Vol 8 Issue 2
Regn. no. MAHENG/2004/15104
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Mar-April 2011
“A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history www.ngoconnect.org
A ‘SHAKTI’ PROJECT
– Mahatma Gandhi
India’s First NGO Newstabloid CONNECTiNG The battle has been won- and just begun.”
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hen the talks between the government and the civil society activists on the creation of a Jan lokpal to curb corruption in high places failed, Gandhian Anna Hazare announced his fast unto death if the Jan Lokpal Bill, drafted by members of civil society and judges, was not accepted. From April 5, (when he began the fast), the nation witnessed massive pan-Indian support from every city, in various ways, with Anna Hazare’s fast to get the Jan Lok Pal bill being drafted and implemented. His fast unto death was an event in which we not only witnessed a ‘Tsunami of Sentiments’ but the support by the media created an atmosphere of a ‘second freedom struggle’. The dissatisfaction of the people with the system was overwhelming —a response to the massive corruption scams which have been unearthed during last few years. The Government succumbed to the mass pressure and the media projection. Gandhigiri was adopted- and that too by younger citizens who only know of him through films. Gandhi as the backdrop reminded the leaders that corruption cannot be isolated from other political dynamics. The disgust with elected leaders was shown in the slogan ‘Mera Neta Chor Hai’ (My leader is a thief) and the subsequent notes for votes campaigns confirmed how much black money existed freely. The ambitious hoped that Jantar Mantar would become the Tahrir Square of India Support from spiritual leaders didnt really matter, for middle class angst didn’t need any impetus beyond a time, date and leader. Corruption is the big scourge in the system. We need to look beyond the leaders and parties to realize that Corruption is primarily due to lack of transparency of the system, lack of accountability of the elected representatives and the very nature of our economic system and injustices inbuilt in the social system. That is why Hazare warned, “the battle has just begun.” A draconian Act must be repealed Everyone is also celebrating the suspension of the sentence and the release on bail of Dr. Binayak Sen as ordered by the Supreme Court of India. The release is just the beginning of removing draconian British-time laws of sedition and damns the lack of justice in Chhatisgarh. Many battles yet to be fought The battle against nuclear power in Jaitapur, water privatisation in many cities, the ban on endosulphan,thefight against Gt crops--there are many battles which are being fought and for which people, regardless of their personal agendas must get together and fight. Now they know they DO have a voice. .---Rima Kashyap
SUCCESS!!!!The People win several battles
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Jan Lokpal Bill on its way; Binayak Sen vindicated; No water privatisation in Karnataka
he Supreme Court agreed with Dr. Sen’s counsel, supporters and ‘Free Binayak Sen’ activists all over the world that the charge of sedition against Dr. Sen was ridiculous. As global solidarity network of more than 50 civil society groups, welcomed the Supreme Court’s order as one step towards justice, they demanded that the government of Chhattisgarh release Dr. Sen immediately, without imposing onerous bail conditions. “We anticipate this to only be a first victory and a stepping stone to the day when all the charges against Dr. Sen are dismissed outright and the sentence permanently revoked”. The judgment delivered by the Supreme Court is a welcome step, but one has to be concerned about the dysfunctional state of the lower courts in Chhattisgarh, and the lack of independence of the state-level judiciary. Unfortunately, this pattern of harrassment and ‘punishing by trial’ of innocents appears to have become the official culture of the Chhattisgarh administration. The groups reiterated their overarching demands for which Dr. Sen’s case has become a symbol: To continue to fight for the release of tribal rights activists and political prisoners and the safety of journalists and human rights activists in Chhattisgarh and elsewhere. Falsely accused of offences under draconian laws, these victims of state power include Dr. Sen’s co-accused, Piyush Guha and Narayan Sanyal, and others such as Kopa Kunjam, Sukhnath Oyami, Sodi Sambo, Kartam Joga and Asit Kumar Sengupta, to name only a few among the hundreds held as prisoners by the state of Chhattisgarh alone. The observation by the Supreme Court that mere possession of Naxal literature makes a person neither a Naxalite nor guilty of sedition, and that mere membership of a banned organisation does not make a person criminal unless he or she resorts to violence or incites people to violence, are most profound, and we hope, will provide relief to many of the human rights activists, journalists, adivasis and others lodged in different jails across the country under draconian acts The Chhattisgarh Government has had a dismal record of human rights violations. Therefore, we demand that the police administration in the state of Chhattisgarh be completely revamped. The police personnel responsible for human rights violations must be held responsible. The Salwa Judum and its offshoots must be disbanded as ordered by the Supreme Court. The state must also implement rehabilitation programs for the people who have been victims of vigilante violence. The campaign towards restoring a life of dignity, peace, justice and democracy in Chattisgarh and elsewhere continues. A televised statement by the Law Minister, Veerappa Moily, today,
was too restrictive since it made it mandatory for them to register every five years.“What we needed were rules to facilitate the sector and address the government’s concerns,” said Harsh Jaitli, CEO of Voluntary Network Association of India, an umbrella body for civil society organisations. Defending actions of political nature, Jaitli said, “These are standard tools for expressing unhappiness which are peaceful and constitutional.”
Volunteers fast with Anna Hazare in support of his anti corruption campaign in Bangalore
commenting that the outdated Sedition law needs to be revisited, is a positive note.
UN Women
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he launch of UN Women has been endorsed whole heartedly, particularly the effort of the International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR Net) to urge a complete integration of women’s human rights perspective, especially their economic, social and cultural rights, in the working of UN Women. While women’s groups support the vision and the spirit of ESCR Net and its attempt to propel the focus areas of UN Women to include issues of relevance, the mandate of UN Women should go beyond looking at women as just victims— powerless, vulnerable groups that need to be protected and taken care of. Women should be recognized as active economic agents and engaged citizens with equal rights and not just as passive members of households. UN Women can play a role in this paradigm shift. Woman’s right to livelihood must be recognized as a human right ; Women’s unpaid work both in care economy and productive economy must be recognized and accorded a central place in their economic empowerment; Any discussion on women and resources must not be confined only to issues of access to, and control over, resources but should also include issues of ownership and management of resources. Right to social security is key to women’s economic empowerment.
Foreign Contributions to NGOs in 2008-09 and disbursement
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he number of organisations who filed FC-3 has increased to 20,088. This would mean that the average amount per organisation would be about Rs. 54 lakh rupees. The draft rule 23 introduces a new facility. If you are a grantmaker, and you want to give funds to another NGO who does not have FCRA, then you can apply for permission instead of the NGO (section 7). However, the amount to be transferred should not be more than 10% of the total foreign contribution you have received. Draft
Foreign
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Contribution
(Regulation) Rules, 2011 (available at www.AccountAid. net) Rule 23. Procedure for transferring foreign contribution to other registered or unregistered persons. (1) Any person intending to transfer the foreign contribution may make an application to the Central Government in Form FC-10. (2) The Central Government may permit the transfer in respect of a person who has been granted the certificate of registration or prior permission under section 11 of the Act, in case the recipient person has not been proceeded against under any provision of the Act. (3) Any transfer of foreign contribution shall be reflected in Form FC-6 returns as well as in Form FC10 by the transferor and the recipient. (4) In case the foreign contribution is proposed to be transferred to a person who has not been granted a certificate of registration or prior permission by the Central Government, the person concerned may apply for permission to the Central Government to transfer a part of the foreign contribution, not exceeding ten per cent of the total value of the foreign contribution received. Rule 23 introduces a new twist in the FCRA saga. Every donor agency registered under FCRA must make an application in form FC10, for permission to transfer foreign contribution to another NGO --even if the grantee NGO is already registered under FCRA! The purpose of this Kafkaesque innovation is not clear from the Rules. It is apparently not authorised by the main Act either.( Written reply by Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri Mullappally Ramachandran in Rajya Sabha, 9th March 2010). http://pib.nic. in Government tightens foreign fund flow for NGOs Sweeping changes in the rules to enforce the law governing foreign contributions can make it easier for the government to put advocacy groups on a tight leash. The rules drafted by the ministry cover NGOs that comment on “political activities” and “habitually” employ common methods of political action. Last year, Parliament enacted the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act which, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) complained,
This definition gives local officials — inconvenienced by campaigns for accountability — a tool to hit back with, said Rajesh Tandon, head, Society for Participatory Research in Asia, that works in backward areas, including the Maoist-hit Chhattisgarh. Ratna Viswanathan, director (operations) at Oxfam-India, added that an organisation receiving foreign funds and wanting to disburse them further, would need to seek permission each time. “It is going to be very difficult.”(:http:// www.hindustantimes.com)
Karnataka govt. says ‘No’ to water privatisation Bangalore: A meeting with the Karnataka Urban Development Minister Mr. Suresh Kumar was organised on Feb.23 at the behest of Mr. Kodihalli Chandrashekar of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, representatives of various movements, networks and voluntary organisations opposed to water privatisation . A major reason for this meeting was the call made last week by the Peoples Campaign for Right to Water opposing the visit of 16 American corporations to Bangalore as part of the US Water Trade Mission – organised by the US Consul General in collaboration with the US Department of Commerce Mr. Suresh Kumar said that hewas “absolutely opposed to privatisation of water” and he had no information about the US Trade Mission!!! Mr. Rajendra Prabhakar of the Peoples Campaign for Right to Water explained that while the US Trade Mission was based on exploiting water market in India, the Karnataka Urban Drinking Water and Sanitation Policy, 2003 supported this commodification and privatisation of water. And the Government had already privatised, partially, water services in Mysore, Hubli-Dharwar and other urban centres based on nontransparent and coercive tactics of Asian Development Bank, TATA JUSCO, Contact : Peoples Campaign for Right to Water , Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (Karnataka State Farmers Association) Peoples Campaign for Right to W a t e r 9 4 4 9 8 2 0 5 6 6 cawpka@gmail.com;Leo Saldanha, Environment Support Group91-8026713559-61leo@esgindia.org www.esgindia.org
NGO Connect
Mar-April 2011
NGO News Child Rights Protection and government and non-government organizations from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Goa. The web portal aims to:Trace missing persons by using i SMS alerts, e-mails; Data bank of individuals and organizations working to combat trafficking of women and children in India including State-wise details of Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs); Schemes & provisions of central & state governments and NGOs.
“Amcha Gaon, Amchi Shaan!” Mumbai: Population First’s Village Development Campaign “Amcha Gaon, Amchi Shaan” concluded with the award ceremony on Feb. 15th, 2011 at Shahapur, Thane. The campaign was being implemented for the third time under the programme AMCHI (Action for Mobilizing Community Health Initiatives). The campaign is in the form of an inter-village contest under various categories like sanitation, health, water, education, etc. In the present edition of the campaign 27 villages had opted to participate under one or more categories. The efforts put in by the villages were evaluated by a jury comprising NGO professionals, development sector consultants and CSR managers, who visited the villages accompanied by the PF team in January and February, 2011. The winner villages under the campaign were: Clean & Beautiful Village- Manekhind and Nandval Open-defecation Free Village -Kharivali Healthy Children Award -Kundyachapada (Piwali) Safe Motherhood Award --Nandval and Mohili Safe Drinking Water Award -Tembhurli and Manekhind Best Youth Group Award-Vachkole Best Women’s Group Award -Vihigaon and Vitthalgaon Ideal School Award --Tembhurli and Bhavsa Ideal Committee Award -Kanva Strengthening of Sub-centre -Taharpur Vermi-compost Project Award -Nevra Clean & Beautiful Wadi-Chinchechapada (Tansa) Ideal Village Award --Dehna Explaining the rationale behind organising the competition, Dr. A. L. Sharada, Programme Director, PF said, “It is a means to motivate the villagers to work for their wellbeing and bring the spotlight on pertinent issues that need to be addressed collectively, motivate various groups like SHG, health committee, anganwadis etc. to perform better and recognize the efforts put in as well as strategies adopted by the villages in various areas of development.”
