Vol 8 Issue 6 ●
Regn. no. MAHENG/2004/15104
Nov-Dec 2011
‘To oppress others is a sin, but to tolerate oppression is a bigger sin.’ www.ngoconnect.org
A ‘SHAKTI’ PROJECT
-Bhagwad Gita
I n d i a ’ s Fi r s t N G O N e w s ta b l o i d CONNECTiNG The bogey of green clearances The environment is holding up growth and economic evelopment. is the common refrain in circles that matter. However,a report on what needs to be done, said that the best would be to dismantle green conditions, almost completely. The B K Chaturvedi committee recommends that all coal mining projects should be given automatic clearance, with exceptions only for projects in ‘dense’areas. .. Then, the committee wants all those provisions that seek to protect the rights of people or theenvironment to be relaxed. It recommends that the gram sabha, required to give consent to the project, should be held without a quorum. In other words, emocracy should be sidelined. Similarly, public hearings should be done away with when it comes to expansion of the current mines. It also recommends that even in areas identified as critically polluted, new projects should be allowed without check. It has no time to waste on such considerations as the health of the people who live in these regions. The horrendous cumulative impacts of these massive projects must be ignored, because we are a nation in a hurry, it says. …The proposed manufacturing policy, … wants none of these inconvenient green checks. It wants to take away all powers of the environment and forest clearances from the Centre and state agencies and hand them over to the project management. But are green clearances holding up projects?First, the scale and pace of green clearances have been unprecedented in the past five years. In fact, the pace doubled, with 203,576 hectares (ha) of forestland diverted for mining and industrial projects in the past five years. Coal mining accounted for more than half the forestland diverted, and as many as 113 coal mining projects were cleared—the highest in a five-year plan since1981. Secondly, clearances when added together overshoot the current and future targets in power projects. Till August 2011, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has granted clearances for an astounding 210,000 MW of thermal power capacity, — 60,000 MW more than what has been proposed till 2017. But what was built in the past five years was a mere 32,394 MW. What is going on? ... Is this a landwater-coal scam, given that each project sits on valuable natural esources? Or is it all about getting the licence to pollute? t in this haste to give clearances, it is the environment that is being short-changed. Most mining districts of the country have become a livinghell. Environmental regulations should be strengthened, not weakened. More importantly, environmentalists must see how the regulatory regime can be worked better. This is the agenda that matters. (excerpts from an editorial by Sunita Narain). ———————————————
A
The Food Security Bill is passed
fter years of campaigning and rallies by the Right to Food Secretariat and its partners, Parliament passed the Food Security Bill: The basic points: Every person belonging to ‘priority’ household shall be entitled to receive seven kg. of foodgrains per month and every ‘general’ category person shall be entitled to not less than three kg. of grains. The Bill provides for supply of wheat at Rs. 2 per kg, rice at Rs. 3 per kg and coarse cereals at Re. 1 per kg to ‘priority’ households. For ‘general’ families the cost would “not exceed 50 per cent of the minimum support price for wheat and coarse grains and not exceed 50 per cent of derived MSP. Importantly, the Bill provides for “food security allowance” from state governments to such beneficiaries who do not receive the entitled quantities of foodgrains or meals. The ‘priority’ and ‘general’ beneficiaries and the exclusion criteria shall be prescribed by the Central government. Already identification of rural beneficiaries is being done under a SocioEconomic Caste Census. A similar exercise shall be undertaken for urban beneficiaries. The Bill provides for meals at “free or affordable prices’’ to destitute, homeless persons, disaster-affected people and persons living in starvation.
|
NGOConnect wishes you a New Year of Change, equality and inclusiveness Govt orders probe against 10 NGOs New Delhi, Nov.21:The Government ordered a probe against 10 NGO and charitable trusts for allegedly funding political activities with funds received from abroad. According to official sources, an order to this effect was issued by the Union Home Ministry in the face of allegations that various NGOs and charitable trusts were acting on behalf of “foreign interests”. The Government recently made it mandatory for all NGOs and charitable trusts to file details of foreign contributions received in their Income Tax returns along with their Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) number.
It also covers maternity benefits of Rs. 1000 per month for six months to pregnant and lactating women.
A revised I-T return form has been prepared by the Directorate General of I-T Exemption and is pending with the Central Board of Direct Taxes for final approval before it is notified for implementation, likely from the next financial year.
The state governments shall identify through anganwadis and provide free meals to children who suffer from malnutrition.
The new return form for NGOs will have additional columns for mentioning FCRA number and another for details of overseas contributions received.
Focussing on reforms in the PDS, the Bill has given primacy to introduction of cash transfers and food coupons to the targeted beneficiaries in lieu of their foodgrains entitlements as well as leveraging ‘aadhar’ for “proper targeting of beneficiaries under the Act.’’
So far, there was only one return form that was applicable for all NGOs and trusts, including noncharitable trusts that were not qualified for exemptions.
There will be an internal grievance redress mechanism from block and district levels. The Centre shall set up a National Food Commission and every State government shall constitute a State Food Commission for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the Act.
The necessity to devise a new form arose after it was found during scrutiny of some NGOs that they had received considerable foreign contributions, but failed to mention them in their return of income filed with the I-T department. At present, the I-T Department is scrutinising accounts of several NGOs and charitable trusts that had received foreign contributions in the past decade.
There shall be social audit of the functioning of ration shops.
An FCRA list was obtained from the Union Home Ministry and returns of income of such institutions that had received funds are being tallied. All suspect cases pertain to the assessment year up to 2009-10.
Contact: Secretariat - Right to Food C a m p a i g n 5 A, Jungi House, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi 110049. India Email: righttofoodindia@gmail.com | Phone - 91 -11 -2649 9563 Website: www.righttofoodindia.org
The Government is also likely to introduce a fresh tax of 15 per cent on those charitable trusts and religious organisations that have been diverting their accumulated income to acquiring new assets in and outside the country.
The Bill provides for women above 18 years to be considered the head of the beneficiary household for purpose of issue of ration cards.
1
Message For International Donors To India Excerpts from an article by Dr. Sylvia Karpagam (Countercurrents.org) Nov. 20. There are several reasons why donors choose to fund India. ….There are some international agencies that genuinely want to support and nurture development. They feel the need for a more equitable world which they can support through technical expertise and funds – commendable indeed!! a way of sharing resources and helping those in need. Unfortunately, the donors can sometimes be lulled into a false sense of comfort about India’s problems. When they visit India, their contact is almost exclusively with the upper caste and class who determine to a large extent what is visible, what is unseen, and how issues are addressed. …. The ‘lower caste’ has no word to offer and no history except what is allowed and sanctioned. They are silent and their existence feeds a belief of their own inferiority. They have no voice, so they will not be heard. One will only hear about them. And one will only hear so much as one is allowed to. ...There is a tendency to give issues names that protects oneself…with the most clinical of terminology – the “below poverty line”, the “vulnerable”, the “marginalized”, the “underprivileged”, ‘the tribals’?…… Donors would rather view the world with a benign eye. …One can pity marginalized groups in an extraordinarily discriminatory society such as in India, but it is vital to look inwards at the contribution of oneself and one’s community to human rights violation...There is an interesting analogy of a man who has a herd of cattle that he cares for very well. When asked why he doesn’t just set them free, his response is simple - ‘But then, I can’t milk them”. If donors do not demand … moral accountability, if they fail to look below and beyond what is made visible to them, then they do demonstrate a rather unforgivable flaw. The money that donors spend, would never have reached the genuinely marginalized. This is the serious flaw in fund contribution to
India. Donors have a moral imperative to question more than what they hear. … So what should donor agencies insist on… – they should insist on leadership from the marginalized, even if their quality, education and language skills are not “up to the mark” (as defined by the upper caste). They should insist on representation by a dalit on their project management committees. …As a donor, this would be your moral obligation to the most deprived and marginalized in India.— —-Dr. Sylvia Karpagam MD, MBBS is a public health doctor and writer. She has worked with NGOs and feels that international donors have a poor awareness about the caste hierarchy in India. She blogs at http:/ /drsylviakarpagam.wordpress.com/
Do NGOs stall village initiatives? It was an interesting but chilling fact that Harish Hande, this year’s cowinner of the Magsaysay Award and founder of SELCO- solar energy for the masses—mentioned at the CSM function to launch their report, Made in Bangalore. Answering a question regarding the role of NGOs in the development of social entrepreneurs, he was quite emphatic in stating that, in his experience, NGOs are not only unhelpful, they hinder. E.g. They would not let his company help villagers get solar energy for a paltry payment. They (the NGOs) insisted that the villagers were poor and could not pay. The end result- the villagers (who wanted to, and could, pay)- did not get solar lights!!!
India ranks 134 in HDI New Delhi, Nov.2: India ranks a low 134 among 187 countries in terms of the human development index (HDI), which assesses long-term progress in health, education and income indicators, a UN report said. Although placed in the “medium” category, India’s standing is way behind scores of economically less developed countries, including wartorn Iraq as well as the Philippines.India’s ranking in 2010 was 119 out of 169 countries. UN official Seeta Prabhu said: “ India’s gender inequality index was 0.6, the highest in South Asia.
