscope section. There will be no entry fees for submitting the short films. For rules and regulations and entry form, please visit the festival website: www.creovaent.com

Colin Stafford-Johnson spent almost 600 days filming Broken Tail & his family for some of the finest tiger documentaries ever made. Broken Tail was the most flamboyant tiger cub he’d ever seen in Ranthambhore, one of India’s premier wild tiger reserves. Impossibly cute, he gambolled and posed for Colin’s camera through the first years of his life. But then without warning, Broken Tail disappeared. He abandoned his sanctuary and went on the run, disappearing into the Indian wilderness for almost a year. He was barely three years old. Why did this young tiger leave Ranthambhore National Park, ? On a spectacular journey across Rajasthan, Colin travels by horseback retracing Broken Tail’s last journey, gathering clues as to his route and his behaviour, asking why he abandoned the park and above all – searching for the truth behind the future of the last wild tigers in India. This is not a wildlife film. It is about the obsession of a man who has spent more time filming wild tigers than anyone on the planet. It is about his personal pilgrimage on a trail of a tiger that captivated him and the hope that through his journey, Broken Tail’s legacy will live on. http://www.cbc.ca/ documentaries/natureofthings/2009/brokentail/ http://www.brokentail.ie/film-makers.html

Destination Bombay/ Mumbai – Film Rafique Baghdadi Watch Bombay as it is re-created as he takes you right from the screening of Lumiere Brothers’ Films in 1896 in Watson Hotel to the release of Alam Ara in 1931 in Majestic Cinema; See the 1960s come alive and thereafter take a glimpse of the old world theatres that still stand frozen in time.

The Die is caste

Chennai: Prime Force Academy (PFA) working towards creating awareness on Child Labour, Child abuse, Women Rights, Global warming and many other social causes is organising the 2nd annual “PFA International Short Film Festival 2010" in support of Social Causes from March 2426. The prize money is sponsored by Union bank of India. Contact 99401 52272 98410 53626, +91 72990 43702 2nd Floor, TRMP Building, 154, North Usman Road, T.Nagar, Chennai - 600 017. Tel / Fax : 044 - 4354 0286, E-mail primeforceacademy@gmail.com awarepfacademy@yahoo. cowww.primeforceacademy.com International: 1st Prize1,00,000, 2nd Prize75,000, 3rd Prize5 0,000 Prize Money

Striving for Peace English,(In Hindi also ) A Set of 2 DVDs with 9 Video Lectures on the theme of Communal Harmony-National Integration. Each set Rs 100) Script-Narration-Ram Puniyani The country has been witnessing a rise in communalization of society. Various efforts for peace are needed to promote communal harmony and national integration. These Doculectures aim to give the understanding about the issues involved, their historical background and as to what can be done by us to have a better society. Acknowledgement: Anhad, CSSS, Anand Patwardhan, Rakesh Sharma, Guahar Raza

Broken Tail by Colin Stafford-Johnson 83 mins One man, one animal and the journey into the last days of the wild tiger. One of the world’s leading tiger cameramen travels through India on a personal pilgrimage, piecing together the extraordinary journey of Broken Tail - one of the planet’s most famous wild tigers.

of Media, Culture and Communication, New York University.The book was released at a function by PUKAR, Mumbai

Forging the Low-caste Self By Manuela Ciotti Price: $95.00 Hardback Publ. Routledge India, 2010 312 pages Firmly situated within the analytics of the political economy of a north Indian province, this book explores self-fashioning in pursuit of the modern, amongst low-caste Chamars. Challenging existing accounts of national modernity in the non-West, the book argues that subaltern classes shape their own ideas about modernity by taking and rejecting from models of other classes within the same national context. While displacing the West — in its colonial and non-colonial manifestations — as the immanent comparative focus, the book puts forward a unique framework for the analysis of subaltern modernity.

Openly-HIV positive journalist, actor, singer/songwriter and AIDS activist, American Nicholas Snow is planning a goodwill tour to the country in 2011 timed with the second annual KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival. The Hindi-subtitled music video of “The Power to Be Strong” HIV Testing/Safer Sex Awareness song is now available for downloading and broadcast by television and radio stations throughout India. ’The Power To Be Strong’ song and music video campaign has been created to reach millions of people around the world about the importance of voluntary HIV counseling & testing and increased adherence to safer sex, and to empower the valiant efforts of any organization or individual participating anywhere in the battle against HIV/AIDS”The song is sung in English and Hindi versions..www.Facebook.com/ThePowerToBeStrong and www.YouTube.com/ThePowerToBeStrong.