District Child Protection Societies Haryana:”Many cases about ineffective implementation of Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), in different parts of the state, have come to light. Therefore we have decided to constitute District Child Protection Societies (DCPS) in each district of the state for monitoring ICPS schemes,” Haryana Women and Child Development Minister Geeta Bhukkal said.
“DCPS would coordinate and implement all child rights and protection activities at district level. These societies would function on the pattern of Haryana state child protection society, which is a registered body.” she said.The concerned programme officers working under ICDS (integrated child development scheme) would be designated as district child protection officer. ICPS is aimed at contributing to the improvement in the well being of children as well as to the reduction of vulnerabilities to situations and actions that lead to abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment and separation of children from parents.
Renewing Campaign against sexpreselection
Mumbai: Men Against Violence and Abuse (MAVA) and YWCA of Bombay organised a workshop on April 8 in Mumbai to commemorate 25 years of the campaign against sex determination and sex preselection. In the light of the recent 2011 Census report which showed appallingly skewed sex ratios in most states of India despite stringent legislation and the Preconception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 (PC & PNDT Act), the workshop worked out a plan of action to carry forward this campaign. The workshop also retraced the journey of Forum Against Sex Determination & Sex Pre Selection (FASDSP), and shared experiences of activists, feminist scholars and media persons and lawyers. An outcome of the workshop was the forming of an E-group to disseminate, share and exchange information, thoughts and perspectives on sex selection: : stopsexselection@yahoogroups.co.in Contact: Harish Sadani, MAVA, email: harsh267@rediffmail.com
Website to combat trafficking To combat human trafficking and for better service delivery in India, Arz ( Anyay Rahit Zindagi) in collaboration with the Women and Child Development, Government of Goa launched a web portal www.stoptrafficking.in in Goa on March 5 . The web portal was inaugurated by Mr. V.P. Rao, Secretary, W&CD, Goa in the presence of Deputy High Commissioner, British High Commission, Mumbai, Chairperson State Commission for
The web portal is primarily a network of stakeholders – government organizations, non-government organizations, academia, civil society, victims and the media to smoothen the service delivery . Speaking at the launch, Women and Child Secretary Mr. V P Rao said, “This web portal could hopefully reduce the instances of failed cases in the courts.” According to Rao, several cases have resulted in acquittal as the victim, once repatriated, couldn’t be traced and hence couldn’t testify in court. “A victim of abuse has to be rehabilitated as early as possible, but cases keep dragging on for years. With this technology, we hope we can trace the rehabilitated victims in time. This will ensure that they depose in court, so that their abusers and perpetrators are punished,” Rao added. Apart from integrating government agencies, NGOs and the criminal justice system, “We hope that the portal will assist in the increase in the number of rescues, successful rehabilitation of the victims and increase the prosecution of the traffickers,” said Pandey. The success of the portal rests completely on the service providers, both government and nongovernment. They need to share the information about their services and contact detail by writing to info@stoptrafficking.in to enable the victims and the organizations to contact for services.
Micro Finance Borrowers Registry Bangalore:MFBR is a credit information bureau established in response to the Malegam Committee Report to RBI, wherein the committee had recommended, “An essential element in the prevention of multiplelending and over-borrowing is the availability of information to the MFI of the existing outstanding loan of a potential borrower”. This is not possible unless a Credit Information Bureau is established expeditiously. Considering the volatile situation prevailing in the sector, the MFBR web based registry has been introduced to act as a digital platform wherein all stake holders of the micro finance sector help achieve the objective of making the poor bankable and creating credit access for those who are in need. Those who want to participate in this national level registry, can register their organisation online. There is a marginal cost which starts from Rs.1,000/- per annum for small MFIs. An organisation can register online and start use the web portal . Meantime the payment should be done and a hard copy of the signed agreement has to be sent to the registry.http://www.mfbrindi a.net/ regi. aspx The registry is presently managed by IPFM Consultancy Services P Ltd, an NGO resource centre formally known as Accounts Training Institute. IPFM has consultative status with UNDP,state governments and various INGOs and NGOs.
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MFIs can have their MIS needs addressed through this portal as it helps to capture all credit information of borrowers. MFBR branch at Ambattur, Chennai will support Tamilnadu clients. All others will be supported by the Bangalore Office at Madiwala. A one day orientation program for registered users, was held in Coimbatore on April 9 for this purpose. Contact: G.Shunmuganathan, Director, MBFR-IPFM Mob : 098861 96635
who want to mend their ways and join the mainstream. The founder and chairperson, Santosh Vas mentioned that they counsel women and help them get bail or come out on parole, counsel families and look after the families, arrange scholarships for the children when needed. After their release, they try to mainstream the ex-prisoner and find him jobs.
Roadmap for CAPART
Chennai: Light It Up Blue is an initiative of Autism Speaks, which had 16 countries around the world turning their structures bright blue on April 1 and 2 to raise awareness about autism. (The Empire State Building, CN Tower, Kingdom Tower and the Niagara Falls lit up blue last year). Over 200 iconic landmarks, airports, bridges, sports arenas, museums, concert halls and restaurants are part of this initiative. More on www.lightitupblue.org.
Delhi. Addressing the 55th Executive committee meeting of CAPART on March 29, Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh emphasized that Capart’s focus should be on reaching out to the people in rural areas with models which are locally appropriate, ensure people’s participation and partnership with NGOs for effective implementation of Government’s programs. Mr. Deshmukh said that the need of the hour is to strengthen the Regional committees of CAPART so that region specific and local issues can be addressed in a sustainable and environment friendly manner. DG, CAPART Shri Mohammad Haleem Khan emphasized the need to enhance the number of Technology Resource Centres and the financial support to make them sustainable in the long run. The delegates emphasized the need to make CAPART a pro active organization by bringing in more autonomy and strengthening its resource base so that it can play an effective role by engaging the voluntary sector. Along with the Senior Officials from CAPART and the M/o Rural Development, Dr. Ravi Chopra, People’s Science Institute Dehra Doon, Shri Prathamesh Ambashta, Co-Founder, Samaj Pragati Sahyog Bagli, Madhya Pradesh; Shri Ved Arya, SelfReliant Initiatives through Joint Action (SRIJAN), New Delhi; Dr. Vibha Gupta, Magan Sangrahalaya,Wardha Prof. Ashvini Kumar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences , Mumbai attended the deliberations.
Cricketers come forward Bangalore: Most of the Indian cricket team gave some of their belongings to be auctioned for the Mathru Foundation which aims at rehabilitating the paraplegic. The event called “Aasare”was organized by Entertainment 9. Among those who came to meet the paraplegic were Dhoni, Sehwag, Raina, Gambhir, Chawla, Patel, Sreesanth, Praveen Kumar, Anil Kumble and Kohli. Founded by the paraplegic Malathi Holla, the foundation will usethe funds to construct a bigger place for the paraplegics. Lending Malathi Holla a helping hand were Ashwini Nachappa, cricketer Venkatesh Prasad and lawyer Anantha Bhat. The auction raised Rs. nine lakhs.
Prisons are like clubs Bangalore: The findings of a survey in a prison, conducted by Janodaya, an NGO that works for upliftment of prisoners has shocked prison officials into action. During the preparation of the report on the irregularities inside the prison, (including the use of mobile phones etc). the findings of the report noted that “the prison is like a club with gambling, drugs, etc”. Janodaya started interacting with prisoners in 1994 helping prisoners
Autism Lights it up
India joined this global community this year when Chennai -based We CAN, an NGO and resource centre working with autism, in association with Rotary Club of Madras Downtown, partnered city corporates, retail and media to Light It Up Blue. Some of the partners who went ‘Blue’ for the cause of autism : Ripon Building, Apollo Speciality, TAFE Showroom, Chamiers Anokhi, Ente Keralam, Zara, Kokum, Benjarong, Sathyam Cinemas , Gatsby Village, Neelangarai, Park Sheraton, Boat Club,Cosmo Club, Express Avenue, Residency Towers, Savera Hotel, Acropolis, Mylapore, Citi Centre Mall, Express Avenue Mall, Sangeetha group of restaurants ,The Presidency Club, Madras Boat Club Several clubs and hotels screened a small clipping on Autism in the middle of the screening of the World Cup match. Contact: jairam.sampath@gmail.com>
Designer Textiles for a cause Bangalore: Concern India presented “Pause for a Cause— Weaves and Silhouettes”- an exhibition-cum-sale of traditional and contemporary textiles, clothing, jewellery and accessories for a week, ending March 3 at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat. Thirty designers exhibited their work including Ms.Nangia’s handblock prints, Neelam Dadda’s phulkari and Rummis’ appliqué phool patti. The funds raised from the exhibition will be used for education, health and community development.
Walk for Glaucoma Dignity Foundation – Bengaluru Chapter along with Sankara Eye Hospital walked to fight against Glaucoma on World Glaucoma Awareness Week on March 13. .Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage,permanently impacting vision in the affected eye(s) and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. This is one of the eye disorders commonly found in senior citizens.The walk began at Jayanagar, Kitturrani Stadium, Contact Neetha on 9902244335 or write to dignity.neetha@ gmail.com
Women’s Day Bangalore: One of its priorities is “Violence against women” and the YWCA of Bangalore City organized an informal discussion on Euthanasia on March 2011 keeping in mind the latest case of Aruna Shanbaug on:• The reason for filling this case in the Supreme
NGO Connect
Mar-April 2011
NGO News Court by an independent journalist,• Mercy killing as viewed by the Medical profession • What are the religious implications of mercy killing? • Young person’s perspective • The judgment delivered by the Supreme Court and its implications.
sales and Sr.VP - marketing, Eureka Forbes.
Eleven differently-abled women were felicitated on Womens day for their contributions in various fields, in an event organized by the Foundation for Art and Culture for the Deaf. Among those who were felicitated were: Dr. Rajalashmi, 25 who won a case to implement the physically handicapped quota in universities across India in 2010. Over 2 lakh students benefitted from this quota. Twenty-two year old Kalpashri lost her speech but works as a marketing executive with an online company that sells art; Deepa – a graphic designer, Nupur Jain who is visually challenged, works as a senior executive with Wipro.
The centre is designed keeping in mind the needs of the physically challenged. The call centre will employ people recommended by NASEOH for at least 10 years. “If we find handicapped people with good communication skills, we send them to Eureka Forbes for an interview,” said Sudha Balchandra, director general, NASEOH. ( http:// www.hindusta ntimes.com
Mumbai: Women Networking celebrated, on March 5, with a programme which included a monologue, Mein Aurat Hoon by activist and theatre personality Babli Rawat, a poetry reading session and Jagruti Geet by members of Women Networking and screening of Jor Se Bol, a documentary film against sexual harassment produced by Akshara: Ms Babli Rawat, General Secretary of Maharashtra Domestic Workers Union was the chief guest and enlightened the participants on the problems of the domestic workers and the need for unionisation in order to work towards changing their working lives. There were over 100 participants from 15 community organisations which are members of Women Networking. Contact Jaya Menon: jaya11200@yahoo.co.in
The facility in Chembur will initially house around 70 people, all between 20 to 30 years, to handle calls for customer complaints and sale inquiries.