Nov-Dec 2011
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
NGO Connect ○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
NGO News New initiatives
children at Abyathmangala Village. Contact ASTRA,Karnataka. Mob. : +91-95354 21620 Tel. : +91-08272 2 3 0 2 2 3 . E - m a i l : chandanastra@gmail.com Website: www.astraindia.org
Coimbatore:SaNazia is an NGO run by youth. Found by a 22 year old, the NGO is completely managed by young people, mainly students with a dream to transform India in the smallest way possible. *Our key focus areas are: 1) Community development (Mission). 2) Training & Development (Vision). 3) Provide World Class Education (Dream). Contact Mr. Naqqash naqqashmd@sanazia.com 9884741741, info@sanazia.com One World Academy is an organization that has come into existence with the purpose of nurturing conflict free individuals and a conflict free world through its various programs. These programs educate participants into the art of awareness, and that every one of us can walk out of inner conflict to calm, irrespective of our life situations. Individuals with such awareness live lives of meaning and also become instrumental in causing well-being in the world around them. The programs of One World Academy bring this transition. C o n t a c t ” contact@oneworldacademy.com www.oneworldacademy.com All-India: Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan is a national, secular and autonomous Muslim women’s movement, aiming to mobilise Muslim women to fight for their citizenship rights, Community Development, and Empowerment, Contact Ms. Noorjehan Safia Niaz noorjehan.sn@ gmail.com or zakiasoman@gmail. comTel: 28407874 09833072690
Yuva Parivartan Report Mumbai: Yuva Parivartan- a part of KSWO reported that all their Partners continued to be Sponsors — funding the running costs of Centres. New Partners include Glenmark, Mahindra & Mahindra Taj Hospitality in Bangalore, HDFC Ltd., Toofles Foundation, Edelgive Foundation, Malkani Trust and Tata Motors, Pune. Kherwadi Social Work Association is an authorized Vocational Training Provider under the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s Modular Employability Scheme for conducting skills development trainings and awarded 35AC IT exemptions by Finance Ministry, Govt. of India to collect funds for starting Vocational Training Centres, and authorised to run Maharashtra State Govt. approved Vocational Training Courses. KSWA is running Computer Courses under this accreditation. Yuva Parivartan- its youth wing is an authorized Training Agency of Directorate of Industries, Govt. of Maharashtra for imparting Vocational Trainings under Special Component Plan (SCP) for urban poor youth. It provides training on Retail Sales for Scheduled Caste Candidates and on Business Skills Development for rural women working in Self Help Groups. This year Yuva Parivartan tied up with Axis Bank Ltd. to take Skill Development & Training to Vidharba & Marathawada Regions of Maharashtra which covers 19 districts and is known for the maximum suicides by farmers. A model centre was begun in Nagpur and Aurangabad, in Dec. 2010 which serve as Training Centres for partners in these areas . The plan is to open 66 centres and train 68,000 students over the next five years so that each centre will cover youth in 25 kms. radius. By March 28 centres spread over
EOTO matters Mumbai: A workshop on Gender Sensitization was conducted by Ms. Meena Naik, renowned puppeteer and children’s theatre directorm from Oct. 20-22. . EOTO children from 4 schools participated in the workshop arranged at the respective schools.
Mumbai, Pune, Raigad, Thane & Nashik and centres in Nagpur, Aurangabad, Chandrapur and Wardha District were in operation.Centres in New Delhi and Patna, sponsored by Nalanda Capital will help growth of more Centres in those regions. The two centres in Bangalore continue to struggle but new management , the Taj Hospitality Course and sponsorship of HDFC would improve its performance . Each centre has been encouraged to reach out within their communities to encourage their participation, improve skills and income generation and 31 Centres were opened in 2011. HDFC Ltd. sponsors the Bangalore Centre and Malkani Trust the Colaba Centre in Mumbai; Edelgive Foundation-- the Yerawada and Tadiwala Centres, and L&T Charitable Trust is sponsoring women’s courses at 3 Centres of Bandra, Thane & Kalyan.
Baap re baap Mumbai: The play, Baap re Baap was staged by Stree Mukti Sangahtana at the ‘Mahila Melava’ organised by Women Networking to mark the culmination of 16 Days of Activism, on Dec. 10 2011 at Holy Family School Hall in Andheri East. Women Networking is an informal network of over 15 community-based organisations and individuals involved in women’s issues. About 800 people, mostly basti women (including many Muslim women) were present. The play was very entertaining while bringing up important social messages: declining sex ratio, impact of new technology in making available made-to-order babies, need to break out of gender division of labour, equal opportunities for women and most importantly to build a gender just society.
The aim of Yuva Parivartan is not only teaching skills, but also finding jobs for the students. This is done at each Centre by the Centreincharge and staff. The department has in the last one year been able to tie up with many small and large retail outlets of Aditya Birla Group’s More, Big Bazaar, Cafe Coffee Day, Westside, Reliance Retail, Tata Star Bazaar, Spas and Beauty Parlours, Computer Hardware Companies, Mobile Phone Galleries, wiremen in large Electrical Companies and motor mechanics at Mahindra & Mahindra.
The humour in the play provided comic relief to these women whose lives are fraught with everyday problems and anxieties. The playwright used religious imagery with poetic license to raise social issues. “In no way should it be perceived that we need to invoke divine intervention to solve our problems.” The use of mythological characters and religious images helped this particular audience relate to the play.They sat spellbound absorbing every word, every nuance, and all the lyrics of the onehour long play. The music and songs were very good and the acting was brilliant. It was very inspiring to see young, talented actors involved in theatre to spread social messages.
YPISD has increased its activities to 11 districts. Most of the candidates belong to the SC/ST or BPL candidates.The placement ratio is more than 75%. In this Financial Year, YPISD has trained 732 candidates out of which 692 (90%) are being placed in different malls. Contact: Kherwadi Social Welfare Assoc.,Mumbai. Mob: 09819691851; Off: 022 26474381/ 9189 Email: mrinalinikher@gmail.com/ebsite:
Having male characters enact sensitive social issues make topics such as pregnancy, child birth and breastfeeding socially acceptable for open discussion, especially at community level. As Baap re Baap was originally written as a street play, the actors need to adapt their performance for stage – to consciously speak into microphones, and the play could be shortened by 15 to 20 minutes for better effect — Lakshmi Menon
www.yuvaparivartan.org
No ‘slut walk’ proves the point Bangalore: In a sudden move, the Bangalore police cancelled a proposed “slutwalk” scheduled for Dec. 4 allegedly because they were “concerned” about a backlash!!! Provoked by the word “slut” the police and the BJP Mahila Morcha seemed to have jumped the gun because everyone was in fact “suitably attired” (in jeans and kurtis). Donna Fernandes of Vimochana commented “It is indeed sad that police could not give protection to women who were protesting legally. By giving into the demands of certain groups the police have succumbed.” Contact Alternative Law Forum 0968601842
Child Resource Centre opened Kodagu: ASTRA (Assoc.for Social Transparency Rights and Action established in 2006, inaugurated its newly built Children’s Resource Centre (‘Vatsalya’) on Dec. 11. Apart from its anti-corruption mission ASTRA is also actively associated with child rights. The main focus is to provide alternative education opportunities, a home (initially 10 female children) and psycho social support for children at risk especially those who are forced to take to the streets, join the labour force or are trafficked into the sex trade. The project will provide immediate crisis intervention, street presence, advocacy, prevention, protection, Capacity Building, Care and Rehabilitation.’Vatsalya’ will immediately house 10-20 female
2
At Shishuvihar School Dadar on Nov.15, 63 students were honoured with certificates for successfully completing the Smile Twin eLearning Program—a 4 month in depth program in partnership with Smile Foundation which includes Basic Computer Knowledge , Retail Management, English Conversation and Personality development. After completing the course, the students can be gainfully placed. EOTO organized Elocution Competitions in all schools where it has its support program, from Nov. 19-22. and at its annual picnic to Royal Garden Resort near Dahisar on Nov.27, 270 children from all EOTO schools, attended.
