Vol 10 Issue 2
NGOCT
www.ngoconnect.org
CONNECTiNG
E N N O C
- Rima Kashyap
“Under my plan, the state will be there to carry out the will of the people, not to dictate to them or to force them to do its wish.” - Mahatma Gandhi
Regn. no. MAHENG/2004/15104
India’s First NGO Newstabloid The Great Election Tamasha
Social media to impact 30% seats in 2014 elections With the Delhi elections in November 2013, and Lok Sabha elections in 2014, the pressure on voters is going to start. Besides the main two parties, attention is going to be focused on the new anti-corruption party- the Aam Aadmi party and the older, Loksatta party. Both of these are offshoots of movements- the former with the India Against Corruption movement which saw a national unity, and the latter which began as a grassroot organization in Andhra Pradesh. Both have charismatic leaders who have been in government service and resigned. What happened to the NAPM? NGOs will have a big role to play during these elections to ensure that the voters are not bought or taken for a ride. Their role would be to inform voters about the antecedents of candidates and let them decide to vote on an informed basis not on caste, religion, It may not happen overnight but it will. In the urban areas, social media will begin to make a difference-- not as much as it in the USA during Obama’s terms, but the young urban voter is tech savvy. The 2014 general election's outcome in 160 constituencies is likely to be influenced the most by social media users, according to a study, 'Social Media and Lok Sabha Elections', jointly conducted by the RIS Knowledge Foundation and supported by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). It said that "there are 160 high impact constituencies out of the total of 543 constituencies, which were likely to be influenced by social media during the next general election." High impact constituencies are those where the numbers of Facebook users are more than the margin of victory of the winner in the last election, or where Facebook users account for over 10 percent of the voters. The study found that there were 67 constituencies which have been identified as medium impact constituencies, 60 low impact and 256 out of 543 as no impact constituencies. Maharashtra has the most number of high impact constituencies (21), followed by Gujarat (17).
Mar-Apr 2013
SC dismisses Novartis plea for Glivec patent
status in India last year, and the present ruling will make it tougher for them to win back patent protection. The ruling is a boost for healthcare activists who want the government to make medicines cheaper -- patented drugs constitute under 10 percent of total drug sales. Novartis has been fighting since 2006 to win a patent for an 'amended' form of Glivec and challenged a law that bans patents on newer but not radically different forms of known drugs, taking it up to the Supreme Court. India has refused protection for Glivec on the grounds that it is not a new medicine but an amended version of a known compound. The Supreme Court decided that Glivec does not satisfy the "novelty" aspect, Pravin Anand, lawyer for Novartis, said.
It was no April Fool joke - but the biggest gift, cancer and HIV patients could have legally asked for. The Supreme Court dismissed Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG's attempt to win patent protection for its cancer drug Glivec. The decision also sets a benchmark for several intellectual property disputes in India, where many patented drugs are unaffordable for most of its people. It was actually a case of Patients v/s Patent as the CPAA (Cancer Patients Aid Association) won a 7-year legal battle for Affordable Drugs In its landmark ruling on 1st April, the Supreme Court rejected Swiss drug giant Novartis' request to patent a cancer drug, thus paving the way for access to affordable generic drugs and healthcare. The SC verdict not only affects Glivec but will also prevent patenting of other older compounds and avoid ever-greening of patented products. It will make life-saving drugs affordable and consequently result in saving many lives, not only in India but over 75 other countries where India exports generic drugs.
People's Groups Slam World Bank Sham Bangalore: About 25 activist representatives, researchers, environmental specialists, policy analysts, lawyers and health professionals from a wide range of social and environmental action groups, peoples networks and movements of Karnataka, forced the closure of The World Bank's 'consultation 39' on the review of its environmental and social safeguards in Bangalore on Apr 8. 'Consultation 39 was slammed as a 'complete sham' which 'must be denounced by anyone genuinely concerned about the nature of democracy and broad based public interest, and committed to the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), climate justice, sustainable development through democratic decision making and the Principle of Intergenerational Equity'. Moreover it was made into an occasion to denounce the various projects that have destroyed the environment and various communities, and to demand the World Bank to quit India. Stephen F. Lintner, Senior Advisor, Operational Policy and Client Services of The World Bank had flown in from Washington DC (USA) to hold the
Cancer Patients Aid Association represented the cause of patients in this case and fought along with Advocate Anand Grover and his team at Lawyer's Collective. India's domestic drugs market is the 14th largest globally, but with annual growth of 13-14 percent and the world's second biggest population, it has massive potential particularly at a time when traditional developed markets have slowed down. The Supreme Court's landmark ruling is likely to affect several other companies and their branded medicines as well. Pfizer Inc's cancer drug Sutent and Roche Holding AG's hepatitis C treatment Pegasys lost their patented 1
'consultation 39' at Hotel Atria in Bangalore, along with Preeti Kudesia, Senior Operations Officer of the Bank. The meeting was supposed to have been facilitated by Anubrotto Kumar (Dunu) Roy, Honorary Director of Hazards Centre, New Delhi. Of those invited by the Bank, about 5 represented civil society and research organisations, and a dozen or so officials represented various agencies of the Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments. Not one Parliamentarian, Legislator, Municipal Councillor or Panchayat member from anywhere had been invited. This amply demonstrated what a mockery of democracy the exercise was. Were it not for the intervention of progressive social and environmental action activists, this charade of '’consulting 39; (the 'public 39’); it would probably have been passed of as a successful process to legitimise the weak safeguards of the Bank. Clifton D' Rozario of the Alternative Law Forum and Leo Saldanha of Environment Support Group strongly critiqued the World Bank's 'consultation 39' process and also its investment policies. Kshitij Urs of Action Aid said the Bank had over the decades succeeded in creating a perception of being progressive, when in fact it had structurally damaged national economies and devastated communities everywhere it lent. The Bank's interests were too strongly aligned with imperialist designs of the US and other Northern economies and this was seriously compromising India's sovereign power to decide its developmental process. Quoting Obama, he said, 'Enough is Enough', and asked the World Bank to please leave. Speaking on behalf of the Janaarogya Andolana Karnataka (JAAK), Akhila Vasan said the World Bank's policies had fragmented and progressively weakened the public health system through introduction of various forms of contractual arrangements. Madhu Bhushan of Vimochana in an impassioned intervention said the World Bank's policies and lending patterns have deeply affected the lives of women in India and particularly the poor women. As a Bank it can only perceive every relationship as an economic transaction - women are commodified and reduced to being consumers and led towards greater indebtedness. Vinay Sreenivasa of Alternative Law Forum was perturbed that no effort whatsoever was made to communicate in local languages and demanded the 'consultation 39' must immediately be
Mar-Apr 2013
NGO Connect
News Bank's funding to the project of THDC Ltd. (Tehri), known for its poor track record, has been challenged before the Bank's own Inspection Panel. None of the affected people from this, or any other ongoing, or past Bank funded project, or those working with affected peoples, have been invited to these consultations. The current consultation exercise is a part of its PR theatre. But the proof of the Bank's intentions is in the pudding, and clearly evident from its refusal to say "NO" to many investments that have disastrous consequences, such as the Tata-Mundra, Rampur, Luhri and Vishnugad Pipalkoti projects. There is nothing public about such exercises, held as they normally are, in highly secure and luxurious venues in major cities around the world, with little or no prior information to the public. Further, World Bank officials typically consult bureaucrats and 'experts, ' and do not engage with elected Legislators or Parliamentarians.
Activists protest against the World Bank consultation 39 in Bangalore. In the foreground our World Bank representatives abandoned and the process revisited only after all the policies were translated into local languages and effectively disseminated publicly. Rajendra Prabhakar of the Campaign A g a i n s t Wa t e r P r i v a t i s a t i o n attacked the Bank as an agent of neoliberal colonisation. The so-called development programmes of the Bank created debt traps, that attacked the very idea of sovereignty, citizenship and genuine progress of people, he said. Bhoga Nanjunda of CIEDS Collective joined issue and said the Bank was not in India to promote genuine people's development, but to pursue its business of lending. Bhargavi Rao of Environment Support Group presented a nuanced analysis of the careless disregard the World Bank cultivated for its own environmental and social standards. Nitin Rai of the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE) expressed his deep shock and dismay that the World Bank had chosen to hold a 'consultation 39'; in such an intransparent manner. Arati Choksi of People's Union of Civil Liberties said, what was worrisome was the insidious and coercive manner of World Bank in implementing the ten point agenda of the Washington Consensus, of not just fiscal profit, but placing its own partner stake holders firmly in control of all public sector enterprise and resources. Despite repeatedly being urged to speak, not one of the officials representing various Government agencies spoke. esg@esgindia.org, Email: contact @altlawforum .org Earlier, on Apr 5, in Delhi, Activists of the Matu Jan Sangathan, Domestic Workers Union, Delhi Mahila Shahri Kaamgar Sangathan, National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), Delhi Solidarity Group, SRUTI, Delhi Forum, Programme for Social Action and others stormed the 'civil society consultation 39 at India Habitat Centre. Terming these consultations as eyewash, activists didn't allow the consultations to proceed Vimal Bhai, Matu Jan Sangathan – NAPM, said, “The current exercise, is nothing but a charade to mask the true intentions of its major ‘shareholders’ : France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, who are grappling with serious economic downturns and are conveniently using
the Bank to force open global investment opportunities with scant regard to environmental and social impacts. The World Bank (which includes the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Development Association, International Finance Corporation and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, amongst others) claims to be conducting around the world, "consultation meetings. If indeed the Bank were seriously concerned about the impacts of its investments, then the best test would have been the demonstration of sensitivity in the investments made through its various lending operations. In India, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Bank's private sector lending arm, is complicit in massive human rights and environmental violations in the mega $4 billion Tata-Mundra 4000 MW power project in the ecologically sensitive Kutch region of Gujarat. A Wikileaks story quoted US embassy officials saying that, Bank funded big hydropower projects such as Allain Duhangan and Rampur projects in Himachal Pradesh have also been registered to get millions of dollars of free doles under the same fraudulent CDM scheme for projects that are neither sustainable nor additional. The World Bank, in its wisdom, has further endorsed such environmental crimes by offering a $1 billion loan to the building of the Fifth Power System Development Project, which essentially is a transmission line for Tata-Mundra and three other large coastal power projects.
The best indicator of the shallowness of the Bank's consultations is the fact that communities grievously hurt and suffering from the Bank's lending and investment policies are not invited to these consultations, thus revealing the sham and mockery that the current review process is! Exactly two decades ago the Bank had to get out of the Narmada Project, which was a historic development brought about by peoples' struggles. But the outrageous human rights violations and environmental destruction that the Bank's early involvement left behind in the Narmada valley is impossible to clear, with lakhs of people suffering while the project is still far from being completed. The Bank clearly seems to have learnt no lessons from this disastrous experience. It took peoples' movements, grassroots networks and allied organisations across the world more than 30 years to pressure the World Bank Group to formulate, re-formulate and have in place mechanisms that would safeguard the social, environmental, cultural and traditional interests of communities and peoples affected by the World Bank Group's financing of so called development projects across the world and in India. However, it took the Bank, in particular the IFC, only one stroke of destructive imagination to bring in the new model of 'Financial Intermediary (FI) Lending' that wiped out all mandatory requirements posed by environmental and social safeguard principles on lending, as they are not bound by such standards. It makes no sense for the World Bank to be conducting reviews of their environmental and social safeguards; they simply do not matter at all to the actual practice of the World Bank and its member agencies.
