Towards Solidarity, 2008-2009 Annual Report, India

8/8/2019 Towards Solidarity, 2008-2009 Annual Report, India

1/62

Towards Solidarity-9

Centre for World Solidarity12 - 13 - 438, Street No.1, Tarnaka, Secunderabad - 500 017. A.P., INDIA

Ph : 0091 - 40 - 27014300 / 27018257 / 27007906 Fax : 0091 - 40 - 27005243

E-mail : [email protected] Website : www.cwsy.org

Annual Report

2008 - 2009


2/62

2 Annual Report 2008-2009

CWS RESOURCE CENTRES

Bihar Resource Centre1st FloorE-30, Patliputra Colony,

PATNA - 800 013

email : [email protected] - 3257532 / 2271404

Jharkhand Resource Centre

H.No. 22/A, Road No.9Shiv Singh Bagan, Agrico P.O.

JAMSHEDPUR - 831 009

email : [email protected] - 3242039 / 2441513 / 2424570

Andhra Pradesh Resource CentreH. No. 12 - 13- 440, Street No. 1,Tarnaka, Secunderabad - 500 017e-mail : [email protected]

Ph : 040 - 2700 7906

Orissa Resource CentreN 4/340, IRC Village,

BHUBANESHWAR - 751 015

email : [email protected] - 2555415

Tamil Nadu Resource CentreOpp. Children's Home,

Gandhigram Trust Compound,GANDHIGRAM - 624 302,Dindigul Dist.

email : [email protected] - 245166


3/62


Preface 4

01. Brief History of Organisation 7

02. Thematic Thrust and Geographical Presence 8

03. Rights Programme 9

04. Livelihood Programme 15

05. Governance Programme 17

06. Special Programme 19

07. Solidarity Institutions 31

08. Reflection on Programme Interventions 34

09. Financial Statements 36

10. Challenges and Way Forward 47

Annexures

1. Board Members 48

2. Staff 49

3. Partners 60

CONTENTS


4/62


Centre for World Solidarity (CWS) has moved on

with renewed commitment to the civil society and the

marginalized communities. The year 2008-09 has been

a year of introspection, review, learning, streamlining

and decentralization. The Andhra Pradesh Resource

Centre came into existence on April 1, 2008, thus

separating it from the Central Office. The move from

desk approach to State approach received momentum,

and steps were taken to strengthen and consolidate

the Resource Centres. The process of organisational

restructuring was pursued further, and partner and

programme monitoring and coordination was

transferred to the Resource Centres.

In the programme front,

During the year, in our gender programme,

among other things, we were able to address

the issue of violence against women with

particular focus on the effective implementation

of the Protection of Women from Domestic

Violence Act and the Immoral Trafficking

Prevention Act. We have also developed a

gender policy for the organisation. While the

counselling centres in Andhra Pradesh provided

support to more than 300 women victims of

violence, our partners were able to train 18,426

change makers. In Jharkhand, our partners have

succeeded in influencing the government to open

Women Police Stations (Mahila Thana) at

district level and have formed Vigilance

Committee on Trafficking in nine districts

whereas in Tamil Nadu, Vigilance Committees

were formed to monitor the practice of dowry.

In Orissa, the trafficked returnees became

effective Change Makers.

Empowering dalit communities to demand their

rights and effective implementation of SC/ST

Prevention of Atrocities Act and access to

various government schemes have been our

main efforts under the dalit programme.

The National Dalit Forum has done a pioneering

work in initiating a public and political discourse

on the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan for the

legitimate budget allocation for development of

Dalits.

Through the Dalit Bahujan Initiatives, we wereable to start a number of Bodhi Rural Libraries,

form Bodhi Youth Committees and identify

NGOs who would provide accompaniment to

the rural youth.

Human Rights Education to more than 5550

school and college students through human rights

educators and rights awareness to more than

25000 people and monitoring of 260 human

rights violations through our partners have beenthe major intervention of our human rights

programme.

Along with empowering women and youth

elected representatives of Panchayati Raj

Institutions and promoting Model GPs, we have

been campaigning for devolution of power to

GPs and implementation of Panchayati Raj

Extension to Scheduled Areas Act (PESA) in

our Panchayati Raj Initiatives.

Facilitating access to government schemes and

promoting livelihoods of Muslim women through

skill development has been the efforts of our

partners under the minorities programme.

While addressing the livelihood rights of the

Adivasis, our collective campaign was for the

implementation of the Forest Rights Act in our

Adivasi programme, and promotion of a new

Preface


5/62


Adivasi network known as Primitive Tribal

Group (PTG) Network.

Following the Constitutional Amendment makingeducation free and compulsory, our initiatives

under the child rights programme were against

child labour, child marriage, etc. along with a

campaign for the Right to Education Act. Now

that the Right to Education Act is passed by the

Parliament, our efforts will be for the proper

implementation of the Act.

Organic farming along with the promotion of

marketing cooperatives, up-scaling the System

of Rice Intensification, community participation

in water sharing, watershed development, forest

management and flood control and ensuring

livelihood security among the marginalised are

the initiatives of our partners in natural resource

management.

CWS has been taking serious steps to

mainstream HIV and AIDS concerns within the

organisation and among the partners in such a

way that as of now CWS and two partners have

their own Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS.

In the partnership front,

The strategy of CWS is to work with partners,

networks and fellows to promote sustainable

development of the marginalised.

During the year, CWS has partnered with about

300 civil society organisations to implement theproject. At the same time, CWS had also

provided accompaniment to partners in

institution building and strengthening solidarity

among civil society organisations.

We have strengthened our role in partner

coordination and partner management. CWS

constantly took efforts to support genuine

grassroots organisations which were doing

genuine work for the development of the people.

This Annual Report summarises the major

achievements during the year and other initiatives

towards promotion of sustainable development and

strengthening of civil society organizations. While we

gained in experience, we have also learnt a lot to

consolidate our interventions, improve programme

monitoring and strengthen partner coordination. We

do hope that this Report will inform and involve all thereaders to renew their commitment to the development

of the marginalized and contribute to build a vibrant

civil society.

Dr. Gnana Prakasam

Executive Director, CWS


6/62


SOLIDARITY INSTITUTIONS

Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA)

H.No. 12-13-445Street No.1, Tarnaka

SECUNDERABAD - 500 017

email : [email protected] : www.csa-india.orgPhone : 040 - 27014302, 27017735, 27002018

Centre for People's Forestry (CPF)H.No. 12-13-483/391st Floor, Lane 6Nagarjuna NagarStreet No.14, Tarnaka


email : [email protected] : www.cpf.in

Phone : 040 - 27154494, 27154495

Watershed Support Servces and

Activities Network (WASSAN)H.No. 12-13-451Street No.1, Tarnaka


email : [email protected] : www.wassan.orgPhone : 040 - 27015295, 27015296, 27018581

National Dalit Forum (NDF)H.No. 12-13-441

Street No.1, TarnakaSECUNDERABAD - 500 017

email : [email protected] : www.ndf.inPhone : 040 - 27014812

BODHIH.No. 12-13-441Street No.1, Tarnaka


email : [email protected] : 040 - 27017205


7/62


1. Brief History Of Organisation

Centre for World Solidarity emerged from

Aktionsgemeinschaft Solidarische Welt e.V. United

Action Service for World Solidarity(ASW), a Berlin

based charitable organization. Its India office was

located in Gandhigram, TN, and later in Secunderabad.

In 1992, through consultation and concurrence of ASW

Berlin, India partners, ASW India team, ASW India

was transformed to an independent Indian Identity as

Centre for World Solidarity(CWS), a registered Trust

in Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

The Trust Deed of CWS stipulated that membership

of the Board should consist of only resident Indians, a

majority always being women.

Vision

Emergence of a society of resilient, inter-

dependent, small communities, vibrant with the

consciousness of their rights and duties and

sensitive to the rights of women, children, dalits,

tribals and minorities, and committed to eco-

friendly development process that cohere with the

rights of these sections.

Mission

CWSs vision is thought to be achieved through its

mission of partnering with civil society organisations,

community based organisations and activists.