Maher news Pune: Maher currently has 24 projects covering nearly 650 children and over 200 women. Some of these projects are exclusively dedicated to women, some exclusively to children and others cater to the needs of general population. These services include kindergartens, special coaching classes, placement, crèche, libraries, vocational training, self-help groups, technical training etc. Maher’s work has been recognized at an international level through ‘Friends of Maher’ groups. In Feb. 2012, it would complete 15 years of service to the poor and the abandoned. On the occasion, Maher has many plans on its anvil. Maher will celebrate the Day at Vadhu for which Mr. Anand Badve, well-known for his work among visually impaired children, has kindly agreed to be the Chief Guest and Mrs. Melanie Fernandez, Maher’s benefactor for a long time ,will be the Guest of Honor. Since children from the nearby villages too would be joining the celebrations, we expect 1500 children at the function. The evening function will be graced by Mr Vikram Puri, President, Rotary Club, Riverside, and Mr. Saksham Kulkarni, acclaimed Marathi film actor. Contact: Mr. Prakash Hande – 423016932/ 8308309048
Maldharis threaten agitation Gujarat: The Maldhari community in Sasan Gir has threatened to launch an agitation if the state government tried to evict them forcibly. At a meeting held recently, the community members resolved to stage dharnas and fast-unto-death if officials don’t reverse their stand. The members, who met under the banner of SETU, expressed anguish over forest officials warning them to move out of Gangadiya and Alavani ness or face action. Forest officials have said that 30 families of Gangadiya and Alavani ness had been staying in the forest illegally and would have to move. The community members say that they have been living here for many
decades and that they also have a legal pass given to them as a permanent permit. They have also alleged that officials were harassing other Maldharis in other areas as well and have stopped them from carrying milk out of the forest area. (Soource: Kalpraviksh Dec. 2011)
Community forest rights for Soligas Community Forest Rights (CFRs) under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers Forest Rights Act (FRA) – 2006 were distributed to 25 Gram sabhas of Soliga tribals in the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary (BRTWLS) on Oct. 2, by the District Commissioner, Mr. Amar Narayan and the MLA, Mr. C. Puttarangashetty. This is the first case in the country where CFRs have been accepted in a protected area under the provisions of the FRA. The sanctuary had been declared a tiger reserve in January earlier this year, a move that had been strongly opposed by the Soligas and a section of rights activists and wildlife conservationists. Following the acceptance of the CFRs now, as much as 60% of the reserve, which includes parts of the core area, will be under the management of the Soligas. CFRs in three of the five ranges of the reserve have been accorded and the community is now applying for its extension to the remaining two ranges as well. The Soligas are also working on a proposal to jointly manage the tiger reserve with the state using their traditional knowledge. They have proposed a three-tier management structure: a hamlet-level forest management committee (deriving its legal backing from FRA), three taluka-level committees and one at the sanctuary level. While the village-level committee will have representation of all adult members of the hamlet, the talukaand sanctuary-level committees will have representations of village committees, the forest department and civil society groups. The Soligas in consultation with civil society have also proposed that village-level committees should have the power to penalise members who breach the committee-designed rules, but offences of criminal nature would be reported to the forest department or to the police. (Source: Kumar Down to Earth, 31/ 10/11). Contact: Nitin Rai, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru. Tel: 080-23635555. Email: nitinrai@atree.org
WEBSITES This is a blog created by Silver Inning Foundation, an NGO that works with Senior Citizens to help find missing Senior Citizens in India and around Globe. Contact missingseniorcitizenalert.blogspot. com/If your elders or parents or friends who are 60 yrs & above go missing, first file police complaint and send a copy of police complaint to Silver Innings, their Passport size photograph with other details and contact number at silverinnings@ gmail.com. You need to look for missing people at places such as Old Age Homes , Hospitals , Railway Stations, Bus Stations, Religious places , Mental asylum , Clinics , Morgues , Foot paths , Parks/Gardens etc........People who are 60yrs and above might be suffering from Alzheimer’s / Dementia , a memory loss disease take precautions like - keep an ID card with them , Telephone Diary,
NGO Connect ○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Nov-Dec 2011 ○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
NGO News ‘Bhumi’ needs Trg. Centre Chennai: Bhumi is looking for a permanent space in Chennai for rent/lease.It should have at least one large hall (min. 400 sq ft) , centrally located in Chennai, easily accessible. Major bus stop and/or MRTS; Should have sufficient parking nearby for 30-50 two wheelers .The centre is for Bhumi volunteer training sessions,but Space maybe used as office when not in use for training. Bhumi is also willing to share space and resources with like-minded organisations. Contact: Dr Prahalathan KK 9894209741 http://about.me/ prahalathan http://bhumi.org.in
Rain Centres Chennai: Akash Ganga Trust set up a Rain Centre in Chennai in 2002 to carry out Rain Water Harvesting related activities. Since 2005, the trust has been involved in Ecosan related activities in Kovalam, a peri-urban coastal town near Chennai. We wish to spread the concept of Rain Centres in every big town and city so that RWH is popularised in the entire country. The project is all about popularizing and promoting rainwater harvesting (RWH) in big cities and towns and Ecological Sanitation (Ecosan) in peri-urban areas and villages. With traditional RWH still existing in peri-urban and rural areas, it is sanitation that is causing serious concern. While open defecation, pit latrines and badly designed septic tanks are polluting the surface and sub-soil fresh water sources, Ecosan is ecofriendly and is the ultimate in sanitation converting human waste, into useful manure for farming through composting toilets, which also totally avoids creatingsewage.
CAG to probe MGNREGA affairs
New Delhi, Nov. 24: The government has asked the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to conduct financial and performance audit of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) in Uttar Pradesh along with 11 other big states. The Centre has assigned the responsibility to the CAG after the UP government showed reluctance in conducting a CBI probe into the irregularities in the rural job scheme. Citing the highest number of pending complaints regarding irregularities in funds sanctioned under the UPA’s flagship rural employment programme, the Union Rural Development Minister Jayaram Ramesh has kept UP on top position for inspection. Other states which have been included for the CAG review are Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. In a letter to the CAG, Vinod Rai, the Minister apprised them of the irregularities in the administrative expenses sanctioned for the NREGA—six per cent (Rs 2400 crore) of the total budget allocated for the MNREGA is given for administrative expenses. —iGovernment Bureau
SUCCESS!!! Citizens take over lake Bangalore: Once a 13 acre pristine lake, the Puttenahalli Lake in J.P. Nagar, Bangalore shra=nk and became a marshy garbage dump due to exploitation and neglect. Starting in 2008, nearby residents campaigned to save the lake. It took them a while but they finally got the municipality (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike - BBMP) to restore the lake in 2010-11. Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust (PNLIT) was formed in June 2010 with Usha
Obituary The CNDP (Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace) deeply condoles the untimely death of J. Sri Raman in Kochi on 7th November. Sri Raman was a distinguished CNDP founder-member who remained a front-ranking anti-nuclear campaigner until the very end. An eminent journalist and highly felicitous writer, he will be remembered above all as a pre-eminent peace activist in the subcontinent who viewed communal harmony at home as key to India-Pakistan friendship as well as the elimination of the region’s nuclear weapons. Sri Raman, who died at 68, was the moving spirit behind many campaigns against nuclear weapons and communalism at the grassroots. Theearliest them, Journalists Against Nuclear Weapons (JANW) in Chennai, wasanaudacious effort to protest against the May 1998 Pokharan-II nuclearexplosions, The ‘MediaBomb’, a collection of essays by the journalists in Chennai was educativeas well as effective in exposing the jingoism and ultra-nationalismunderlying the official and mainstream media stance.The second, the Movement Against Nuclear Weapons (MANW), theumbrella bodyof anti-nuclear organizations, was already in the making by the time of the first anniversary of Pokharan-II. Since its inception, Sri Raman was convenor of MANW and also of JANW and an active member of Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP) since its inception in the year 2000. During the 2002 state-sponsored pogrom against the Muslim minority in Gujarat Sri Raman was at the forefront to combat communalism under the banner of the Movement for People’s Unity.(MPU). In the CNDP, Sri Raman wasamong those who refused to countenance any kind of equivocation onthequestion of unilateral nuclear disarmament. .Born in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, Sri Raman graduated from Loyola Collegein Chennai. He was on the staff of ‘Patriot’, the ‘Hindustan Times’ and later ‘The Indian Express’ before becoming an independent journalist. He wrote extensively on world affairs. His work was published regularly by ‘Truthout’ and ‘The Daily Times’ of Lahore. His book, “Flashpoint: Howthe U.S., India, and Pakistan Brought us to the Brink of Nuclear War” (CommonCourage Press, 2003) won wide acclaim among global peacecampaigners. Hehad published a sheaf of poems as well. Sri Raman’s travels as an anti-nuclear weapons campaigner took him totheUnited States, China, Japan and Germany. In recent times, he referred tohimself as an ‘India-Pakistan journalist’, Contact “CNDP India”cndpindia@gmail.com Web : www.cndpindia. Org R. I . P.
Rajagopalan (a writer), Arathi Manay (a market researcher), Prasanna K. Vynatheya (a software architect) and O.P. Ramaswamy (a chartered engineer) as the first trustees. In May 2011, PNLIT was formally given charge by the BBMP to maintain Puttenahalli Lake. This is the first instance of a citizens’ Trust being given a lake for nurturing. The nurturing project is for 3 years (May 2011-2014). While the initial restoration was done by the BBMP, the nurturing project receives no financial support from the BBMP and is expected to be entirely supported through public donations and other funding. In the course of the rapid expansion of Bangalore, over 100 lakes have been lost within a short period. With water bodies shrinking and trees making way for roads and buildings, the worst hit is avian life. Destruction of bird habitats will soon wipe out even the species that are common now.The fact that within a few months of restoration, the water and land birds have come back to the city testifies to the success of our approach. As the information about the revival of Puttenahalli Lake is being disseminated through word of mouth by individuals and in the print and television media, many are feeling inspired and motivated to revive lakes in their localities. The experience of PNLIT will be useful to others who wish to revive lakes in their localities. Contact: Arathi Manay PNLIT, Usha Rajagopalan, B3, 502, South City, Arekere Mico Layout, Off Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore 560076
Bihar Lokayukta Bill passed Patna, Dec. 2: Even as Parliament continues to debate on the Lokpal BillThe Bihar cabinet approved the final draft of Bihar Lokayukta Bill, 2011 bringing Chief Minister, former Chief Ministers and ministers in its ambit. Speaker of the State Assembly and Chairman of the Legislative Council besides legislators and former legislators will also come under its purview. The proposed bill would also have public servants, employees of the government and corporations or organisations receiving government grants under its scanner. According to the draft, there will be 5-member selection committee. Chairman of the State Legislative Council will be the chairman while Speaker of the State Assembly, outgoing Lokayutka, and two sitting Supreme Court and High Court judges will be its members. The panel will have the power to put in place search committee of members of judiciary and civil society for identifying Lokayukta.
Friends Society Update Vadodara: Since three decades, Friends Society’s Sewing & Embroidery Class has been instrumental in empowering women from a lower socio-economic class by teaching them various vocational based courses. Apart from teaching them basic skills of Sewing & Embroidery and preparing them for appearing in Govt. conducted W.C.G.M. (Women & Children Garment Making) exam, they also conduct vocational based courses on Jewellery & Mehendi making. Exhibitions of their work were held in Aug and September. Friends Society has organized seven Voluntary Blood donation
The Aawaaz-e-Niswaan’ calendar for 2011 is about women and joy: Zist Tarashi- Sculpting Lives
camps in the current year till date. Camps were organized in M.S. University campus (Faculties & Hostel) as well as in Industries, and 208 units of blood were contributed to the Blood Bank, S.S.G. Hospital
be heard and we want this process to be transparent and include all the issues which need to be paid close attention to,” said Deepak Apte, deputy director (conservation), B N H S .