BOOKS

Dir: Ranjan Kamath, 83 mins., Hindi with Eng subtitles The film is am appriasal of three decades of the Naxalite (extremeleft) movement) in Bihar. It examines their role as agents of socio-political change emplying violence. Against the backdrop of Pariamentary and Legislative Assembly elections.

Inshallah Footbal A film by Ashwin Kumar Prod. by: Giulia Achilli & Ashvin Kumar; Co-Producer Jaaved Jafferi A story about stone pelters, football and Kashmir. Bashir Baba, a much-wanted leader of the armed group Hizbul Mujahideen has given up the gun. When he left his home in Kashmir to join the training camps in Pakistan in the early 90’s, his son Basharat was two months old. Basharat Baba belongs to a new generation of Kashmiris. He has grown up under the shadow of a silent war. Yet, within it, football is his passion and fuel. For the past three years, another man of vital importance has made his presence felt in Basharat’s life. Marcos, an Argentinean/Brazilian national, and a FIFA accredited football coach by profession started a football academy and an exchange program to Brazil for his most talented players. Basharat is one of them, but Basharat has been denied a passport by the Government of India. His crime? That he was born the son of a militant.

BOOKS Why Loiter? Women and Risk on Mumbai Streets By Shilpa Phadke , Sameera Khan & Shilpa Ranade 200 pages Penguin, 2010 'This short, elegantly written book questions the myth that Mumbai is a paradise for women in public. The authors show that women of different class and cultural backgrounds in Mumbai operate under serious social, political and infrastructural constraints, and that the right to loiter is no more and no less than the right to everyday life in the global city. This book will appeal to social scientists, urbanists, gender scholars and, more generally, to all those who want to take fun more seriously.'—Arjun Appadurai, Goddard Professor

This builds on the entanglements between two main trajectories, both of which are viewed as the outcome of the generative impetus of modernisation in India: the first consists of the Chamar appropriation of socio-cultural distinctions forged by 19th-century Indian middle classes in their encounter with colonial modernity; the second features the Chamar subversion of high-caste ideals and practices as a result of low-caste politics initiated during the 20th century. The author contends that these conflicting trends give rise to a temporal antinomy within the Chamar politics of self-making, caught up between compulsions of a past modern and of a contemporary one. The eclectic outcome is termed as ‘retromodernity’. While the book signals a politics of becoming whose dynamics had previously been overlooked by scholars, it simultaneously opens up novel avenues for the understanding of non-elite modern life-forms in postcolonial settings.

From Green to Evergreen Revolution Indian Agriculture Performance and Challenges By MS Swaminathan, Publ. Academic Foundation, Delhi. Rs. 1195 This collection of 45 selected articles written by MS Swaminathan over the past 20 years cover ‘sustainable development’, ’technology’, ’agrarian crisis’,’ WTO”, ‘shaping India’s agricultural destiny et al. The father of the green revolution had apparently cautioned farmers in 1968 about harming longterm production potential for short-term gain. Now that the heartland of the green revolution has run into deep ecological problems, Swaminathan says there is a need for an “evergreen revolution”. Swaminathan argues that there is a disconnect between policy and implementation. Perhaps no where is this more evident than the policy of bringing in GM foods. Swaminathan, ever the optimist prefers “green farming “ over organic and feels, “ecologically sound practices like conservation farming, integrated pest control, intergated nutrient supply and natural conservation and enhancement” (maybe including hybrid and GM varieties) is the way to “green farming”. Many countries have disallowed the penetration of GM foods, so it is strange to see Swaminathan holding a brief for it. He states that organic farming has not shown significantly different production figures from non-organic farming. Many farmers would beg to disagree...long-term or short-term.