The Bank's Policy on Piloting the Use of Borrower Systems for Environmental and Social Safeguards has in the past decade been a mantra to pave the way for promoting investment at any cost. Over a decade ago the World Bank funded the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests' Environmental Management Capacity Building Project. The result was a massive dilution of India's environmental and social safeguard norms. Now again the Bank is offering to lend USD 1 Billion for the Ganga Action Plan following the same infrastructurecentered, governance-ignoring model that has failed over the past 25 years, while at the same time funding riverdestroying hydropower projects .The
AGE OF CONSENT We are witnessing a historic moment. Our legislators assembled to enact a 2
statute to set right a historical wrong and to uphold women’s dignity as enshrined in our Constitution. Not just women’s groups, but also the youth waited with bated breath, to see which way our legislators, a majority of them men, would vote. The setting up of the Justice Verma Committee within a week of the incident was the first welcome move. The monumental report brought out a new gender policy, striking at the very root of patriarchal power structures. Responding in haste within 10 days, the government brought in the Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance, a half measure, but at least a beginning. Obviously, in an effort to arrive at a consensus, the government has skirted tricky issues. Now as the stage is set for the final seal of approval, the controversy seems to be around the age of consent. While the government has retained the age of consent for sex at 18 years in the bill, which was approved by the Cabinet, this issue has split activists groups, ministries and parliamentarians down the middle. Strangely, it has pitted women’s groups against child rights groups, the ministry of women and child against the ministry of law, and the ruling party against the Opposition. Shrouded in confusion, the public debate lacks clarity. The age of consent was 10 in 1860 when the IPC was enacted, 12 in 1890, 14 since 1929 and 15 since 1949. It was raised to 18 only in November 2012, when the Prevention of Sexual Offences Act came into force --without sufficient public debate. But the police were ignorant of this new act until the media glare post the Delhi gangrape, and only since January 2013 have a few cases been registered under it. On one hand, the minister for women and child development has said that lowering the age will encourage child marriage. But because it is not safe, entire villages have stopped sending girls to schools outside the village confines. These girls will soon be married off, regardless. The child rights groups concerned with the global trend of trafficking of minors are opposing reduction of age to 16 on the premise that it will encourage child traffickers. The two main concerns for those resisting the increase in the age of consent are, increasing parental control over young adolescents and criminalising a normal sexual activity. Anyone who has even cursorily examined sessions court judgments will notice a sizeable number of cases termed “statutory rape” or “technical rape” where the girl has eloped with the boy and her parents have filed a case of rape in order to bring her back, only to get her married to a boy of their choice. If the age of consent is raised, these type of cases will increase and the police will have unbridled power
Mar-Apr 2013
NGO Connect
News over young couples at the instance of their parents. The wrath of the parents is severe when the boy belongs to a lower caste or minority religion. It is these cases which get termed “false cases” by judges, police, lawyers and prosecutors alike. And it is the young boys from these poor families who will have to face harsh sentences. Contact Majlis, Tel: 022 26661252 / 26662394 Website: www.majlislaw. com Facebook: majlislawSkype: majlis.law
New Program Director for ANM Oakland, Calif., US: The Alliance for Nonprofit Management announced that the Board of Directors has named Jennifer Lammers to the post of Program Director effective April 8, 2013. As a trainer, consultant and principal at The Philanthropy Hub, Ms.Lammers brings an in-depth knowledge of the sector and a passion for achieving results to her work with foundations and nonprofit organisations. She has created and delivered dozens of nonprofit specific accounting, budgeting and management trainings for organizations in a wide range of fields, including workforce development, AIDS services, housing, and volunteer management. Among her clients, she worked with Philanthropy New York and led funder roundtables and seminars, and provided resources for financial advisors. Jennifer’s professional experience also includes the position of vice president and director of the New York Philanthropic Advisory Service for the Better Business Bureau, one of the largest charity watchdog and donor education programs in the country. While with the BBB, she managed the evaluation of over 1000 charities and developed the National Sept. 11 Charity Database. Jennifer holds a Masters of Public Administration from New York University, and received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago. The Alliance for Non Profit Management is a catalyst to ignite and accelerate the impact of individuals and organizations helping nonprofits achieve positive social change. Visit allianceonline.org.
Friends Society Report Vadodara: Five Voluntary Blood donation camps were held during the months of Feb/Mar. at colleges, industries and hostels, taking the total no. of camps in the year 2012-13 to 16. Nikhunj Nariya, a student of MSU on the occasion of his Birthday, took the unique initiative of organizing a Voluntary blood donation camp at his Hostel...a unique gesture. In 2012-13, 523 units of blood have been donated to SSG Hospital, to be given free of cost to poor patients of Govt. hospitals. On March 20/ 22/ 23, Friends Society, under its PFL program (Program for Future Leaders) went to Baroda High School, while for their Balwadi (for children from the lower socioeconomic class), students from Dept. of Human Development and Family Studies, MSU, enacted a puppet play on March 8 on ‘Good Habits’ and ‘Real Friendship.’ As a part of its ‘Income Generation Program’ FS has been conducting classes on Mehendi, Beauty Parlour, Artificial Jewellery etc. with resource persons from‘Jan Shikshan Samiti’. for women working in unorganized sector. On the occasion of “International Women’s Day” along with ‘Jan Shikshan Samiti’ a program on “Women Empowerment” was conducted by Shri P.S. Banerjee, Education Officer, Central Board for Workers Education, Ministry of Labour & Employment which focused on 'Domestic violence’, the legal remedies available, details of Govt. organisations & NGOs working in this area; and information regarding facilities available to women from various Govt. schemes 52 women from lower socio-economic class came to this program. Contact: jayaanuj1@gmail.com
World Autism Awareness day Mumbai: On April 2, on the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD), ChildRaise Trust initiated an online campaign "Ought To Know Autism". (www.childraise.com) for people to know more about Autism & spread awareness about this growing condition among children. www.childraise.com is a crossdisability web portal which provides information about all disabilities. It is a free service and all disability organisations can add/forward relevant information, upcoming events, success stories, children's art work etc. Contact: DISHA - Disability Helpline & Action-Toll Free No. -180022-1203
Land-grabbing firms beware: cost of ignoring people's rights is rising (From the ‘Poverty matters' blogsupported by the Gates Foundation) Communities have more hope than ever of seeing off companies trying to 3
acquire their land, with support from media and NGOs. A new report on land acquisition by the Munden Project/Rights and Resources Initiative brings an important angle to the land "grab" debate. Rather than focusing on the ethics of land grabbing, the report makes the business case for working with local communities, arguing that failure to inform or fairly compensate affected locals heightens the risks to investors. Why? Because affected communities start to make life difficult for abusive or lazy companies, leading to massive unexpected costs or even an eventual full-scale retreat. The key risk, perhaps not emphasised sufficiently by the report, for companies considering acquiring land overseas is the probability of local people mounting a successful defence of their land. Without national and international support, even the most organised and persistent communities have found it hard to defend their rights and interests. But campaign support can, and has swung the balance in favour of the community at risk. Within two or three years, land has become a popular campaigning issue. A new set of national and global power relationships may be pushing mainstream NGOs into steadfast positions of principle. Oxfam America has long been supporting communities throughout Latin America and elsewhere in danger of losing their land to mining, and, throughout the past decade, Oxfam Australia had a mining ombudsman travelling the globe auditing mining companies for human rights abuses and trying to develop solutions. Although that brilliant initiative has now ended; it is something the present-day land-grab campaigners should consider reinventing. There is nothing new about land grabs, although the age-old problem of powerful groups and individuals displacing communities from land that they have farmed for (usually) centuries has been aggravated by the rapid increase in the world's population. What seems to have changed is that communities whose resistance might once have been in vain can now hope for international civil society and media to stand by them, increasing the costs to investors of doing the wrong thing. NGOs are getting behind the world's most marginalised communities, giving them a fighting chance of survival. Their main target at the moment, via the ‘If’ campaign, appears to be the World Bank's International Finance Corporation, whose lack of safeguards on investments in large deals via financial intermediaries has been the object of damning criticism by the inhouse ombudsman.
India's forest act undermined The government's decision to allow major infrastructure projects to go ahead without obtaining consent for forest clearance paves the way for the violation of village land rights, say rights groups. Feb. 15: Land and tribal rights in India have been dealt a new blow after the government announced last week that major infrastructure projects will be exempt from obtaining consent for forest clearance from tribal communities living in the forest, a decision that undermines the importance of the country's Forest Rights Act. Tribal and forest rights activists say the decision by India's ministers leaves village councils (gram sabhas) powerless to reject the building of roads, railways, transmission lines, canal systems, pipelines or other projects that potentially violate their land rights. "This is serious breach of trust and a huge step back in ensuring the dignity and survival of traditional forestdwelling people across the country. Forests are going to be cleared to make way for a particular kind of economic development; it will adversely impact communities and the environment," said Dr Swati Shresth, from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment. The decision was adopted at a meeting convened by prime minister Manmohan Singh and attended by environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan and tribal affairs minister V Kishore Chandra Deo. "The ministry took a decision that, subject to [the] Forest Rights Act, there will not be requirement of consent of each of the gram sabhas through which such linear projects such as roads, canals, pipelines, transmission towers etc pass," said Natarajan. But the Tribal Affairs Ministry says it was never consulted. The 2006 Forest Rights Act is a landmark piece of legislation recognising the rights forestdependent communities have over the landscape they have traditionally inhabited. It mandates that forest dwellers cannot be resettled unless their traditional rights have been recognised. It is seen as the single most important piece of legislation protecting and preserving the country's biodiversity and the rights of tribal groups. By no longer gaining the consent of communities, the government stands accused of effectively overturning key provisions of the act. "All traditional forest-dependent communities can be impacted including those who might have procured rights under the FRA and those who are still struggling for its implementation in their area," said Shresth. In 2009, the ministry of forests and environment (MoFE) made the consent of affected forest
Mar-Apr 2013
NGO Connect
News communities mandatory for all projects that would destroy forests. (The move was in response to the attempt by British mining company Vedanta to clear swaths of forest in Orissa state belonging to the Dongria tribe.) Last week's announcement effectively revokes the 2009 order.
which is solely dependent on individual donations. On April 7, The Foundation hosted a 'Fund-Raiser Tea Party' at Swarna Lata Home where donations of rice or cash were accepted. Contact Dorothy Ghosh, Managing Trustee (9818911612)
However, the government rejects claims that it is diluting rights in the name of streamlining big business, saying it will continue to enforce the provisions of the act "where there is significant impact on lives and livelihoods".