The XIXth All Vadodara Special Children Sports Meet was held on Dec. 18, at “Convent School, Fatehgunj, Vadodara”. Dr. Virendra Shandaliya, Surgeon was the Chief Guest.
Following the preliminary regional meet in Mumbai, BNHS will hold consultations in Kochi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Guwahati, New Delhi, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh to mobilise NGOs working on different issues.
Nineteen Institutions and around 500-550 Special children (Deaf & Mute, Orthopaedically challenged, Mentally challenged & Blind) participated in various events.Among those institutuions which participated were: Arpan charitable Trust, Asha Speial School, Baroda Citizens Council, Bal Bhavan Society, Blind School Pensionpura; Crippled HomePensionpura; CK Katharani School for Special Children,Jalod; DisaCharitable Centre; Friends Society, GD Patel Muckh Badhir Vidhyalaya; Karishma Special School, Kalrav Special School, kamlaben Mukhbadhir Vidyalaya, Mira Special School, Seva Tirth, Sai Residency School for Mentally Challenged, Spandan School, Urmi Special School, V-one S o c i e t y . C o n t a c t : jaya.anuj1@gmail.com
Bio-Diversity Convention Mumbai:The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) will hold meetings with non-profit organisations all over the country to chalk out the agenda for the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD), which will be held in October 2012 in Hyderabad. CBD is an inter-governmental forum where NGOs discuss policies relating to conservation of biological diversity. This is the first time that India will host the international event. The main theme for CBD 2012 is marine bio-diversity. ”As the nodal agency, BNHS will have to network with NGOs across the country, involve itself in capacity building and also look after the logistics for next year’s event in Hyderabad,” said Deepak Apte, deputy director, conservation department, BNHS. The preliminary meet on Nov. 17 in Mumbai included discussions with community groups, including National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF), NGOs and tribal activists from Maharashtra. The meeting was attended by members of groups such as Conservation Action Trust, Hariyali, National Fishworkers Forum, Godrej Mangroves Park and various other experts in the field of marine biology, horticulture, biosafety, agro biodiversity and others. “This is a chance for everyone to
CSR Cisco rolls out hi-tech healthcare system in MP Bhopal, Nov. 11 :Cisco has launched its Cisco healthcare service pilot in collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP) in Sehore. Through this pilot, patients at the remote health centres will be able to access basic medical treatment and specialist consultations via video. In the first phase of deployment, community and primary healthcare centres (CHCs and PHCs) in Sehore and Gwalior are being linked to their district hospitals. Patients at these clinics will be able to communicate via video links with specialists and other medical staff at the district hospital. A nurse at the clinic will check their vital signs while a distant doctor at the hospital consults and makes a diagnosis in real time via the video and audio links. Two more districts in Madhya Pradesh — Datia in the north and Chhindwara in the south — will be wired up later. In all, 11 community health centers in these four districts will be connected to hospitals by this system. Cisco’s idea here is to use technology to reduce the inequality in healthcare treatment between rural and urban people. India, where 70 per cent of people live in rural areas, but 80 per cent of doctors are in cities, is a good place for such a test, a Cisco official said. And “The Government of Madhya Pradesh is keen to provide affordable and easily accessible healthcare to its population,” the state’s Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Mahendra Hardia said.—iGovernment Bureau Special employees of Vinyas Innovative Technologies Located on the outskirts of Mysore, the company, three years ago, hired seven persons with special abilities and now every year they add one person with special abilities. The special employees work in the Reception area and in the manufacturing area. The MD, N. Narendra says that only a little commitment is required to make sure that they complete their work
3
A name written on
NGO Connect
Nov-Dec 2011 ○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
NGO News increase women’s participation in technology-making and equal access to technology use. The Consultation started with a keynote address “Theoretical Dilemmas of ,and in, Feminist Science Studies” by Gita Chadha of Dr Avabai Women’s Archives, RCWS, SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai.
and it takes a little bit extra to train them. A winner of the “Best Employer award” from the Ministry of Social Justice feels the mentally challenged employees says they are extremely good at repetitive work, and what is important is identify certain abilities to make them employable e.g. washing, working in the canteen, maintaining cleanliness, packingwhich parents should identify and teach.
Citizen Charter Bill tabled It spells out rights of citizens for time bound delivery of goods and services and redressal of their demands from the government departments New Delhi: Dec. 2 The Citizens Charter Bill that spells out responsibilities of government departments towards citizens, their right to delivery of goods and services, and redressal of their grievances in a time-bound manner was introduced in the Lok Sabha . Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) V Narayanasamy introduced the Right of Citizens for Time Bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill, 2011, which was cleared by the cabinet earlier this month. The government has gone ahead with the Bill despite severe opposition from Anna Hazare and his team who want the provisions to be kept within the ambit of the proposed anti-corruption Lokpal Bill. The Bill has been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee that will prepare its report and submit it to the house before the legislation is debated and passed. The highlights of the Bill are: - Every department or authority would be asked to publish a citizen’s charter, listing all the services it renders and the possible time frame within which the goods and services could be delivered. - It also mandates that every government department should create an information and facilitation centre to handle complaints and guide citizens. - It also suggests appointment of grievance redress officer in every department or public authority who can provide all necessary assistance to citizens in filing complaints. - The officer has to ensure that any complainant is informed in writing about the action taken on his complaint. - If this is not done, a complainant can appeal to a designated authority who will have authority to summon accused officers and question them within 30 days of the complaint, and if proven guilty they could face penalty. They will also have to compensate the citizen.- If a complainant feels unsatisfied with the designated authority’s decision, he or she can approach public grievances redressal commissions which would be established at both central and state levels. (Source IANS).
Free Jaipur Limb Camp Jan. 5-12, 2012. Bangalore Online Registration Facility for NGO’s Rotary Bangalore Peenya is conducting its 15th Mega Free Jaipur Limb Camp from Jan5thJan12th, 2012 at Ganesh Bagh, Infantry Road ( Next to Hindu Office ), Bangalore.
Free Jaipur Artificial Limbs, Crutches and Calipers will be provided.A Functional LN-4 Prosthetic Hand will be provided to below elbow amputees or b e n e f i c i a r i e s . NGO’s can register the beneficaries online at http://www.rotaryjflc.co.in/ before the start of the camp.
Scholarships for disabled EnAble India is looking for candidates across India to provide Degree Scholarships with Accommodation. This batch is only for Physically Disabled and those with Cerebral Palsy from the Commerce and Accountancy streas, and currently studying 12th/ PUC/HSC, who will pass-out next year. Once they get selected they will attend the 3 year B Com course in Christ University Bangalore. Placement will be provided in an MNC company if they really do well in their graduation. Internship and Mentor-ship also will be provided. Please contact ASAP Subbaiah at 9986739554 for any queries.