Hotels too hire differently abled Mumbai: Leading hotels in the city,including ITC Maratha,started hiring people with disability as an experiment, but are now l ooking for more such dedicated and productive candidates Budhiram Murmu,27,a polioaffected person from being an office boy now handles guests in the front office. He was among the first five people ITC Maratha recruited from,Fellowship of Physically Handicapped (FPH). Twenty-nine differently abled people were working full-time at the ITC Maratha now.They are in
culmination of a sequence of events that began with a 2002 study carried out by the National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, suggesting that misuse of endosulfan through aerial spraying over the cashew estates of Kasargod may have caused a range of genetic, reproductive and developmental disorders. A followup study in 2003 by the Kerala government also pointed the finger at endosulfan. Kerala banned the pesticidein 2003. Karnataka has now imposed a 60-day ban after similar health effects were reported in the district of Dakshina Kannada. Environmental groups are welcoming the ban, but asking why there isn’t a nationwide one. India is the world’s largest consumer of endosulfan. Much of it is used by farmers with small and marginal holdings, because endosulfan is cheap—it can be sprayed on all major crops without harming insects such as bees, which help in pollination. The EU is pushing for a ban, but India isresisting. In a February Parliament session, though, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar argued that farmers in several states had been using endosulfan with good results and that the four expert committees set up since 1991
‘Maher’ Sports Camp Pune: Chandu Borde, renowned cricketer of yesteryears & Shri Narayan Galande were the guests of honour at the annual Maher Summer Sports Camp. Among the competetions for the children were Dancing, Cricket match, fancy dress and singing, quizzes and many games, races, long jump, drawing competition, and a film show. Jharkhand: Two years back, Maher decided to take its work to Jharkhand. Maher began a home for homeless women and children at present housing 30 children and 5 women. The Maher project now plans to expand as soon as funds are available so that they can build a home that can accommodate 200s-300 children and women.Contact: Maher” maherpune@gmail.com
CSR Eureka Forbes in association with the National Society for Equal Opportunities for the Handicapped (NASEOH) formally inaugurated EuroAble, a call centre that will be manned and operated by the physically challenged. In 2008, Eureka Forbes set up a spare part rectification centre employing two physically challenged persons in the NASEOH premises. “We wanted to take this association to the next level and therefore decided to set up this call centre,” said Marzin Shroff, CEO - direct
World Water Day Millions of people walk six kms. every day just to collect water for their basic needs. Billions have no safe place to go to the toilet. Lack of water and sanitation traps people in a vicious circle of disease, lost life chances and poverty. To raise awareness and urge political action to solve the water crisis on World Water Day 2011 thousands of people across the globe walked together for 6 kms to demand an end to this crisis. In Bangalore the Walk started at 7.30 am, from CDD Society Office in Banaswadi to BBMP, Mahadevapura. visit www.worldwalksforwater.org. may contact CDD Society at 08025452804/ 05 New Delhi: An interactive science exhibition delving into the Fresh Water Crisis was held on World Water Day at the National Science Centre, Delhi. The exhibition ‘Water - a Precious Resource’ was inaugurated by Kumari Selja, Minister for Culture and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation The exhibition attempts to raise consciousness about the world wide crisis of water, and to demonstrate that even low-tech water conservation methods and some conscious readjustments in our daily water usage patterns could be viable alternatives that may potentially stop us from running our taps dry.
Marketing tie-ups Bangalore: Futures group and Metro malls have offered to provide a market for the products manufactured by Mahila Bachat Gut, Santhstha, Mandal. To learn more about this Tel. 91-9820317150
passed an order seeking to revoke the appointment of the chief officer. The new order allows the governing council to appoint its own chief officer.The council has now done so.
Babli Rawat at the Women Networking Programme to celebrate Women’s Day
departments,ranging from back office to laundry. Another 22 are working at ITC Grand Central,Parel. Shakir (24),a recent recruit,works in the kitchen with a veteran called Alpana.Both are hearing and speech impaired. The Hilton Mumbai is also supporting the differently abled..But its not just compassion,or CSR, thats driving this experiment.They are cheerful,attentive and very dedicated.Arzan Patel,hearing impaired, was recently nominated for best employee. The hotels work closely with several institutes including DEEDS,The Hellen Keller Institute of Deaf and Deaf blind and Dr Shirodkar Special School, besides FPH,to find suitable candidates. An executive with Swedish-owned Svenska, said that three disabled people were working with the hotel. Other hotels collaborate with FPH in different ways e.g.for Taj Lands End they make chef caps,aprons and candles.
Ban Endosulfan nationally Bangalore: Mohammed Asheel, assistant nodal officer of the Kerala government’s endosulfan rehabilitation programme, recalls “I found it difficult to believe that 158 different diseases were caused by one chemical like endosulfan..But when I further studied the pesticide, I realized the mechanisms causing diseases were well documented.” Asheel played a role in the
had all recommended its continued use. He said the problems in Kerala were due to improper usage. C o n t a c t : priyanka.p1@livemint.com, www.livemint.com/
Hope for remand homes Mumbai: After a decade of neglect and mismanagement, there’s hope for Mumbai’s seven shelters for children in conflict with the law. The governing council of the Childrens’ Aid Society (CAS), which runs the remand homes, has got a shot in the arm following a new order passed by the state government. The society, which had been rendered toothless by political interference, will spruce up remand homes and improve the quality of the children’s lives. Among other things,it will provide the young offenders with new underclothes (many children complained they didn’t have any) and radios so that they can hear cricket commentaries. Gymnasiums will also be revived. Over 2,500 children,including destitute,runaways and those involved in crime,are lodged in seven remand homes at Dongri, Matunga and Mankhurd. From 1998 to 2005,the CAS did not even have a governing council and the chief officer was a political nominee who occupied the post for the last five years. After repeated petitions from the governing council,Vandana Krishna,secretary, department of women and child development,
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The Exhibition will stay in Delhi for two months and then, during the next two years, it is scheduled to travel across India through the circuit of 25 science centres developed and managed by the National Council of Science Museums, The Ministry of Water Resources celebrated World Water Day- 2011 with 3rd Ground Water Congress inaugurated by Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of Water Resources and Minority Affairs. The theme for World Water Day2011 is ‘Water for cities: responding to the urban challenge’ Shri Salman Khurshid called upon the delegates to deliberate on the emergent issues, in view of the rising urban population, scarcity and deterioration of urban water resources and climate change and come out with recommendations on appropriate strategies / action plans on sustainable management of ground water resources especially in urban context with new technologies and involvement of public participation in awareness and capacity building programs. Awards were presented to organizations and individuals for their outstanding work in conservation and augmentation of ground water. Jagabalia Watershed Association, an NGO from Orissa, bagged the coveted National Water Award. Ground Water augmentation awards were presented to four NGO’s: one in each zone. Sarvodaya Seva Sangh, Outreach Association of Volunteers for Rural Development, S M Sahgal Foundation, and Rural Resource and Training Center. Ambuja Cements Ltd., Gujarat received the award for the Corporate Sector. The individual / institution winners were Shri Shyamji Bhai Jadhav
Bhai Antala, Rajkot; Shri Uma Kant Umarao, Bhopal; and Loyala High School, Goa.
Space for meetings available Mumbai: A 1bhk house in Andheri (w) just five minutes walking distance from station is available for NGOs to meet from 6 pm till 9 pm. (snacks on prior intimation).Contact:Rahul rahultejwani1986@ gmail.com 09920098042 An airconditioned office, 3 minutes walk from Vile Parle (W) Rly. Station can be used by NGOs for free during 7-30 pm. to 9-30pm. on week days or between 2-00pm. to 5-00 pm on Saturdays.(Attendant’s overtime of Rs.100 per meeting) .Contact: Bhagvanji Raiyani, E-mail: fastjustice@ gmail.com, Tels: 26148872 / 22972942, Forum For Fast Justice.09820403912 Room for 7-10 people is available free , seven mnts walk from Borivali railway station west on Sundays from 2-6pm. Larger gatherings can be held in the garden opposite(entrance fee is Rs. 2 per head). Contact Sridhar, Chairman, Revathi foundation, 9833277355
Pharma Policy A Seminar on Pharma policy and access to essential medicines was held at CHAI Auditorium, Secunderabad, on March 29, organised by The Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI) and the Community Development Medicinal Unit (CDMU), in collaboration with the Indian Pharmaceutical AssociationAndhra Pradesh (IAP-AP). Welcoming the guests, Rev. Dr Sebastian Ousepparampil, DirectorGeneral (CHAI), pointed out that essential medicines are still a mirage for up to 80 per cent of the country’s population.”The seminar is an attempt to see how we can together mitigate the problem,” he said. Inaugurating the meet, Reverend Monsignor Swarna Bernard, Administrator, Archbishop’s House, Hyderabad, highlighted how ignorance and indiscriminate use of resources were stumbling blocks in health care delivery. The Co-founders of CDMU, Father John L. Norona and Mr. D.P. Poddar, explained how the organization started in 1985 with the primary role of procuring generic medicine from drug companies and providing them to partner health care NGOs at costs lower than the market price. CHAI works in four areas – managing communicable diseases like HIV – AIDS, TB Leprosy and Malaria; Community Health where villagers in 11 states were empowered with basic health care knowledge; intervention programmes like advocacy in 15 states, lobbying for improvements in Government Health Policy and Disaster Management. Contact CHAI Secunderabad. Tel:– 040 – 27848457, 27848293 Website: www.chai-india.org E-mail: info@chai-india.org
OBIT Jitendra Desai, managing trustee of Navjivan Trust - an institute with publishing rights of Mahatma Gandhi’s writings, passed away at the age of 73. Desai was one of the foremost publishing expert in the state. As managing trustee of Navjivan Trust, he has been credited for spreading books and literature on, and by, Mahatma Gandhi across the globe.
NGO Connect
Mar-April 2011
NGO News Born in 1939 in Navsari, Jitendra Desai was son of social and political leader Thakorbhai Desai. However he chose to carve a different niche for his career after graduating from Gujarat Vidyapeeth and joined Navjivan Prakashan Mandir in 1959. In his 52 years, Desai made several benchmarks in circulating and spreading Gandhian literature.Due to his efforts autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi and other books written by Mahatma Gandhi got translated in several Indian and international languages. An expert translator, Desai also translated Tolstoy’s stories into Gujarati and wrote about 30 books. He also started courses on Journalism and publication during his tenure as a vice-chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapeeth. He served in several institutions functioning on Gandhian ideology.Desai is survived by his son Vivek Desai, and daughter Vibha.
Implement PCPNDT Mumbai: Jan Swasthya Abhiyan iexpressed shock at the Public Health Minister Suresh Shetty‘s decision to regulate the sale of abortion pills and to keep close tabs on pregnancies and abortions in Maharashtra.Right to abortion (under conditions) is guaranteed by the MTP Act which needs to be protected. In order to stop sex selective abortions under the PCPNDT Act the government cannot impede women’s right to access safe abortion. Implementation of the PCPNDT ACT and countering the gender inequality that drives ‘son’ preference is the only sustainable way to reduce sex selection. A woman should have the ability to exercise her right to control her body .Placement of restrictions on abortion pills will not reduce sex selective abortions . Their demands: In order to stop sex selection, PCPNDT Act and its implementation has to strengthened .The state Government should focus on the misuse of diagnostic technology rather than ‘access to safe abortion ; Family planning programmes need to concentrate on male contraceptives and should address the contraceptive needs of newly married/unmarried adolescent women. Contact: Jan Swasthya Abhiyan , Mumbai, Adv Kamayani Bali Mahabal, Mobile00919820749204 skype: lawyercumactivist
They read the board and realise that it is not something to feel ashamed about and are more open about it,” said G Vasanthi, a corporation school teacher. “A couple of years ago, if a parent came to know that a girl child was suffering from abuse, they would stop her education. Now they come forward for help,” she said.
