Social Empowerment of the Resource less Women-02

Direct Bank Transfer

PACS India

State Bank of India
A/c No: 0000123456789
IFSC Code: SB0001234

Project area: Bindol GP of Raiganj Block of Uttar Dinajpur District.
Duration: 2 years
Target group: Marginalized people, mostly women and youth groups.

Rationale and background of the project:
Uttar Dinajpur is one of the most backward districts of West Bengal in terms of economy, health, education and social development. The marginalized community in this district consists of SCs, STs, minority community, refugees, agricultural laborers, landless farmers, seasonal migrants, disabled, child labors and women. Marginalized labors with smaller land do not get adequate support from government departments. Thus, unable to take care of their families, they migrate to different states to look for alternative employment. To support the families, even children are engaged in hazardous jobs leading towards ailments.

Experience of SMOKUS in the area:

Movement for livelihood rights- SMOKUS organized women’s groups in the Maheshpur village of Rasakhoa 1 GP in the Karandihgi Block, to mobilize the Panchayat, to set up two tube wells to get safe drinking water for all. Currently, SMOKUS has undertaken a survey to find out the rate of kidney trafficking in the area. 29 cases have already been found. The organization also has been able to control the rate of early marriage among the tribal communities. Efforts have been made to mobilize both by educating the people and mobilizing the government departments to take an active role in preventing such things.
Bharati Mardi, a marginal labor, lives at Bajbindal. Due to severe economic hardship, she decided to arrange the marriage of her 12 years old daughter Pipi Kisku, a student of Class V. Adolescent and women’s groups of the village took initiative and educated Bharati and her community on the evils of early marriage. They sent a deputation to BDO on the issue, who in turn sent an official to talk to the family. This whole process led to the realization on the part of both Bharati and her community that early marriage is a social evil and it is also a crime.

Goal of the project:

To empower the Women’s groups to ensure women’s participation in the decision making process and ineffective delivery of services.
To make women aware of their rights on various issues.
To strengthen the local self-governance mechanism/ Gram Panchayat through sensitizing the system and the people who are running the system.

Objective	Justification	Strategy	Activities	Output
To incorporate village community in PRI	Participation of elected members in the Panchayat is not adequate for the development, representation of the marginalized community can ensure holistic development.	Providing information and mobilizing the marginalized community on livelihood issues so that they can represent their views in Panchayat.	Identification of problems related to livelihood through group discussion. Awareness sessions on livelihood and role of Panchayat and people at Gram Sansad level. Organizing discussions at Panchayat level with teachers, ICDS workers, health workers. Organizing cultural events like street play, video and poster exhibitions. Establishing information center.	After 1 year 20% increase in enrollment of people in various government and Panchayat schemes. 100% Women groups will have access to information related to various Government Schemes. 25% Women will get job under NREGA.
To form a new self help group and uniting various SHGs under one umbrella.	Increased productivity in agriculture has not been able to completely eradicate poverty. Landless poor need to be organized to earn their livelihood. Marginalized people united under SHG can be organized to build an effective Panchayat system.	Organizing and motivating poor, marginalized and landless people to take up alternate employment and skill building. Preparation of list of self help groups in villages and Panchayats. Convincing them about the importance of functioning under one umbrella to get a better market price for their product. Capacity building of the SHGs	Organizing group discussion to find out the problems. Organizing workshops to inform people about various employment schemes. Regular meetings with the leaders of SHGs at Panchayat level about their role in village development. Organizing workshops with various government departments, like agriculture department, animal husbandry, Panchayat and banks with the SHG.	Formation of 5 SHG in 1 GP. All SHGs would be incorporated in Panchayat in the 1st year. Creation of ‘general forum’ with all SHGs in the first year. Ensuring meeting between all SHGs with Panchayat on every 2nd Saturday of the month. 35 % of the women of the Panchayat will cover under SHGs by the end of 2nd year. 100% SHGs will cover under Cluster. 45% Women groups will take active participation in the local self-governance. 40%Women groups actively involved in the planning of their respective Gram Panchayats 30% women groups will organize a movement for livelihood rights Ensure savings A/C for the SHGs. Ensure only the SHGs get lease of all ponds under Panchayat.
To engage CBOs in village development.	People usually depend of CBOs as they are not politically biased. The CBOs can play important role in the holistic development of the village. They can also represent marginalized people in various forums. The CBOs play important role in organizing people’s movements for their rights.	Mobilizing CBOs and connecting them with people. Educating the CBOs on developmental issues. Formation of a ‘Joint Forum’ with all the CBOs of the project area.	Preparing a database of local CBOs and their areas of work. Organizing discussion among various CBOs, local club and other groups at Gram Sansad level. Organizing joint meetings between villagers and CBOs. Organizing workshops on the role of CBOs in social development. Organizing joint workshop with the Panchayat and CBOs. Arranging a discussion with all stakeholders, people and CBOs.	Formation of a ‘General forum’ with all social organization of Panchayat during the 1st year. Increase in participation level by the CBOs in Panchayat.
To involve people in the process of decentralization of Panchayati Raj Institution.	The success of the PRI system lies in more and more people’s participation in the decision making process. People’s participation is necessary to bring planning at the grassroots level.	Strengthening GUS through regular meetings of Gram Sansad Sabha and Gram Sabha.	Organizing discussions involving people and gram Sansad Sabha and gram Sabha. Organizing meetings between Panchayat and GUS. Organizing cultural events, like street play, video and poster exhibitions.	30% more people will be aware about GUS and Sansad Sabha. The GUS will hold at least 2 meetings in a year in every GP. The attendance in Sansad Sabha will be at least 20% after 1 year of intervention.

Staff required:

1 project coordinator, to look after the overall functioning of the project.
3 supervisors will look after field work and the accountant will look after the financial side.