Calendars Aawaaz-e-Niswaan’ literally meaning the ‘voice of women’, is a vibrant feminist collection of students, academics and activists from the women’s movement, Aawaaz-e-Niswaan was formed in 1985 in the backdrop of two major events: a case filed by a founder member of Aawaaz-e-Niswaan in the Supreme Court of India challenging gender inequality in the Muslim Personal Law and the controversial Shah Bano judgment. Zist Tarashi: Sculpting Lives is the theme of the calendar:All photographs printed here are the work of our photography group ‘Zist tarashi’ who first came out with an exhibition showcasing the work of 16 Muslim women, most of whom had never held a camera. Now this enthusiastic group of women photographers have designed the calendar themselves. Most of them have started to get part time work of shooting weddings and ceremonies.The calendar is priced at Rs. 100/- (including postage) and can be ordered from .Yasmin, Aawaaz-e-Niswaan, Kurla (W), Mumbai Ph: 26523402 / 26521825 Visthar Calendar 2012 Visthar Calendar 2012 is dedicated to Rabindranath Tagore in this, his 150th year, The calendar has 12 visuals, each carrying a picture of a hand made doll.by artist, Françoise Bosteels, matched with a text from Tagore. This desk calendar is priced at Rs.100/- The proceeds from the calendar will defray the educational costs of youth from North Karnataka, studying a two-year course in social work at the Visthar Community College. For bulk orders of 100 and above we offer to print your organization’ s name and logo on the flyleaf (if
desired). For copies contact Reshma Banu at mail@visthar. org<mailto:mail@visthar. org> . Phone 080- 28465294 /95
Mahila Melava 2011 Mumbai: Women Networking -an informal network of over 15 organizations and individuals in the western suburbs of Mumbai, observes the ‘16 Days of Activism’ (from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10) annually by conducting programmes in slum communities, education institutions, work places, raising awareness on gender violence by putting up poster exhibition, films/ documentaries, having discussions, with the aim of ending VAW. This year, Women Networking focused on sex selection. More than 800 women and few men participated in the programme which was held on Dec. 10 at the Holy Family School hall in Andheri East. The programme included jagruti geet by the WN members, and a street play staged by Stree Mukti Sanghatana. The chief guest, Adv. Shailaja Jadhav Chairperson, Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal, Satara and working on the issue of declining sex ratio in 8 high risk districts of Maharashtra, spoke of her experiences in conducting sting operations to expose doctors and radiologists violating the PCPNDT Act and filing lawsuits against them. The play, Baap Re Baap (reviewed Pg. 1)) was very well appreciated by the audience. Women Networking is an effort to create awareness in the community, strengthen and build a perspective for gender justice. It is an endeavour to end gender violence and bring gender equality. Women Networking Partners: Aakar Mumbai, Aashankur, Ashadeep Community Centre, Centre for Legal Services, Jagruti Kendra, Justice and Peace Commission, Malad Women’s Cell, Mukti Sadan, Prayas Kendra, Prayatana Community Centre, Roshni Griha, Sanmitra Trust, Sathya Shodak, Vimla Vikas Kendra, Women’s Grievances Redressal Cell, Yuva, YWCA, and individuals. Contact: Jaya Menon, c/o Centre for Legal Services, Mumbai - . Email: jaya11200@yahoo.co.in
Women, Science & Technology The Western Regional Consultation on “Women, Science and Technology: Partnering for Change” was organised by Point of View (POV), Mumbai and Feminist Approach to Technology (FAT), New Delhi on Dec. 15-16 at Savitribai Phule Gender Resource Centre in Mumbai. The aim is to create a countrywide dialogue and consensus on the need to
4
The programme had sessions on empowerment which showcased some interesting experiences such as empowering wastepickers, farmers, minority women and using ICT. Other sessions included reproductive health, disability, women in science & technology, women’s sexuality, internet, activism and rights and ended with discussion on future plans. Contact: Gayatri Buragohain, FAT: gayatri@fat-net.org or POV: richa@pointofview.org
Bal Sangam 2011 New Delhi: Sanskaar Rang Toli (Theatre-in-Education Company) of National School of Drama (NSD) held their Bal Sangam 2011 at Sammukh Auditorium, NSD on Nov. 4, 2011 As part of its constant endeavor towards cultural and educational development of children, this year’s edition of the bi-annual cultural mela focused on the revival of dying cultural art forms of India through children. Bal Sangam 2011 was organized at Crafts Museum, Bhairon Marg, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from Nov. 8-14, and featured an ensemble of various traditional performing art forms presented by children from different states across India. Ranging from the folk dances and martial art forms of the North East to the Kallari Payattu of Kerala in the South to the traditional dance forms of Jammu & Kashmir in the North, the children belonging to traditional performing families, guru-paramparas and institutions to present a kaleidoscopic view of rich Indianculture. Participating groups included Bhavesh Chaue Natya Kala Kendra from Jharkhand, Hari Saran Cultural Centre, Reasi from J&K, Hindustan Kalari Sangam from Kerala, Sahitya Kala Mandal from Mumbai, Garh Joypur Saptarshi (Vatdi Chhau Akademi) and Sarabhuj, Medinipur from West Bengal, Dasabhuja Gotipua Orissi Nrutya Parisad and UKIA (An Institution of Sambalpuri Folk and Tribal Dance Group) from Orissa, Huyen Lallong Manipur Thang Ta Cultural Association from Manipur, Pragati Sangha and Kadam Toli Ojahpali Dal from Assam, Kohinoor Langa Group and The Performers, Udaipurfrom Rajasthan, Anand Niketan Eklavya Model Residential School from Gujarat and Shri Krishna Lok Sanskritik Vikas Sansthan from Madhya Pradesh. Children from these groups showcased the various art forms of their respective states and regions during the 7 day festival. The festival also included art and craft workshops like origami, pottery, puppet-making, recycling, etc.
Change Makers Clubs Mumbai:The Laadli Change Makers Club was officially launched on Sept. 27, at Patkar Hall, SNDT University. An initiative of Population First which is concerned with the issue of female infanticide and gender inequality, the Chief Guest for the event was Rhea Pillai and special guests were Sonali Sachdev and Suneeta Rao. Suneeta Rao spokesperson of laadli sang two songs , Afsana Sagiir Ahmed; an 8-yr old girl performed a play titled Ek Laadli ki Kahani Uski Zubani . A Play was performed by the students of PVDT College of Education on the theme of Gender Discrimination.
All 38 Office bearers of the Clubs from 7 different colleges took the Oath.The Change Maker Clubs will put up regular blogs on a Population First blog, bring out a regular fortnightly wall news paper, have citizen journalist news reports, short films made on mobile phones and digital cameras, and organize regular discussion forums along with other competitions and extra curricular activities. At the end of the year Population First will organize an Awards function to felicitate the best Club and will also award prizes to the best blog, best wall news paper, best citizen journalist report etc. These activities would be facilitated by the WDC and NSS departments of various colleges in Mumbai. The programme concluded with an interactive session with Mr. Manjul Bharadwaj titled Ched Chad. Contact :Population first@gmail.com
Visit to Sangopita Mumbai: A Shelter for Care, in Badlapur —Sangopita has invited all those who are in, near and around Badlapur to visit their shelter . Situated 7 km from Badlapur station near pollution free Kondeshwar.”Sangopita” a word derived from a Sanskrit word “Sangopan” stands for upbringing of Children, traditionally entrusted to Parents or Guardian who protect their child and nurture them to lead a healthy & Sound life . Sangopita is an NGO which offers a ray of hope to 62 agonized parents who are endowed with special children who are mentally challenged i.e. suffering from Autism, Down syndrome and Cerebral Palsy etc. Sangopita was started by such parents of a disabled child to help other parents suffering similarly. Sangopita not only takes care of these children above 4 years, but also provides necessary medical aid, Special Education in a loving atmosphere. Please call Shri Ravindra Sugvekar, Founder and Trustee of Sangopita at 0251-2694989, 09867845469 or 0 2 5 1 - 2 6 9 5 3 6 5 or via email <sangopita123@ g m a i l . c o m > a n d <info@sangopita.org>. http://www.sangopita.org
35th Ann. of BLP Mumbai: To observe the 35 th Anniversary of Bombay Leprosy Project (BLP) and the 142nd Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, a crusader for the fight against leprosy, a Clinical Meeting was organised on Oct. 5 at the Main Referral Centre of Bombay Leprosy Project. Experts on Leprosy viz Neurologist, Neurophysiologist, Clinicians,
NGO Connect ○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Nov-Dec 2011 ○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
NGO News Radiologist and Laboratory Scientists deliberated on the various clinical cases that were presented at the meeting. The experts later examined the cases and discussed investigations and the management of such patients and were convinced that newer investigations like Ultrasonography of nerves can be used to know the involvement of nerves for early management to prevent disability. Medical Officers, Post Graduate students from the city medical colleges, Interns and staff of BLP formed the audience . Contact::bombayleprosy@gmail.com
ISSUES Odisha: On the POSCO Front: On Dec. 19, the leaders of five parties, Communist Party of India (CPI), CPI (Marxist), Forward Bloc, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Samajwadi Party submitted a memorandum to the Governor registering protest against the project related work in the proposed POSCO plant area in the absence of a Memorandum of Understanding. Amidst this chaos, POSCO officials quietly opened a project site office at Dadhibamanpada in Nuagaon Panchayat. Villagers including children and women are continuing their protest at Balitikira, bordering Govindpur village, to protest against the forceful land acquisition for POSCO. They are in strong determination to fight till POSCO withdraws its project. Contact: email: alternate noposco@gmail.com> Bangalore;Sudhir Patnaik, the renowned activist intellectual from Orissa was in Bangalore to attend a meeting on Nov. 24, 2011. Sudhir Patnaik has been bringing out a magazine called SAMADRUSTI in Oriya for more than a decade. SAMADRUSTI has been a major space for diverse people’s movements in Orissa like Kashipur, Vedanta, POSCO as well as burning communal issues. Talking to friends of People’s Solidarity Concerns, he shared his concerns to activists, media persons and youth in Bangalore. SAMADRUSTI has been surviving on readers’ subscriptions and casual donations from very close friends and well-wishers. 50% of copies are circulated free among activists, people’s movements, left party workers and others. It never carries any advisement backed by any corporate.Peoples’ Solidarity Concerns. Contact: 9448394365, 9845453614.
Sevalaya report Chennai: For the second time in a row, Sevalaya’s Mahakavi Bharatiyar Hr.Sec. School entry, “Organic farming for Prosperous Life” was selected as one among the top 20 winning entries for the “Design for Change School Challenge 2011. On Nov. 14 students participated in the district level Science exhibition in Thiruvallur and presented models highlighting the advantages of organic farming and the disadvantages of chemical farming. Students also won drawing competitions and Gita chanting competitions. Many interactive Maths sessions, book discussions and social work activities were organized. On World Elders Day, 30 residents of Sevalaya’s Sri. Ramakrishna Paramhansa Old Age Home won 10 prizes in various competitions on the
occasion. Contact Sevalaya, Chennai te. 9444620286 email sevalayaprm@sevalaya.org
Milana with Children with HIV+ Bangalore: After working with issues connected to women, Milana began/ to network with those living with HIV in 2000 in Austin Town. Now with the number of families visiting them touching 100, Milana, funded by Action Aid, became part of the Bangalore HIV Forum- a platform for people and organizations working with PLHIV. In 2006 a support group, Chiguru was started for children above 11 years. Jyothi Kiran,founder says that their aim is to launch CABA – Children Affected by AIDS after a 3day workshop in Dec.11 where about 50 children from various districts participate.
Getting to Zero Bangalore: In a community initiative, on World AIDS day, Dec. 1 the Forum Mall in Koramangala organized a day encompassing a range of issues about HIV. The Mall itself was lit up with red ribbons. The theme of the World AIDS Day campaign this year was “Getting to Zero” to ensure zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths. Health experts from different organizations talked about the issues involved. More restaurants and meeting places have become venues for raising funds and awareness about issues. In Bangalore on Nov. 29 Hard Rock Café launched a global campaign, “Imagine- there’s no hunger.” The launch was part of a global launch of a non-profit organization, Yoko Ono Lennon launched to “generate awareness about the millions of hungry children in the world and to raise funds to work towards eradicating hunger and poverty.” Guests at the Café were requested to fill in a menu for the underprivileged and contribute towards it. On Dec. 5 The Café hired a bus with staff members going with tents and food supplies to serve at a village, followed by a film and games!