To develop and strengthen the capacity of

partners, networks and individual fellows for the

promotion and protection of rights and justice

for the most marginalized people, for

advancement of people-centred and

participatory governance, and for achievement

of sustainable livelihood through people-centred

and participatory management of natural

resources, and

to build and nurture solidarity amongstakeholders of sustainable development

Strategies

To accomplish its vision and mission, CWS has

clearly identified its constituency, the poor and most

marginalized who are;

Women, children, dalits, adivasis, physically

challenged and the elderly.

CWS in not an implementing agency with an off

hand experience. It works through;

building civil society partners.

supports partnerships,

builds their capacities,

facilitates linkages with different stakeholders.

It adds value through its partnership in promoting

good governance, effective systems and also gains in

enhancing its relevance through regular engagement

with its partners, networks and fellows, who bring to

CWS the grassroots reality, tribulations and challenges.


8/62


2. Thematic Thrust And Geographical Presence

The programmatic thrust is covered under the

following three overarching themes;

Rights

Livelihood

Governance

The gamut of Rights includes rights of the

marginalised particularly women, children, dalits,

adivasis, minorities, people living with and

affected by HIV and AIDS.

The livelihood canvas addresses natural resource

management, sustainable agriculture, water and

Democracy, Management and Social Regulation

Governance highlights democratic processes

and local governance institutions (Panchyati Raj)

Rights Based Approach is a core approach, Gender

Mainstreaming is a non-negotiable core value. The other

areas where CWS is laying emphasis are on Social

Exclusion and mainstreaming of HIV and AIDS.

CWS works in five states across the countrywith its registered Central office based in

Secunderabad. Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar

and Andhra Pradesh are CWSs Operation areas where

Resource Centres have been set up.

Currently CWS has 186, partner NGOs, 24,

Networks and 16 fellows supported to work on the

different programmatic focus

CWSs Value addition to Partnership is by:

Mainstreaming Rights Perspective: Promotingand integration of the rights based approach with

partners and into the different programmes.

Mainstreaming Gender: Womens empowerment

has graduated to underlining mainstreaming of

gender and gender concerns which is a flagship

programme of CWS. To translate this into action

effectively, a CWS Gender Policy has been

developed. Partners are required to set up an

SHCC and encouraged to formulate gender

policies.

Mainstreaming HIV and AIDS: Recognising

HIV and AIDS as a development issue, CWS

is emphasing the need to mainstream HIV and

AIDS interventions in all the programmes. A

CWS initiative in this was to develop a

workplace policy on HIV and AIDS and

encourage partners to develop similar policies

for themselves.

Mainstreaming Dalit Perspectives: Mainstreaming

dalit concerns is another of CWSs unique

initiative. An outcome of this effort is the

emergence of NDF, an independent entity to

address macro level dalit concerns, while CWS

continues to support micro interventions for

protection and promotion of dalit rights. A draft

Dalit Policy has also been developed which will

be adopted as CWS Dalit Policy.

Promoting decentralized local governance:

Efforts have been made to integrate PRI

initiatives with other thematic programmes.

Networking and Alliance Building: CWS has

promoted a number of networks for collective

intervention on issues and facilitated linkages

and collaboration with other like-minded

networks, organizations and institutions for

advocacy efforts. Recently a new network was

facilitated, called Primitive Tribal Groups

Network (PTG) in Andhra Pradesh. Attempts

were also made to promote a Dalit Women

Network in Andhra Pradesh.

Promoting Good Governance among NGOs:

CWS handholds partners to strengthen and build

their self image as public institutions. Emphasis

is laid to have proper mechanisms in place,

including for financial and management systems,

based on principles of transparency,

accountability and democratic and participatory

governance. This helps partners to seek

alternate funding support from various resource

agencies and government.


9/62


3. Rights Programme

The Rights Programme includes the following;

Gender Rights, Child Rights, Dalit Rights, Adivasi

Rights, Minority Rights and Human Rights

3.1. GENDER PROGRAMME

Gender Equality is one of the core values of the all

CWS programmes. Through Gender Programme there

has been efforts to initiate and strengthen womens

networks across all five states where CWS is working,

focusing on various state specific issues. We havebeen also promoting and strengthening women headed

NGOs who are focusing various womens issues and

contributing their efforts as part of larger (national)

level womens movement to bring up equality to women

and bring down the gender disparity in society at large.

Similarly, we have been focusing on various state

specific and national womens issues as part of larger

advocacy strategy.

Objectives:

To strengthen the capacities and build

perspectives of partners so as to enable the

partners to address gender concerns in a more

informed and focused way through skills and

knowledge based workshops

To initiate advocacy and lobbying on specific

issues related to women, campaigning on such

issues to sensitize all sections of the society, and

influencing policies to guarantee womens rights

To conduct research on gender questions,develop resource materials, prepare

documentation and disseminate the information

to CWS partner groups and other stakeholders/

actors

Be part of national, regional and international

lobbies and advocacy processes on womens

rights, and thereby facilitate an exchange of

information between grassroots experiences and

national/international perspectives

Key Activities

CWS is committed to the promotion of Gender rights

and to facilitate addressing issues of violation and

protection of womens rights, Womens Networks have

been formed in all five states. The key issues identified

are;

i) Trafficking of women and children (Andhra

Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu)

ii) Domestic violence in all the five states

iii) Dowry in Tamil Nadu

iv) Witch-Hunting in Bihar

The Anti-Trafficking Networks are formed to create

awareness on the issue, monitor, engage and link with

enforcement agencies and department of women and

child for rescue and rehabilitation of trafficked

survivors. Efforts to implement legislation in states such

as Orissa and Jharkhand, where some policy level

action was initiated to check trafficking, CWS partners

are actively involved in these processes.

A profiling of cases on trafficking was conducted

in Jharkhand and Orissa, and this has been published,

titled Cries of Pain.

CWS through its partners has been supporting

efforts to ensure proper implementation of the

Domestic Violence Act 2005 in all the five states. InBihar, the effort has also been to strengthen alternate

forms of conflict resolution at the local village levels,

called Nyaya Dals. In A.P. several of its partners

have been selected by the state government to be

service providers for enforcement of DV Act. The

partners have also been active in critiquing the

implementation of this act and demanding from both

state and national governments the need for adequate

resources for effective implementation of the DV Act.


10/62


A study on implementation of the DV Act has been

conducted in AP.

A dowry campaign was initiated in Tamil Nadu tomonitor the growing demand of dowry. Case studies

have been documented to show the nexus of

consumerist culture, globalization and property rights

of women. This has been published and released for

wider reading.

The Bihar womens network has focused on raising

awareness on the practice of Witch-Hunting, still

prevalent in rural areas. A compilation of case studies

was undertaken and is published.

The networks function democratically with rotation

of the convenor, setting up core committee/task groups

to take up special responsibilities, such as studies,

campaigns, trainings etc. They have periodic review

meetings to track their progress. CWS colleagues

support and facilitate the network and partners as and

when required in addition to their partner management.

Providing information and training to build capacities

is an important component of CWSs work.

3.2. DALIT PROGRAMME

The Dalit Programme of CWS envisions Dalits to

live with dignity, have equal opportunity, social-

economic justice, and be in decision making at all levels

and free from caste discrimination and violence.

Objectives: To strengthen dalits to claim their entitlements,

provided through different social welfare

schemes of state and national Governments and

inform and educate the community on thevarious Constitutional safeguards and self

sustainable practices to empower themselves

To build the capacity of Dalit Partners in all 5

states in proposal development and

Documentation.

To strengthen the ongoing networks and build

the capacities of the networks to become

sustainable and convergence with other

contemporary networks.

To enable the Dalit community to exercise their

basic right to dignity, right to education, right to

work and livelihood by generating awareness

on SC/ST (PoA) 1989, NREGA, reservationprovisions in educational institutions and

advocating land redistribution to landless Dalits.

Key Activities

Access to land and to claim their right is an

important struggle of the dalits in Bihar and AP

particularly. As a result of this the Bihar Dalit Network

has acquired recognition by the state government. The

convener has been nominated as a member of the

Bhoodan Land Distribution Committee

The Peoples Monitoring Committee, a network

initiated by CWS in AP has also received recognition

by the state government. It functions at the state and

district levels. The Committee plays a pivotal role in

ensuring that benefits meant for dalits reaches them.