A library a day
Prof. Prabha Desai of Sanmitra Trust addressing anti corruption rally
Pune; The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announcement to stop funding HIV projects in India will end the annual flow of over Rs 1 crore to NGOs in Pune. Although it seems abrupt, the NGOs had seen it coming and some had already stopped taking funds from the Foundation. National AIDS Control Organisation(NACO) would now be hardpressed to fund programmes. “NACO would have to chip in with funds for further projects, which might be less than what a foreign agency can give,” said Tejaswini Sevekari of Saheli, an NGO working for sex workers in Budhwar Peth. Samapathik Trust that works with men having sex with men (MSM) community in Pune and PimpriChinchwad had been receiving Rs 25 lakh p.a. for its projects in Pune for the past three years. Bindumadhav Khire, president of the Trust, said,” NGOs with a good performance record would be funded by MSACS.” Seema Waghmode, director, Kayakalp, working for female sex workers in Budhwar Peth, said they had been getting Rs 12 lakh every year.“We have stopped taking funding from them,” said Meena Kurlekar of Vanchit Vikas. NGOs have been receiving around Rs 1.2 crore a year, percolating to over 3,500 sex workers and others.
Chennai: Measures taken by Chennai Corporation schools to tackle child sex abuse have proven to be effective with more children coming forward and telling teachers about incidents of abuse faced by them by prominently displaying boards which tell children about safe and unsafe touches.
At the age of 70, this ‘Pune ka mama’ has lit up 67 households of a poor tribal community in the remote Hangrum village in Haflong taluka of Assam. Having to make do with kerosene lamps, year after year, the villagers were filled with joy when the retired Bajaj manager, Arun Ganesh Saraswate, undertook his solar electrification project.
their voices against corruption. Adv. Jaya Menon, Dr. Ashish Bhosale, Prof. Prabha Desai, Sangeeta of YWCA, Sharda of Aakar Mumbai and Vera of Malad Citizens Committee and other activists spoke on the movement and the Jan Lokpal Bill. Contact: sanmitra_trust@yahoo.com , jaya11200@yahoo.co.in
Karnataka HC Action to Protect Lakes The Principal Bench of the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka constituted by Chief Justice Mr. J. S. Khehar and Justice Mr. A. S. Bopanna passed directions to initiate the implementation the Report submitted by the High Court Legal Services Committee on Feb.26 for “Preservation of Lakes in the city of Bangalore. On March 3 the High Court had accepted the report that been prepared by a committee headed by Hon’ble Shri Justice N. K. Patil The entire exercise was undertaken on the basis of directions issued by the High Court in a Public Interest Litigation filed by Environment Support Group that raised serious concerns over the woeful lack of effort to protect and manage lakes in Bangalore and against commercialisation of the lakes. The judges held the following issues deserve to be taken up on a war footing: *. Survey of lakes/tanks so as to demarcate boundaries followed by erection of fences.*. Identification of unauthorised construction within the area of lakes/tanks and removal thereof in accordance with law.* Removal of silt as also weeds for the rejuvenation of some of the lakes and laying of bund wherever needed so as to enclosed lakes wherever necessary, *Stoppage of flowing of sewage into lakes and tanks.
Frequent power-cuts disturbed him.One day he purchased two solar lamps from Pune and donated them to two tribal girls pursuing their matriculation.
Expressing the Court’s anguish over the deteriorating condition of lakes, he shared that the time is now to stop any further destruction and deterioration of our water bodies and for this all encroachments will be dealt with strictly. He also opined that the process initiated to protect lakes of Bangalore could soon be made applicable across other districts.
Impressed by the lamps the villagers requested Saraswate to provide them with the lamps too. Saraswate urged the Hangrum community to raise part of the funds for the project through a community initiative and promised to raise the rest through donations from Pune.
Despite brutally honest expositions of the state of affairs since 1988, the Government failed to launch effective measures to protect lakes in Bangalore. The current unprecedented initiative of the Karnataka High Court based on ESG’s PIL has become a major
He said, “I have been visiting Assam since 2003 after retirement, teaching various subjects to the tribal students studying in hostels run by Vanwasi Kalyan Ashram.”
by dialing an easy-to-remember phone number. It offers a medical call center on-demand, designed and priced to give people exactly what they want – a family doctor on-call. MeraDoctor is staffed by MBBS doctors who speak Hindi, Marathi andEnglish. MeraDoctor services are currently available through subscription only. A Rs. 250 subscription that allows six (6) members of a family to call us anytime, for an unlimited number of times during a period of three(3) months. (This averages to about Rs. 13/member/month for access to instant professionalhealth education and advice) MeraDoctor services are available everyday between the hours of 8 am and10pm by dialing 022 6133 6133 (regular Mumbai landline charges). Starting April 1, the services will be on a 24/7 basis.
NGOs aware of Gates non-funding
Pune man lights up Assam village
Corporation schools said the boards have helped children come out and talk about their problems.”After they were put up, we have had a lot of children who work as domestic helps in homes, telling us about incidents of abuse and also eve teasing and general harassment.
Sanmitra Trust, Women Networking, YWCA, Aakar Mumbai and Malad Citizen’s Committee organised a rally against corruption at Malwani in Mumbai on April 10 to remind the public that the campaign needs to continue and it is the responsibility of citizens to be vigilant and raise
causative factor to ensure effective steps are taken to protect lakes and other wetlands in the Bangalore area. By forcing Government to act effectively in response to its orders, the Court has begun a critical process of securing the social, economic and ecological security of present and future communities in the Bangalore region. (A complete copy of the report s can be downloaded from www.esgindia.org.)
Mumbai: Every working day Rural relations, is opening one Gyan-Key library with the help of Non-Resident Villagers (NRV). Till date 400 GyanKey libraries in 400 rural secondary schools across Maharashtra benefiting1,03,000 rural students.For more details, please visit www.ruralrelations. Com.Contact: Pradeep Lokhande, rural relation . Mob – 09823014150, website - www.ruralrelations. com rural@ruralrelations.com
Anti Child sex abuse boards effective
The boards, which have been put in a prominent place in all the corporation-run schools, are an initiative of Tulir, an organisation working for prevention and healing of child sexual abuse, and the Chennai Corporation. They have been jointly funded by UNICEF and Tulir. “The boards have very simple messages for the children about what to do in case they face abuse and are not explicit in nature.’
India against Corruption
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Rural School needs cycles Bangalore: Sri Guru Raghavendra Vidyaniketana, run by Sri Guru Raghavendra Charitable Trust, located in a hamlet called Lakkasandra — 16 kms from Doddaballapur is surrounded by 40+ villages in a radius of 12 kms. which lack basic facilities like public transport, roads, Schools etc. The School began ten years ago to give free quality education for farmer and daily wage class children in these villages. But some children had to walk a few kilometers to get to the school.So school decided to give free transport through two School buses. The School has 300+ students in the current academic year with a lot of demand from other villagers but can no longer afford the free transport. Instead, they have decided to issue about 100 bicycles to higher class students, both boys& girls, situated within 10km. radius, free of cost. When they complete SSLC, they return the bicycles to school. Contact for cycle donation: Sreedhar KR (IT Professional serving as a volunteer), Sri Guru Raghavendra Charitable Trust, Bangalore.Email:villageconnect5@ gmail.com
Mera Doctor offer Mumbai: mHealth Ventures India (MVI) is social enterprise that runs MeraDoctor - a phone health service designed to serve the needs of those who lack access to quality primary care services, health education, and counselling and is currently offered in Marathi, Hindi and English. For a limited period - MeraDoctor is offering its services to selected NGOs in Mumbai at no cost. For the low-income idividual, this taking generic painkillers, visiting a pharmacist, unlicensed practitioner or traditional healer, or doing nothing at all – leads to inadequate care. Visiting the nearest hospital outpatient ward can be economically non-viable. The poorest spend up to an eighth of their income on healthcare. MVI currently runs a “call a doctor” service (MeraDoctor) for 40 million households in Maharashtra and Hindi-belt regions who have mobile phones but lack easily accessed, quality medical advice. The core proposition of Mera Doctor is the ability to speak to a friendly licensed doctor immediately, anytime, simply
However, for a limited period we would liketo donate free ‘call a doctor’ vouchers to eligible NGOs to distributeto their beneficiaries. Current NGO/Community Organization partners include Sneha,Operation Asha, The Humsafar Trust, Samhita Community Development Services and others. If you are an NGO/community organisation that has a significant outreach effort that reaches low income families in urban and rural areas and has the capacity to distribute 1000 vouchers and communicate how to use the service to clients/beneficiaries (vouchers will be given to the NGO free of cost, so NGO must not charge its clients to avail of MeraDoctor services) write to info@mhealthventures.inwith the subject line -’NGO Subscription’ Alternately - call 992 0061876 Dr. Ajay Nair, Managing Director, mHealth Ventures India Mumbaiwww.mhealthventures .in
Exhibition of Rural Innovations New Delhi: The President of India, Smt. Pratibha Patil inaugurated the Exhibition of Innovations ’Udyanotsav’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan This exhibition which is being held for the second year at Rashtrapati Bhavan, features 45 stalls showcasing 32 innovations by rural persons. This year’s focus is the North-East, with Manipur having 6 stalls. The exhibition is part of the National Innovation Foundation, Ahmedabad under the Govt. of India’s, Department of Science and Technology, to search for innovators in the country’s rural areas. The exhibition features such innovations as:- the Hand Operated Water Lifting Device, Bullock Operated Sprayer, Compost Aerator and Leaf Pruner, Manual Milking Machine, Bamboo Lathe Machine, Solar Mosquito Destroyer, Automatic Food Making Machine and different varieties of agricultural produce.
Nirmal Gram Puraskar
Orissa: The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Rural Development awarded Rs.2,43,95000 as cash awards to 81 Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Orissa for exemplary performance under the Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP) program for the financial year 201011. The funds would be disbursed through State Water and Sanitation Mission,Orissa. Nirmal Gram Puraskar is a comprehensive incentive based
NGO Connect
Mar-April 2011
NGO News program to recognize the efforts in terms of cash awards for fully covered PRIs and those individuals and institutions who have contributed significantly in ensuring full sanitation coverage in their area of operation. The project is being implemented in rural areas taking district as a unit of implementation.
50% quota for women in local bodies? Mumbai: Political parties are planning to nominate 50 per cent women to local bodies like the Gram Panchayat (GP), Panchayat Samiti (PS) and Zilla Parishad (ZP), municipal corporations and municipal councils across Maharashtra slated for FebruaryMarch 2012.
