The Link 15thFeb'06

7/29/2019 The Link 15thFeb'06

1/4

In this Issue...

Editorial

Basic Needs Program

Inauguration of ME

Other BISWA News

ADVISORSKhirod Ch. Malick

Pitabasa SethiJ ogeswar MajhiMakardhwaj Sahu

Shiv Prasad MeherAurobinda Mahapatra

Pradeep Kumar Mohanty

The LinkThe LinkThe LinkThe LinkThe LinkChief-Editor

Debabrata Malick

Editor

Guru Prasad Nahak

Contact :-

The LinkBISWA

At-DanipaliP.o-Budharaja

Dist-Sambalpur,PIN-768004

Tele fax- +91-663-2533597Email:[email protected]

[email protected]

FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY Communicate MindsCommunicate MindsCommunicate MindsCommunicate MindsCommunicate MindsFORTNIGHTLYVolume-31 15th February 2006

48 villages of Maneswar Block in Sambalpur district have been identifiedto be covered under the Basic Needs Program. The Program issupported by donations received from Friends from our USA. DuringJanuary 2002, Mrs. Joyasree Mahanti, an NRI from USA, came in

contact with BISWA and undertook extensive travel in remote parts ofManeswar Block in Sambalpur district and in consultation with Mr.K.C.Mallick, the Chairman BISWA devised detailed planning to implement BasicNeeds Program in the region. She is living in the USA since more than three decadeswith her husband Prof. Dr. Subhendu Dev Mahanti, a professor in Michigan StateUniversity, USA. She placed the situation before some of her friends andacquaintances in USA and raised fund to supplement the program. BISWA enteredinto discussions with the District Administration and as a result of these triconedefforts, Basic Needs Program has been successfully implemented. The Basic NeedsProgram represents a perfect example of participatory approach to communitydevelopment with a holistic manner. The program has covered the most significantsegment of community development: Basic Infrastructure Services, primary health,elementary education, safe drinking water, poverty alleviation, women empowermentand child care with active participation of the Government. The pace of the plannedintervention ensured a population gradually moving out of the dreaded poverty.

OBJ ECTIVES OF BASIC NEEDS PROGRAM1.Availability of safe drinking water2.Establishment of innovative schools3.Enhancing Health status4.Reduction in IMR & MMR5.Promoting alternative livelihood options6.Skill up-gradation in traditional trades

7.Extension of credit service for undertaking IncomeGeneration Programs by SHGs.8.Construction of water harvesting structures tofacilitate irrigation.

IMPACT OF THE BASIC NEEDS PROGRAM Zero Infant Mortality Zero Maternal Mortality 100% enrollment in schools Minimized out-migration Value addition to traditional products No exploitation by money lenders Availability of safe drinking water Availability of water for farming consumption Income level of artisans enhanced.Regain of self confidence and self esteem by villagers

B A S I C N E E DS P RO GR A MB A S I C N E E DS P RO GR A MB A S I C N E E DS P RO GR A MB A S I C N E E DS P RO GR A MB A S I C N E E DS P RO GR A MB o o m t o M a n e sw a r B l oc k B o o m t o M a n e sw a r B l oc k B o o m t o M a n e sw a r B l oc k B o o m t o M a n e sw a r B l oc k B o o m t o M a n e sw a r B l oc k


2/4

15 February

2

DRINKING WATER

Providing safe drinking water has been one of the highestpriorities in Basic Needs Program. To achieve this objective ofsafe drinking water for total population of the identified villages,this program is converged with Swajaldhara program of theState Government, in which the beneficiaries collectively areto bear only 10 per cent of the total cost of tube well and therest was borne under the scheme. The beneficiary contributionwas borne by the program. All the covered villages have tubewells and availability of safe drinking water is no more a distantdream even in scorching summer days. So far 24 tube-wellshave been sunk under this program, benefiting 1356 ofhouseholds. Construction of platforms surrounding the tube-

wells which serve as a hygienic measure and also as washingplatforms is also a part of the project. The tube wells aremaintained by the users themselves.