There is close coordination with the working committee

of Rural Development Department and at the district

level, PMC members have been asked to assist the

department in developing plans to access benefits fromNABARD.

Awareness generation and training on the

following;

NREGA

SC/ST PoA 1989

SCP Budgetting

RTI

CLDP

Cadre building of dalit youth is an important

component for assertion of rights

Promoting trade unions among the unorganized

sector, as majority of workers are dalits,

including separately for women. Unions are

affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Labour Union.

Promoting Dalit womens network and women

headed organisations, through capacity building.


11/62


12/62


13/62


Achievements

Noteworthy that CWS is acclaimed as the first

organisation to come out with its HIV and AIDs

Workplace Policy

CWSs workplace policy inspired two partners

in AP to develop their own organizational

workplace policy on HIV and AIDS and in

recruitment positive persons are given

preference

CWS has developed based on its experience

with partners a handbook on, Mainstreaming

HIV and AIDS Interventions

CWS collaborated with APSACs to

commemorate World Aids Day.

Mainstreaming of HIV and AIDs is an important

area of concern for CWS. A training for all CWS

staff was undertaken in Bhuvaneshwar and

Secunderabad. Similarly trainings were conducted for

partners in AP and for Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand

partners in Ranchi.

Through the different networks and its members,

CWS has facilitated their outreach in 18 districts in

A.P, 14 districts in Bihar, 9 districts each in Jharkhand

and Orissa.

CWS is a member of Stop AIDS Now(SAN), a

south Asia Network to campaign against the spread

of AIDS.

3.7. HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAMME

The aim is to promote a culture of human rights

where all persons participate effectively in a free and

democratic society without any discrimination.

Objectives:

Promotion of Human Rights Education among

children and youth

Protection of Human Rights of the marginalised

Key Activities

Imparting Human Rights education to school

children

Building capacities of partner NGOs through HR

trainings

Setting up legal cell in AP to address grievances

of physically challenged people

Strengthening AP Social Watch chapter to

critique water situation in AP and collecting

evidence to create an advocacy platform

Addressed issues of womens rights such as

Shariat laws, cultural practices that violate

their human rights.

Promoting Human Rights through partners has

given the partners leverage and recognition at the state

level, with the enforcement agencies and in the

community. The case below illustrates this.

CASE STUDY

Rina singh (alias Lily) is the daughter of Baidhar

Singh, a native of Village Khantapada in Balasore

district of Orissa. Rina a minor 12 year old, was

engaged as a domestic servant by Sunita kisko, wife

of Ratan Dash who lived in Rengali Dam Project colony,

Mahisapat, Dhenkanal.

Rina Singhs father, a daily wage labour was father

of 4 daughters and 2 sons. Living in penury was the

reason that had compelled him to allow his daughter to

work as a domestic labour for a measly sum of Rs

200/-. For one and half years Rina was doing all the

household chores as well as taking care of an eighteen

month old baby boy. In spite of her hard work, she

was not given proper food. She was often physically

assaulted by her employer, was abused, beaten with

Cricket bat and Badminton racket. Once for a small

mistake her hair was burnt by the mistress. Rina was

being tortured continuously and she was miserable, so


14/62


one day unable to bear the plight further, she informed

her parents of what cruelty she was being subjected

to. Her parents felt helpless and remained silent. The

girl then fell sick and she was not provided any medicalcare. For petty mistakes she would be made to go

hungry for 2 to 3 days. When the torture became

unbearable, she confided in her neighbor the ordeal

she was facing and sought help to escape from the

clutches of her cruel mistress. A kind soul informed

ISWO about what the girl was undergoing and they

came to her rescue. The Fact finding team of ISWO

proceeded to Mahaisapat after informing the IIC Town

Police Station. They reached there and heard from

the victim all that she was subjected to and she

expressed her desire to stay with the ISWO team.

The team finally rescued Rina on 29th January 2009 at

12.30 p.m.

ISWO informed the police about the facts of the

case and the girl was produced in police station (Town

PS) for necessary action and similarly information was

conveyed to DSWO Dhenkanal, District Labour

officer, District Collector, and SP Dhenkanal vide a

written statement. ISWO held a press conference on

30th

January 2009. The accused, Rinas mistress alsofiled a case against ISWO team, and threatened ISWO

with dire action. Though ISWO tried its best to proceed

through JJ Act and contacted and apprised the

chairmen, CWC, Dhenkanal about the facts, no

immediate action was taken. So ISWO had to file a

case against the accused. Prior to this ISWO had

produced the girl child suo moto at the SDJM court,

Dhenkanal. The court had stayed the search warrant

issued by the SDJM on the grounds that the there is

an application filed by the accused stating wrongful

confinement of the Rina by ISWO. The Honble court

decreed that as no illegal act had been committed by

the NGO or by any of its members, the search warrant

if not called off, will prevent the NGO in conducting

its welfare action. As ISWO had informed all the

appropriate authorities including the II C Town PS.

The CWC chairman had also taken all the necessary

steps according to the JJAct and advised ISWO to

take care of the child Rina Singh, who is in the care

of ISWO and the case is in the CWC Dhenkanal.

3.8. ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE RIGHTSPROGRAMME

CWS has been consistently working on promoting

the RBA approach in all its different rights

programmes. This has helped partners to build

awareness, mobilize, document and advocate to ensure

the protection of rights of women, children, dalits,

adivasis and minorities. Partners have been effective

and received recognition. They have;

demanded for effective implementation of the

laws DV, SC/ST PoA, NREGA, etc.

proper implementation of schemes/policies/

plansCLDP, SCP, girl child education,health, etc.

received governments recognition for their work

and made service providers for implementation

of DV Act to check VAW

as active members of Anti Trafficking Network

(ATN), identified by the government in

Jharkhand to set up a rescue home for trafficked

survivors

as ATN partners, sought by the state government

to be on their Committee to check trafficking of

women and children

with CWSs facilitation formed Peoples

Monitoring Committee which is recognized by

AP government and partners are members of

this committee both at district and state levels

conducted research and studies which is used

to develop evidence based advocacy

worked with women belonging to minority

committees to inform them about their rights and

promote literacy and livelihood skills

promotion of human rights education

built confidence among the stakeholders to

come forward and seek justice and also learnt

to handle cases dealing with varied human rights

violations.

More clarity on the RBA and how to introduce

this among the communities


15/62


4. Livelihood Programme

4.1. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Objectives: to facilitate sustainable livelihoods through

protection, conservation, enhancement and

sustainable management of natural resources

to empower community to assert rights over

resources and livelihoods and build capacities

to access and manage natural resources in a

sustainable manner.

to ensure food security and livelihoods of

agriculture and forest based communities

to build models to sustain food and livelihood

security of the rural poor.

To facilitate for a favourable policy environment

of agriculture and forest dependent poor families,

particularly dalits, adivasis and women

Key ActivitiesAndhra Pradesh

Food security initiative in Anantpur District

through awareness on food crops, promoting

rearing of livestock and kitchen gardens

Formation of NREGA work groups

Raising awareness among dalit and fisher folk

on the impact of SEZ on the environment, health

and livelihoods of families.

Formation of a common platform to raise issues

of displacement and rehabilitation including

irregularities in acquisition of land for SEZ.

A five-member committee set up representing

women, dalits and fisherfolk

Legal support extended to take up land rights

issues

Formation of farmers collectives to market

vegetables

Creation of a data bank on the procurement

potential of vegetables and opening vegetable

outlets.

Formation of Community Joint Federation

Society (CJFS) at Cluster level, with the

members articulating their rights with

government departments.

Awareness of NREGS where work was

provided to revive land based water-bodies

A womens cooperative initiated with 4,000

women members.

Training provided on water saving techniques

to farmers resulted in them applying to the

government for subsidy for sprinkler and drip

irrigation kits.

Preparation of discussion paper and AP state

water policy analysed, through the study onParticipatory Irrigation Management (PIM) Acts

of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Mahararashtra

and Orissa.

Tamil Nadu

Signature Campaign to promote small and minor

millets in PDS

Awareness to school children on the nutritional

importance of the grains.