Bihar to promulgate Right to Service Act Patna: The Right to Service Act will come into effect in Bihar from April 1 with the state cabinet on Tuesday clearing the way for introduction of Right to Service Act in the Assembly. The Act makes it mandatory for the state government and its agencies to extend services to people within the stipulated timeframe failing which the officials concerned could be penalised - Rs 250 per day or the maximum of Rs 5000. “The Act would now fix accountability of government officials and would help the government weed out corruption from the grassroots level to the top. The law, will cover 30 items including driving license and passport enquiry, will ensure timebound disposal of public works. It will cover 30 services like college degrees, driving license, banking services, kisan credit card, ration card, FIR, Passport enquiry etc. (iGovernment Bureau )
No GM crop trials without states’ consent: MoEF New Delhi: No field trials of genetically modified (GM) crop will be allowed without the consent of the states, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said. The decision was taken after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar opposed field trials of genetically modified (GM) crop Bt maize in his state. The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), under the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), had allowed USbased firm Monsanto to conduct field trials of Bt maize in Bihar. “I have asked the GEAC to immediately withdraw the orders, to write to all the states. No field trials will be allowed without written permission of states,” Jairam Ramesh told reporters. The Ministry last year had put a moratorium on introduction of Bt brinjal in the country following protests from farmers and environmentalists, who say that GM crops are harmful for health and damage the eco-system.
Himachal to set up climate study centre Shimla: Himachal Pradesh will set up a centre to study the impact of the changing environment on climate. The centre will promote research and generate scientific database relating to the sectors that are vulnerable to climate change like agriculture, horticulture and forests, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal
said during his Budget speech in the Assembly.
the Maharashtra Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta Act, 1971.
“Besides carrying out research in the areas of disaster management and glaciers, it will also work towards evolving appropriate strategies towards climate change,” the Chief Minister added, Dhumal said a Rs 900 crore project was sent/ to the World Bank by the state for environmentally sustainable development.
The Lokayukta Act has powers to direct the state to inquire into allegations of injustice, corruption and abuse of power. ( http://epaper. hindustantimes. com)
HP is home to 36 per cent of the country’s species of birds, 77 species of mammals (from the spectacular snow leopard to the common Himalayan tahr), and supports 3,120 species of flowering plants, including 187 species of medicinal plants.
Speech therapist on a mission.... Dr Devangi Dalal has adopted four schools of special children to offer her services as an audiologist to help children suffering from speech problems and who were hearing impaired. “Hearing impaired is no more a handicap. I want to spread this message to each and every corner of this country,” said Dalal, a Santa Cruz-based audiologist. At present, the therapist is trying to help around 250 special children of three schools that she has adopted in Mumbai and one in Gujarat. Most of these children come from poor families and do not have resource to get proper digital hearing devices.
Juveniles have RTE On the occasion of the first anniversary of the enactment of the ‘Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (2009)’, the Centre for Child and the Law has taken an important initiative to embark on a nation-wide debate and advocate for law reform to ensure that children and juveniles in the age group of 6-14 years who are covered by the JJ Act also benefit from the entitlements under the Right to Education Act. In view of this, a “Proposal for Amendment to the JJ (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000 in the light of Right of Children toFree and Compulsory Education Act 2009" was submitted to theMinistry of Women and Child Development on March 31 by Bangalore-based Centre for Child and the Law(CCL).National Law School of India University(NLSIU) . Contact:Arlene Manoharan, email: arlene@nls.ac. in
TB Awareness Prog. Mumbai: IDF, a partner of the ‘Stop TB Partnership’ of WHO launched
Hyderbad Collectorate and the victim very boldly testified against her traffickers. This historical effort would not have become a reality if not for the initiative taken by Smt Swati Chouhan, Metropolitan Magistrate,Mazgoan Court.
Character Lab J&K: Sarhad, an organisation working for children in the strifetorn areas of Kashmir and northeastern states, is coming up with a national character laboratory (NCL) in a school run by it for militancy-affected children in Pune. At the NCL, the children would get an opportunity to explore, understand and gather the essence of religion and the life and works of great leaders through books, biographies, videos and movies.
CONF HELD Indian Institute of Public Health Delhi, PHFI organized a 3 day workshop on Project Management of Health programs from April 1315 at its campus in Delhi to provide Health program managers with skills and tools to manage the Project Life cycle of programs/ projects especially planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.http://iiphd.org. For details write to:Tanuja Bhandari, Program Manager, Tel: +91 124 4722917, 9810829675, email: tanuja.bhandari@iiphd.org
In order to help the children Dalal gets sponsors for hearing aids for the children.She believes that each of these children who go to special schools can be brought into the mainstream.
Naik, a resident of Mulund, runs an organisation, Sakhi, to help uneducated women from slum areas get vocational training that helps them get better job opportunities and enables them to earn better and save for their secure futures. She, herself, is a school drop-out. More than 40 women from the slums have been getting training on hospitality and child care, security and so on. After conducting a survey in her community, Aarti realised that a lot of parents forced their daughters to drop out of school to help with household work. Aarti reached out to such girls, by informing them about opportunities available to them and the importance of education in their lives. Already 18 girls have enrolled in her class. Naik has also been conducting selfconfidence and capacity building workshops for women. “My aim is to provide employment to 300+ girls and women over the next three years. A year after I launched the organisation, two women have been absorbed in the hospitals for work. They know everything related to handling patients and know basic English too.
Mayor can be tried under Lokayukta Act The office of Lokayukta can now try the mayor, deputy mayor and corporators on charges of corruption or abuse of power under
Global Human Rights Leadership Training Institute (GHRLTI) held its Certificate Course in Human Rights Leadership Development Training, from March 24 – April 29 to develop acomprehensive experience of human rights learning for potentialhuman rights educators, advocates, activists, students, volunteers, and law enforcement officers Career-oriented Certificate Course in Counselling:An intensive “professional level” practical training program in psychological counselling was organised at the Heart To Heart Counselling Centre, Byculla (E), Mumbai 27. It included intensive practical training in the scientific, contemporary and internationally most widely accepted Methodology/ Scientific technique of Counselling contact: 22184528 / 9821093902. Email: hthindia@gmail.com, Website: http://www.hearttoheartindia.net A panel discussion “Towards Excellence in Public Services” was organised by the Centre for Leadership and Management in Public Services (C-LAMPS), along with Public Affairs Centre (PAC) and the Centre for Public Policy (IIM-B) on March 26 at Bharatiya Vidya, Bhavan, Bengaluru. Contact Gurumurthy Kasinathan, (C-LAMPS) Tel: 98454 37730
19-year-old ensures better future for slum women
Mumbai: For 19-year-old Aarti Naik, making a woman self-confident and helping her to secure a job are a priority. Naik formed an organisation to run vocational training for uneducated women and teaches English to women and children from the slums. Naik has been working for the welfare of women from the age of 16.
A Social Media Workshop was held on March 26 As more and more people get hooked to Social Networks like Facebook, Twitter etc. activists learn how to become an advanced user of such social media platforms to achieve personal/ professional goals and implement indepth strategies with Facebook, Twitter, Blog and hands on experience on Social Media marketing conducted by Get Social This Saturday! http:// www.facebook.com/BombayHub C o n t a c t bombay.hub@unltdindia.org or call 022 3222 0475.
a month-long massive TB awareness programme from Feb 24 to March 24—World TB Day Free TB Posters: The TB Awareness Campaign was endorsed by ndia’s No.1 Women’s Boxing Champion Mary Kom and tennis legend Leander Paes. These TB Awareness Posters (30 cms X 45 cms) can be sent free to all those who can help the cause. — Schools/ Colleges/ Banks/ Business offices/ Co-operative Housing Societies etc. Contact: Narayan B. Iyer - 9819131388 idfindia@gmail. com
Video conf. for victims Mumbai: For the first time in the country a victim of sex trafficking testified before a court located in Mumbai through video conferencing from Hyderabad. This was possible through the collaboration of Dept of Women Development & Child Welfare, National Informatics Center, Smt Swati Chouhan, Metropolitan Magistrate, Mazgoan Court and the NGO partner in Mumbai; International Justice mission. The favorable judgment by Delhi High Court in a PIL filed by Prajwala to introduce video conferencing to record evidence of a victim as a means of victim protection was used by Smt Swati Chouhan, Magistrate, Mazgoan Court to pass a similar order in Mumbai. On March 7 at 3.30pm video conferencing link was established between Mumbai Collectorate and
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SHARAN had 2 events in Mumbai, on March 27— A Discussion, Film and Lunch Meeting; April 10— Peas vs Pills seminar — a one day seminar designed to show you how you can prevent and reverse diseases with food rather than medicine, at Times Tower 6th floor, Kamala Mills compound, Lower Parel. A film on “Diseases Don’t Just Happen” by Dr Lorraine Day, an orthopaedic surgeon who cured herself of breast cancer. call Capt Rakesh Srivastava - 98339 88287, 022 28408751 seminars@sharan-india.org . Open Source, Knowledge, & Civil Society workshop by Venky Hariharan & Hemant Babu with Rajni Bakshi as discussant was held on March 15 at CED, Mumbai The Gandhian Studies Centre of Andhra University, Visakhapatnam organized a National seminar on “Conflict Resolution. Peace and Gandhi” on, March 28/29 in Visakhapatnam. to offer critical and thoughtful insights into Gandhian Philosophy of Conflict Resolution. http:// www.andhrauniversity.info A seminar: Transparency and Accountability in Governance – International Experience in Indian context was held at Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi Ph: 011 24121764, 24106698 info@vifindia.org Inaugural Address was given by Former Chief Justice of India Shri M N Venkatachaliah. Key Note address by Dr. Subramanian Swamy, President - Janata Party
April 1-3, the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station (ARRS) conducted a three day exploratory workshop to explore the unique ecosystems of evergreen forests are.Contact: . Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, Shimoga District Ph.08181 233186 ‘An overview of conservation work in Manas National Park - a talk by Mr. Siddhartha Kumar Gogoi on March 26. :Mr. Siddhartha Kumar Gogoi is a wildlife explorer and photographer : Dr. Vijay D. Anand - +91 9686116360, vijaydanand@ hotmail.com A 2 day national meet to discuss the issue of female foeticide was held in Panipat, Harayana from April 25/26th organized by NAPM ,Asha parivar , Mahila chetna kendr delhi, Gandhi, smriti and Darshan samiti,Aman- uday, Mata sita rani sewa sansthan panipat,yuva koshish. Contact -09354926281, NAPM Asha Parivar 09968828230 A National Seminar on Best practices in Development of Primitive Tribal Groups in India (Sponsored by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India), was organized by the Centre of study of Social Eclusion &Inclusive Policy, SNDT Mumbai and Vidhayak Sansad on March 12/13. Contact: Dr. Chandrakant Puri,SNDT Mumbai.Tel.-26615944 Cell :9819056444 E-mail : csseipsndt@gmail.com or Mr. Amol Namjoshi, Vidhayak Sansad, Thane. Tel : 0250-2570016/36 Cell : 9323781071 Email: namjoshi@rediffmail.com, www.vidhayaksansad.org
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AWARDS / CONFERENCES World Bank Award Educate Girls, a project of Foundation to Educate Girls Globally (FEGG), is one of the 14 winners of the World Bank’s India Development Marketplace 2011 announced at Jaipur on 6 April. Educate Girls received a US $50,000 grant to provide village-based teaching and training resources for boosting literacy levels of almost 600,000 marginalised children in Jalore, a district with high gender gap and the lowest literacy levels in the State of Rajasthan. The Government of Rajasthan invited Educate Girls to sign the MoU for Jalore, which will allow an additional 2,082 project schools to work with this year. Founded in 2007, the Mumbai-based NGO, Educate Girls works to improve girl’s enrollment, retention and academic performance in government schools. Educate Girls recently won the EdelGive Social Innovation Honors 2011 in recognition of the significant improvements achieved in girl’s education in rural Rajasthan. Contact: Safeena Tel. 02226303555, Email: safeena@educategirls.in, Website: http:// www.educategirls.in