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. W adia Bldg, 123 M G Road, Mumbai 400 001 Tel. 9820339608. E-mail : shaktisrc@yahoo.com Editor : Rima Kashyap. Design : Y.L. Padmaja 8

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Roadtrips across India Grassroutes <http://www.grassrou tes.in/> is a fellowship program for youth to go on road-trips across India, work with changemakers, do their bit to change the world and inspire more youth into social action. As a part of fellowship the youth will be mapped to an organization in rural India for a period of 30 days. The program is designed to give an immersion experience into the social sector. As a part of the program they will get a closer look at the problems and process of social change. The young minds will not only observe the problems but also get a chance to play their role in solving some of them. It is the perfect opportunity for them to discover their passion of working in the social sector as well as experience the incentives it offers. All social conscious Indian youth under the age of 25 are eligible for the fellowship. The road-trip is scheduled from the last week of May, 2011. If you are interested to apply, please visit the application page (http://bit.ly/ gr11) for more details. The application process has already begun and goes on till 1st March, 2011. mail us at apply@grassroutes. in for any questions. Grassroutes Team www.grassroutes. in Road-Trips for Social Change Deputy Chief Of Party/Chief Operating Officer India FARMS Project, New Delhi Last Date: March 2, 2011 Email: FarmIndia Jobs@Abtassoc.com The Abt Associates International Economic Growth Division is committed to the improvement of economic growth and private sector development around the world. The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) is a position for the Food, Agriculture, and Rural Markets Systems (FARMS) Project in India. This is a $50+ million project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The DCOP will report to and assist the Chief of Party to lead a project designed to leverage India’s expertise resources and leadership to advance Feed the Future (FTF) in South Asia and other FTF-focused countries. FARMS/India is a technology and knowledge transfer project, and is focused on testing best agricultural and nutritional practices in other states or regions of India to determine potential for mass application within India or other countries. Activities within the project will include research, agriculture policy, grant-making, training, and information dissemination. The operational demands for implementation of project will also be very high. The project will primarily focus on six states in northern India. The main project office will be based in New Delhi. This is where the DCOP position will be located. This position will be responsible for the day-to-day management and operations of FARMS/India to ensure that the project is fulfilling the technical and fiduciary requirements of its contract with USAID and that all components of the project are working together to achieve project goals. The DCOP will serve as Acting Chief of Party when the Chief of Party is not in country. Qual/Exp: • Advanced degree in business administration, economics, international development, etc. • Minimum 15 years experience in managing complex private sector and/or agricultural development programs, preferably in India, • Strong interpersonal skills with evidence of ability to productively engage a wide range and levels of organizations (producers, government, private sector, NGOs, research institutions), Excellent understanding of and experience with USAID and USG regulations, administration, management, reporting procedures, and systems; Good knowledge of Grants under Contract requirements. Please send Current CV to FarmIndiaJobs@Abtassoc.com and please list availability in the body of the email. Lakshmi and me Dir. Nishtha Jain ”What sin did I commit to be born a woman?” Lakshmi wonders aloud. A 21-year-old housemaid in Mumbai, she works ten hours a day, seven days a week. One of her employers is Nishtha Jain, who begins to make a documentary that explores their relationship. Nishtha films Lakshmi at home, and at work in various houses. Lakshmi’s is a precarious existence to begin with; illness and romance compound her problems in unexpected ways. Nishtha films through a year and a half of dramatic changes. The process of filming has its own impact on the unfolding events and on their relationship. As Nishtha is drawn deeper into Lakshmi’s life, she is forced to question many of the things she has taken for granted.

Center For Social Entrepreneurship & CSR Announces Distance Learning 6-mth Dip. In Social Entrepreneurship (Through Correspondence, contact sessions & Personal counseling) The main objective of this diploma is to create social enterprises which are essentially addressing the issues related to social development through distance learning and personal counseling. This Diploma is mainly focused on various aspects of starting and managing for-profit social enterprises. * Field project/ assignments during the course provide practical exposure to similar social enterprises to increase the confidence level of potential social entrepreneur. * Assistance in obtaining financial support for setting up social enterprise. * The contact sessions at EDI Campus will provide necessary motivation in addition to professional counseling to each individual. * A unique opportunity for NGOs to convert their not for-profit organization into for-profit social enterprise. EXPECTED OUTCOME: You must start your ‘for-profit social enterprise’, manage it successfully and over a period of time, scale it so that its ‘social returns’ motivate more and more individuals to become social entrepreneurs who believes that everyone can be a changemaker and it is possible to serve and earn as well. The syllabus is in the form of self -instructional study material and personal counseling. The learner will get necessary knowledge, information; skills and motivation in setting up and managing his/her own social enterprise successfully. .An additional feature is the follow-up support for six months after completion of the course to those who proposed to launch their social enterprise. The course will begin in October and April every year. Fill up on-line application form on www.ediindia.org or contact Center for Social Entrepreneurship at EDI. Graduates/ technical