Orissa

Consultations and workshops on Forest

Regulation Act. (FRA)

Advocacy efforts for promotion of kendu leaf

collection centres led to two temporary collection

centres being accorded Phadi

Training and exposure on organic farming

practices


16/62


Support to initiate an outlet selling organic food

produced by farmers

Promotion of grain banks and seed banks

promoted helped farmers revive the traditional

exchange of seeds and grains.

Jharkhand

Strengthening Gram Sabhas

Advocacy on displacement issues led by partner

Farmers encouraged for, vermicomposting, and

tank desilting and bund strengthening for water

conservation.

Forming seeds banks in villages, with traditional

paddy and maize seeds collected and stored in

the banks for cultivation in the next agriculture

season.

Strengthening of SHGs

Bihar

CWS support in draining two patches of

depressed land helped in reclaiming large chunksof land locally called a chaur.

Campaign against embankments and the flood

control policy of the State

Achievements

Interaction with national level leaders and

activists working on issues of displacement and

human rights motivated national leaders and

politicians to express support to the communities,

including positive outcomes from the judiciary,

who stayed the acquisition of land for SEZs

Increasing demand for organic vegetables has

encouraged farmers to adopt sustainable

agriculture methods.

Dalits, adivasis, bahujans, minorities and women

are empowered to sustain their livelihood status

Farmers are now adopting SRI methods in paddy

cultivation in Anantpur as it is yielding good

results

A discussion paper that emerged from the action

study on energy-water management in ground

water irrigation has helped in establishing

linkages with key actors, in the energy

sector(Bureau of Energy Efficiency),

international agency(German Ministry of

Development Coperation) and other

organisations like Saci Waters, Jala Spandana,

Soppecom, SPWD, APTRANSCO.

CWS recommendations on Pani Panchayat Act

Study in Orissa led to the Government of Orissa

amending the Pani Panchayat Act 2002

incorporating the recommended provisions.

Partners supported by CWS facilitated the RTI

application for information on Tungabhadra

Dam resulted in penal action against the

Irrigation Department of Government of

Karnataka, with the department being forced

to give the information sought for.

Claims for individual rights on forestland and

claims for community rights over forest resource

were accessed.

Strengthened SHGs were free from the

clutches of the money lender

BRCs model to reclaim land, make it cultivable,

introduce alternative livelihood options such as

fisheries strengthened communities food

security options, promoted employmentopportunities and checked migration. Local

panchayats were keen to try out this model and

also Funding agencies like Winrock International

and NABABE initiated similar model through

partner organisation with technical guidance

coming from Bihar Resource Centre (BRC).

CWSs efforts through partners have been effective

in all the five operational states.


17/62


18/62


CWS trained tribal elected representatives and

NGO staff in advocacy, lobbying and campaign

techniques. The observation of PESA Day in

seven ITDA areas in AP and in Orissa was also

an opportunity to network tribal representatives.

CWS also engaged with the with Central

Ministry of Panchayati Raj, AP PR

Commissioner, APARD, CESS, NIRD,

APMSS, LOKSATTA, State Sarpanches forum,

NCRI.

Building capacities of elected representatives

to function properly and emerge as Model GPs

in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa throughinformation on RTI, importance of Gram Sabha

and HIV/AIDS.

Organizing experiential learning platforms

through collaborative networking activities with

solidarity institutions provided opportunities to

ERSs from different areas to share their local

concerns, eg basic ameneties,natural resources

management , marketing for MFP etc.

In Jharkhand there were efforts to impress on

demand to hold elections.

In Bihar, a status report on status of Gram

Kachari in the State was prepared

In Puducherry, trainings were conducted for

panchayat presidents to enhance their

understanding of their role an of the Panchayat

in Disaster Management, role of Civil Society

in strengthening Local Government.

In Tamil Nadu, special training was provided to

Dalit ERS and a district level committee was

formed to follow up resolutions passed by them.

The constraints and challenges in the sector include

absence of commitment on part of the government to

decentralise powers to GPs, lack of capacity building

for ERs, lack of awareness among ERs on their roles

and responsibilities and absence of a common platform

of ERs to make their voices heard.

Achievements CWS has come out with a couple of publications

that are useful in advocating for PRI efficacy

A booklet on Panchayats (Extension to

Scheduled Areas Act 1996) - PESA,

A Study of Redistributive Politics and its impact

on PRI Institutions: A case of MLA LADS

Scheme in Andhra Pradesh,

Documentation of experiences in Model GPs in

AP

CWS is the nodal agency to coordinate the

MoPR PMESYA initiative

Government agencies seek out CWS and its

partners as resource for PRI trainings

CWS has been instrumental in the formation of

a Panchayat Presidents Federation


19/62


6. Special Programme

6.1. CENTRAL OFFICE

6.1.1. AP Floods

As AP is a disaster prone state, either by floods,

cyclones, drought, there is urgent need to ensure that

the mitigation of such disasters is effective and

efficient. The state does not have a Policy on Disaster

preparedness and management.

Objectives: Advocacy for comprehensive Policy on flood

management both at the National and State level.

To develop flood proof mechanisms in flood

affected/prone villages and advocate for

modernization of Godavari and Krishna delta.

This was a long term objective to address

flooding calamities through the proposed project.

Sustainability and community ownership were

the key factors coupled with self-reliance and

self-sufficiency in the context of futurecommunity based disaster preparedness and

management.

Advocacy for conservation of Kolleru fresh

water lake ensuring coping mechanisms through

sustainable/alternative livelihoods for

marginalized communities affected due to

recurrent floods in targeted villages and lobby

on their behalf to establish linkages with

government programmes

Key Activities

Strengthening partner networks for flood

management

Format ion and strengthening functioning of

VLFMC

Promoting engagement with government

agencies for relief and rehab work

Developing and dissemination of IEC material

Strengthening the Coastal Areas Development

and Rights Forum

Revival of Field level Cooperative Societies

(FLCS)

Achievements Communities are now better equipped to handle

emergencies such as flood disasters

Government functionaries are more sensitive andresponding to community needs

Communities are aware and informed of

policies/legislations such as coastal regulation

and its impact on their lives

6.1.2. NATIONAL AGRICULTURALINNOVATIVE PROGRAMME

The National Agricultural Innovation Project

(NAIP) sub-project under Component-3 has the over-

all objective to develop models of sustainable rural

livelihoods through innovations in technology transfer

and support systems. CWS, in collaboration with

SECURE, has been participating in this project which

was initiated in Sept 2007. The project consortium is

led by CRIDA, Hyderabad.

Overall Objective of the project:

To improve the livelihoods of the rural poor through

efficient management of natural resources and

increased productivity, profitability and diversity of thefarming systems.

Area of work:

The area of NAIP project in Khammam distirct is

Tummalacheruvu Gram Panchayat, comprising of 8

hamlets, located in Aswapuram mandal of Khammam

district. The project covers 626 households in 7 hamlets

of Tummalacheruvu panchayat, who predominantly

belong to Koya Tribe.


20/62


Project Interventions and Outcomes:1. Increase in number of farmers from 15 to 60

cultivating vegetables. More farmers cultivating

pulses and vegetables during Rabi season

2. Increased irrigation potential by 250 acres due

to renovation of existing irrigation tanks

3. MTU-1010 paddy variety gaining popularity as

a drought resistant variety over 1001 and other

conventional variety

4. Existing 3-row inter-culture tool for cotton crop

was modified in consultation with the farmersand an improved 5-row tool (Gorru, in local

language) was developed. 130 such tools were

distributed to 130 farmers with 20% contribution.

5. 800 kuroiler chicks introduced with 10 SHG

groups after good response to pilot experiment

6. SRI and direct seeding introduced in paddy in 3

acres. Further expansion planned in Kharif 2010.

7. Agricultural Information Centre and a godown

were inaugurated and being used to providedICT and market support to farmers

6.1.3. SOCIAL REGULATIONSPROGRAMME

An innovative project Drought Management

through Social Regulations in Water Management is

being implemented in semi-arid regions of the Andhra

Pradesh. By the end of year 2008-09 the project is

being implemented by the eight partners (including

SAVE which is being supported by Jana Jagruthi) in

Anantapur, Warangal, Medak, Nellore and Chittoor

districts of Andhra Pradesh.