Grant for tobacco control The Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation, a non-profit initiative created to support enterprising individuals and innovative organisations, announces the second edition of the Tobacco Control Awards. The awards are presented in two forms: 1) Grant for NGOs — An amount of Rs. 5 lakh awarded to non-profit organisations doing excellent work in the field of tobacco control in rural and small town areas. Grants will be awarded to five deserving organisations. 2) Award for Individuals — who have made their mark in the area of tobacco control. Individuals will receive a cash reward of Rs. 1 lakh with up to five individuals awarded. Applications will close on April 22, 2011. Please visit www.nsfoundation.co.in for entry forms and more details on the application process.Contact: Anushakti Tayade Project Officer. Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation, 102-Maker Chamber III, Nariman Point,Mumbai - 400 021,Tel - [ +91] 22 2282 4589 Ext – 108, Fax - [ +91] 22 2282 9534, Email anu.tayade@nsfoundation.co.in
UN Women’s Project ‘Inspire’ UN Women Singapore and MasterCard have started a joint initiative called “PROJECT INSPIRE: 5 Minutes to Change the World”. If you have an inspirational idea that can empower women, improve their livelihoods and change the world, then you can submit it here. If your idea gets selected, you can win US $25,000 to make it a reality. The idea should be accessible, doable, measurable and sustainable. The idea should lead to the empowerment of disadvantaged women or girls through education, skills training, financial inclusion and social entrepreneurship. Ideas should be submitted in form of a video of five minutes. Applicants should be 18-35 years old. Besides the winner getting the $25,000 grant, there will be a special recognition to the Best Financial Literacy/ Livelihood proposal which will win a start-up grant of US$10,000. Finalists will be invited to Singapore to present their inspiring idea to an expert judging panel. You will also be able to attend a workshop on sustainable social entrepreneurship and presentation skills training. Submissions are open from 8 March – 30 June 2011. For more information, visit http:/ www.5minutestochangetheworld.org
Prize for Creating Shared Value If you know of an outstanding innovation or project in Rural Development, Water or Nutrition, nominate it for the Nestlé Prize in Creating Shared Value. The winner will benefit from an investment of more than USD 480 000 to scale up her/his project. Self-nominations are encouraged. The Prize is open to individuals, NGOs and social enterprises that have developed and piloted innovative solutions to water, nutrition or rural development challenges. Deadline for nominating projects is June 30th, 2011. The Prize will be awarded in spring 2012. contact: CSVPrize@nestle.com For additional information and to submit an entry please visit: www.nestle.com/CSV/CSVPrize
IRDS Awards 2011- Winners Institute for Research and Documentation in Social Sciences (IRDS), a civil society located in Lucknow announced six IRDS awards for 2011 to young achievers in the fields of management, medicine and health, government services, media and journalism , human rights and law and legal affairs. The awardees are Kaushalendra (Manjunath awardManagement ), Dr Milind Dewgaonkar (Anandbai Joshi award- Medicine), Amitabh Thakur (Satyendra Dubey award-Government service), Deepak Azad (Surendra Pratap Singh award- Journalism), Dr Pranav Bhagirath (Safdar Hashmi award- Human Rights) and Sandeep Kumar (V N Shukla award- Legal affairs). Kaushalendra, from IIM Ahmedabad’s began selling vegetables through ice-cooled push-carts and is now working hard on his Organised Vegetable Marketing (ORVEM) project through Samriddhi and Kaushalya Foundation to enable people
to buy vegetables through pre-paid cards. Dr Milind Dewgaonkar has seven patents in the fields of Neuromodulation, Amitabh Thakur IPS officer from Orissa made a remarkable impact in Orissa as the DCP of Bhuvaneshwar, following it with extraordinary works at CBI including solving double murder in Maharashtra with the arrest of a senior NCP MP and arrest of then Gujarat home minister in the Sohrabuddin encounter case. Deepak Azad is an independent young journalist from Dehradun, for His special efforts against the menace of Paid News; .Dr Pranav Bhagirath, 26, began PRAY, a Dutch charity organization working towards a lasting improvement in quality of life of the disadvantaged groups of the region; Sandeep Kumar , Advocate of Patna High Court is actively engaged in providing free and cheap legal assistance to poor petitioners. All the awards have been named after Indian personalities who died while still in the prime of their youth and who had a long promising career left ahead. The awardees have been chosen with the hope that they shall try to fulfill those left promises. The six awardees are all less than 45 years. Contact: Dr Nutan ThakurSecretary, IRDS,Lucknow# 9415534525
CONFERENCES eWorld Forum 2011, Aug 2-3 eWorld Forum 2011 is a dynamic global forum organised by Centre for Science Development and Media Studies (CSDMS) and Elets Technomedia Private Limited. It aims to bring together participants from global ‘ICT for development community’ to engage in an action-oriented policy dialogues and debates around the key emerging issues in the field of governance. http://sm1.mailserv.in/egovonline Papers are invited for “Bridging the Knowledge Divide” the eWorld Forum 2011, on ‘eGov - ICT for achieving Millennium Development Goals’, and -’Gov 2.0 technology for participatory and citizen–centric governance’; eHealth - , eAgriculture - Telecentres - Municipal IT . All papers must be submitted in electronic format (PDF format, word document) using the web–based submission in not more than 1500 words to : papers@eworldforum.net. Website: www.eworldforum. net
Intl.Conf on Heritage Textiles: India’s Journey from Tradition to Innovation Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, 6– 8 Nov. 2011. Handcrafted products are essential components of intangible heritage. Indian textiles enjoy a rich heritage and the origin of textiles in India traces back to the Indus valley Civilization. The contemporary Indian textiles not only reflect the splendid past but also cater to the requirements of modern times. An international conference on Heritage Textiles: India’s Journey from Tradition to Innovation will be held at SJJTU, Chudela, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.For accommodation and registration please contact 022-26241102 or e-mail at info@vaitarna.com website
Agenda for survival , June 1- 30- New Delhi The education and training unit of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) - Anil Agarwal Green College - is conducting a month long course: Agenda for survival: A certificate course on the policies and practices of environmental management in India.
Ad.RATES You can: * sponsor an issue for Rs. 20,000/per issue * release an ad (10cms. x 1col.) for Rs. 1000 per issue. This newstabloid goes out to hundreds of NGOs, Corporate houses and the public. If you would like to insert an ad/ sponsor an issue, pls contact us. All ad copy/ news should be sent/ emailed to: shaktisrc@yahoo.com SHAKTI TRUST 5E, Gulmohar, 20, Convent Road, Bangalore 560025 Tel: 09341867487
c/o ERA, 1st Floor, N. M. Wadia Bldg. 123 M G Road, Mumbai 400001
Tel. No: 098203-39608 e-mail:shaktisrc@yahoo.com. 6
This interdisciplinary month-long summer certificate course is on the policies, politics and practices of environmental management in India. It allows participants to understand and critically evaluate issues that lie at the interface of environment and development; poverty; democracy, equity and justice. Eligibility: A total of 30 - young professionals and college students from any stream. Applicants must submit a 750word essay on any one of the following topics: 1 - What does it mean to be an ‘environmentalist’ or” Ecologically rich - economically poor’. Why are poor concentrated in ecologically rich the world over? Why are these most insurgency infested? What are the linkages between environment, economy and insurgency? The essay must reach CSE latest by April 15, 2011, together with a résumé / CV. Course fee: Rs 8,000. ( includes the training fees, local and outstation field excursions, reading materials, together with lunch and refreshments during training days). Accommodation for outstation candidates for a nominal charge of Rs. 10,000 for one month (stay and food). Some fellowships are available to support outstation candidates. Medium of Instruction: English. Contact: Sharmila Sinha, Education & Training, CSE. Mobile: +91-9818482018, Tel: (011) 29955124/ 125 (Ext.270), Fax: +91 (011) 29955879. http:// www.cseindia.org/node/1701
Gender Sensitisation (in Kannada)--Bangalore Women’s Unit of Indian Social Institute is planning Gender Sensitisation for men and women working at the grassroots level, in Kannada in three phases for 30 participants in each phase.(1st Phase - 18 -20 April 2011) 2nd Phase - 12-14 July 2011; 3rd Phase - 15-17 Nov. 2011. Indian Social Institute will take care of the food and accommodation of participants. The participants need to pay a registration fee of Rs. 200/- and take care of their travel. For details and clarifications. Contact: A. Sagaya Shanthy, Women’s Unit, Indian Social Institute,Benson Road, Bangalore.Mobile: 9980331471 E-Mail : sagayashanthi@ gmail.com
International Conclave on Climate Change ”Clean Energy & Energy Security” will be held on Oct. 12-14 2011 at HITEX, Hyderabad, with objectives of providing national information about climate change, its natural and human causes, and consequences, impacts on livelihoods and poverty, enhancing linkages between mitigation, adaptation and sustainable development, bringing policy makers, policy implementers, scientists, engineers, managers, stall holders & NGOs on one platform. Contact: Center for Climate Change, Engineering Staff College of India, Hyderabad, AP, India, Email: iccc.esci@gmail. com
Participatory Impact Monitoring Workshop June 28-30, 2011, Coimbatore A joint training workshop on Participatory Impact Monitoring (PIM) will be held at Karl Kuebel Foundation in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. For details and registration please contact Ms. Sabine Beier, the Karl Kuebel Foundation, tel. (049)-6251/ 7005-22 - Email: s.beier@kkstiftung.de orwww.kkstiftung. de In case you would like to organise such a workshop for your team /organisation, Contact: Anke Schuermann, Bangalore. Mobile 9886403256, Tel (080) 409 00 360 skype: gulmohar8
“A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history – Mahatma Gandhi Mar-April 2011
Please enrol me as your subscriber at the price of Rs.150 / USD 15 / GBP 8 per annum for 6 issues (Including postage). Please mail ___ copies at the address given below. DD/ cheques should be in the name of “Shakti Trust” Name: _______________________________________________ Organisation: _________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Type of activity: ________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ _____________________________Pin code: _______________ Phone No:_____________ E-mail: ________________________ Cash/Cq/DD No: ___________________ Amt. Rs.____________ On Bank : ________________________ dated:______________ Mail to: SHAKTI TRUST 5E, Gulmohar; 20, Convent Road, Bangalore 560 025 Tel. No: 98203-39608, 93418-67487 E-mail: shaktisrc@yahoo.com.
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NGO Connect
OPPORTUNITIES Two Zonal Coordinators - MP PATH is implementing the “Saving children through Immunisation” (SCLTI) project in MP .We are looking for 2 Zonal Coordinators to be based at Rewa District and Bhopal. The candidate should possess a medical degree preferably with a public health background. These positions are not direct recruitment of PATH but would be hired through an external agency. Specific responsibilities are: implementation, management and supervisory support to field coordinators of SCLTI project, monitoring of immunisation sessions & social mobilisation activities for immunisation, providing technical support to field coordinators; coordination & liaising with govt. officials, etc. Send application by 8 May 2011 via Email: vsrini@path.org
Mar-April 2011
(despite deadlines, you are advised to apply)
five years experience in CH/PH after post-graduation in SW/ SS/Management. Also required an understanding of health in the socio-political- cultural aspects of health fluency in English and in at least one of the national languages. For more information about SOCHARA visit www.sochara.org To apply, send by 24 April, 2011: a covering letter explaining your expression of interest in the position and explaining your work experience and background, a complete updated curriculum vitae with complete address and names and email addresses of at least two references to: The Secretary, Society for Community Health Awareness, Research and Action (SOCHARA), 367 Srinivasa Nalaya, Jakkasandra 1st Main, 1st Block, Koramangala, Bengalru -560034. Tel.(080) 25630934/ 25525372/ 41280009. Email: secretary@sochara. org and a copy to admin@sochara. org.