Rural cooperative ‘Business School on Wheels
"The proposed changes will enable lland grabbing and the violation of rights of traditional forest dwellers, and sends a clear message that rights granted under the FRA are subject to the whims of the government of the day," said Shresth. Such concerns were expressed to the prime minister's office in a letter signed by a coalition of international forest rights movements. "We believe that it is against the democratic principles to make centralised decisions about the extent of social impact worth considering while diverting forests over which individuals and/or village community may have 'inalienable' forest rights vested through FRA. Overriding of such processes can lead to the danger of assuming that all rights can be monetised and negotiated," it said. Activists industry systems transport refinery.
say this move will allow to build roads or canal for mining projects to extracted minerals to the
"Tribal communities don't want this, and don't want their precious forests replaced by these. The only beneficiaries of this amendment are the mining companies. This is about GDP, not about the rights of India's tribal communities," said Sanjay Basu Mullick from the All India Forum of Forest Movements. The order threatens the area's biodiversity, which risks discrediting India's status as the current chair of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and of the Nagoya protocol, and the implementation of these international obligations on sustainable use and protection of biodiversity. India’s national highway authority took the MoFE and the ministry of tribal affairs to the supreme court in January, seeking FRA exemption for projects. -101 infrastructure projects had been frozen due to clearance delays. (Matthew Newsome in guardian.co .uk)
Fund raiser for animals Delhi: Kalyani Animal Welfare Foundation working towards the welfare of Destitute Animals since three years runs an animal shelter for more than 80 stray, abandoned, old, handicapped and motherless puppies and kittens (Swarna Lata Home for Destitute Animals) near Chhattarpur,
Bangalore: The women of Mann Deshi Mahila in North Karnataka have introduced another innovation in a series of self-help initiatives that began in 1997 with the creation of the first rural financial institution in India to receive a cooperative banking license. They have created a mobile business school that will take information and training to the women in rural areas. The Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank, run by, and for, women in rural Maharashtra, works with two NGOs, Mann Vikas Samajik Sanstha (Mann Vikas), established in 1994, and Mann Deshi Mahila Bachat Gat Federation (Self Help Group Federation), to achieve the goals of empowerment, asset creation, leadership development, capacity building, and property rights for women. The Bank has grown from an initial shareholder capitalisation of Rs 600,000 to total assets of Rs 90 million rupees in 2005-2006. It has helped create nearly 17,000 women entrepreneurs, has a repayment rate of 97.5%, a profit of 232,000 rupees, three branches, more than 6,200 members and 58,000 clients, conducts 4,250 transactions daily, and won first prize in social sector of the international 2005 Ashoka Changemakers Innovation award. Mann Vikas promotes girls' education; provides women with health education, student scholarships, vocational skills training, and information regarding life insurance; o ffe rs cl a sse s o n co mme rce , marketing, and management; runs two agricultural collectives that help make milk, livestock, and grain available at affordable rates; and offers fodder insurance for agriculture loans during dry spells. The federation includes more than 2,300 self-help groups (SHG) each with 10 to 20 members, self-employed women from each sector of the local economy. Groups receive loans directly from the Bank and, with additional support from the Indian government, conduct lending activities. In September 2007, with the help of Deshpande Foundation and Ashoka Foundation, Mann Deshi and Mann Vikas began a five-year project to offer financial services to women (formal and informal) and establish a Business School for Rural Women that will make courses accessible to rural women who cannot attend college in Hubli. Travelling from village to village within the Hubli-Dharwad area, the Business School on Wheels offers training in 4
technical and practical business skills that will enable women to expand or start new businesses, which will in turn be supported with start-up microloans. Financial services offered are coupled with comprehensive and accessible financial literacy training. Local NGOs advise the business school on locations where mobile classrooms can be held. The leaders of village SHGs coordinate the local logistics in their villages. Bank founder/entrepreneur Chetna Gala Sinha, an economist, farmer, and activist, has been honored nationally with the 2005 Jankidevi Bajaj Puraskar award for rural entrepreneurship, and by Yale and Harvard Universities. (www. Your Story.in)
Can Leprosy Diagnosis be predicted? Mumbai: On March 30, a seminar on 'How leprosy can be diagnosed serologically' and the role of new rapid diagnostic kits in predicting the diagnosis was the topic of discussion at the meeting held at the Main Referral Centre, Bombay Leprosy Project, Chunabhatti . Dr V V Pai, Director BLP, mentioned that BLP regularly holds such academic meetings and seminars to help in understanding the disease better and to improve clinical care and services to leprosy patients.
health staff, special campaigns in the slum pockets for case detection, skin camp etc. Leaflets on leprosy for public education were also distributed. Contact blp@gmail.com
WSF 2013 The World Social Forum- the alternative way-was held from March 26-30, at Tunis, which also hosted the World Assembly of Inhabitants (WAI), supported by international networks and inhabitants organisations, such as the IAI, HIC and No-Vox, and in collaboration with social organisations. The Habitat collective and some of its founders held a photographic exhibition as part of the World Assembly of Inhabitants. Habitat is a research project about "alternative" housing refusal of the urban housing standard. Agricultural communes, social housings, self-sufficient villages, experimental residential systems, spiritual communities, collectivization, land-sharing, urban nomadism... Communities, either built upon fair living ideas or created to get out of an emergency status, are the living example of a conscious choice opposing the urban status quo and the Property/House/Family trinity. (Habitat is a permanent and open online archive www.habitatproject.it).
The test kits have been developed by Infectious Disease Research Institute, USA. There is no single diagnostic test for leprosy and the diagnosis essentially remains clinical, but these studies have raised the possibility of wider use of serological tests in diagnosis, treatment, follow up & control of leprosy.
The Tunis World Social Forum would be the channel for pushing the project into a broader dimension, outside the national scope, and was a chance to compare the different models of standard and “alternative” housing.
- The developers of this test expect it to detect infections as much as one year before the symptoms appear clinically.
The Government of India has approved setting up of 2,500 model schools under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, in blocks that are not educationally backward. The implementation is from 2012-13.
Anti leprosy week is observed by Bombay Leprosy Project (BLP) every year from Jan. 30 - Feb 5 followed by a fortnight of spreading positive messages about the curability of the disease and benefits of the programme. BLP observed the fortnight this year by organising several awareness programmes which included an exhibition, group talks, training of
2,500 model schools to be set up under PPP mode
The selected private entities will develop, design, build and operate these schools -- the Government will contribute to recurring cost on per capita basis for the students sponsored. Maximum 10 percent of the capital investment in the school will be provided as infrastructure grant. The initial agreement for such provision of quality education would be
Mar-Apr 2013
NGO Connect
News for ten years for each school, which is extendable by mutual consent. The scheme provides for reservation to SCs, STs and OBCs as per the state norms. A scheme with Central-State funding for setting up one Model Degree College in each of the 374 identified educationally backward districts having Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) lower than the national GER is being implemented since 2010. Out of the 374 educationally backward districts, 62 minority concentration districts have been identified. Under this scheme, the State Government may, if they so choose, identify private notfor-profit participants (in PPP model), while ensuring that such involvement of the private sector does not adversely affect the access to education of disadvantaged sections. (iGovernment Bureau)
Match-Making Bureau for Srs. Mumbai: On the occasion of its 5th Foundation Day, on April 11, ‘Silver Innings’ working with senior citizens and their family members, launched “Silver Innings Matrimonial & Companionship”--a match-making bureau for senior citizens open to people of all religions, castes and communities. Eligibility: 50+, Unmarried or Divorcees or Widows / Widowers.This programme is supported by AISCCON, FESCOM, Mumbai; iVolunteers, iCONGO, 1298 Senior Citizens Helpline, and Rotary Club of Mumbai, Nariman Point Contact: Silver Innings Tel: 09167765451 Email: silverinningsmatrimonial @gmail.com
Public hearing of whistleblowers Delhi: NCPRI organised a public hearing on April 19 to demand the immediate passage of a strong whistleblowers protection law and an effective grievance redress law. Whistleblowers from across the country, have faced intimidation and violence (often fatal) in pursuit of their work in the public interest. Whistleblowers such as Mangla Ram, Nokha along with family members of murdered whistleblowers such as Ram Thakur, Satyendra Dubey, Niyamat Ansari, Lalit Mehta and others testified in front of a jury of eminent persons such as Justice Shah, B i n a y a k S e n , Vr i n d a G r o v e r, Parveena Ahangar etc to look at the individual circumstances of their attacks and the response of the state thus far. Thirty whistleblowers have been attacked so far. The purpose of the public hearing was to highlight the continuing attacks on whistleblowers and identify the mechanisms to provide protection and redress to individuals working to expose corruption and wrongdoing. While the Whistle Blowers Protection bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in the 2011 winter session of Parliament, there has been no
movement on the Bill since. Unfortunately, the urgency for such a bill was further underscored as two whistleblowers were fatally attacked just last month: Ram Thakur of the Bihar MGNREGA Watch and Dwarka Prasad Kosle in Chhattisgarh. Countless others continue to face intimidation and violence. Likewise, the much needed Grievance Redress bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2011 and was referred to the Standing Committee. The Standing Committee submitted its report and the cabinet cleared the bill on March 7, 2013. The bill is now awaiting introduction in the Parliament. Contact: Nikhil, Anjali and Venkatesh Avbl. Free dental check up camps Mumbai: NGOs or Organisations that wish to organise free dental camps & lectures in Vasai area may contact Jeevan Darshan Kendra --Dr. Dinkar U.Shenai. 9960951251, 2326109 /2332870
agreement signed in Agra in October 2012 between the Centre and Gandhian activist PV Rajagopal of Ekta Parishad who had led an agitation of one lakh landless poor. Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, who had signed the agreement on behalf of the Centre, had promised to initiate land reforms. About 40,000 landless poor, then, ended their foot-march from Gwalior to Delhi.
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The curriculum will include "clinical programmes" .Students will be taught how to draft well-researched public interest litigations, how to fight cases for marginalised groups and use the RTI Act and conduct law-reform exercises. Issues related to law and poverty, migration and displacement, dispute resolution, public advocacy will be integral to the course "After graduating, students can work as community lawyers, legal advisers and researchers in civil society groups, legal and public services commissions, judicial services and agencies," said Bajpai. To work out a structure for the course, the school brought together IPS officers, legal experts, retired judges, social activists, research scholars, governance specialists and top legal academicians in June last year.