Activities:1. Awareness Campaigns / Meetings:

2. Promotion of Committees:

3. Promotion of SRI Activity:

4. Conduct of meetings on water budgeting:

5. Physical works taken up:

Physical work like dry open well recharge,

construction of bundings, ponds, desiltation of

small water bodies, etc... have considerable

effect on the groundwater (e.g Madirepalli and

Enebavi and Mylaram);

Protection of natural resources (e.g JJ, SAVE

and REDS) i.e common land protection watchers

were able to protect the resources and able to

motivate the community towards need of

protection natural resources;

Facilitation support in obtaining the micro

irrigation systems (sprinklers);

Establishment of resource centres (e.g.

Madirepalli, SAVE area and C.R.Palli) which

are used to keep the data on village existing

resources and for conducting the regular

monthly meetings;

All 11 illegal connections have been legalized.

29 capacitors were fitted to ensure equi-

distribution of electricity measured with

Voltmeter (e.g Mylaram of Medak district) and

6. Convergence Programs:

Facilitation support in linking up the NREGS

(National Rural Employment Guarantee

Scheme) for taking up the physical works that

would help in recharging the existing bore-wells.

This would help in not only providing

employment opportunities to the land less

households but also useful in revival of water

bodies;


21/62


22/62


6.1.5. WATER GOVERNANCE IN

ANDHRA PRADESH

The Water Governance Project (WGP) seeks to

look at water as an integrated concept following the

Integrated Water Resources Management approach

while gaining an understanding of how water structures

and communities impact governance of the resource

in accordance with initiatives by the state and policy

makers. This project is being funded by Society for

Promotion of Wastelands Development, New

Delhi and it is being implemented in Maharastra and

Madhya Pradesh apart from Andhra Pradesh. In

Andhra Pradesh, the state level component of the

project is anchored by CWS since May 2008.

During 2008-09, being the initial year of the project,

most of efforts were towards bringing together

different actors in water sector and spade work for

taking up various policy and governance related

interventions. Following are the major interventions in

2008-09 and their outcomes:

Preliminary visit to Tungabhadra Board in

Hospet and some of the Canal locations was

done to gain further understanding on the systemand to explore the possibilities of organizing a

capacity building program on the governance

of TB Dam

Meeting of the Forum on water governance in

A.P. was convened to share about the details

of the project along with discussing individual

proposals to be taken up under this project.

Presentations on sub-basin projects (Seethapalli

Vagu by SAKTI and Bahuda by Krushi

Samstha) were made

CWS participated in a meeting of SOs (NGOs

facilitating the community mobilization) in

APCBTMP organized by I & CAD, Andhra

Pradesh in WALAMTARI in Feb 2009. The

experience of social regulations in groundwater

management in few villages by CWS and its

partners was shared with SOs to motivate some

of SOs to take up groundwater management in

the tank command areas in a similar way

CWS in association with Freshwater Action

Network-South Asia (FAN-SA) had conducted

a meeting of SOs involved in the implementation

of the externally aided Andhra PradeshCommunity Based Tank Management

Programme (APCBTMP) on 27th Jan 2009.

About 48 SOs from 12 districts have participated

in this workshop. The issues and concerns of

the SOs emerging from this meeting were

shared with the State Project Director (SPD)

of APCBTMP. The State Government

responded favorably by including the issues

raised, into their agenda, for changes in the

implementation process.

6.1.6. PTG PROGRAMME

Andhra Pradesh Adima AdivasiDevelopment Initiative (AAADI Network)(PTG Network):

In continuation to its initiatives to empower adivasi

communities, CWS began a new intervention among

the most vulnerable communities among the adivasis

i.e., the Primitive Tribal Groups in Andhra Pradesh.

This initiative is designed with the following primaryobjectives: (a) to organize nine of the primitive tribal

communities out of 35 communities scheduled tribes

in the state, (b) to form and strengthen a network with

the grassroots NGOs headed by the members of

primitive tribes and (c) to articulate and advocate the

community and habitat specific demands of these

groups and lobby for better policy formulations and

effective implementation of development programmes.

Following are the important achievements of the

initiative:

A network named Andhra Pradesh Adima

Adivasi Development Initiative (AAADI

Network) is formed with eight adima adivasi

headed grassroots organizations and

strengthened on the rights based approach,

Constitutional provisions for adivasis, Forest

Rights Act (FRA), National Employment

Guarantee Act (NREGA),SC/ST Prevention of

Atrocities Act.


23/62


Organized a two day consultations Primitive

Tribal Groups in Andhra Pradesh: Challenges

for Development and initiated an interface

between the adima adivasi civil society and theofficials of Tribal Welfare Department,

Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Baseline survey was completed in 90 adima

adivasi villages spread over six districts with

scheduled areas namely Vijayanagaram,

Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari,

Mehboobnagar and Adilabad.

Village Development Committees are formed

in 45 PTG villages and are in the process of

identifying their specific problems.

AAADI Network is involved in the Peoples

Monitoring Committee (PMC) process working

on the effective implementation of

Comprehensive Land Development Programme

(CLDP) and Andhra Pradesh Employment

Guatantee Scheme (APREGS) and placed the

grievences to the concerned government

officials

6.2. ANDHRA PRADESH

6.2.1. Panchayat Mahila Evam Yuva ShaktiAbhiyan

The entrance of elected women representatives

(EWRs) and elected youth representatives (EYRs) into

the grassroots polity through elections to the PRIs in

massive numbers is a relatively new political

phenomenon (post 73rd Constitutional Amendment) in

India. In order to address the empowerment of EWRs

and EYRs in a systematic, programmatic manner and

not rely on ad hoc and sporadic interventions the

Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Govt. of India, launched a

new scheme entitled the Panchayat Mahila Evam

Yuva Shakti Abhiyan in the year 2006 and Center

for World Solidarity was identified as nodal agency

for implementing the programme in AP by the

Commissioner, Panchayati raj, Government of Andhra

Pradesh in 2007.

The objective of the programme is to enable

women and youth Panchayat leaders to come together

to articulate their problems, discuss issues regarding

the institutional mechanisms for their empowerment,come up with a charter of issues to be mainstreamed

into policy and advocacy support so that their concerns

are addressed by the process of development adopted

by the State and the three-tier PRI system, and form

an association of the EWRs with elected office bearers

and with cascading representation of EWRs from the

district level and divisional level EWRs organizations.

The following activities, as envisaged under the

programme, were implemented during 2008-09

State Level Sammelan: The A.P State-level

meeting of women elected representatives was

held on the 28th and 29th January 2008. In the

two day meeting, a total of about 500 elected

women representatives discussed, deliberated

and came up with a charter of demands which

was presented to the Honble Union Minister

for Panchayati Raj, Shri.Mani Shankar Aiyar.

State Support Center (SSC): To create anenabling environment and to make PRIs part of

the process for the empowerment of women

and youth, keep updated information related to

the participation of EWRs and EYRs in

Panchayati Raj Institutions for the entire State

and serve as knowledge support centre, State

Support Center is established in a three -room

building in the premises of CWS from 1st of June

2008. The SSC is equipped with necessary

furniture and manned by one Gender coordinator,one Youth coordinator and one Associate. A

formal launching ceremony of the SSC was

organized on the 21 July 2008 and the

Commissioner, PR was the chief guest.

State Level Association of EWRs: The

process of formation of State Level Association

was initiated in the month of February 08

requesting the ZP chairpersons of all the 22

districts in AP to identify a 7 member district


24/62


committee of active EWRs representing

different levels, castes and parties. A meeting

was organized on 1st March 08 at Hyderabad

to form the State Level Association from thedistrict committee members constituting the

electoral college and The Chairperson, Vice

Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer were

identified.

The Association is registered as The Andhra

Pradesh panchayat elected women

representatives association under the

Society of Registration Act, AP. Facilitated by

CWS, the EC of the State Association held threeMeetings so far and discussed various issues

and strategies for strengthening of the

Association. APARD has extended support to

host (venue, food and accommodation) the

meetings of the Association.

Sensitization Programmes: With a view to

spread the message in the entire state and also

with the belief that a network of NGOs taking

forward the Agenda of the PMEYSA would

have a better impact in the long run, one NGO

in each of the 22 districts is identified to be the

nodal agency to coordinate and implement the

activities with the support of CWS and SSC. A

total no. of 1470 elected women & youth

representatives were trained through

sensitization Training Programmes during the

period of 2008-09.