Free rehab programme Bangalore: On the occasion of World Disabled Day, Nov. 30,the Samvaad Institute of Speech and Hearing announced a free sixmonth language rehabilitation programme. At the centre, therapy is offered to children and adults with speech and hearing disabilities. Parents are trained on follow up of the treatment at home. As part of its outreach programme, the free camps would be held in semi-urban and rural areas in association with different NGOs. Free assessment will be done at the Dr. Ambedkar Hospital and Bowring Hospital Tel.080 65351150M www.samvaadinstitute.org
Database of tribal communities Bangalore: Continuing in the footsteps of her parents who documented folk traditions of the tribals in Uttar Karnataka, Savita Uday with her NGO Buda Folklore has made Honnavar the focal point of study and research of folk heritage. At Buda, the tribals are the resource persons who are guides on”study tours’ or honorary professors at workshops where participants get to interact, live and learn from the tribal communities in their own
homes. Buda also facilitates research and internship programmes for students, social scientists, food technologists and designers. Savita is an educator and associated with several schools where she conducts workshops for the children on different facets of folk life. “Connecting” with the tribals and understanding their crafts and their dances makes it more meaningful than just buying a product or seeing a performance, Savita insists.
The first batch of learners have passed out and have completed BA, B.Sc, MA, M.Sc, B.ED,Agricultural Science, many have excelled in the field of sports, while others have become teachers and activists themselves. Many of theseyoungsters, who have risen from the adivasi communities in the S a t p u d a ranges of the Narmada valley are to this day, actively associated withthestruggle in the valley .
The museum and library at Honnavar has a rich collection of various arts and crafts from the daily and ceremonial lives of the community. Work on a Learning centre which would be a cultural and facilitation centre is underway and once ready will be a place for both, the tribals and visitors to exchange ideas and knowledge.
The Youth Carnival will bring together the alumni of all the Jeevanshalas at Dhadgaon Tehsil Place,District Nandurbar, Maharashtra. We all, who believe in the process of Andolan and are in fact the Andolan ourselves, shall go ahead with the struggle.”
State to build homes for elderly Maharashtra may become the first state in the country where the state government is set to foray into construction of dedicated housing for senior citizens. ile the trend of senior citizen housing has been rapidly emerging in India in recent years, so far only private players have capitalised on the growing demand from the segment. Housing Minister Sachin Ahir said the government involvement will bring in the added dimension of affordability. The housing scheme will be an extension to the draft policy for senior citizens being prepared by the social justice department. ”We are exploring various options. One is where the social justice department could provide grants for senior citizens’ groups who want to construct such colonies,” said Ahir. In the second model, MHADA would create houses through joint ventures with landowners in the peripheral areas of Mumbai. Ahir said such a housing scheme is the need of the hour owing to the trend of nuclear families and the subsequent need to provide a secure environment for the elderly. There are barely any dedicated residential societies for the elderly in the MMR barring the Dignity Lifestyle Retirement Township at Neral in Raigad district. Pune has five Athashri housing projects by Paranjape Schemes.
Celebrating 20 Years of Jeevanshalas In the Narmada Valley: A Satpuda Youth carnival and Youth camp was organisesd by the Jeevanshalas on Nov.7-9. The Jeevanshalas (life-schools) in the Sardar Sarovar Dam-affected hilly adivasi villages of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh began as a campaign of the village communities themselves to impart education to their children and as analternative to the corrupt government schools functioning onlyon paper. The first school was started at village Manibeli in 1991 and as ondate,thousands of children have passed out of the 13 Jeevanshalas in of Maharashtra, M.P. and Gujarat. Hundreds of children have taken to higher studiesin Dhule, Malegaon, Amalner, Chopada, etc. Being run under the banner of Narmada Nav Nirman Abhiyan, theJeevanshalas have now successfully completed 20 years, as the struggle in the Narmada valley itself continues to march ahead, beyond 25 years.
5
Bird Conservation Mumbai: Plant & Animals Welfare Society (PAWS) was an outcome of 4 youngsters whodecided to help wildlife of Thane district in 1998, and startedrescue of local birds & reptiles. Soon a young brigade was formed & PAWS registered as charity in year 2001. In the beginning PAWS started working to rescue distressed birds with various governmental agencies like ForestDepartment, Civil Defence, Police, Home Guards, Fire Brigade etc. soon the team has started knowing as districts largest bird rescue group with more then 200 volunteers including vets. As the organization grew, the activities for stray animals & environment protection were also taken up. PAWS runs 24 hr rescue service in Thane, Dombivli & kalyan for birds &reptiles in distress with its network.PAWS is now actively working in conservation of birds & awareness since a decade now, following activities are undertaken in field of Bird Conservation & protection through Awareness on Birds, Field Trips, Habitat Studies and bird watching trips every weekend. Over 230 Bird-Watching field trips were organised by members in 2011. PAWS does not have its own facility to treat the birds but it gives the best rehabilitation process. PAWS Team conducted awareness campaigns in schools & collages on sparrow conservation which very successful. PAWS has come-up with brochures on various bird conservation topics namely ‘ *Ethical Bird Watching & Observations*’ for amateur birdwatchers, A Cage is a Prison – LET THE BIRDS FLY FREE*’ mentioning facts on Bird Trade in India;, You Can Make a Difference! describes Wildlife Protection Acts. These brochures are available Free. Contact: Nilesh Bhanage, Founder – PAWS, Helpline +919820161114 www.pawsasia. org.
Uncommon Ground By Rohini Nilekani Publ. Viking Pgs. 250, Rs 499
T
he book is a transcription of the TV series, “Uncommon Ground” by NDTV in 2008 when Ms.Nilekani initiated dialogues between industry captains and social activists in their respective sectors.. So, you have Sunil Mittal of Airtel discussing ‘’Livelihoods and Job creation’ with Aruna Roy of the MKSS; ‘Health’ had Habil Khorakiwala founder of the Wockhardt hospital chain and Mirai Chatterjee, co-ordinator of Social Security of SEWA;’ Land’ with Anand Mahindra and Medha Patkar; ‘Financial inclusion’ between Uday Kotak and Vijay Mahajan (of Micro finance pioneer BASIX); ‘Business and Environment Sustainability’ between YC Deveshwar (of ITC) and Sunita Narain (CSE). The dialogues are interesting and showed a remarkable understanding of the ‘other sides’ problems agreeing that it was important to go straight to the people involved and not have a middle man whether in retail, or health, A disillusionment with the political set up was universal, but eventually is it, was it just talk? Will business ever go to the NGOs or people, before buying land? Can they? Is there some way business can work with the people? Will they? The introductions, explaining the issues, before each chapter are excellent, giving an in-depth understanding of the problems in that sector. For those who are unaware of the ongoing debate in India between development and equitable growth in almost all the sectors, the book provides a great insight into the massive problems the non-shining part of India face The Politics of Climate Change and the Global Crisis By Praful Bidwai 382 Pages, Rs. 750 Publ: Orient Black Swan. The book focuses on two important issues relating to climate change. The impacts of climate change and the politics of the international climate negotiators; and Indiaa as an example of an ‘emerging economy’. These issues have been in the public eye since the Kyoto Protcol and its successors and this scholarly book details all that has happened the last two decades. Although optimistic that there is a way out of this crisis and that political will comined with citizen initiatives will triumph; unfortunately, the optimism, particularly in the case of India and its politicians seems a little unfounded. (See ‘Connecting’ pg. 1) As he notes, the politics surrounding climate change increases inequity and exacerbates the global developmental crisis.
Nov-Dec 2011 ○
○
○
○
○
○
○
NGO Connect ○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
AWARDS / CONFERENCES Microfinance awards
All India Conference on Profession of Social Work
At the Microfinance India Summit 2011 held in New Delhi two Karnataka-based microfinance companies got awards. Ujjivan Financial Services, based in Bangalore was the winner for large organizations was. It serves over a million customers across 20 states. The award for small and medium organisations was presented to Sanghamitra Rural Financial Services (SRFS) promoted by MYRADA and lends to SHGs and not to individuals ensuring that the SHG decides the amount of loan and the purpose for which it should be lent to members.
UGC Centre for Advanced Study and Department of Social Work, Jamia Millia Islamia are organising an All India Conference on Profession of Social Work at Cross Roads (Repositioning Social Work Education and Practice) on 2324 February 2012 in New Delhi to examine the various aspects of social work education and practice in India.
Nominations for 3rd IRDS Awards
Academicians and Scholars from various schools of social work in India,representatives of professional associations, leading practitioners andpolicy makers are invited to participate in the deliberations on theproposed themes. Contact:Conference Director, Department of Social Work, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi -110025. Email: jamiasocialworkconf erence2012@ gmail.com. Tel: (011) 26981270, 26981717, Mob: 9868315240, 9968026662. Registration Fee: Professionals/ Educators/ Officials: Rs. 500/, Students: Rs. 150/-
Institute for Research and Documentation in Social Sciences (IRDS), an NGO from Lucknow will be presenting the Third IRDS awards to young achievers for their works in 2011 in the fields of print media, electronic media, human rights, law, medicine, management and government services. These awards are named respectively after Alok Tomar, Surendra Pratap Singh, Safdar Hashmi, V N Shukla, Anandi Bai Joshi, Manjunath Shanmugam and Satyendra Dubey, who died in the prime of their youth with a long promising career ahead. The awards shall be given with the hope that these awardees shall fulfill those left promises. The awards are open to all Indians and Non-Resident Indians who are 45 or below on 31 January 2012. Only individuals are eligible for the awards and not any society or organization. You are requested to send the nominations to IRDS to email: irdslucknow@gmail.com or nationalrtiforum@ gmail.com before 31 January, 2012 and the awards shall be announced on 15 February 2012. Contact: Amitabh Thakur, President, IRDS, Lucknow. Cell No +91- 9415534526. Website: www.irdsindia.com www.nationalrtiforum.org
Awards for wildlife conservation The RBS Awards for wildlife conservation awarded jointly by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and the Ranthambhore Foundation were given recently in New Delhi. The RBS ‘Earth Guardian’ Award was given to Aaranyak, the NGO that works in the North East; the RBS ‘Protect the Tiger’ Award was given to Dr. K. Thulsi Rao for his work in the Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (TR) in Andhra Pradesh and Daulat Singh of the Ranthambhore TR in Rajasthan; the RBS Inspire Award went to New Delhi Television and the RBS Green Warrior Award was awarded to Nanda Kishore Bhujbal.