Success of Jan Satyagraha 2012 Government readies Bill to provide roofs to homeless--about 2 crores poor shelterless families will get home and land as the draft of the National Right to Homestead Bill, 2013, prepared by the Rural Development ministry, is almost ready for interministerial consultation. According to the government, the poorest and most vulnerable among the rural families are those who are landless and shelter less and millions of rural household have no house of their own. Through its various judgements, the Supreme Court has also said that the issue of a roof over one's head needs to be seen as a basic human right, and a fundamental right that guarantees dignity to an individual. The government hopes that a homestead of 10 cents provided to a shelter less family will help in enabling the family build a shelter and take up supplementary livelihood activities such as backyard poultry, goatrearing, horticulture and vegetable cultivation. It also feels that a law to guarantee minimum space to build the house and carry out supplementary livelihood activities is imperative and such a law also is in pursuance of the constitutional mandate to endeavour to eliminate inequalities in status. According to the eleventh plan document, an estimated 13 to 18 million families in rural India are landless, of which about 8 million don't have homes. The welfare measure seeks to ensure every shelterless poor family in rural areas has a right to a home and a piece of land of not less than area of 10 cents (4350 sq ft). The Bill said the right to home should be enforced within a time period as specified and in accordance with the plans to be made at the state-level and the district levels for the purpose. It is the outcome of a 10-point
at TISS is people-centred, social justice-oriented, with a researchbased curriculum aiming for social transformation, " said professor Asha Bajpai, dean at TISS School of Law, Rights and Constitutional Governance.
Int'l Dog Bite prevention Prog.
The Magnificent Vulture – End of the Road? Mumbai: Vultures have existed for eons – as part of our mythology, amongst Egyptian Pharoas and Greek legends. Yet in a short span of 20 years, they are close to extinction in South Asia and beyond. How did this happen, and is there any hope of a recovery? Classified as critically-endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the population of vultures has declined by an alarming rate of over 99 per cent during the last two decades. The talk ‘The Magnificent Vulture – End of the Road?’ by Dr. Vibu Prakash -- one of India’s foremost scientists working on vulture conservation, currently a Principal Scientist, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), was organised by BNHS and preceded by the screening of the film “Vanishing Vultures” directed by Mike Pandey. Training Lawyers for the underprivileged Mumbai: A first-of-its- kind masters programme by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) will allow students to work with undertrials, children in conflict with law, victims of abuse and disabled. The master of laws (LLM) programme is aimed at creating lawyers who can work for vulnerable groups such as children, poor, tribal, women and the disabled. “There is a huge need for professionals who can deliver basic quality legal services to the vulnerable and marginalised. That is why we decided to introduce this one-year, intensive law progromme. This programme on 'Access to justice'
Mumbai: Huzannah Banajee Joseph of Paw Pals was increasingly concerned with the high number of dog bites. She decided to do something about it, by introducing a program for children on dog bite prevention and safety – the 'Be a Tree' Program (created by Doggone Safe, Canada (www.doggonesafe.com) to empower children to deal safely with dogs, and increase awareness about dog body language, thereby reducing the risk of dog bites. The International Dog Bite Prevention Challenge, one such initiative is done internationally through the months of April, May and June, and for the first time this program will be available to children in India. Paw Pals will offer the 'Be a Tree' program free of charge to children between the ages of 5 and 12 years via schools and community groups, during the months of April, May and June. Contact Paw Pals at huzannah_pawpals@yahoo.com or at +919823129066 for details of the program and to register your school/ community group.
CSR Pune Pune: CSR Pune invited NGOs, Corporate & Social Entrepreneurs to connect on a Common Networking Platform at the ‘3rd Networking Event’ on April 20, at Persistent Systems Limited, Pune. The networking event was designed to showcase ‘Social Enterprises, their journey, success’ and to discuss their "Importance and need in Sustainable Development." The CSR Pune forum is a platform created to synergise and leverage the strengths of stakeholders like Corporates, NGOs, Professionals, and Social Entrepreneurs to make a larger social impact. “Our prime focus is on Employment, Education, Health,
Mar-Apr 2013
NGO Connect
News/Conf Women Empowerment Environment.
and
CSR Pune is currently working on various initiatives like capacity building programs, job fairs, seminars on RTE, volunteering initiatives and technology-led innovations to expand the reach & effectiveness of social initiatives. Coordinator Contact-Mr. Pravin Jamdade -09923115757 E-mail: coordinator@csrpune.org
Clay appliances for the house Gujarat: Mansukhbhai Prajapati (44), a traditional clay craftsman of Morbi taluka in Rajkot district in Saurashtra has developed an entire range of earthen products including water filters, refrigerators, hot plates, cookers, thermos and other items of household use. In 1995, he developed a terra cotta filter with a ceramic candle for filtration. He manufactures and sells the water filter, Aquatech, in different capacities. 8 litre (Rs. 300), 10 litre (Rs. 350) and 12 litre (Rs. 400). Mansukhbhai also improved upon the traditional black haandi (pot) and developed a clay cooker and a thermos in 1 litre and 2 litres capacity and has sold over 500 such thermoses. Mansukhbhai filed for Design registration and also the Trade Mark application for a clay refrigerator named Mitticool in 2001 and in 2005, he finally came out with Mitticool fridge that did not need electricity and could be used by masses. He now wants to improve it by fitting a RO (Reverse Osmosis) unit to it so that one can get pure drinking water. He is looking into making small Minute Mitticools which can cool water in 2-5 minutes. To take it a step further, he has also conceived an idea to develop a house which would not require electricity connection for any purpose. The cooling and lighting in the house would be natural http://www.mitticoo l.in/about_ us.php
Operation Restore A free burn surgery camp for complex and incapacitating burn deformities was held at National Burns Centre, Navi Mumbai (NBC) (www. burns-india.com) on March 31 and April 1. The next 3 camps will be in June, Sept and Oct. --15 cases will be operated in 2 days at each of the camps. The operating team of surgeons, Anesthesiologists and Nurses are all volunteers. The camps are funded and supported by Rotary Dist. 3140. Those who wish to volunteer can contribute by volunteering time and help in the camp or sponsor the surgery of one or more patients. Refer deserving and underprivileged burn patients for the camp to Dr Shilpa Karnik 022-27793333(Burns Helpline), Rtn Vishnu Kamath 098202
81068, Rtn. Ajit Pappu 09869453186 or National Burns Centre 02227796660-64, 022-27791010 Burns Helpline 022-27793333, nbcairoli@gmail.com.
CONF. HELD A Roundtable Discussion on Gender Inclusive Research Methodology (GIRM) in Agriculture and Water was held on March 22 at the IRRAD Green Campus, Gurgaon. The discussion aimed to bridge the gap between academics and grassroots practitioners through generating gendered research priorities. GIRM in agriculture acknowledges the role of women and men and the power dynamics that enforce historic biases in different socio cultural settings. Rehab India Foundation organised a training programme on 'Economic Development of Rural Community' for all the Project Managers of Rehab India Foundation at its HQ in New Delhi on March 8/9. Rehab India Foundation has been striving to bring about equality in society through its various welfare programmes-education, medical relief, drinking water facility, model village, village development, emergency relief and equal opportunities for all. CII and CAP held a Workshop on March 18/19 in Pune--Capacity Building for NGOs -- “Empowering NGOs, Empowering Indians”.The objective of the workshop was to demystify the law and empower participants with sound working knowledge of the various dos & don’ts under law in order to stay legally and fiscally compliant and enhance credibility and accountability. Resource Alliance India, Crowe Horwath International and the Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy held two 2-day workshops for NGOs focusing on: ‘New Times, New Challenges – Emerging issues in Strategy, Governance and the Law’ in Mumbai on April 11/12 and in New Delhi on April 15/16. The workshop covered: Risk management, Strategic alliances, Good Governance, Legal frameworks, Managing and reporting on performance. Contact CAP, Mumbai. The Laurie Baker International School of Habitat Studies (LaBISHaS) of the Government of Kerala, in association with the Institution of Engineers, India (IEI), Kerala State Centre organised a o n e - d a y s e m i n a r o n Wa s t e Management & Cost Reduction in Construction at Thiruvananthapuram on April 12. Contact: 9447004845/ 9447258111 Citizens for People's SecurityBangalore held a seminar and public meeting on 'Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act – Nation's, People's and Women's Security' on April 13 at Indian Social Institute, Bangalore in partnership with SCM, VISTHAR, OpenSpace, ISI-B, UTC, SICHREM, NCCI, Mithra Foundation, ALF, St. Joseph's College, The Other Media, 6
PUCL and NAPM-Karnataka.
Uttar Pradesh; and
A Training Programme on ‘Project Formulation’ was held by the Vishwa Yuvak Kendra from Apr. 22-26 at Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, New Delhi . VYK organizes workshops, seminars and training programmes for grassroot level NGOs. Contact Tel.. 01123013631-35 and 81303445505.
(ii) Transformation of Commercial Tax Regime in Karnataka.
A Seminar on 'Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Work Place--What is the Law ? How to Prevent it? How to Handle Complaints ?' was held on April 18 in Mumbai for HR & Administration Personnel, Compliance Managers and Senior Managers. Contact: indian a c a d e m y @ v s n l . n e t Te l . : 0 2 2 30403400/9820225561 website www. indianacademy.org Training for online retail for NGOs in Mumbai, organised by Srujna Charitable Trust and sponsored by: ONGC was held on April 22 in Bandra, Mumbai to equip NGOs with skills to sell products online. Contact: Vaishali Gandhi, Email : info@srujna. org
AWARDS The Prime Minister conferred the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration' for the year 2011–12 to seven outstanding initiatives in three categories – individual, group and organization on April 22. Of these, three were given in the individual category to: – Darpan Jain, 2001 batch Karnataka cadre IAS for “Saving Open Spaces and Urban Lakes (SOUL) and Cultural Rejuvenation in the twin city of HubliDharwad, Karnataka”, as deputy commissioner of Dharwad. A mechanical engineer-turned IAS, Darpan Jain originally hails from Haryana. He had earlier served as Managing Director of Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development & Finance Corporation Ltd --Om Prakash Choudhary, 2005 batch Chhattisgarh cadre IAS for “Educational Initiatives in Dantewada, Chattisgarh”, as collector of Dantewada. Starting his career as an assistant collector in Korba, Choudhary, originally belonging to Chandigarh, had served as SDO at Raipur and Durg respectively. He was also commissioner of Raipur Municipality Commissioner. Currently, he is collector of Sukma. -- Amit Gupta, 2000 batch UP cadre IAS, for “Daliya jalao: Liberating Manual Scavengers and Moving Towards Total Sanitation, Uttar Pradesh”, as District Magistrate of Budaun. An engineer-turned IAS, Gupta had served as collector in a number of challenging districts in Uttar Pradesh including Hamirpur, Jalaun, Kanoj, Etawah, Firozabad and Shrawasti. Currently, he is collector and DM in Bijnor. In the group category, the award was given to (i) Sugarcane Information System,
Excellence in Rural Management and Development was given to Sikkim; and the Skill Development Project of the Directorate of Employment & Training, Gujarat received the award in the organisation category.