diploma holders .It is open for all those who are keen to make reasonable profit in the business as well as directly interested in social development work. Fee for six - month Diploma course is Rs.7721.00 to be paid at the time of registration. Last date for application for admission is Sept.15 and 25th March For further details contact: Ajay Dixit Sr. Faculty Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India P.O. Bhat 382 428- Dist. Gandhinagar -Gujarat-India Mobile: 09925008328; Phone: +91 79 23969163, 161, 159; Fax: +91 79 23969164 Email: <mailto:dse@ediindia. org> dse@ediindia. org; Website: www.ediindia. org <http://www.ediindia .org/> Invest India Micro Pension Services needs the following Eight Master Trainers (Job Posting ID: IIMPS/Feb-) Eight Project Coordinators (Job Posting ID: IIMPS/Feb-09) Locations: Orissa: Puri and Mayurbhanj Uttar Pradesh: Raibareily and Moradabad Tamil Nadu: Madurai and Cuddalore Bihar: Dharbhanga and Bhagalpur Invest India Micro Pension Services (IIMPS) is an independent agency established in 2006 by 6 leading pension and microfinance experts. UTI AMC and SEWA Bank own equity in IIMPS. IIMPS has pioneered the delivery of pension and long term savings products to the working poor and is already helping over 200,000 low income workers in roughly 100 districts of 10 states to save for their old age through a proprietary “micro-pension” model.Invest India Micro Pension Services is implementing a prestigious, donor-funded action research project at 8 districts of 4 States. Field operations under this 12-month “pilot” project will begin on 15 March 2011. The project seeks to develop and field-test a secure and efficient process to encourage and enable the rural poor to save for their old age through the IIMPS Micro-Pension® model. During this 12-month project, IIMPS aims to enroll 5000 rural poor (including members of bank-linked SHGs) through its Micro-Pension® model at each pilot district. Qual/Ep.: At each district, IIMPS is establishing a team of 2 experienced and qualified project staff (one project coordinator and one master trainer). Master trainers should be graduates or post-graduates with a minimum of 4 years’ of field level work experience in the development sector (preferably in rural locations) either at an MFI, or a scheduled commercial bank or RRB, or at a cooperative. Prior experience with grassroot level training, concept promotions, M&E and project management will be accorded a high weightage. Field-teams will receive extensive induction training. Project coordinators should be graduates or post-graduates with a minimum of 4 years’ of field level work experience in the development sector (preferably in rural locations) either at an MFI, or a scheduled commercial bank or RRB, or at a cooperative. Prior experience with grass-root level training, concept promotions, M&E and project management will be accorded a high weightage. Fieldteams will receive extensive induction training. Each district team will be expected to independently manage a range of activities and interventions over this 12-month project including establishing a local Micro-Pension® Helpdesk for effective management of the Project within the district and for ongoing, effective coordination with multiple stakeholders on promotional, educational, customer enrollment, capacity building and M&E efforts; conducting effective training workshops. Effective team members will be absorbed as full-time staff at IIMPS on the basis of fresh terms. Send applications to: careers@iimp.in Job Posting ID should be mentioned in the “subject” line of the email,. Send us a short (max 300 word) formal letter copied into the email (not an attachment) that should be an application and also give a brief background about yourself; also give us a clear reason why you fit the profile. TEN STATE COORDINATORS Reporting to: Business Head at IIMPS corporate office at NOIDA Locations: Bhubaneshwar, Mumbai, Bhopal, Bangalore, Jaipur, NCR, Chennai, Hyderabad, Raipur, Kolkata Job Posting ID: IIMPS/Feb-08 Invest India Micro Pension Services is currently spread across 10 states, and is working through business partnerships established with NGOs/ Cooperatives/ Banks/ MFI etc. for a successful implementation of the IIMPS model in these states. IIMPS has significant field operations with channel partners at a state level The State Coordinator should be able to graduate to taking responsibility for establishing and managing the field teams at the state on micro-pension coverage and operations. The person will specifically interface with senior management at the head offices of these key partners and shall be a singlewindow interface for IIMPS with the partners, develop and coordinate the implementation of new strategies and ideas involving the IIMPS Partners’ HO support specifically related to new field promotions, public education and publicity. Three Field Managers (Job Posting ID: IIMPS/Feb-07) Locations: Ganjam, Varanasi, Haridwar Reporting to: State Coordinator IIMPS is recruiting 03 Micro-Pension Field Manager (FMs) across multiple States. A Field Manager shall be a graduate with a minimum of 3 years’ of field level work experience in the development sector at an MFI, or a scheduled commercial bank or RRB, or at a cooperative. Each FM will be independently responsible for managing