Highest UN status for Indian NGO Sulabh International —pioneer in developing low-cost, environmental-friendly public toilet system—has been accorded ‘General Consultative’ status. ‘General Consultative’ is the highest status given to NGO’s within the UN system which is reserved for large international NGOs with broad geographical reach whose area of work covers most of the issues on the agenda of ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies.This new status opens the door for Sulabh International to actively engage with ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, as well as with UN Secretariat, programmes, funds and agencies and to actively participate in the work of the Council. Since 1970, Sulabh International has helped build more than a million affordable latrines, which work without running water. More than 10 million people are using these facilities daily across India.
CONFERENCES Annual Natural Childbirth Conference 2012 Birth India’s Annual Natural Childbirth Conference will be held on 21 January 2012 in Bangalore. The conference seeks to widen interest and awareness of natural and supported birth and discuss ways to transform the current high levels of medicalization, especially in urban India and to an increasing extent in rural areas as well. The conference will cover issues pertaining to pregnancy, labour, delivery, postpartum, breastfeeding and newborn health. National Seminar on Differently-Abled Persons A UGC-sponsored National Seminar, “Recent Trends in Welfare of the Differently-abled Persons: Rights, Welfare, Social Integration and Mainstreaming” will be held on 24 February 2012., Trichurapalli Organised by the Department of Social Work, Bharathidasan University Tiruchirappalli, Centre for Differently Abled, Bharathidasan University. Department of Social Wor, Smt Indira Gandhi College – Tiruchirappalli, &Professional Social Workers Forum – Tiruchirappalli Fees: Rs. 150 (paper presenters); Rs.250 for participants. Contact: Dr.V.Sethuramalingam, Department of Social Work, Bharathidasan University, Kajamalai Campus, Tiruchirappalli – 620 023, Tamil Nadu.Cell: 09443686234 E-Mail : nswdaps2012@yahoo.com
The conference deliberates on the following themes: 1. Standardization of Social Work Education: Issues andConcerns2. Strengthening Associations of Professional Social Workers: Ways and Means.
International seminar on Inclusion An international seminar on “Inclusion Understanding children with disabilities to build inclusive communities” will be held on 11-12 January 2012 in Kerala. . This conference, organized by Assumption College in collaboration with Adelphi University, USA is aimed to see beyond disability and change attitudes and behavior in a way that will contribute to a more inclusive community. Fee: Indian delegates Rs. 750/ Students and research scholars Rs. 350/. Contact: Assumption College Changanacherry, Kottayam, Kerala. Tel:(0481) 2420109, Fax: 0481 2423305. E-mail: ac@assumptioncollege.in; Website: http:www.assumptioncollege.in
Financial Inclusion & Micro-Fin. The Dept. of Commerce with Farm Management, Vidyasagar University is organising the UGC-sponsored International Conference on “ Financial Inclsuion and Micro-Finance at its campus in Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, W.Bengal. The conference will look at the various aspects of micro finance from concept stage to implementation from technical aspect to issue of social inclusionand to verify the existing framework from different viewpoints. Fees: Corp: Rs. 2500, NGOs & Academicians: Rs. 1000. Contact Dr. Samir Ghosh, Conference Secretary Email: samirghosh_commerce@rediffmail.com Tel: 09474780029. Website: http://www.iclmc.org/index.htm
Language, media & Culture The International Conference on Language, Medias and Culture sponsored by: IEDRC, EBSCO will be held on 10 11 March 2012 at JP Hotel, Chennai.All the registered papers will be included in the Engineering & Technology Digital
S ATE R . d A
You can:
Library as well as indexed by both EBSCO and Thomson ISI. Registration Fees: Authors (members/students) USD 200; Authors USD 250, Listeners: USD200. Contact: Secretary of ICLMC 2012, Hong Kong. E-mail: iclmc@iedrc.org ICLMC 2012 website: http://www.iclmc.org/index.htm IEDRC Website: http://www.iedrc.org/
ICEST 2012 The 3rd International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology (ICEST 2012) 10 - 11 March 2012 at JP Hotel, Chennai. The aim of the ICEST conference series is to provide a forum for laying the foundations of a new principled approach to Environmental Science and Technology. To this end, the meeting aims to attract participants with different backgrounds, to foster cross-pollination between different research fields, and to expose and discuss innovative theories, frameworks, methodologies, tools, and applications. Registration Fee: Member authors USD400/ Students USD 400; Non-Members USD 450; Listeners USD 200 The ICEST 2012 is Co-sponsored by Asia-Pacific Chemical, Biological & Environmental Engineering Society (APCBEES) and IACSIT Members and scholars from universities all round the world. For more details: ICEST 2012 Website: http:// www.icest.org, Email: icest@cbees.org APCBEES Association Website: http://www.cbees.org/Int.
Int. Conference on Social Science and Humanity The 2012 International Conference on Social Science and Humanity - ICSSH 2012 will be held during 10-11 March 2012, in Chennai, India. ICSSH 2012, aims to bring together researchers, scientists, engineers, and scholar students to exchange and share their experiences, new ideas, and research results about all aspects of Social Science and Humanity. English is the official language of the conference. We welcome paper submissions. Prospective authors are invited to submit full (and original research) papers in electronic (PDF only) format through the easy chair conferences management systemwebsite or via email icssh@iedrc.org. Registration: Authors (Members) USD 200; Authors: USD250; Listeners: USD 200 Secretary of ICSSH 2012, Hong Kong. E-mail: icssh@iedrc.org website: http://www.icssh.org/index.htm IEDRC Website: http://www.iedrc.org/
National Conference on Biodiversity The National Conference on Biodiversity Assessment, Conservation and Utilisation‘ is being been organized by the Department of Biodiversity, MES Garware College, in Pune on 10-11 February 2011. The themes for the conference are biodiversity assessment, ecosystem functions, bioprospecting and utilisation, landscape ecology, in-situ and Ex-situ conservation models and Community Participation in Conservation. Contact: Dr. Ankur Patwardhan, Organising Secretary. Tel: 020-41038236/7. Email: biodiversityconference2012@gmail.com. Web: www.mesbiodiversity.in
“To oppress others is a sin but to tolerate oppression is a greater sin.” ---Bhagavad Gita
* sponsor an issue for Rs. 20,000/- per issue * release an ad (10cms. x 1col.) for Rs. 1000 per issue. This newstabloid goes out to hundreds of NGOs, Corporate houses and the public. If you would like to insert an ad/ sponsor an issue, pls contact us. All ad copy/ news should be sent/ emailed to: shaktisrc@yahoo.com SHAKTI TRUST 5E, Gulmohar, c/o ERA, 1st fl. 20, Convent Road, N. M. Wadia Bldg. Bangalore 123 M G Road, 560025 Mumbai 400001 Tel: 09341867487 email: shaktisrc@yahoo.com 6
Nov-Dec 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: 093418-67487 E-mail: shaktisrc@yahoo.com.