CONFERENCES "The Art And Science Of Impact Evaluation" May 3/4 , New Delhi Org. by Sambodhi Research & Management. With increasing focus on ‘results on ground’, development effectiveness, accountability and above all, attribution of the change development interventions, have brought rigorous impact evaluation at the centre of evaluation practice. The theory and practice of impact evaluation attempts at providing evidence on whether a programme or project has actually changed peoples’ lives, and whether outcomes are directly attributable to the interventions. For more details: Call: +91-1147593300-99, +91-11-49242424-44 Write to: trainings@srmi.in
Post-Graduate Diploma in Community Media 2013-14. The course is also being offered as a Dual Degree for TISS alumni who have a Master's degree from the Institute. It is offered in addition to the existing MA programme in Media and Cultural Studies. The last date for applications is June 3, 2013 and the programme commences on October 7, 2013. The programme is being offered in modular form (6 weeks of contact classes in Oct-Nov, 2013 and 8 weeks of contact classes in Apr-May, 2014) to enable employed candidates to enroll. The course is designed for social workers, community activists and cultural organisers who are engaged in grassroots level activities, with the goal of supplementing their field efforts with knowledge, perspectives and skills to enable them to work with communities and facilitate expression of their concerns through the media. Details are on the TISS website :www.smcs.tiss. edu. Contact: Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai Phone:+91 22 2552 5661 / +91 22 2552 5660 e-mail: contact@ monteiro-jayasankar.com
6 Months Cert. Course in Printing Technology Jointly conducted by Tata Institute of Social Sciences, School of Vocational Education (TISS-SVE), Mumbai and Maharashtra Mudran Parishad- Institute of Printing Technology and Research, New Panvel.
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NGO Connect
Conf./Opportunities Certification is done by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) 100% Job Placement Course. Fees: - Rs. 12,000 (or in Installments) Monthly stipend:- Rs. 4000 Eligibility: 9th pass or S.S.C pass / fail in Quality Printing. The target beneficiaries would include organised and unorganised labour, women, children, dalits and tribals. TISS SVE is also looking for Partners. Contact:Abraham N James Programme Officer, School of Vocational Education, Tata Institute of Social Sciences Deonar, Mumbai. Tel: +91 9920122167/0 22- 2552 5620 (O) http://www.sve.tiss.edu/ http://www.tiss.edu Email 1: abraham. ames@sve.tiss.edu; Email 2: abrahamnjames@ gmail.com
2nd Internat. Conference on Business Social Partnership Org. by Academy of Value Based Management (A Unit of ISOL Foundation) September 5-7, 2013 at Delhi. A coherent Corporate Social Responsibility based on integrity, sound values and a long-term approach offers clear business benefits to companies and a positive contribution to the well being of society. This requires discussing certain questions by all sectors: What are the respective roles of government and private sector in providing social, educational and health services? How far along the supply chain does a company's responsibility extend? How should it adapt to local cultures? How far into the future should a company plan? etc Contact: Sunita Singh Sengupta, Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi. Delhi (http://www.academyo fvaluebasedmanagement.co.in). Contact: Email: sunita.singhsengupta @gmail.com; Tel: 0 9873167484
Training on urban and industrial wastewater treatment May 6-10, 2013, Delhi Challenges, options and solutions. Organised by Centre for Science & Environment (CSE) Course contact: Swati Singh Sambyal Research Associate – EIA Unit Email: swati@cseindia. org Mobile: 9910496283 Community Health Learning Program Bangalore-2013- 14
multidisciplinary team from CHC and the Centre for Public Health and Equity (CPHE) with expertise in community health, public health education and health policy. It promotes a new public health paradigm focused on health equity; social justice; underlying social determinants of health including gender; community participation; inclusive and responsive health systems and healthy public policy development. During CHLP a stipend of Rs. 8000/pm is given to full time participants. The program will: • Promote life options in community health by offering a semi structured learning in partnership with selected community health projects and field mentors • Strengthen the motivation, interest, and commitment of persons to community health. • Sharpen analytical skills and deepen understanding of social workers. Program starts on June 3 for one year (including 3 Field Postings of 2 months each) Ten full time Fellowships & Five Flexi Fellowships available. Weightage will be given to candidates who are women, adivasi, or from minority or marginalized groups and/or from remote, disadvantaged regions and populations. Persons from any part of India may apply. A working knowledge of English is required and basic computer literacy is helpful. Apply by post or email with your CV and a brief note on why you wish to join the program.(not more than 500 words); two referees’ address, tel. and email address. If you are working with an NGO or with the government health system, send a letter of sponsorship if possible since this will be given preference in the selection process. Apply to: T h e C o o r d i n a t o r, Community Health Cell, No. 359, Srinivasa Nilaya, 1st Main, 1st Block, Koramangala, Bangalore – 560 034. Phone : 080-25531518 / 25630934 / 8884399607 Email: chlp@sochara. org
Financial Inclusion Oct 28-30, London, UK Center of Financial Inclusion at Accion has just announced the Financial Inclusion 2020 Global Forum, gathering of leaders to
Org. by Society for Community Health Awareness, Research And Action (SOCHARA). The program is
promote financial inclusion-- by invitation only, but there are several ways in which you can participate virtually leading up to, and during, the e v e n t . C o n t a c t : www.financialinclusion2020.org
Project Management Workshop May 3, 2013 Mumbai P l a n n i n g S t r a t e g y, P r o j e c t Management Process, Leadership & Managing Human Resource. Venue: College of Social Work, Goregaon East, Mumbai – 400 063 Documentation and Writing Skills Workshop, May 10, Pune. Types of documentation ,Report writing, Financial Documentation
Workshop on Monitoring and Evaluation May 17, Mumbai ----Tools of monitoring and evaluation, Participatory monitoring and evaluation Venue: College of Social Work, Goregaon East, Mumbai Org. by Pentagon Consultants
Workshop Fees: INR 1,500/- per person per workshop.
Org. by South Asian Fund Raising Group How can the NGO sector prepare itself for the Companies Bill? How do we use this opportunity to create an environment where the nonprofit and the for-profit sector can collaborate to create social impact. This highly interactive workshop will explore how societal concerns like poverty alleviation, healthcare, education and development of social business ventures can be addressed through mutually supportive shared value creation.
Topics:•How societal value can create economic value for company and community etc. For details and registration: Email: nandita@safrg.org, programs@safrg. org Tel: +91 11 2613 2024 / 2613 2086 Visit http://www.safrg. org/130405. htm for more details
‘Re-Lead’: Leadership from a lens of sustainability. May 29-June 5, Bangalore Venues: IIM Bangalore Campus, and Fireflies Ashram
To register, e-mail your: Name, Organisation, Designation, Address, Phone No, Email, Workshop location, Title and Date. Contact :- Ms. Mayuri Mistry (Mumbai) Mob:-9987145825 Email: pentagon mayuri@gmail.com
Exploring leadership through multidimensional perspectives - political, spiritual, social, corporate, design and technology.to build a collective action plan for the future to come--asking you to Relead.
1st International Conference on Humanitarian Logistics
'Relead' is a week-long international program for anyone who seeks to understand and impact the world by building skills and perspectives to lead into the future and help facilitate change in your organizations and nation. www.re-lead.org. Write to Manu Singh, call +91 9967 685694
22-23, Sept 2013, Raipur Org. by IIM Raipur and The Logistics Institute Asia Pacific, National University of Singapore. The conference seeks to discuss key Humanitarian logistics issues such as delivery of humanitarian stuff on time. The conference also aims to sensitize managers towards the humanitarian supply chain management processes due to the increasing complexity and magnitude of global emergency relief operations for their business. Contact: Conference Secretariat, Indian Institute of Management Raipur, GEC Campus, Sejbahar, Raipur Email: ichl2013@iimraipur. ac.in, Website: http://iimraipur. ac.in/ichl2013 Phone: +91 771 2772101/2772117
Workshop on CSR 2.0 May 3, India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi.
OPPORTUNITIES Research and Advocacy Associate, Bangalore Aneka is a human rights organisation working mainly with sexual minorities, sexworkers and PLHIV (People Living with HIV). Our work includes action research, human rights advocacy, support for community-based organisations and community lobbying and campaigns. The role involves working with the Project Director and members of the community from concept design to coordination and execution of research projects and advocacy activities, designing and implementing training modules for the community collectives. The person will primarily be responsible to facilitate, contribute and document the research work undertaken . Other responsibilities include support the development of fund raising strategy including proposal writing, maintaining relationship with funders and help send in the reports
facilitated and managed by The SOCHARA School of Public Health, Equity and Action (SOPHEA), Bangalore. The Community Health Learning Program (CHLP) is a teaching, learning program in community health, run by SOPHEA at the Community Health Cell (CHC) in Bangalore, and is facilitated by a
Qual:- At least 4 years relevant experience at a middle/senior position 7
Mar-Apr 2013
NGO Connect
Opportunities in human rights/ social justice/ community collectivisation work; Comfort working with working class sexual minorities/ sexworkers/ people living with HIV; Ability to combine research, project management and advocacy. A strong theoretical grounding and good methodological, analytical and writing skills (in English) required; experience in designing and implementing training modules, be able to communicate in Kannada. Salary will be based on experience and skills. We encourage people from marginalized backgrounds to apply, including: sexual minorities, people living with HIV, and people with disabilities etc. Interested candidates can send a brief bio to anekatrust@gmail.com by Apr 27.
Programme Coordinator Sir Syed Trust, Tijara, Distt. Alwar, Rajasthan Apply by May 5 Sir Syed Trust (SST) aims to improve the life of marginalized communities by working on Livelihood, agriculture, horticulture and plantations. SST believes that the way for a prosperous society is through enhancement of the livelihood opportunities for the people and their sustenance. They must be equipped with knowledge in the form of skill enhancement, alternative / emerging livelihood opportunities, technical expertise, marketing, negotiating, and networking skills which will help them to achieve their dream. Qual: Masters in Agriculture, H o r t i c u l t u r e , F o r e s t r y, R u r a l Development or equivalent. Exp.: Minimum five years in an NGO and working on rural livelihood projects. Project Coordinators are responsible for implementation of all project developmental activities, with special emphasis on Horticulture, and should have relevant experience to lead programme development processes. Ability to interact with village people, professionals, bureaucrats ; Excellent communication skills, in Hindi and English; Proficient in Microsoft Office. Salary: Rs. 15,000 pm minimum. Email your resume, testimonials and photograph to job.sst.2008@gmail. com or asifzaidi.786@gmail.com or mail to: Sir Syed Trust, M-5, Flat No. 420, Ashiana Aangan, Alwar ByePass Road, Bhiwadi-301019. Distt. Alwar, Rajasthan. Telephone: 7742090933/ 9928687819.
Volunteer Manager Bangalore Janaagraha The Volunteer Manager will play a key role in building and nurturing our Volunteer Program. Janaagraha is a not-for profit institution working towards improving the quality of life in our cities and towns by improving urban governance.