Divisional level meetings: The Two Day

Divisional level meetings in 5 divisionsconducted in the districts of Hyderabad, Guntur,

Anantapur, Warangal and Vizag covering a total

no. of 1258 elected women & youth

representatives from 22 districts witnessed a

number of speakers addressing the participants

on various PR related issues. The Meetings

provided a platform for the ERs to share their

experiences, articulate their problems and seek

solutions from experts.

6.3. BIHAR

6.3.1. SDTT Flood Management Construction of drainage channels

Construction of culverts

Celebration of womens day

Formation of village committee

Street plays to generate community awareness

Formation of farmers clubs

Training on vermin-compost and construction of

vermi-compost pits.

Agriculture training

Veterinary training

Advocacy and lobbying

The Kosi river having moved from its usual course

caused havoc in Bihar. Thousands of people were

rendered homeless and many lives too were lost. CWS

played an active role in providing relief in this

emergency situation. The difference in CWS initiative

was that it decided to rework on its strategy of

addressing such calamities and focusing on the

traditional wisdom of providing livelihood support. CWSwas involved at two levels, one in trying to influence

policy and the other to provide relief to the flood

survivors. Reclaiming land, promoting agriculture and

support for other forms of livelihood options such as

fisheries etc helped the community in achieving some

level of food security. These efforts were recognized

by the local panchyats, who tried to replicate the

interventions in other flood hit areas.

6.4. JHARKHAND6.4.1. Jharkhand Watershed DevelopmentProgramme (completed)

The first livelihood based programme of JRCCWS

in Jharkhand started in 2001 in 7 locations and

completed its first phase in 2006 March. The 2nd phase

started on April 2006 in 4 locations (3 districts) out of

Phase Is 7 locations in addition to other adjoining

villages. The 2nd phase also completed on 31st Dec.

2008.


25/62


Overall Goal

Increase household food security of 976

households which consists of small and marginal

farmers through watershed based management

interventions primarily focusing on sustainable

agricultural practices; bringing changes about in

policy and practices through networking at four

project locations of three districts (Giridih,

Deoghar & Hazaribag) in Jharkhand State.

Total Outreach of JWDP (Phase II): The total

outreach is 7562 and out of which 50% are women.

The coverage of OBCs is 46% followed by ST 24%,

SC is 19%, and others 11%.

Objectives: Capacitating and skill enhancement of the

PNGOs through practical demonstration and

sharing of knowledge and collective action.

Ensuring asset management practices by the

community through regular follow-up and

necessary capacity building.

Activities: Training on sustainable agriculture practices for

selected farmers (30 farmers).

Exposure visit for selected farmers and

facilitators including JRC staffs. - 1 unit.

2-days onsite training on Micro-planning

exercise with focus on Village Perspective Plan

(especially on land based activities).

2-days training on financial management and

record keeping.

4-5days training on SHG Federation/Cluster

Formation process for facilitators.

2 days documentation & report writing

workshop for facilitators.

5-days training on Moderation and Facilitation

Skill for JRC staffs and selected PNGOs staff.

2-days training on Project Planning for JRC

staffs.

3 days training on NGO IDEAS Tool Box for

saving and credit programmes for JRC staff.

Quaterly meetings with network members at

SVA level.

3-days orientation on Urban Rain Water

Harvesting for SVA members.

GO-NGO meetings, public representatives,

media at State level and zonal level (At network

level).

Half-yearly SVA Advisory Committee Meeting

(At network level).

Regular follow-up of government schemes,interacting with government line deptt. And

financial institutions by facilitators and village

animators under the guidance of chief

functionaries (at Partners level).

Strengthening of seed banks.

Process documentation and collection of cases

stories through external consultancies.

Regular monitoring of Gram Kosh (VDF) for

its expansion and smooth operations.

Study on different issues (Traditional seeds and

Women) at network level.

Publications at network level.

Regular meetings & follow-up with NABABE

and CINI (Sir Ratan Tata Trust) for

convergence.

Seed and other agricultural inputs support to

farmers for demonstration.

Achievements:

The Gram Sabha members meets regularly and

issues are being discussed and decisions taken

are recorded

The roles and responsibilities of each key

member are clear to all. However, role of Gram

sewak (secretary of the Gram Sabha) who is a

paid staff of Block office are sometimes not


26/62


very regular. Facilitators of the project assisted

by village animators and subsequently the

animators are taking major responsibilities in

village development

Out of 42 women SHGs formed so far, 80% of

the key SHG members learnt the skill of

maintaining their book of accounts, making their

signatures. The SHGs are however still not in

position to go for credit from the bank and use

the loan for Income generation activities

SHGs have federated themselves under

common platform and meet every quarterly to

discuss on relevant issues. The SHG Federation

concept is being introduced in only one

watershed rather it is under the process of

formation in remaining watersheds.

Towards convergence: About 200 farmers from

different watersheds enhanced their skills on

improved agricultural practices such as using

traditional method of seed treatment, green

manuring practice, growing mustard for border

cropping (it act as repellent against predators),

vermicomposting, using indigenous method of

pest and disease management, kitchen gardening

in their homestead and thereby replicating their

knowledge and skills to other farmers. About

20 farmers approached CURRS and got seed

support on paddy from Central Upland Rice

Research Station (CURRS) in Sirma-Chapri

watershed under the facilitation of Mahila

Mandal Trust (MMT) in 10 acres also they were

made acquainted with new variety paddy

(Anjali) suited for Jharkhand condition. Till

Dec.08 each farmer produces 30-35 quintal ofpaddy (almost doubles the conventional variety).

For the first time 20 farmers came forward on

pilot basis for growing improved paddy (IR 36,

IR 64, Anjali) cultivation through SRI (System

for Rice Intensification) method and encouraging

yield has been obtained. As per observation,

the same practice (SRI method of paddy

cultivation) will be repeated during the coming

monsoon season (Kharif) among 100 farmers.

A sizable number of entrepreneurial youths

especially from Krishi-Hariyali Watershed under

the facilitation of Holycross Krishi Vigyan

Kendra, Hazaribagh started pea cultivation in 3acres of land for the first time.

Field bunds, proper cross-section of

embankments are maintained at frequent interval

under the guidance of trained facilitators.

Women from SHGs are now health conscious,

and also conscious about the primary education

of both boys and girls, they used to discuss

regularly on these issues at SHG meetings. Due

to their increased awareness accessing the

health care facilities from primary health

centres.

Women SHGs are given charge of managing

mid-day meal (sponsored by ICDS) at village/

project level. They are approaching block offices

and banks interacting with block officials, bank

officials. Though, the present status of their

functioning has not been monitored.

The Gram Kosh (Village Development Fund)

has been streamlined, with bank accountsopened and operational guidelines/ manuals are

in place. Till the end of the project, total deposit

of fund was more than Rs. 3 lacs.

Proposals have been submitted to CF, Deoghar

for plantation in forest land that falls in Sabela

watershed (managed by PRAVAH, Deoghar)

in 100 acres. Till the end of reporting period, the

proposal in under process.

A good number of proposals have beensanctioned under NREGA especially on

plantation on community land, construction of

water harvesting structures, irrigation wells.

Ground water recharge has increased up to avg.

5-6 feet as observed during post monsoon.

100 hectares of treated land is covered under

cropping through paddy of improved varieties

as main crop and maize, pigeon-pea, mustard,

lentil as subsidiary crops by 200 farmers.


27/62


The water for drinking is now available

throughout the year followed by irrigation water

is available for winter cropping for 20% of total

agricultural land.

Beneficiaries of water bodies take proper care

of the water bodies, maintaining proper cross-

section of embankments.

Beneficiaries (mostly women) utilizing water

bodies for pisciculture and accordingly reaping

good harvest from each water bodies ( on an

average 3 quintal fish harvested in 2008)

6.4.2. Geographically Based Programme

(completed)

Geographically Based Programme-India, focused

on watershed approach to strengthen agricultural

practices with emphasis on infrastructural and technical

support for ensuring food security with enhanced

agricultural production was operation at five locations

with five partners in four districts of Jharkhand state

since April 2005 to December 2008.