○
NGO Connect ○
○
○
○
○
○
○
Nov-Dec 2011 ○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
OPPORTUNITIES Telecallers, Childline, Mumbai The Childline Contact Centre (CCC) is an initiative to bring contemporary IT and telecom technologies, in the form of contemporary Call Centre, to support the Childline network. Currently operating out of Mumbai, the CCC is catering to cities of North and West India. Job Description: to attend incoming 1098 calls at CCC and make outgoing calls to Childline Intervention Units (IUs), whenever intervention is required and to follow up with IUs for case documentation and for reports on cases received by them during their routine outreach activities. Qual: • Graduates, preferably from BSW or related Social streams (however graduates of other streams are also welcome to apply). MSW Candidates with experience and MA Counselling/Psychology/Sociology with relevant experience can be considered as Sr CCOs. • Computer skills are necessary: typing 30wpm with ability to work on word and excel. Must be fluent with either Hindi and Punjabi/Gujarati/ Marathi. CCC works 24 hrs on all days of the year. in shifts for 6 working days a week (one can also avail leave etc) (Lady CCOs do not work in night shifts). Only residents of Mumbai/ Thane and New Mumbai can apply, as this position is in Vikhroli (E). Compensation: Starting from Rs 6000/- pm at the basic level up to Rs 12,000/- pm depending on qualifications and experience. To apply: Please submit your CV with “Position of CCO” marked in the subject line by email to: careers@childlineindia.org.in
Research Assistants, Western Ghats The Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning (FERAL) is looking for young, motivated people to join its research and conservation projects in the southern Western Ghats. There are options for one-year research assistant positions, as well as shorter paid internships. These positions are ideal for graduates looking to gain practical experience in wildlife conservation, as well as for student projects. For more information, please visit http://feralindia.org/ ?q=node/389 Contact: Srinivas V. Email: srinivasvuk@yahoo.co.uk
Training in financial capability Lloyds Banking Group in partnership with the National skills academy forFinancial Services is offering two fully-funded courses in financialcapability through its Money for Life Programme: -Teach Me : an interactive online course covering a series offinancialtopics.-Teach Others : a two-day course which will enable those who are notqualified teachers – such as community or advice workers – to plan and facilitate financial capability sessions and workshops. Both training courses lead to a nationally recognised OCN qualification (Level 3).For more information and to apply, please visithttp://www.moneyfor lifeprogramme. org.uk/qualifica tions/ Carole Seignovert Project Manager for the Money for Life programme carole.seignovert@ nsafs.co. uk
Management Trainee, Bangalore Smile Foundation has a vacancy for Management Trainee with at least one year experience. Requirements: Graduation/ Post graduation in Social Work, Development Studies, Rural Management with strong interpersonal skills, good communication skills. The job includes travelling. Consolidated Stipend of Rs.8000-9000 pm. Contact: Manjusha Email: manjusha@smilefound ationindia. org and manjuet8@gmail. com
Team Head, CSE, New Delhi The Centre for Science and Environment, a non-profit institution known for its rigorous and scientific policy research and advocacy on environmental issues is looking for a Team Head to steer its Renewable Energy Programme to take a lead role in research, policy briefs, report writing, organising conferences/workshops/training and in advocacy and campaign on renewable energy issues.( Requirements: Candidate must have at least ten years of experience in the energy sector including at least five years in the renewable energy sector. log on to http://www.cseindia .org/content/ team-head- renewable- energy-programme Please mention “REP” in the subject line and email your applications to jgupta@cseindia.org or post your application to: Ms. Jagdeep Gupta, Executive Director – Planning & Operations, Centre for Science and Environment, 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area,New Delhi-110062. Tel: +91 (011)-29955124, 29955125, 29956394
Director – Venture Funds The organization is a venture catalyst that accelerates innovations for sustainability at the base of the economic pyramid. They work with a global network of entrepreneurs, investors and experts to discover, finance and scale up the
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
(despite deadlines, you are advised to apply)
best innovations. They envision a world in which disadvantaged people in underserved markets have an equal opportunity to sustainable living. The Director – Venture Funds will be an integral member of the team and responsible for strategy and operations of the venture funds in India and fundraising globally. While working closely with other staff, the Director will lead and manage the investment management in India develop and support the execution of a fund raising strategy for the funds. Can be based in Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai or Chennai. Req: Candidates should have an advanced degree in Business, Finance or related field ; at least 7 years overall experience with at least 5 years in early stage investing in India; demonstrated strong financial and business analysis skills including financial modeling; experience in financial structures ; and on-the-ground experience in working at the Base of the economic Pyramid (BoP) in India is a strong asset. Contact: Jaspal Shakya, Co-founder & CEO , OpportuneJobs.com - , New Delhi. Tel: 011-26261408, 09810996966, Email: jaspal@opportunejobs.com Website:www.opportunejobs.com
Rural Development Manager, Coimbatore The ABT Society (ABTS) is the ‘community development’ wing of Sakthi Group of Companies which aims at improving the socio-economic status of farmers through various welfare activities and offer them livelihood opportunities both on and off farm across the different districts of Tamil Nadu. Key responsibilities of the Rural Development Manager / Executive / Officer include: grass-root institution building formation of groups among the milk producers esp. women/ small and marginal farmers and landless agricultural labourers; creating sustainable economic opportunities in dairying and allied activities amongst the farming community; capacity building and linking with institutions and developing training modules; and micro credit linkages.
in-house technical support as well as provide application implementation and support for our project partners. The position will assume overall responsibility for technology support and management. Job Profile: Manage a small team of Technology Support specialists and serve as coach and mentor. Manage and troubleshoot in areas of IT infrastructure and network (GNU/Linux LAN); Oversee IT Support for workshops, Req: Bachelor of Engineering or Science in Computer Science or related field. Exposure to GNU/Linux operating system preferred. Willingness to work in the development sector and minimum 3 years of work experience covering information systems and support experience required. Technical Associate, CAD: This is a part-time position for experts or people who have used Computer Aided Design (CAD) applications, who are looking at a career in teaching and training. The candidate will explore the various Free and Open Source Software alternative to CAD tools and applications and develop training modules and materials for higher education faculty. Candidate should be proficient in using one of more of the 2D and 3D CAD tools - Autocad, Qcad (Free and Open Source Software), 3D Max, Maya, Blender (Free Software) Willingness to learn new applications in CAD area and exposure to Free and Open Source software, Linux operating system, Prior teaching experience will be preferred. Req: Bachelor of Engineering / B.Architecture; B.Sc with formal training in CAD programmes with minimum 2 Years of experience in drafting, or teaching CAD is required. Please visit our websites www.ITforChange. net and www.Public-Software .inhttp://www.public- software. in. Please send your CV to<mailto:jobsitmanager@ itforchange. net> by 15h of January 2012. Researchers, Bangalore IT for Change is looking for young thinker-activists to join our research and advocacy team. Our work in bringing development perspectives to the domain of information society studies is unique for its theoretical contributions and active exploration of policy and practice frameworks.
Req: Graduates or Post Graduates in social sciences/rural management/agricultural science; 3-7 years of working experience in grass-root institution building, capacity building and setting up income generation units is preferred. fluency in Tamil is a must. This position requires stay in and around the place of work. Deadline: 31 December 2011. Contact: The Asst. General Manager – HR & Admin, ABT Industries, 62, Dr. Nanjappa Road, Coimbatore- 641 018 or abtsociety@abtfoods.com
Req: appropriate qualification in social sciences/development studies/gender studies with research and project management skills. Knowledge of at least one Indian language will be preferred.2 to 10 years of experience in research. Please send your complete CV along with a writing sample (preferably published work) to jobs@ITforChange.net by 31st December, 2011.
Senior web developer, Bangalore
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has vacancy for the following full-time positions:
Required for Greenpeace India, Bangalore a web designer to create cutting-edge web tools for online activism & community building . Job profile: to create websites and tools that motivate people to change the world around them; be trained in a wide range of campaigning and communications skills that extend well beyond the online world; learn how to put together cross-platform online advocacy campaigns; and be part of a global community of webbies and campaigners committed to achieving change. Apply by 6 Jan 2012
Casework Manager, Mumbai International Justice Mission (IJM) is seeking a talented Casework manager to cater to the care and counseling needs of victims of commercial sexual exploitation. We are looking for a passionate individual who will work with our partner organizations to rehabilitate our clients and mobilize their reintegration into society. This position is a key member of the aftercare team who works closely with the Program Manager to ensure smooth execution of programs. This position is based out of Mumbai and reports to theDirectorofAftercare. Responsibilities involve attending rescue operations and assist with client statements, coordinating placement in suitable aftercare homes for clients, administering post-rescue care and counseling to clients, etc. Req: PG degree in Social Work; prior experience working with victims of abuse or children in especially difficult circumstances; counseling experience with program management would be considered an asset; experience in Process Documentation is a must. Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and Hindi and one other national language (Kannada/Bengali) would be an added advantage. Send Job Application Form, Resume & Cover Letter by 31Dec by e-mail: mumbai@ijm.org
Vacancies at ‘IT for Change’ IT for Change, an NGO in Bangalore that works on the use of Information and Communication Technologies for social change at global, national and local levels, has a vacancy for a Project Associate - IT. Candidate will support the work of the organization by providing
PETA, Mumbai Online Marketing Coordinator to develop and manage all aspects of the complex and diverse online marketing projects that promote PETA India’s mission; write animal rights–related Web features, blog posts, e-news and other online content; create and carry out marketing plans for PETA India’s Web content; track and analyse Web traffic and the success of online campaigns . Req: College degree in a related field or equivalent experience is preferable; Online marketing experience is preferable;• Proven interest in and excellent working knowledge of the Internet and • Extensive knowledge of animal rights issues and PETA India campaigns. Corporate and Government Affairs Liaison to ; decide on and maintain effective contacts with relevant people in companies, organisations and the government in order to further PETA’s work; • conduct research on corporate and government positions on animal welfare issues; • represent PETA to the media and the general public. Req:: • Degree in a related field ; • Minimum of two years of relevant experience ; and thorough knowledge of animal rights issues and PETA campaigns . Campaign Coordinator: To coordinate PETA India’s many cutting-edge campaigns and to work with activists across the country to bring attention to animal rights issues. Req: graduate in any discipline, previous campaign advocacy experience a plus, Fluency in both spoken and written Hindi and English (other languages a plus); and knowledge of Indian animal protection laws. Please send your resume by: 06 Jan 2012 to: jobs@petaindia.org
Volunteers needed, Chennai Dream India an NGO based in Chennai requires volunteers currently in our centers in Chennai - Valasarawakkam, Anna Nagar, and Adyar. We also require volunteers to help us maintain our website (Drupal technology) and other admin work. If you are willing to start a DI center in your own area, we would be happy to guide you and help you setup a center where you live. Our core areas of expertise are: Conducting weekend study classes for children in underprivileged communities; providing vocational training for women; conducting cultural events for children in government schools; supporting old age homes and orphanages. We do not solicit funds, . Contact: Varun at 98848 99771. Dream India (www.dreamindia2020.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. 09341867487 E-mail : shaktisrc@yahoo.com Editor : Rima Kashyap. 7
○
NGO Connect Regn. no. MAHENG/2004/15104 For Subscriptions and news: SHAKTI NGOConnect; c/o ERA, MG Rd., rMumbai 400001 or 5E Gulmohar Apts., 20 Convent Road, Bangalore 560025
www.ngoconnect.org
A ‘SHAKTI’ PROJECT
I n d i a ’ s Fi r s t N G O N e w s ta b l o i d
8
Tel: 09341867487