Jan. - Feb. 2011

NGO Connect

from Page 7 from page 8 Micro-Pension field operations and customer services delivery in a “cluster” of up to 4-5 neighboring districts in a State. Field Managers shall report to their respective State Coordinators. A Field Manager will be expected to recruit and manage a team of up to 4 District Pension Executives (DPEs) for the cluster. Each DPE will manage field operations at the district level. With support from these DPEs, an FM will be directly responsible to the State Coordinator for ensuring (a) stable and fully compliant field operations, (b) training and certification of all customer-facing field staff of channel partners, (c) effective customer education and generic field promotions through camps, plays, group meetings and other media, (d) an efficient and KYC compliant process for enrollment of low income workers for the Micro-Pension program etc. An FM will also be expected to periodically visit each district in the cluster for meetings and FGDs with Micro-Pension customers to evaluate customer-level awareness about the product. At each district in the cluster, an FM will also run operations review meetings with local channel partners and their field staff. An FM, along with DPEs will also be responsible also for identifying new, credible, local channel partners/ groups in the cluster districts for delivering the Micro-Pension product and associated services to low income workers. Senior Manager, Compliance and Operations Audit Location: Noida Last Date: March 4, 2011. Senior Manager, Operations Location: Noida Last Date: March 4, 2011. Three Business Managers for Bangalore, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad Last Date: March 4, 2011 Senior Management and Technical Positions EngenderHealthIndia Last Date: March 4, 2011 EngenderHealth is an international NGO supported in India by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other private funders. EngenderHealth works worldwide to improve the lives of individuals by making reproductive health services safe, available, and sustainable in partnership with governments, institutions, and health care professionals to make this right reality. EngenderHealth-India is seeking expressions of interest from highly-qualified candidates in anticipation of USAID-funded projects that will provide technical assistance to the Government of India to support interventions to improve the quality of services and strengthen health systems in the areas of Sexual Reproductive Health, Family Planning, HIV and AIDS prevention, care and treatment, and Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) at national, state and district levels. India based positions may include: Chief of Party/Project Director, Deputy Chief of Party/Technical Project Director, Finance/Administration Manager and Senior Technical Advisors. The Chief of Party/Project Director must possess a Master’s degree or Ph.D. in public health, medical or social sciences, international development or relevant field and extensive management expertise. He/She must have at least 10 years of experience working for international organizations in India, including managing USAID funded health programs. The Deputy Chief of Party/Technical Project Director must possess a medical degree (M.D., M.B.B.S., with postgraduate qualifications preferred) and extensive clinical expertise and recent knowledge of best practices in the areas mentioned above. He/She must have at least 10 years of senior level programmatic and technical experience working for international organizations in India and at least 5 years experience providing technical leadership within USAID funded programs. The Finance/Administration Manager must possess a university degree (Bachelors degree or higher) in Finance/ Accounting or a related field with a minimum of 5 years experience as a financial manager, preferably in a multi-office environment, as well as experience in a non-profit organization with US government grant reporting and management responsibilities. Senior Technical Advisors (multiple vacancies anticipated) must possess a medical degree (MD, MBBS), other clinical degrees (such as nursing, midwifery), or a university degree in a related, relevant field. Must have at least 7 years of experience providing technical assistance in the areas mentioned above, including experience building the capacity of local implementing partners in facility and community-based settings; Experience working for international agencies is preferred. Qual: Masters of Public Health degree along with experience in integrated approaches to quality health service delivery in the public sector and/or with private sector networks, including gender equity and community engagement for health is a plus for all candidates. All positions are subject to change based on procurement requirements and are contingent on EngenderHealth being awarded the project. Please visit the careers page on website http:// www.engenderhealth.org to submit your application online along with your CV and cover letter specifying the position for which you would like to be considered. Manager (Volunteer Action) Kolkata : At CRY - Child Rights and You, the leading Indian Child Rights organisation, every single person works towards creating a more just world for children. One in which children can take their rights for granted

Jan. - Feb. 2011

NGO Connect

Jan. - Feb. 2011

NGO Connect

Jan. - Feb. 2011

NGO Connect