(despite deadlines you are advised to apply)
The candidate must: Manage all elements of volunteer management across the organisation,• Developing and implementing a Volunteer Management Policy which includes sourcing, orientation, induction, reward and recognition processes for volunteers. • Working with networks, partners, voluntary organisations in meeting the volunteer needs of Janaagraha by sourcing, placing and providing an enriching experience for volunteers • Stay up to date with the volunteer needs of the various projects/progams within Janaagraha. Work with program managers to detail this need and provide resources • Put in place an outstanding volunteer management system. Skills/ Qual: • Specific experience in volunteer management would be an asset • Professional experience of at least 5-7 years in any field. Remuneration: Commensurate with experience; To apply, write to work@ janaagraha.org by Apr. 28.
Program Head - Education
Marathi Anthology 1 of Queer Ink (see pg 11)
Swades Foundation, Mumbai Program head will work with the Director (Education); Identify the needs of the schools and communities we serve with the help of the team in Raigad; Ideate the processes that could potentially address the needs; Identify and suggest potential partners; Support the Director in developing the processes , strategies and reporting/ monitoring mechanisms for the successful implementation of the Programs, Budgets: Program Implementation; Engagement with partners & Government: and implementation; developing and managing relationships with other NGOs/ people and resources; Management: Monitoring documentation
Head – Operations & Resources Swades Foundation, Mumbai To work with the Director (Education) and the Program Head; Identify the needs of the schools and communities .Identify and suggest potential partners/vendors/suppliers/NGOs/ communities; Data Collection and need Analysis. Budget: Program Implementation, Partner Engagement: Government liaison; People and Resource Management; Apply by April 30 to jessica.negrel@swadesfoundation.or g
Fundraising Manager, Muktangan, Mumbai Muktangan, a nonprofit, founded in 2003 as the sole project of Paragon Charitable Trust, currently runs seven municipal schools, beginning at the preschool level, and a Teacher Education Centre. It trains local lowincome, community members (mainly women) to implement its educational model within these mainstream schools. and is now ready for replication. Its Resource Centre 8
incorporates a Teacher Education Centre integrated into a School System, each strengthening the other, using a "Hub and Spokes" approach. Muktangan is now consolidating and offering the larger teacher and school educational system their expertise, capacity and materials to support further educational development (both government and non-government).: www.muktanganedu.org. Key Areas of Responsibility: 1. Business Development: Create and implement a robust fundraising strategy for long-term, institutional funding, and build partnerships for Muktangan across India and globally; .Relationship Management: Create and implement Muktangan's fundraising strategy; Develop a separate strategy for attracting longterm institutional funding for Muktangan Education Resource Center. Manage the development of proposals and other collateral for potential donors; Edu. and Work Exp: - Post graduate degree/ diploma in Social Sciences, At least 5-10 years of experience in fundraising/ investor relations and management, - Outstanding communications and inter-personal skills, - Outstanding writing skills, Experience of working for NGOs or international organisations and knowledge of the development sector. Send your cover letter and CV with the subject title : Fundraising Manager by A p r i l 2 3 t o careers@muktanganedu.org
f i n a n c i a l l i t e r a c y. S a n c h a y a n establishes and manages outlets branded “Sanchayan Suraksha Points” which provide comprehensive financial planning, financial services & financial literacy to the low-income urban poor segment, esp. women & migrants in Delhi/NCR. We undertake needs-based assessment and tie-up with mainstream financial institutions having financial products which are safe, relevant and low-cost thereby eliminating possibility of fraud and creating a trusted distribution brand. Sanchayan works with Governments, Financial Institutions, Educational Institutes, Corporate Foundations, Partner NGOs, and other public and private sector organizations to deliver low-cost financial services to the BOP and disseminating neutral financial literacy. www.SanchayanSociety.org & www.SanchayanSuraksha.com for more information. 5 positions Qual: Min. 1-3 years exp, • High degree of field work, graduate in any field with excellent communication skills [English and Hindi] • Willing to travel across Delhi/NCR / maybe rural areas; • Work exclusively with poor people in slums Resp: Customer acquisition in the field • Customer database management; • Organizing enrolment camps • Reporting. Full time position--Probation for 3 months. On the job training.• Remuneration -- highly competitive and negotiable. Forward your CV by April 28 to hr@sanchayansociety.org
Financial Inclusion Managers – 5, Delhi
Coordinator (Communication & Fundraising)
Sanchayan Society & Sanchayan Suraksha Solutions Pvt. Ltd are
The Association of People with Disability, Bangalore
– Social ventures which are focused exclusively on financial inclusion and
The Association of People with Disability (APD) is a registered non-
Mar-Apr 2013
NGO Connect
Opportunities governmental organization working with children and adults with various types of disability since 1959 to provide many services including education, therapy, and employment services. Currently seeking a Coordinator for the Communication and Fundraising Department. Qual: PUC/Graduate (preferable), Excellent written and verbal skills ( English and Kannada),Proficient in Microsoft Office. Resp:-Ensure comprehensive education appeals/mails and vocational training sponsorships are sent to existing sponsors; Visit stalls put up by organization in corporations and interact with managers/ volunteers/donors. Maintain stock records; Update database system.
Free 5 star Hotel Training for disadvantaged youth Kherwadi Social Welfare A s s o c i a t i o n Yuva Parivartan programme YCI Hospitality Training Program 2013-14. Limited seats - 88 only, (First come first serve basis). Student registration (Last date : 15th May 2013 ) .Hotels will conduct interviews from May 16- to 31. (All students will get opportunity to be interviewed with all hotels until they are selected. Selected students get free Computer & English S p e a k i n g t r a i n i n g from June 1-30 at nearest Yuva Parivartan Center. Training with hotel from July 1 till Dec 31, 2013. Certificate distribution will be in Jan 2014. Stipend Rs. 2000 pm during hotel training.(Free one-time on duty food/free uniform). 9 hours On-Job Training in shift. (No night shifts for girls). One weekly off. Starting salary: after training Rs 60007000 (with same or other hotel). Eligibility: Candidates should be from disadvantaged background: low family i n c o m e / B P L / s i n g l e parent/ college dropout etc.; Min 10th pass; Age- 18 to 24 years at the time of start of course.
transgender sexworkers, who live in Karnataka. We advocate for the rights of all sex workers. We are looking for a Program manager to support us with our work. The role involves working with the Executive Committee of the KSWU and the Program Manager to support the KSWU in its activities. The person would be required to coordinate member meetings, follow ups, training sessions, advocacy efforts and oversee the day-to-day activities of the KSWU. Qual:- At least 4 years relevant experience at a middle/senior position in human rights/ social justice/ community collectivization work; - Comfort to work with working class sexworkers/ people living with HIV/ sexual minorities; - Committed to social justice in the context of class, caste, gender, sexuality, religion etc.; Willing to support the union members to become leaders; - Willingness to travel (largely within Karnataka) - Read, write and type in Kannada to prepare reports, press releases - Read and write English - Basic computer skills. Salary will be based on experience and skills. We believe in affirmative action and particularly encourage people from marginalized backgrounds to apply, including: sexual minorities, people living with HIV, dalits, adivasis, women, religious minorities and people with disabilities Interested candidates can send a brief bio to sexworkersunion@ gmail.com
Documentation / Report Writing Specialist Mysore GRAAM - part of SVYM The candidate will be responsible for overall high quality documentation of various interventions of GRAAM and to assist the team to develop various Information-EducationCommunication tools, compile information related to progress of the mission to be shared in public domain, write content for the website and other social media pages of the mission in coordination with the team. (www.graam.org.in)
Assistant Program Manager
Qual: Masters/PG diploma in Social Sciences, Social Work, Communication or Journalism, Information science from recognised university; 1-3 years of relevant exp., preferably in development sector, exp. in research will be added advantage but not mandatory; Broad understanding of the development sector, governmental structure and functioning; Experience and ability to design and coordinate research projects; preparing computerized print and video documents; Good command over English and working knowledge of Kannada; ability to read/write other languages is an asset.
for Karnataka Sex Workers Union, Full time experienced person, Bangalore. The Karnataka Sex Workers Union is a trade union of w o m e n , m e n a n d
Role: To do media analysis on news / reports ; Build a data bank on rural livelihood related information, report or any relevant printed, electronic, video, audio material for public access and
Required documents: ID proof, Residence Proof (Self Or Parents). , Age proof, Education proof (min 10th) If you know a deserving candidate contact Mr. Ganesh More - 88797 72659 - or ganesh.more@ yuvaparivartan.org.in, Ms Manasi Gamre - 9167233023 orc.kandivali@ yuvaparivartan. org.in Office: Kherwadi Social Welfare Association, behind Govt Polytechnic Bandra East: placements@ yuvaparivartan.org
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use, publication of reports, documents, editing web based / printed periodic newsletter on rural livelihood issues and Responsible for assisting the SPM – SD and Com in designing and developing effective Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials ; Publicize the activities in social, electronic and print media as per the Mission's media communi cation plan; Video documentation of project achievements etc. Mail your applications to HR team at venugopal@svym.org.in. Candidates should send a 'Statement of Purpose' in about 500 words, describing the challenges they see in the current development contexts (rural or urban); and the scope of action and research that incorporates grassroots perspectives. Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Consultant: Program Coordinator (Design, Monitoring & Evaluation) Justice Ventures International (JVI), Delhi Apply by April 29 As JVI’s legal aid and anti-trafficking initiatives grow, JVI is seeking a highlymotivated, skilled program coordinator. The Program Coordinator would be responsible for facilitating the monitoring and evaluation of existing projects and partnerships, design strategic justice programs, and to help manage two of JVI’s antitrafficking grants – the Google Advocacy Project (GAP) and the Google Interventions Project. (GIP) Reports to the Asia Program Director and India National Leadership team. JVI's mission is to help people suffering injustice secure freedom by strengthening ventures that protect human rights and promote development. See www.justice ventures.org. Resp.: Work closely with the Asia Program Director. (GAP and GIP are partnership initiatives focused on bonded labour advocacy and casework in India).• Engage JVI offices, teams, and partners in the monitoring and evaluation process ;Developing an M&E plan for specific partners or projects,• Writing reports and analysis .• Writing and editing program plans in support of JVI’s leadership, etc. Skills and Exp: • Degree in international relations/ communications/ law, or a related field • Masters degree in international development or international relations preferred • Min. 2 years experience working with human rights or development programs; experience in implementing programs, design, monitoring and evaluation strategies and plans • Demonstrated ability to conceive, articulate and document program plans and budgets • managing grants, programs and partnerships • Excellent English language skills • Functional Hindi language skills, knowledge of other
Lal Ded - A play and a film by Meeta Vasisht about the most celebrated woman mystic poet of 14th century Kashmir: the iconic Lal Ded continues to be the shared archetype for all Kashmiris, Hindu and Muslims, from seven hundred years ago, right up to the present day. Indian language skills a plus Full-time position. • The position reports to the Asia Program Director and the India National Leadership team. Send resume and covering letter by e-mail: delhi@justice ventures.org
Director Delhi Justice Resource Center The Justice Ventures International (JVI) Project is seeking an experienced human rights professional to lead the Delhi Justice Resource Center. The Delhi Justice Resource Center Director will be based in Delhi, and have principal responsibility for facilitating the implementation of programs for Justice Ventures International (JVI). JVI's mission it to help people suffering injustice secure freedom. For more information www.justiceventures. org. Responsibilities:• Manage the operation of the Delhi justice resource center, including setting mission goals and strategies, recruiting paid and pro bono consultants, coordinating assessments and client engagements, forming key constituent relationships, and prepare periodic reports • Work with the JVI’s team and partner staff to conceive and implement strategic anti-human trafficking casework and advocacy initiatives • Engage in key antitrafficking and human rights networks across North India • Manage JVI’s intervention efforts in Delhi including case work, assistance with justice venture selection and strategy, budgeting, recruiting personnel, and training • Build and manage key relationships with NGO partners, State and Central Government officials, funders and other stakeholders. Skills and Exp: • Degree in law, business, community development, social work, or relevant field (law degree preferred) • Masters degree strongly preferred • Minimum of five years experience in human rights and/or community development • three years in leading and managing teams • Significant experience in designing, managing, and evaluating
Mar-Apr 2013
NGO Connect
Opportunities programs. Critical Qualities:• Mature orthodox Christian faith • Full-time position. Send resume and cover letter to: jpankratz@devsourcing.com and delhi@justiceventures.org.