Overall GoalStrengthened village level institutions and SHGs

with the focus on community based integrated

watershed approach through ameliorated Natural

Resource Management for food security and

sustainable development in selected areas of four

districts of Jharkhand.

Total Outreach: The total outreach is 4536 out of

which women are 50%. The caste composition of the

target group consists of 57% of STs followed by 22%of OBCs and 14% of SCs respectively.

Objectives:

Strengthen state level networking and advocacy

towards sustainable livelihood policies

Enable the community and PIAs to take

collective action for the development of

sustainable livelihood through watershed

management

Institutionalise peoples participation in

developmental programmes and improve their

knowledge in natural resource management and

watershed development

Activities:

Soil and moisture conservation measures

Improved regeneration / veg. cover

Increased crop yield and overall production

Increased income of target community

Write shop for the Facilitators

Exposure Visit

Training

Achievements:

Soil erosion checked in gullies. Farmers now

started cultivating in treated land and growing

food grains, pulses and vegetables. Soil moisture

has been increased for additional 2-3 months

and assuring paddy crop and become good for

Rabbi crop.

Improved ground water recharge can be

verifiable through the water availability in the

open wells during summer, ensured sustainable

use of common land. Fruit plants ensures

nutritional value to children and others.

Assurance to farmers to take Kharif & Rabi

crops towards increase in crop production.

Cultivation of vegetables has assured additional

income.

Death rate among animals has significantly

decreased due to increased awareness among

the community towards the timely vaccination.

The convergence programme has enabled

members of SHG to earn extra income

Skills of individual facilitators got developed and

JRC received fine-tuned six- monthly reports

from partners

The exposure cum training gave new insights


28/62


to the farmers on use of traditional methods of

organic farming for sustainable agriculture

Trainings to the villagers gave them new ideas

of income generation activities. This also

provided them the knowledge about various govt.

Programmes for their benefit and how to keep

a track of those for uninterrupted benefit from

the same

6.4.3. Millennium Village Programme

Millennium Village Project Sarwan is one among

the 14 locations in 13 countries across globe where

Welthungerhilfe (formerly German Agro Action) hasput its initiatives to localize the MDGs and develop

prototype models in cultural and local specific contexts

towards achievements of these MDGs. These locations

have become popular as Millennium villages two of

them located in India, the first is CWS/ Pravahs

Sarwan (a cluster of 26 villages in Deoghar district,

Jharkhand;), the other one is Gandhiji Sangha of

KALYAN in Purulia district of West Bengal. Deoghar

district lists among the 20 poorest districts in India,

where the hunger and poverty conditions prevail andperpetuates chronic cycle of poverty.

The 5 years (2007-11) project is a challenge to

improve the living of disadvantaged 865 households

in 26 villages of Jarka and Thari Lepra Panchayats in

Sarwan block (now Sonarai Tharhi), Deoghar district

of Jharkhand. The peoples in this area are living under

absolute conditions of poverty; most of them are small

and marginal farmer relying on local available

resources for their livelihood. The project seeks toachieve Millennium Development Goals with special

focus on goals 1 to 3. Jharkhand Resource Centre of

CWS, co-ordinating this initiatives and partnering with

local organisation called Pravah.

Larger Objectives:

Alleviation of poverty in 26 villages of Jarka

and Tharilepra panchayats of Sarwan block within

Deoghar district of Jharkhand, by empowering

women and village level institutions (gram sabhas),

for community based natural resource management,

capacity building and advocacy towards improved

food security and sustainable livelihoodopportunities to fulfill basic amenities and

increased access to services in equitable manner

MVP Project Objectives / Results:

1. Improved co-ordination and interaction with

the Gram Sabha and other CBOS with

developments actors

2. Role of women in decision making process

has increased

3. Improved agriculture and sustainable farm

production

4. All boys and girls have completed full course

of primary education

5. Income level of the target group has

significantly improved

Outreach of the Programme:

Pravah is implementing the programme in 26villages of 2 Panchayats, 1 block- Sarwan

(Sonaraithari) in Deoghar district. Total house hold is

865. And population is about 5000.

6.5. ORISSA

6.5.1. SDTT System of Rice Intensification

Need based capacity building measures have

been taken up for SDTT project partners such

as training programmes on Practical Aspects

of SRI and Sustainable Agriculture, SRI ProcessDocumentation, Physical and Financial

Reporting of the Project, Pest Control and Soil

Testing and Exposure visit to Andhra Pradesh

on SRI and Sustainable Agriculture. Also,

facilitated the participation of Partners in various

workshops and training programmes organized

by other organizations like 3 rd National

Symposium on SRI at Coimbatore, Organic

Farming Workshop at Trichy, Capacity Building


29/62


30/62


prevention of HIV/AIDS and care of positive

group.

To strengthen the coastal ecology through

environmental protection measures.

To provide farming inputs for the farmers

affected by Tsunami waves.

To restore the livelihoods of the fisher folk.

To advocate community based disaster

preparedness and advocacy with the other

stakeholders like state government.

To conserve and protect common property

resources and water bodies in order to enhance

the social capital and strengtheningagriculture

work with small and marginal farmers

Activities:

Through CWS supported agriculture project, 221

farmer families were given training on vermi

compost and other organic inputs preparation

by themselves.

The support given to the women who were

single has resulted in their livelihood security.

The average increase in per day income is 150%

to 200%.

The women and adolescent girls who walked

miles together to fetch safe and protected

drinking water are now getting the same at their

door steps with the provision of water tanks

The Capacity Building has made the women to

fight against domestic violence and also get

organised at the village level and make the

preparations for the future elections

The media workshops have helped t come out

with issues of the people living in the region

The exposure visits have paved the way for a

change in the outlook of the beneficiaries

Achievements Gradual improvement in soil texture and soil

physics.

Reduction in production costs of paddy by the

farmers due to decrease in input cost.

Increased production in terms of quantity of

grains

Improvement in quality of grains

The common property resources created

through the project will testify the long standing

assistance to farming communities in this region.

The women are becoming economically

independent and socially gaining momentum as

they were made to move from the margins to

the mainstream.

The mainstreaming HIV AIDS component has

made the community to be aware of the health

services and service provider and they are

making use of the services now.

6.6.2. Tsunami Shelter Completion

(completed)

The Tsuami shelter completion programme was

conducted in two villages of Nagapattinam and

Villipuram district.

The main objective of this completion project was

to repair the 101 houses in Chettinagaram and 75

houses in Chandrapadi. The whole activity is to be

carried out in total participation with the beneficiaries,

local panchayat and the District administration.

The work has been successfully completed.


31/62


7. Solidarity Institutions

Currently CWS is supporting three independent

entities which are on the road to autonomy.

7.1. NATIONAL DALIT FORUM

Objectives: Capacitate Dalit organisations and activists on

rights and entitlements and advocacy skills.

Facilitate advocacy efforts of Dalits at state and

national level.

Networking of Dalit organisations, movement,

intellectuals and professionals both at national

and respective state levels.

Key Activities Strengthening District and State Committees in

seven states

Campaign on issues affecting Dalits in Bihar

Creating a pool of legal activists to take up Dalit

issues in Jharkhand and Chattisgarh

Training for budget monitoring vis--vis the SCP

Fact- finding on the impact of SEZs on dalits in

Orissa

Status of SCP in Maharastra

Using the SC/ST Act to register cases to seek

justice for Dalit victims

Advocacy and lobbying with legislators,

bureaucracy and other key actors on issues likeSCP and other critical issues impacting on dalits

Study on financial inclusion

Participation in workshops, state and national

level consultations to represent the concerns of

dalits and amplify their voice.

Achievements Bihar state and district chapters monitoring the

SCP allocation and utilization

Promoted civil society discussion on

Chotanagpur Act seeking its review and the

Government is in the process of the review.

State Chapter of NDF in Chattisgarh is doing

legislative advocacy on SCP

Capacitated state chapters are advocating with

state and national government on proper budget

allocation based on the SCP

Demand to legalize SCP is in process

NDF functions independently through a secretariat

in Secunderabad. Recently it has received its FCRA

and will now be independent of CWS, through whom

the financial support was flowing till date.