INNOVATIVE SCHOOLS

Our friends from USA, individuals and institutions; havesupported BISWA to establish 16 schools under this segmentof the program in 15 villages and 1 urban slum. Adding toimparting elementary education to the pupils theseestablishments are imparting training on various extracurricular

subjects such as protection of environment, exploration oftalents in sports and culture among the students etc. The eachschool has employed 1 teacher from the community. Theschools in the villages of Jhankarbahali, Budapada, Rathipada& Tangarjuri are supported by Asha for Education-USA andthe other schools are supported collectively by individuals.Support other than finance also came to the institutions inshape of uniforms and reading materials. Mr. Manohar Saiand Mr. Harekrushna Pattnaik NRIs has visited theestablishments while in India and distributed school uniformsand reading materials to the students.

Prior to establishment of the innovative schools, the enrollmentstatus in the formal schools, was less than 50%, drop out was47% and attendance was poor. The parents were discouragingthe pupils to attend school and preferred them to go working.Intervention by BISWA has brought about a behavioral changeamong the parents; the enrollment has gone up to 100%,attendance to 95% and drop out only in case of out migration,which is a rare phenomena.

HEALTH PROGRAM

Provision of the primary health care

facilities, another challenge that theprogram interests to address and hasinvolved the community in theprocess. The program establishesCommunity Based Drug Distribution(CBD) Centers in strategic villages atthe rate of 1 per 1000 populations. TheCBDs are run by members of SHGs.They are empowered by training atregular intervals, imparted by expertsin the field. During the period under

report 47 members of different SHGshave been imparted health training tocombat local health issues / needs in3 programs.

EYE CAMPS

Ophthalmic disorderin these parts of thedistrict having highprevalence, BISWAhas organized severalawareness andtreatment camps forcataract and otherophthalmic disorders.During these 3 yearsmore than 2000persons have beenbenefited under thisprogram. Checking ofstatus of the eyes,replacing intraocularlens, providing eyeglasses, medicine: all

at no cost basis formmajor components ofthe program.

The tall claim in the name of development soundshollow without proper participation of our rural massin the process. It was properly realized in BISWA andthe outcome is our Basic Needs Program (BNP).

The BNP covers 48 remote villages of Maneswarblock in Sambalpur district for the time being. Ourfriend, philosopher and guide Mrs. J oyasreeMahanti, an NRI from USA extended the most soughtafter help in this matter and the result is an eye opener.

The district administration of Sambalpur also has afruitful participation in the BNP. The program reflectsa perfect example of participatory approach to ruraldevelopment, as envisaged in the vision. I t coverssome basic infrastructure services like, health,education, drinking water, women empowerment and

child care with poverty alleviation as a whole. Theresult is reflected in zero IMR & MMR, cent per centenrollment in primary school, substantial reductionin outward migration, relief from money lendingexploitation, safe drinking water at hand, irrigationfacility to support agriculture, enhancement ofincome from craftsmanship and overall increasingconfidence among the rural mass. The experimentconducted by BISWA to involve the rural folk in thedevelopmental process with formation of self helpgroups and empowering them with extension of

microfinance, became a reality in those unreachedsector.


3/4

3

The Basic Needs Program addresses the need of the community in a more integrated rather than a comprehensive approach.The target group has most of the indicators pointing to a standard of life far less than what is understood to be normal, wheresafe drinking water is scare, food throughout the year is unsecured, not a piece of land to call their own, where the elderly stillbroods what tomorrow shall be like and the seasons having a negatie impact on their mobility, their food security and the healthstatus. The implementation of BNP has brought in three changes:

a) Enhanced their decision making capacities whether to produce Talei or Feng Sui items; whether to walk or ride abicycle; whether to wear this dhoti or that one;

b) Decreased their fear of existence: fear of diseases, fear of hunger and fear of high interest rate on borrowings andfear of unsold stock of finished products.

c) A congenial balance between the abilities and achievement of the artisans.

INAUGURATION:Mrs. Joysree Mohanti, an NRI from USA, popularly known as Ranu Nani,inaugurated five micro enterprise units of Self Help Groups in Maneswar

block, supported by BISWA on February 13th . She interacted with the

SHG members & encouraged them for their entrepreneurship with wishes

for their socio-economic development on that occasion. Mr.Pitabasa Sethi,

Secretary-BISWA, Mr. Umakanta Pati, Project In-Charge & Mr.

Mihir Ku.Nath, Health Coordinator of BISWA were present on the occasion.