Professional Counselling Course Scientific, contemporary and internationally most widely accepted Methodology of Counselling course by an international trainer Dr. Minnu R. Bhonsle. This is a Certificate Course with a human lab and practical training in Psychological Counselling. This certificate course / training program is ideal for those who are or want to be in people-oriented professions such as Counsellors, HR Personnel, Leaders & Trainers. Contact 9821093902 or 22184528 or 23755866 Contact: .Email: hthindia@gmail. com
Indian Society for Applied Behavioural Science Needs a "Programme Executive" for Delhi National Office. Applicants should have a pleasant personality and interest in managing large events involving participants from all over India and outside. The position is currently based in Delhi . Qual: Graduate in any discipline, Fluency in Hindi and English; Computer skills Desirable: Familiarity with one or more regional languages, Experience in maintaining computerised accounts and familiarity with maintaining statutory ledgers Remuneration: Min. Rs. 20,000 pm +allowances, depending on experience. Please email your resume with scanned photograph to secretary@isabs.org and send a printed and signed copy to Indian Society for Applied Behavioural Science, B1/33A, Mezzanine floor, Hauzkhas, New Delhi 110016
Need NGO partners for our CSR Activity Andhra Pradesh M/s. Bharat Electronics Limited, a Govt. of India Enterprise under the Ministry of Defence with 9 units in India would like to take-up one project each in Mahbubnagar and Warangal, (backward districts in AP as identified by Planning Commission) for CSR activity. NGOs are requested to help us in identifying projects in Mahbubnagar and Warangal. Send us the addresses and contact numbers of NGOs who are dedicatedly working for the upliftment of the society in the above areas. Contact: Manoharan, Dy General Manager (HR), M/s.Bharat Electronics Limited, I.E.Nacharam, Hyderabad – 500 076.Phone – (040) 27194214 email: manoharan@bel. co.in
Business Devpt. Manager Centre for Women’s Development and Research, Chennai Apply by April 26 The Business Development Manager for Domestic workers Job Placement Agency Overview will play an important role in developing the implementation and marketing strategy of a Domestic workers job placement service administered by the Centre for Women’s Development and Research (CWDR). The job agency will ensure that quality services are provided and that basic labor standards are met to provide women domestic workers in the informal sector with formal-sector like job security and benefits. Responsibilities: - Create a database of present domestic workers; • Conduct a needs assessment through interviews of household needs in regard to Housemaids work. • Develop training modules for housekeeping, Cooking, Child Care, home nursing based on needs assessment. • Develop a marketing strategy for advertising their services. • Develop a system for monitoring employee treatment and employer satisfaction. • Conduct research on options for CWDR facilitating social security for domestic workers; meet with bank to develop long-term plan etc. Qual: MBAs preferred or experience with small business management; marketing; advertising; or a general interest in social work and women’s labour issues.
Salary: Rs.15,000 per month, plus incentives based on performance. Email CVs to cwdrin(at)yahoo.com
Aftercare Coordinator, Patna Justice Ventures International (JVI) Bihar JVI is seeking a full-time, experienced social worker. Specifically, the Aftercare Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating with JVI partners, government officials, and JVI advocates to ensure successful rehabilitation for bonded labour survivors across Bihar and other states; for equipping JVI partners on rehabilitation standards; and for maintaining excellent relationships with JVI clients, partner NGOs, and government officials. He/She will work under the direction of the Bonded Labor Manager-Bihar and Sr. Legal Consultant-Delhi. The position requires travel throughout the Bonded Labor fields in Bihar and India as per requirement. www.justice ventures. org. Skills and Experience: • Masters in Social Work, Law, Rural/Community Development, Counseling, or another relevant field; • Experience in designing and implementing bonded labour / human trafficking rehabilitation programs; • Fluency in Hindi and English (oral, reading, and writing); other languages optional; • In case of Fresher, the candidate may be required to work under probation • To assure the JVI-Leadership of a consistent period of employment
• Competitive compensation. Send Resume, writing samples (English & Hindi), and 3 references by E-mail to: delhi@jusiceventures.org
Field Coordinator Srujna - Mumbai, -- full-time The Field coordination will be responsible for all logistical coordination of trainings, events and meeting for exhibitions, board of advisor meetings and others; coordinating with all partner organizations; monitoring of programs and partner organizations; conducting field research and overall field implementation and Administrative Responsibilities Qual / Exp : - graduate in BSW or any other relevant field, MSW preferable; at least 1-2 years of working experience in a similar role in the social sector- research and documentation skills Renumeration : As per qualification & experience Contact : Jyotika Bhatia : info@srujna. org
Opportunity for Persons with disability For BPO, Mumbai Servico BPO Services Pvt. Ltd. is running various voice as well as nonvoice projects in FPO & BPO domains.Currently 30 visuallyimpaired candidates are working with us at various positions. Rather than defining specific hiring criteria for the differently abled we “Under my plan, the state will be there to carry out the will of the people, not to dictate to them or to force them to do its wish”
Ad.RATES You can:
Mahatma Gandhi
* sponsor an issue for Rs. 20,000/- per issue * release an ad (10cms. x 1col.) for Rs. 1000 per issue.
Mar-Apr 2013 India’s First NGO Newstabloid
Please enrol me as your subscriber at the price of Rs.150 / USD 15 / GBP 8 per annum for 6 issues (Including postage). Please mail ___ copies at the address given below. DD/ cheques should be in the name of “Shakti Trust”
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Name: ______________________________________________ Organisation: _________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ Type of activity: _______________________________________ ____________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ NGO Connect ____________________________________________________ _____________________________Pin code: _______________ 5E, Gulmohar, c/o ERA, 1st fl. Phone No:_____________ E-mail: ________________________ 20, Convent Road, N. M. Wadia Bldg. Bangalore 560025 123 M G Road, Cash/Cq/DD No: ___________________ Amt. Rs.____________ Mumbai 400001 On Bank : ________________________ dated:______________
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Mail to : NGO Connect 5E, Gulmohar; 20, Convent Road, Bangalore 560 025 Tel. No: 093418-67487, E-mail: shaktisrc@yahoo.com.
Jan-Feb 2013
NGO Connect
Media have consciously decided to adopt a reverse hiring strategy wherein we intend interacting with these candidates and offer them jobs as per their skill sets and capabilities. Kindly note that these job openings are not restricted to any specific profile / designation. We intend hiring the differently-abled for various administrative positions as well. By doing so we wish to empower these individuals and nurture their personal & professional growth. Currently we are hiring candidates for our Mumbai branch. Candidates Profile: With or without prior relevant work experience; Good communication in Hindi & Marathi. Confident. Contact: Radhika Daga, Sr. HR Executive, Service BPO Services Pvt Ltd Mob : 9594694746
FILMS Rang This is a play on AIDS. The show, described as a “social comedy” was really not a comedy but a social drama well written by Kuldip Singh. The script was set in short scenes which were enacted in a seamless flow by the players. All the plays have a soical message. There was not a moment of ennui during the 90-minute enactment. The performances were all in tune with the theme and purpose of the play which conveyed its message without being ham-handed. (A review by Anon)
Modikhanyachya Don Goshti/ Facilitator, Navi Mumbai Corporate Social Responsibility Education Department. RPG Life Sciences, Navi Mumbai, Qual: Graduate Position Summary: The facilitator is responsible for strategically engaging the children in sessions where they are able to learn. The facilitator is also required to plan the session before every class so that a high level of professionalism of the Akshara model is maintained. He/she must have an eye for detail and must be goaloriented. Contact: Parama Deb, CSR Associate, RPG Life Sciences, 25, M.I.D.C. Land,Thane-Belapur Road, Navi Mumbai 400705. Phones : 67955398/5399/ 5400/5555, Dir: 67955376 Fax:27672646/ 27631052, Mobile: 9820355529, Email: parama.d@rpgls. com
Youth ACT Fellowship 2013. Happy Hands Foundation, a non profit organisation working towards revival of Indian traditional arts, invites a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r Yo u t h A C T Fellowship 2013. The Youth Arts, Community and Transformation (ACT) Fellowship, is aimed at connecting the youth of India with the country's craft-communities and rural-livelihoods. The month long fellowship includes an Orientation/ training, a two-week rural project, and a week-long time period to compile the project for an exhibit. Selected fellows are given the opportunity to travel to a craft cluster within India, and work towards strengthening the community through innovative solutions, and projects across disciplines marketing, creative/product d e v e l o p m e n t , p h o t o g r a p h y, technology-based teaching, pricing and accountancy, etc. If you are 17-20 years old, applications close May 12, 2013. For more information email: deepti@ happyhands.in or visit http://www. happyhands.in
Two Tales of Modikhana Marathi, Colour, 73 min, Digital video, 2011 Dir.: Gouri Patwardhan Sudhir Waghmare's canvases take us to Modikhana, a 'servants' back alley' of the erstwhile British cantonment in Poona. While it finds no place in the mainstream history of Pune, Waghmare's narrative reveals the rich and overlapping layers of the social and political history of Modikhana. The process of the untouchables' metamorphosis into 'Dalits' and their politicization under Dr. B R Ambedkar strongly reverberate through the spaces, houses and the people in his canvases. In contrast, his daughter Kranti's quest for form brings her face to face with the daily violence of the environment in which she grew up. She continues to search for as a form, and tries to find creative ways to collaborate with her community.The contradictions and realities of Modikhana, an area that has seen much transition, are finely captured through the very different and highly individualistic voices of both these artists.
Gadi Lohardaga Mail Directed by Meghnath and Biju Toppo 2006, 27 mins, Nagpuri and Hindi with English subtitles Ranchi was brought on the Indian railway map with the opening of the Purulia-Ranchi narrow-gauge line in November 1907. This line was extended up to Lohardaga in 1911. A narrow gauge train ran on the track till January 2004, when it was withdrawn. The film is a documentation of many people’s memories of the narrowgauge train, and was shot before the train was stopped. Through Nagpuri folk songs, the personalities on the train brings forth the angst of the one leaving their beloved, their homes, their families and their roots, perhaps for ever. These were songs that were sung especially among the tribal people emigrating for work in the tea estates of Assam. A journey that became a part of the region’s history.