Research Consultant –Delhi/ Jaipur
Programme Officer/Coordinator - Bangalore
Consultants are required for Qualitative Research for 10-12 days in a month for 6 months by Population Services International (PSI). PSI is in the process of implementing its five year plan, developed in 2008, which focuses on maximizing health impact, developing organisational capacity, and strengthening its financial foundations for expanded health impact. The researcher must have experience and skills to design and undertaking qualitative research to help guide program activities of UNFPA-FC Program. She/he will be part of a talented and enthusiastic team which will collect, analyze, interpret and present actionable information for UNFPA-FC Program. Qual: Masters in Social Science or Public Health/ Demography; or MSW; 3-4 years experience in handling/ leading qualitative and quantitative research studies; Knowledge in Public Health, qualitative research, data analysis tools like Atlas Ti, NVivo is desirable; etc.Knowledge of regional languages would be an advantage. Send applications with resume by 9 May 2011 via Email: careers@psi.org.in
United Way Bengaluru has a vacancy for a Programme Officer whose job functions include: assisting in managing accounts, assisting manager operation in identifying and managing grass roots level organisations under education, health, livelihood and environment vertical servicing donors requests. managing administration of the office. Skills desirable include understanding of nonprofit programs; good communication skills, fair command over English and knowledge of Kannada with computer skills, and should have 3-5 years of work experience. Please send in your resume to info@uwbengaluru.org along with the following details Present CTC, Expected CTC, notice period. Website: www. uwbengaluru.org
State Project Head - Lucknow Smile Foundation, a national level development organization working for children and youth through numerous education, healthcare, livelihood, and advocacy projects across India, is looking for a project head having 10-12 years of experience in the field of Programme Management preferably in the area of health programmes, and who should be a MSW / MBA / MA in Sociology from a reputed Institute. Experience in managing Mobile Health Units would be an added advantage Responsibilities include managing number of Mobile Medical Units in rural areas of Eastern and Central U.P .and functioning as operational head of the programme in the project sites, among others. Please mail your resume by 8 May 2011 to: jobs@smilefoundationindia.org
Bala Janaagraha Manager- Bangalore Janaagraha is a Bangalore-based organisation that works with citizens and government to change the quality of life in India’s cities and towns by improving urban governance. Bala Janaagraha is a uniquely designed citizenship education programme that is aimed at empowering children with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to develop a deep sense of ownership and responsibility towards their society. The Bala Janaagraha Manager will have the following responsibilities:Planning and strategising towards achieving scale; managing and co-ordinating all aspects of the programme, content development for the Bala Janaagraha book, teaching methodologies and designing the topic for the Civic Project and Civic Fests and developing an e-learning module of the programme and ensuring its availability to schools and children. The candidate must have relevant education and/or 5-6 work experience in human services or related field, with an emphasis in working with children and experience in program planning and facilitation. Email application by 8 May 2011 to: work@janaagraha.org Surveillance Medical Officer - UP The SMO would work under the guidance of the Sub-Regional Team Leader/Regional Team Leader of the WHO National Polio Surveillance Project up to Dec. 31, 2011 (to be renewed based on the need of the project) in UP. However, s/he could be posted anywhere in India as per the project needs. The overall responsibility of the SMO includes Administrative / Finance Function. Technical responsibilities include providing training, technical and logistic assistance; identification and mapping of high-risk areas (HRAs, participating in mobilisation and advocacy activities preparation of reports, etc. The candidate must have MBBS degree with at least 2 years of experience. Post graduation in community medicine, preventive social medicine, pediatrics, MPH/MHAand experience in public health/program management is desirable. The remuneration will be starting from Rs 90,000/- per month. Female public health professionals are encouraged to apply. Email resume by 8 May 2011 to careers@npsuindia.org
District Coordinator, Jharkhand EngenderHealth, which works to improve the health and well-being of people in the poorest communities requires a District Coordinator who will be EngenderHealth’s representative in the district. S/he will serve as a point of contact, check progress against plans, and identify areas in need of strengthening and technical support. The coordinator will liaise with district officials, NGOs and other stakeholders in the region. The district coordinator will also be responsible for executing project activities and conducting trainings. Qual./ Exp.: Must be a medical doctor, MPH, MA Social Sciences, Master of Social Work, Graduate with PG Diploma in Rural Development, or at least 5 years experience in RH/ FP area; and knowledge about modern contraceptive technologies and other SRH/FP issues including adolescent SRH services. To apply for this position, please visit our website at http:// www.engenderhealth.org and click on the careers link. Then click on the “India” link to locate the job title and submit your application online along with your CV by 24 April 2011. Program Leader – Leadership Development, Delhi / Mumbai Kaivalya Education Foundation initiatives build leadership for educational and social change.The Principal Leadership Development Program (PLDP) is a 3-year in-service leadership development training program for primary school government headmasters. This program addresses leadership within a school context impacting on the quality of education being provided in India’s Government Schools Currently the program is happening in 3 locations – Jhunjhunu (Rajasthan), Ahmedabad and Mumbai. The Program Leader – Leadership Development in PLDP team will design and deliver the modularised curriculum for institutional and social leadership. Pref.skills: Masters in any discipline, preferably training & development, and previous experience in development sector / working with community is an added advantage. Application deadline: 22 April 2011. Email a detailed resume with a cover note with your current organization, description and years of experience and salary to: hratkef@gmail.com
Economist, New Delhi
Training and Research Associate -Bangalore
The Global Development Network (GDN) is an International Organization with a worldwide network of research and policy institutes. It works to strengthen the link between researchers/ research institutes and policy-makers, at the country, regional and global levels. The person will report directly to the Chief Economist of GDN to provide leadership and assist with the day-to-day management and monitoring of GDN research projects, administrative and substantive aspects of the projects. This is a full time position with a three year contract on a renewable basis Selection Criteria: PhD in Economics from a reputed University, a very good record of professional publications. strong research and analytical skills, excellent knowledge of statistical packages and econometric software. Experience in conceptualizing, planning and managing research projects is required. . Please email your application before 30 April 2011 to applications@gdnet.org (Economist Vacancy in the subject line.) with a cover letter, C.V., 3 references ) and 2 recently published papers.
The Society for Community Health AwarenessResearch and Action (SOCHARA) is looking for a Training and Research Associate for one of its Units, the Community Health Cell(CHC) based in Bengaluru. Education/experience : A PG in Community Health/ Public Health/ Epidemiology/ public health nursing or PhD in Social Work/Social Sciences/Management with at least two years experience after a CH/PH/Epidemiology post-graduation, or
Indian Social Institute, a rights-based resource organisation invites applications for the post of a Secretarycum-Research Assistant to the Director. Qual. and exp.: Masters in any social science subject, with a research project, computer mastery in MS Office, proficiency in English and in one of the Southern languages,
Secretary-cum-Research Assistant, Bangalore
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preferably Kannada, and experience with social work, NGOs, CSOs desirable. Apply with copies of certificates and 300 words write up on why you are interested in working with Indian Social Institute before 25 April, 2011 to: The Director, Indian Social Institute, 24 Benson Road, Bangalore—560046 Tel. (080)23536364, 23536189, Website: www.isiblr.org
Research Associates - PRAXIS Praxis Institute for Participatory Practices (PRAXIS) is organising a study on assessing community based groups involved in addressing issues related to HIV/AIDS prevention and vulnerability reduction of female sex worker/Men who have sex with men/transgender and Injecting Drug User groups. The project involves monitoring community mobilization efforts, generating reports and disseminating timely information on (a) community groups’ organisational capacities and (b) their capacity to address vulnerability issues in six states, including, Nagaland, Manipur, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Praxis requires short-term (2 to 3 months) Research Associates for Community Mobilisation Monitoring Study to be located in any one of the six states. Qual: PG in social science, three years experience in data collection, ability to read and write English, and Tamil/ Telugu/ Marathi/ Manipuri/ Nagamese or Kannada. Apply before 30 April 2011 with a covering letter and CV. Check details on http://praxisindia.org/jobs. Email applications to: moulashak@praxisindia.org and moulasha@gmail.com. Kindly mention the position applied and the state in the subject line.
Customer Service Officer - Bangalore Greenpeace India, requires Customer Service Officer (CSO) for its Supporter Services Unit which is located in its Fund raising department. The team of supporter services staff is responsible for dealing with supporter queries, complaints, supporter communication and ensuring our supporters continue to lend their support for our work. The CSO will be responsible for servicing Greenpeace’s supporters through phone and email and coordinating distribution of communication material to our offices across the country. Requirements: Prior experience in a customer service environment, spoken knowledge of Hindi and of at least one other India’s official language, knowledge of MS-Office package particularly Word, Excel and Power-point, and experience of managing production of merchandise. Starting pay Rs. 323,868 per annum (cost to organization) Please email using the subject line “Customer service officer” to hr.recruitment.in@greenpeace.org with CV and a compelling cover letter.
General Manager, Kolkata CRY, which has a holistic approach to development based on the child rights framework with community empowerment as a key ingredient, requires a General Manager, for its Development Support (Eastern Region) division in Kolkata The position will involve leading a team of professional development people who head CRY initiative in states and being the CRY face of advocacy for Child Rights in the region. It will require interaction with State Authorities to push for protection, health, education and overall development of the Indian Child in line with CRY strategy & values. Qual: PG in any of the social sciences, social work or anthropology with 9-15 years of experience in the Development sector, preferably with a funding Organization, out of which 5 years must be heading regional initiatives. Strong written and oral communication skills in English are essential. Knowledge of the local language would be an advantage. Apply to: careers@crymail.org mentioning preferred location & the post applied for.
Project Manager, Bangalore Be! Fund is India’s first, not-for-profit seed fund that will invest in young entrepreneurs, age 18-29, from low-income groups, to define and pioneer businesses that solve the social economic and environmental problems they face in their lives and their communities. Be! Fund’s mission: Prove the viability – both social and financial –of investing in young entrepreneurs from low income groups to pioneer enterprises that create solutions for bottomof-the-pyramid communities, their own communities. Be! Fund pilot will be rolled out in Delhi and Bangalore. The fund incorporates learning from the pilot and scales across the country. Roles & Responsibilities of Project Manager includes, among others:.Manage the team that will launch the Be! Fund pilot in Bangalore. Work with the Delhi team and Be! Fund CEO to set up process and monitoring systems to establish the Be! Fund in Bangalore and then nationwide. Skills and qual: Masters in Development or Social Work or an MBA, 3-6 years of work experience, proficiency in spoken and written Kannada and effective English communication skills and exceptional computer literacy to keep regular correspondence with partners and supporters Please submit a one page cover letter explaining why you are the right one to manage the Be! Fund in Bangalore and your CV plus two references to befund@goingtoschool.com by April .