Name of the Village Name of SHG Units1.Bolaranga BISWA SHG Bolaranga Gr. No.2 Variety Shop

2. Matikhai BISWA SHG Matikhai Gr. No.1, 2 Cloth Store

3.Antapali BISWA SHG Antapali Gr. No.1, 2, 3 Cloth Store

4.Budapada BISWA SHG Budapada Gr. No.1 Variety Shop

5.Mahulpali BISWA SHG Mahulpali Gr. No.1, 2,3 Cloth Store

GUEST VISITSSri Biraja Prasad Mishra and Sri Damodar Ratha, renowned

personalities from Bhubaneswar visited BISWA on February 3rd2006 to enhance support for ongoing Microfinance program. Duringtheir two day stay at Sambalpur, they visited Hatibari Health Home,run and managed by BISWA. There they interacted with inmates &visited Farming, Weaving, Sisal Fiber, Candle making units. On thesecond day they interacted with Central Office staffs and then theyvisited our project areas in Maneswar block. BISWA was highlyappreciated by them for its enormous activities in the field of MicroFinance, Micro Enterprise & Social Development.

Ms. Nirjaharani Ratha, Mr.D.J .Kenedy and Mr. T.J .Thomas, officials from Functional Vocational Training Forum(FVTF) & NVTS visited BISWA on February 4th, 2006, They visited our project areas, Bamboo Training cum Production

center at Jhankarbahali village in Maneswar block, Common Facility Center for brass & bell metal artisans at Rengali, Badi,Papad, Soft toys, Tailoring units in Sambalpur. They interacted with the beneficiries, concerned staffs and discussed about the

development of the projects.

DETAILS OF THE 5 MICRO ENTERPRISE


4/4

Printed and Published by Debabrata Mali ck, Chief Editor. The Link, at BI SWA Computer Section,

Danipali , Budharaja, Sambalpur. PI N- 768004 Ph. No- 0663-2533597

15 February

4

Orientation program on RCH phase IIState Institute of Health & Family Welfare organized a 2 daysorientation program on Reproductive & Child Health (RCH)Phase II from February 11 -12th , 2006 at Nayapalli,Bhubaneswar for the F NGOs. The main objective of the

program was to create proper coordination among Government& Non Government Organisations for successfullimplementation of RCH Phase II for the year 2006. SriM.R.Mishra, State NGO Coordinator & Prof. Dr.B.C.Das,Director State Instituted of Health & Family Welfare joined askey resources persons of the program. Dr. Das, explained aboutthe role of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) forimplementation of the RCH program with NGOs. Eight NGOsfrom Sambalpur & Bargarh districts participated in it. Sri PitabashSethi, Secretary, Sri A.K .Satpathy, RCH Coordinatorparticipated on behalf of BISWA.

WORKSHOP ON DRIP

NABARD, Bhubaneswar organized a 3 days workshop onDistrict Rural Industries Project from 6thto 8thFebruary, 2006at Hotel Sheela Tower, Sambalpur. The main objective of theworkshop was creation of significant number of sustainableemployment opportunities in rural areas through enhanced creditflow to rural non farm sectors with complementary financial andnon financial promotional support. Sri S.N.A, Jinnah, DGM-NABARD, Bhubaneswar & Sri R.K.Mishra, DGM-NABARD,

Kolkata facilitated participants during the workshop. DRIP waslaunched by Sri Ashok M.Dalwai, RDC (NR) in Sambalpurdistrict on 31st January 2006. Sri.B.K.Dash, AGM-NABARDco-ordinated the program. In this workshop Governmentdepartment, Banks, NGOs, Entrepreneurs & Artisansparticipated in the workshop. Sri G.P.Nahak, Asst.PRO-BISWArepresented in the program on behalf of BISWA.

RED CROSS DEPLOYMENTSri Shiv Prasad Meher, PRO-BISWA was deployed as the Team

Leader to lead a State Disaster Response Team of Orissa StateBranch of Indian Red Cross Society for mid term assessmentand evaluation of ongoing Livelihood Restoration Project inBalasore district of Orissa. He was there from February 8thto13thvisiting 3 blocks Baliapal, Jaleswar and Bhogarai, wherein3396 beneficiaries form 65 villages of 9 Grampanchayats areinvolved in this project. He also gave a presentation on hisprepared evaluation report before a joint meeting of Red Crossand Inter Agencies Group at the Orissa State Headquarter ofIndian Red Cross Society on February 14th2006.

The LinkThe LinkThe LinkThe LinkThe Link

BISWA

At-Danipali

P.O-Budharaja

Dist-Sambalpur

PIN-768004

Tele-fax- 0663-2533597(O)

**********

Documents

The Link 15thFeb'06