7.2. BODHI-CENTRE FOR ADIVASI

DALIT BHAHUJAN INITITIAVES

While many Dalit organizations and other BackwardCaste organizations are active in AP, they are polarized

by interests rather than bringing together the victims

of the caste system. Bodhi aims at starting grassroots

support actions to bring all the dalit-bahujan groups

together and work towards reduction of tension among

the communities.

The programme is implemented in five districts of

Andhra Pradesh covering 73 villages in 18 mandals. It

covers 509 youths directly, and 1040 of their familymembers indirectly. Of the 509 youth, 158 are girls

(31%).

Objectives

Promote ideas of self-respect among Adivasi

Dalit Bahujans and prepare them to shed

inferiority complex

Aim at changing the negative philosophical

systems that influence the Indian social system


32/62


in general and the Dalit Adivasi Bahujans in

particular

Strive to generate consciousness among Adivasi

Dalit Bahujans and make them aware of their

productive value, history and culture

Aim to create and develop conscious leadership

from among the Adivasi Dalit Bahujans

Work towards educating and uniting Adivasi

Dalit Bahujan and Minorities to fight for liberty,

equality and social justice

Key Activities During the year, the programme identified 12

NGOs in Warangal, Nalgonda, Karimnagar,

Adilabad,Warangal Khammam and

Rangareddy and initiated moves for alliancing.

After conducting 15 central level meetings on

modalities of establishing BYCs, 95 BODHI

Youth Committees (BYCs) were promoted.

Eighty libraries were established and are being

managed by BYCs.

Three book-reading sessions were conducted

for Warangal, Nalgonda and Medak BYCs

members, sensitising the youth to their socio-

cultural and political rights and their assertion.

A Young Training Programme was conducted

for BYCs at Khammam.

AchievemnetsThe mobilization of Dali Bahujan Youth, formation

of BYCs and consistent efforts to create awareness

among them on their rights have shown the following

impacts:

Sharing among Adivasi Dalit Bahujans

intelligentsia is an innovative experiment in A.P

and is infusing youth with new thought processes

and approaches

The unity and cooperation among the Dalit

Bahujans has been strengthened

The programme has created awareness among

youth on Dalit-Bahujan rights and entitlements

It has developed strong leadership skills among

youth who have begun to articulate their rights

with confidence

Youth are writing letters to leading Telugu daily

newspapers and magazines on social and

development issues that need to be addressed

by the State

Youth are participating enthusiastically in book

reading sessions and the participation of women

in increasing

Youth are celebrating the local feasts and

organizing events to bring everyone together

BYCs are conducting Jayanthis (birthdays)

and Vardhanthis (death anniversaries) of

eminent personalities like Mahatma Joti Rao

Phule, Periyar, Narayanaguru,

Dr.B.R.Ambedkar, Komurambheem, Savithribai

Phule, and Phulan Devi

The BYCs are focusing on eradicating the

practice of untouchability

Members of BYCs developed self-confidence

and self-respect through the BODHI library

movement

Youth are maintaining the libraries and through

the BYCs have been demanding that the Gram

Panchayats provide accommodation for Bodhi

Libraries

BYCs are also mobilizing books, furniture, news-

paper, library building (space) and other

resources for the libraries where visitors number

over 1000 daily

BODHI cultural meetings are drawing the

attention of Self-Help Groups and also the other

youth who dropped out of schools and colleges.

7.3. KNOWLEDGE IN CIVIL SOCIETY

(KICS)

KICS is yet another spinoff from CWS. It is in the

process of consolidation and expansion as a network


33/62


of committed academics and activists working on

issues relating to science, technology and societal

concerns. KICS maintains its identity as a forum and

network with CWS playing host. KICs is anchored bya Prof of XIMB. The other promoters include CED,

who curate, maintain and operate the KICS website,

solidarity institutions who are extremely active in the

sustainable agriculture group, the Universities of

Maastricht and University of Hyderabad with whom

KICS is involved in a three year European Union

project on Science, Ethics and Technological

Responsibility in Developing and Emerging Countries

(SET DEV).

Peoples Manifesto on Science and

Technology

Studies and publications: Three new studies:

on the knowledge dimension of the rural

employment scheme NREGA by

Ramasubramaniam of Samanvaya

the cross sectoral investigation on water and

energy by CWS and Prayas and

a film on Non Pesticidal Management (NPM)by CED.

www.kicsforum.net The KICS website

launched last year has now become an important

vehicle for carrying out KICS ideas to the wider

world

Collaborative workshops and Networks

a roundtable and public discussion on

Knowledge society debates exploring science,

technology and innovation in India with STEPS

Centre of the Institute of Development Studies.

Jan 5-6, 2009.

An SRI learning alliance meeting in Orissa on

December 8-9

the workshops on the manifesto (Nov 2008) and

onagricultural policy of Orissa (March 2009).

Discussion forum

The KICS electronic groups the main (55

members)

Sustainable agriculture (65 members). The

sustainable agriculture group continues to be

very active, and the expertise of managing

google groups has spawned of several newer

groups on SRI (sriindia and sriorissa), sand

manifesto, RTD policy (rtdpolicydialogue) in

which KICS members are very active.

Five sharing sessions during the year

on Knowledge Intensive Agricultural Systems

(C Shambu Prasad, April 25),

Knowledge dimensions of NREGA

(Ramasubramaniam, July1),

Irrigation Infrastructure: A view from below

(Chitra Krishnan, Aug 2),

Urban agriculture (Snehalata Shrikhande,

Bharat Mansatta and others, Aug 8)

Towards an S&T manifesto (Wiebe Bijker, Nov

29th).


34/62


8. Reflections On Programme Interventions

The programme implementation during the year has

been accomplished successfully as per plan. There

were regular periodic reviews of the programme

implementation throughout the year along with the

review of budget utilisation. It was heartening to note

that CWS was able to utilise more than 90% of the

total operational budget for the year.

Programmatically, CWS has been able to play its

role in both policy formulation and policy

implementation and contribute to both policy

formulation and effective implementation as well as to

improvement in the living conditions of the people.

The Rights Programme has been able to

successfully meet the objectives set out. For instance

the Gender Programme has addressed the issue of

domestic violence across all the five states. Through

this initiative several hundred survivors of violence have

been counseled and several thousands of agents of

change developed. CWS partners have been active in

engaging with policy makers and enforcement agencies

to ensure effective implementation and identify

lacunae, so that it can be altered. Similarly trafficking

is an issue that CWS partners in the Traffic prone

states have been successful in addressing, including

influencing the state to start Mahila Thanas to

checking trafficking of women and children, in

Jharkhand and Orissa. Understanding the nexus of

dowry and globalization and the need to arrest this

practice, through monitoring, and building public opinion,

vigilance committees efforts were undertaken in Tamil

Nadu.

A CWS gender policy has been developed and

adopted, which underlines the organisations

commitment to gender mainstreaming and

equality.

The empowerment of Dalits to claim their rights,

access to entitlements meant for them was the

thrust of the programme. Mobilisation and

awareness generation among the dalit

communities to demand the effective

implementation of the SC/ST PoA was

facilitated.

A CWS draft Dalit Policy developed is on the

anvil for validation, which reiterates CWSs

special focus on Dalit Rights.

The National Dalit Forum has done a pioneering

work in initiating a public and political discourse

on the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan for the

legitimate budget allocation for development of

Dalits.

Through the Dalit Bahujan Initiatives, we were

able to start a number of Bodhi Rural Libraries,

form Bodhi Youth Committees and identify

NGOs who would provide accompaniment to

the rural youth.

Human Rights Education to more than 5550

school and college students through human rights

educators and rights awareness to more than

25000 people and monitoring of 260 human

rights violations through our partners have been

the major intervention of our human rights

programme.

Along with empowering women and youth

elected representatives of Panchayati RajInstitutions and promoting Model GPs, we have

been campaigning for devolution of power to

GPs and implementation of Panchayati Raj

Extension to Scheduled Areas Act (PESA) in

our Panchayati Raj Initiatives.

Facilitating access to government schemes and

Date post:	09-Apr-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	action-for-food-production
View:	227 times
Download:	0 times

Towards Solidarity, 2008-2009 Annual Report, India

Documents