‘ Izzatnagari ki Asabhya Betiyaan' ('The Immoral Daughters in the Land of Honour') Dir. Nakul Singh Sawhney, 93 min . This is a documentary film about women taking on the powerful ‘Khap Panchayats' and in the process confronting "honour" crimes, injustice and social boycotts. "Those who threaten our traditional code", says Jai Singh Ahlawat, the Head of the Ahlawat Khap "are the educated youngsters, the Dalit officers, who want everything to be equal... And, of course, our "asabhya betiyan", (immoral daughters) who imagine equality like animals and want our ageold customs to die out..." Voices like Jai Singh Ahlwat's belong to the patriarchal and casteist pillars of a feudal society -- the Khaps; those who oppose "self-choice" marriages and deny young people the right to love. In 'Izzatnagari ki Asabhya Betiyaan', we have the stories of five young Jat women who dared to resist.
A Pinch of Skin Dir. Priya Goswami 27 minutes 'A Pinch of Skin' is about the practice of Female Genital Mutilation , a film on betrayal of innocent girls, perpetuated by a deep-seated social more. How medieval cruelty invades modern, educated homes, even today. Eschewing concerns of human rights, the practice exists in the name of faith and tradition to ‘curb/check’ female s e x u a l i t y. T h e d o c u m e n t a r y juxtaposes both the voice of the community, which views this as tradition; as well as the small voice of questioning dissent considering this as sexual politics. Unfortunately, the most effected from this practice are unconsenting, pre adolescent girls, who neither have the understanding, nor have any say over the norm. The Comintern Brahmin -the“Untold” Story of M.N. Roy Director : Vladimir Leon From Mexico to Russia, from Germany to India the film seeks out a revolutionary adventurer from Bengal-MN Roy. Starting his career as a militant revolutionary in Bengal in the first decade of 20th Century, visiting various countries in search of arms for Indian revolutionaries during First World War, landing in USA evading British intelligence in 1916, Roy studied socialist literature and became a socialist. He escaped to Mexico to evade arrest by American police, joined Mexican Socialist Party, became its Organizing Secretary. After the Russian Revolution Roy was instrumental in converting the Mexican Socialist party into the Communist Party of Mexico and thus became the
founder of the first communist party setup in the world after Russia; went to Moscow on invitation of Lenin to attend the second conference of the Communist International in 1920. His differences with Lenin on the role of colonial capitalist classes in the movements for national liberation is l e g e n d a r y. H e f o u n d e d t h e Communist party of India in 1920 at Tashkent and headed Asian section of the International. He sent vast amounts of communist literature to India, and eventually this was used to convict Roy when he returned to India in 1930. He played important roles in the Communist International, led its delegation to China in 1926 to guide Chinese Communist Party, his differences with Stalin;s policy and escape from Russia to Germany, his opposition to Communist International policies under Stalin era make a fascinating story.
Manjuben Truck Driver Dir.:Sherna Dastur 52 minutes, Hindi/Gujarati with English Subtitles, 2003 Manjuben has created an identity for herself against social, cultural and economic norms, and yet commands respect from her peers. This identity is deliberately `male', that of a macho trucker, drawn from several popular notions of maleness. She dresses like a man, goes to the barber, gets herself photographed posing in the manner of popular media idols, and blends totally into the very masculine world of truckers. Ye t , M a n j u d e f i e s s i m p l e categorization. Though she lives an emancipated life compared to the other women in her society, she seems to share most of its patriarchal values. Thus, in her own house, while she herself eats before the men folk, the other women always eat last.. Manjuben is no crusader. She is a small, though successful entrepreneur, efficient and well acquainted with the tricks of her trade. Underlying all the bravado lies the simple knowledge that if she hadn't had monetary success in her business, she would never have been allowed to live the life she does as a respected member of society. KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival-- pioneers of the biggest gay & lesbian film festival in
Jan-Feb 2013
NGO Connect
Media India and South Asia. It is the only queer film fest to be held at a mainstream venue - one of Mumbai's top multiplexes; and was the first LGBT festival to receive clearance from India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Since its debut in 2010, KASHISH has today become one of the important annual events in Mumbai's cultural calendar. The 4th edition of KASHISH will be held between May 22-26, 2013 at a city multiplex and Alliance Francaise de Bombay. The five day event at two venues - in South Mumbai and the Western Suburbs - attracts LGBT persons from India and abroad, their families and friends, the creme da la creme from the field of art, literature, theatre and Bollywood as well as mainstream audiences. The theme for this year's festival is 'Towards Change’'. The festival relies on companies, organizations and individuals who believe in KASHISH and in supporting LGBT initiatives. Write to partners. kashish@gmail.com
Human Rights Documentary Fest October 17-27, 2013 Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, San Francisco and Stanford University - celebrates the power of international documentary films dealing with human rights, the environment, protection of refugees, famine, homelessness, racism, disease control, women's issues, children, universal education, war and peace. In addition to our ongoing celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, this year we emphasize the theme: Individual to Universal”--"Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible"(Article 29 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) Formats: Beta SP, Blu-ray, DVD (NTSC)Regular Deadline - May 23, 2013, Late deadline - June 3, 2013Entry form and details: www.unaff.org or www.without abox.com
Shifting Prophecy Dir: Merajur Rehman Baruah (30min, 2007) A film on the struggle of rural Muslim women, in particular Daud Sherifa Khanam, to fight the sexist rulings of the conventional jamaat (a group of Islamic male elders who decide on issues of marriage, dowry, divorce etc) and patriarchal social order in Tamil Nadu.
Fragments of a Past Dir: Uma Chakravarti (52min, 2012) The film locates the life and work of a woman political activist in her everyday existence, the relationships she lives out at home and in her work
and the political affiliations she tries to hold together, even as they are subjected to multiple stresses. Through her journey of recovering her grandmother's history for a different generation of women, she cannot often recall the very event that led to her own political transformation, even as it is etched in the memories of so many others who outlived the tragedy of that event, or heard about it then, and over the many decades thereafter
BOOKS
2nd Queer Ink Anthology: Celebratory LGBTI Stories. Queer Ink, India’s only publisher specializing in Indian Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex literature seeks stories for its second anthology. After our first anthology, Out! Stories from the New Queer, we seek stories of people who live in India and identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, hijra, kothi, queer, Genderqueer, Intersex and/or other sexuality and gender non-conforming identities. We hope to tell many stories, real or creatively inspired that celebrate queer lives, loves, lusts, hopes, dreams and utopias. Through these stories, we wish for readers to be inspired by people’s abilities to turn a tragedy into an opportunity and glimpse at lives that celebrate life. We encourage stories that cut across class, region, languages, caste and all the other cultural walls that exist in India. Writers may be of any gender identity, but the story must feature a queer character. Stand-alone excerpts from longer works (novels, memoirs) are welcome. We are seeking a mix of established and emerging writers. Regional language submissions are welcome. We will work with authors to translate selected stories. Writers will retain control of story content, paid 1,000 rupees for their piece, and two copies of the anthology upon publication. Attend our Writers Workshop Contact--Shobhna S. Kumar , email : books@queer-ink.com
Concepts used in Labour Laws By Mr. RKA Subrahmanya The Second National Commission on Labour stated that “ One of the important steps that one needs to take is rationalizing and simplifying the existing labour laws in the area of simple definitions of terms that are in constant use. The commission made certain suggestions in this regard . A few years back the National Labour
Law Association undertook a major research project called “ Simplification Rationalisation and Consolidation of Labour Laws” at the end of which it produced the “India Labour Code, 1994 “ consolidating all the existing laws. The code fills in the gaps in the existing laws by making provision for matters for which there is no provision in the existing laws e.g.” Rights of workers, Employment and training, Housing, Workers Participation in management, Labour Administration , etc It also contains special provisions for labour released from bondage, agricultural workers and other categories of unorganized labor rural as well as urban. In this publication we have tried to compile the definitions of the various terms used in the existing laws and their interpretation by the Courts. Definitions suggested in the India Labour code, where available, are also given . Left To Right : Decline of Communism in India By T.G. Jacob Empower India Press, 2012 Pgs. 278 Price: Rs. 400 With academic rigour and objectivity this book addresses the acute crises and dilemmas of the Indian Left since its origins to the present. The internecine ideological battles and hair-splitting debates that characterized communism in India are put under the scanner with empathy. The divergent streams within it are looked at in terms of the broad characterof their conflicts as well as their commonalities concerning basic theoretical postulates. It is a critique with a difference, both content and method wise. With meticulous care the author aims to counteract some of the tired interpretations being bandied about by the skin-deep Marxist historiographers for the failure of communism to take root in the country.
An India for everyone —A path to Inclusive Development By Amarjeet Sinha Rs. 299, 192 pgs. Harper Collins India is the world’s third largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity. Alongside, however, are some startling statistics. It has, for instance, the largest number of poor people in a single country – an estimated 300 million below the poverty line. Literacy remains at an appalling low, with 273 million illiterates in 2011, making it the country with the largest illiterate population on earth. On the health
front too, India is home to 40 per cent of the world’s undernourished children. One-fourth of the world’s childbirth deaths and one-fifth of its infant deaths take place in India. Amarjeet Sinha, an education expert who has played a major role in designing the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the National Rural Health Mission, offers a companion dream to the economic one. An India that has truly been able to provide a decent sustenance to its billion plus people. He examines key issues of undernutrition, health care, education and social security. Crucial to providing these is reforming the public recruitment system, decentralizing authority and increasing accountability among government servants, which will help bring about better public systems in the country. Going beyond politics and economic reforms, this book addresses the issues and what appears to be the problem but refuses to give the solution for There is No will to change the status quo -- by the politicians or bureaucrats.
NGO Brand Building May 13-15, Mumbai The Centre for Education in Social Sector's (CEdSS) training & consulting wing, Socialbrics presents a workshop to help NGOs brand themselves efficiently and become self-sustainable; Creating self-financing- promotions that become a source of revenue. Meant for: Management of NGOs. Minimum two participants from an NGO. Registration is on first come first serve basis. Workshop Fees: Rs. 6000 (+12.36% Service Tax) per participant for three days Ve n u e : S . P J a i n I n s t i t u t e o f Management & Research, , Andheri (W), Mumbai-Contact : Ms. Mita Wadhwani Email: socialbrics@ spjimr.org, Tel: 022-61454246 http://www.spjimr. org/socialbrics.
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 : Rima Kashyap. C/o ERA, N. M. Wadia Bldg, 123 M G Road, Mumbai 400 001. Tel. 09341867487 E-mail : shaktisrc@yahoo.com, ngoconnectindia@gmail.com Editor : Rima Kashyap.