NGO Connect
Mar-April 2011
Media FILMS NEWS Inviting entries for the IDPA (Indian Documentary Producers association) Awards for Excellence 2010. Special Categories include: Films on Environment, Films on Disabilities, Films Shot on Cell Phones. Entry deadline 31 May 2011. For more info and details log on to www.idpaindia.org or call Pooja 02224920757 The Ford Foundation has launched a new initiative called “JustFilms” to support filmmakers advancing social justice worldwide. It seeks to support courageous filmmakers to complete their important works and to help them reach a growing audience of engaged and socially conscious viewers. There is no deadline. For more information visit:http:// www.fordfoundation.org/issues/ freedom-of-expression/justfilms/ for-grant-seekers Inviting entries for “Short Takes” a short film contest by 1takemedia.com. Submit your short film of up to 15 minutes. Winning film screened at Festival in Germany. Deadline: May 10. for more details log on to www.1takecontests.com Email; jeena@1takemedia.co or call 022- 26249185 The 4th Documentary and Short Film Festival organised by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy for the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala will be held in Thiruvananthapuram from July 1-5. Entries are invited for the National level competition from documentaries (long and short), short fiction, animation, music videos and campus films ( restricted to Kerala).For entry form, rules and regulations visit website: www.iffk.in, www.keralafilm.com The KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival 2011, the second edition of India’s only mainstream LGBT film fest will be held from May 25-29, 2011 at two venues in Mumbai, and will showcase more than 130 films from over 25 countries.The best Indian queer short film at Kashish gets to compete for the Iris Prize in UK and a cash prize of 25,000 pounds. For more information, visit website : http://www.mumbaiqueerfest.com solaris.pictures.india@gmail.com
We Care Filmfest on disability, Brotherhood and Bio-Scope Film Society UNESCO, the Natiional Trust and the Asian Academy of Film & Television organized the We Care Filmfest on disability issue onMarch22-23. Contact: Mobile (0) 9899472065, Email: wecarefilmfest@gmail.com. Nongpokthong (Eastern Gate): Visages from the East, a festival of Manipuri Cinema held onMarch, 9-13 2011, showcased more than 40 films from Manipur. Contact: 9899629522, 9810331214
Learning In Exile 26 mins/ Hindi, English, Tibetan (English subtitles) Director: Aprajita Sarcar,CoDirectors: Akbar Quadri and Azam Quadri; Produced by PSBT Fifty years of exile has also produced a culture, coloured by its context, India. The exile life has seen a set of learnings for the guest and the host. As there is no immediate solution in sight for the Tibetan case, we have a peculiar situation of being born as an ‘alien’ at home, since India does not recognize ’refugee’ as a status. So, the central theme is how a Tibetan negotiates with this loss in the realm of the everyday, routine life. Mostly based on interviews with young Tibetans from Dharamsala and Majnu Ka Tila in Delhi, the film tries to capture the dilemmas of being Tibetan in India, today.
Videokaaran 73 mins, Dir. .Jagannathan Krishnan Sagai is a film buff and his idol is South Indian superstar Rajnikanth. He believes that cinema can help you better your life, film stars can give you moral and spiritual messages that can uplift you. He grew up watching films in a video parlor in the Mumbai slums. When he came of age he started working in the same place as did his fatherbefore him. The video theatre no longer exists. In a charming, eloquent and often politically incorrect street speak, he shares the story of his video theatre alongside his trip with films. Flames of the snow 2 hours, Dir. Ashish Srivastav Produced by India’s Third World
The 6 th International Film Festival on water ‘Voices from the Waters- 2011 ‘‘is being organised by the Bangalore Film Society in collaboration with Alliance Francaise de Bangalore and other groups, The Festival invites you to contribute short, documentary, animation and feature films under several categories: Contact: Bangalore Film Society, Mobile:+91-9448064513 Website: www.voicesfromthewaters.com The 6th biennial edition of CMS VATAVARAN - Environment and Wildlife Film Festival invites entries till May 31, 2011. The festival will be organised in New Delhi, from December 06-10, 2011.Submit your film on environmental issues, made on or after January 1, 2009, online by website www.cmsvatavaran,org or http://www.withoutabox.com/ login/5855. Contact: Sundeep Srivastav CMS VATAVARAN, New Delhi Tel. (011)2499 597, 2652 2244; Mobile: 098999 79169 Email: submission@cmsvatavaran.org Website: www.cmsvatavaran.org
Media in collaboration with Nepal’s GRINSO This documentary chronicles the rise of the pro-democracy movement in Nepal from the 19th century culminating in the abolition of monarchy in 2008. It traces the long and blood-drenched pro-
democracy struggle against three regimes: the BOOKS Shah kings of Nepal who ruled the country for 240 years, the repressive Rana prime ministers who reduced the kings to puppets for 104 years, and a succession of 12 governments in 13 years who sought to put down people’s protests by force. The revolt that started with peasant leader Lakhan Thapa in 1876 did not end with his hanging but continued in 1950 and 1990, finally becoming the Maoists’ People’s War that raged on for 10 years from 1996. Contact:ashish@digitalmediacrafts.com
A Doctor To Defend: the Binayak Sen story Dir. Minnie Vaid, 47 mins, Year : 2011 Producer : Little Doc Productions The film is an interweaving of the journey of Binayak Sen from the influences that shaped the path he was to take later, From the Christian Medical College to the Rupantar trust that he and his wife set up to help villagers— to the choices that seem almost inevitable. The decision to investigate and speak up against excesses going on in/by the state, knowing the outcome. Accompanied by rare footage of Salwa Judum camps,the trial, the case against Binayak, the jail period, the immense support in the Free Binayak Sen campaign, The film is a record, a testimony of what can happen to a ‘prisoner of conscience’ when he decides to follow that conscience all the way. Living Like A Common Man (2011) A film by Sanderien Verstappen, Mario Rutten and Isabelle Makay,Duration: 65 minutes
decade - long ethnic war in Sri Lanka. It unfolds in a fisher village at Dhanushkodi, the southernmost tip of India and talks of the travails of the fishermen risking their lives everyday in the border waters between Sri Lanka and India. Dhanushkodi fishermen community, refugees and the common public of Rameswaram have acted in the film, speaking their own dialect and it is a peoples film made by the people themselves using the film unit as facilitators. The Censor Board refused the clearance certificate to the film and cited its reasons as the film has denigrating political references to the Government of India and Sri Lanka, as well as uses unparliamentary words.
Economic Rights & Entitlements of Separated & Divorced Women
“Eer” - Stories in Stone, Parts I & II Script/Dir: Shriprakash,ProducerPSBT/Doordarsahan Duration - 26 min+26 min (EER is a Bhillari words, Gatha it is nearest word in hindi).This 56 min long film is in two parts. The film tries to trace the oral history traditions of different communities (Munda, Ho Jharkhand, Ramnami Chhattisgarh, Bhil - MP & Maharashtra border, WarliMaharashtra, Bhil & Banjara Rajasthan & Gujarat border). Some of these oral stories from Rajasthan/ Gujarat, Chattishgarh, Jharkhand continue with the communities in their tradition/culture. Contact: Shriprakash<prakash.shri@gmail.com>
BOOKS
Bazaars, Conversations and Freedom: For a Market Culture Beyond Greed and Fear
Youngsters in developing countries all over the world dream of going to the West. They hope to earn money and get overseas experience to improve their positions at home. But once they arrive, they end up in lowstatus jobs and living crammed into small houses with other newly arrived migrants. This film follows the daily life in one such house in East London. The bunker beds are filled with young Indians, all from relatively wealthy families in Gujarat. When they return to visit India, their families have great expectations of their sons and daughters. Will these youngsters fulfill their own and their families’ dreams? Contact: Tel: 22258091 / 65979732Website: https://sites. google.com/ site/ livinglikea commonman/ Butterfly Wings,English, 50 minutes Producer/Director: Sanjay Arora The film is based on a true story, Neha Bhatia, free-spirited and funloving who takes life for granted ends up a victim of a fatal accident, leaving her with a severe brain stem injury resulting in quadri-paralysis and comatose. Thus begins the journey of Neha’s recovery, that explores unconditional love and support from Ayesha, Neha’s older sister. Ayesha’s immense belief in her sister and undying faith in their sisterly bond becomes the spine of the film. Contact: Filmmaker Online Productions web site – www.filmmakeronline.com,Email sanjayarora123@gmail.com, Tel. +91-9717574400, Tel. (USA) 248722-6415 (US) Sengadal the Dead Sea a factual feature fiction, Dir. Leena Manimekalai. The film captures the fragments of ordinary lives battered by three-
Billy Arjun Singh, a hunter-turned conservationist became a legend in his lifetime. This book published 15 months after his death, is a pictorial biography that chronicles the life and work of the man who put the spotlight on tiger conservation in India. At one time, Arjan Singh had two leopards, a tiger and a dog in his house and was the only persn in the world known to have handreared a tiger cub and returned it to the wild. This is a story of grit, passion compassion and perseverance by an author who is a wildlife conservationist.
Published by Economic Research Foundation, Delhi 250 p. The book contains proceedings which discussed separation and divorce,for the Indian woman, in a patriarchal social order and a legal system that perpetuates this social order with the men denying support to their abandoned wives and children.The family courts that were instituted to simplify legal procedures and enable quicker settlements are too few. The ERF did an in-depth baseline survey to get information regarding the number and status of single women in India-particularly those who are separated, abandoned or divorced, in 20 major cities of 14 states. Four Regional seminars were conducted in 2008-09 to add experiences and findings of activists, judges, advocates, political leaders. The book documents the proceedings of these regional seminars and its recommendations. http:// womenchildrights.org
By Rajni BakshiPenguin Books India, 2009, Rs 450. Financial wizards, economists, business persons and social activists around the globe have been challenging the ‘free market’ orthodoxy. This book is a chronicle of their adventures. From Wall Street icon George Soros and VISA card designer Dee Hock we get an insider critique of the malaise. Creators of community currencies and others, like the father of microfinance, Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus, explore how money can work differently. The doctrine of selfinterest is re-examined by looking more closely at Adam Smith through the eyes of Amartya Sen. Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of ‘Trusteeship’ gathers strength as the socially responsible investing phenomenon challenges the power of capital.
Billy Arjan Singh: Tigers of Dudhwa By Shaminder Boparai, Publisher: WWF-India/Harper Collins 200 p, Rs. 799.
Contact: Economic Research Foundation, New Delhi 110 016.Email: webmaster@macroscan.net Tel: 91-11-26850050; 26611235. Fax: (011) 26611764. Global Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Women: a Human Rights Perspective A Report of the South Asian Regional workshop, held in Delhi, in partnership with UN Women and Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBF) and was intended to enable experts to develop policy and advocacy tools from a gender and human rights perspective.The presentations at the workshop covered a wide range of issues that impact women-- food security, migration, trade, situations of conflict, international trade, natural resource management and policy response.Download the report at http://pwescr.org/. PWESCR (Programme on Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) Delhi. (0)11-40536091/92, M o b i l e : 9 9 1 0 0 4 0 4 1 9 www.pwescr.org
All matter in the newsletter is published with the best of intentions. Printed, Published and owned by Rima Kashyap. Printed at W Q Judge Press, 97, Residency Road, Bangalore - 560 025, Published by : Shakti C/o ERA, N. M. Wadia Bldg, 123 M G Road, Mumbai 400 001 Tel. 9820339608. E-mail : shaktisrc@yahoo.com Editor : Rima Kashyap. Design : Y.L. Padmaja 8