Capacity Building of Women Gram Panchayat Pradhan Under Child Rights Project in Eastern UP

Conducting Block level training of Women Pradhan in three District:

The second Round training of Women Pradhan was conducted from 17th February to 27th February 2014. The two days training program was conducted at block level. The training program was focused on 10 Points Child Friendly Agenda, related to survival and development of children. In the training program 536 Women Pradhan from 23 blocks of three districts; Jaunpur, Mirzapur and Sonebhadra were covered. The entire training program was facilitated in close collaboration with partner organization of UNICEF. The training program was facilitated by using audio visual tool and large group discussion methodology. In this training program 90% of Women Pradhan was participated. The certificate also provided by BDO, ADO and block pramukh at the end of training.

RSBY Campaign

Conducting District Level Consultation on RSBY:


To Bridging the gaps between community and stake holders through sharing of experiences and views related to various dimension of RSBY scheme, a one day district level experience sharing workshop was organized on 6th Febuary,14.

Major Objectives of the Workshop:

 Lobbing with the decision makers to give thrust on challenges
 Advocacy through, sharing of experiences with stake              holders,officials and media   
 Showcasing good examples
In the Workshop Mr. Ravindra form State Nodal agency, RSBY Lucknow was present. Other stakeholder related to the schemes, like, doctors, representatives from insurance company, RSBY beneficiary, CSO partners were participated.

Migrant Rights Campaign

Prawasi Pariwar Samuh 

This month 5 parwasi parivaar samuh meetings were conducted at different villages of our intervention area (in both the block). In the meetings we talked about the participation of rural women in monthly panchayat meetings. The importance of inclusion of women in the local governance was discussed. Furthermore the women were also informed about the women’s day event to be conducted next month and were encouraged to participate in the event.

ID Cards and Registration Camp

Visit of Ms. Namita from PACS 

The visit of Ms. Namita from PACS to field area of Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra, Varanasi was undertaken from 3rd – 5th February, 2013. The basic objective of visit was to get an overview on PACS Program in Varanasi District. During her three day visit, she firstly interacted with Officials of Education department at Cholapur Block to get acquainted about current status and challenges in education sector and how the partnership of PACS and CSOs can play an eminent role in strengthening quality of Education. Her first visit was undertaken at Cholapur gram panchayat where she interacted with School Management Committee members, Citizen Leaders and CBO Leaders. Background of participants and what kinds of issues are addressed through these platforms was also explained by participants to Ms. Namita. After the meeting she visited Panchayat Information Centre of Cholapur. The second destination of field visit was scheduled with weaver households and Adolescent Girls at Bhawanipur. The weavers shared various challenges and grievances from Government which is hampering their weaving industry. On second day, field visit was scheduled at Saidpur Block of Ghazipur District. She met with Women CBOs, Citizen Leaders and RSBY Smart Card Holders. A group of Mahila Samuh, Women Elected Representatives and Community Health Service Providers was present in this meeting. The meeting was called off with
the aim to get basic information about how the CBOs are working, what are their initiatives for community development and in what way they are working on Rights and entitlement issues. She personally interacted with RSBY beneficiaries to know treatment and hospital experiences. The third day, she interacted with Project Animators. She shared her observation and experience of two days discourse. Some suggestions related with Project Sustainability, and concern on working for SEGs was also shared by him with Team Members.

 Animator’s Training on Documentation at Nav Shadhna, Varanasi 

Animator’s Training on Reporting and Documentation was organized at Nav Sadhana, Varanasi on 18th & 19th February, 2014. The training program was a part of Capacity Building under PACS Project. The training program was attended by 15 Project Animators from Cholapur, Harahua and Saidpur Block. During the training session Animator were given a detailed description of the Basics of Documentation, Daily Diary Writing skill, Case Study writing, success story writing, Data Management, data tracking, event reporting and weekly reporting. Animator also got detailed overview, why reporting very important for any Project and Programme. Other than reporting and documentation they also got session on process of School Development Plan which was going to be undertaken at Government School. Few sessions on self-development and self-actualization was also facilitated. Every session was very well attended; some sessions got higher response than others in terms of participation. Overall the training programme was well received by the participants in terms of more clarity in their roles in documentation process and system under PACS Programme.

Mobile Video Van at Harahua & Cholapur 

To increase awareness among communities on RSBY program and to increase use of RSBY smart card by the members and increased access to quality medical care SSK with the support of Poorest Areas Civil Society (PACS), organized mass awareness campaign through mobile video van. The success of the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) depends largely on reaching out to the poorest communities and beneficiaries through dedicated awareness and sensitization campaigns. The campaign was launch in the month of February, 2014 at Harahua and Cholapur Block of Varanasi District. It covered 10 Gram Panchayats in each block during campaign. The purpose of launching the video van is to create awareness among RSBY beneficiaries regarding the importance of using Smart Card and to reduce the vulnerability of BPL Families. Through a series of campaigns in the different G.Ps, PACS has attempted trying to reach the more and more Smart Card holders and educate them about the scheme. Also information along with assistance is provided for the different procedures in utilization of Card. The rural communities across all Gram Panchayats participated with full fervor and enthusiasm in campaign to achieve the success of RSBY.

Sensitization Workshop on RSBY with Hospital Authorities

Workshop for Hospitals authorities empanelled in RSBY was organized by Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra at Varanasi and Ghazipur District on 25th and 28th February, 2014 respectively. Representatives from all the empanelled hospitals, their representatives and TPAs participated actively. Conceptual issues, operational issues and ways for strengthening RSBY were discussed and deliberated. Way forward in lieu of renewed scope of RSBY and new proposed policy level initiatives were highlighted and commitment on agreed decisions was reiterated. Discussion focused on maintaining the balance between standardization and innovation. Representatives from Hospital also raised issues regarding delay in process of payment from Insurance agencies. They also told that someone from insurance agency should present in these workshop. Discussions and strategies were developed on strengthening the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna through community mobilization and sensitization of stakeholders.

Exposure Visit of RSBY Smart Card Holders to Empanelled Hospital 
 
Exposure visit of RSBY smart card holders was undertaken at Sai Ram Hospital Saidpur Block of Ghazipur District. An important aspect of the scheme is the accessibility of the empanelled hospitals; therefore we have selected this hospital for exposure visit of beneficiary because this hospital is easily accessible in terms of distance, traffic and mode of transport, condition of roads etc. This hospital is within the reach of Saidpur population. Beneficiary visited and observed medical and surgical facilities, including diagnostic facilities, i.e. pathology testing and X-ray, E.C.G. etc for the care and treatment of injured or sick persons as inpatients. They also visited operating theatre from outside which was fully equipped and where surgical operations are carried out. They also got the opportunity to talk with doctors and nurses. However, they person on RSBY helpdesk completely addressed the visit to make them aware about whole formalities and process of getting treatment. Community members were provided a tour of the outpatient department of the hospital and explained the process of registration in the hospital under RSBY along with the process of using their smart cards. This enabled the participating registered beneficiaries learn ways and procedures to access to their entitlements under RSBY. In addition to the above, enquiry was also made that whether DKM has visited this hospital or not. Hospital process and the database management procedures are being observed by visitors.

School Development Plan Facilitated at Saidpur

To make the education system more effective and to encourage participation of parents in the decision process and RTE Act, School Management Committee should perform the following functions like, Monitor the working of the school; prepare and recommend school development plan, monitor the utilization of the grants received from the appropriate government or local authority or any other source, perform such functions as may be prescribed. Considering the role of SMC, SSK extended support to SMCs in preparing School Development Plan at Gopalpur Primary School of Saidpur Block on 26th February, 2014. The SDP is a strategic plan for improvement. It should bring together, in a clear and simple way, the school’s priorities, the main measures it will take to improve school environment and targets it intends to achieve. It was based on the premise that community themselves are best placed to identify areas for improvement and to implement changes that can bring about better outcomes for children. Community ownership and decision making leads to sustained self-improvement is therefore at the core of the school improvement. The good thing about whole process was making the SDP using participatory techniques has ‘break the silence’ of the poor and marginalized sections, recognize the value of popular collective knowledge and wisdom as well as legitimize the production of knowledge by the people themselves. SMC members along with School Authorities and PRI members of Village actively participated during the whole process of SDP. Wide range of challenges and problems like Mid day Meal quality, absence of boundary wall in school, Re-bore of Hand pump, Cleanness school toilets, poor student teacher ratio, poor response from education department regarding requisition, application and appeals was discussed deeply during meeting.