January 2018
EVENTS
Workshop on Climate Resilience, Rajasthan
Development Alternatives (DA), UNICEF and the Disaster Management & Relief Department, Government of Rajasthan, convened a state level dissemination workshop on 'Enhancing Climate Resilience of Children, Adolescents and Women in Rajasthan' on 21st December 2017 in Jaipur. It brought together participants representing local government authorities, teachers, education offices, and governmental and non-governmental organisations that actively engage with women and children, and development planning across four districts of Rajasthan - Udaipur, Baran, Jalore and Jaipur. The workshop sought to glean insights on climatic impacts and vulnerability. DA contributed by presenting on the analysis of its surveys, such as Multi Hazard Vulnerability Assessment and Participatory Rural Appraisal.
#climatechange
For further details, contact: Syed Abdul Aziz
Training on 'Improve Your Business', Maharashtra
A training programme on 'Improve Your Business' was organised from 3rd to 6th January 2018 in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The objective was to train existing entrepreneurs in the ecofriendly Building Material, Processed Fuel and Paper Recycling sectors in business management. The training also addressed the challenges faced by the entrepreneurs in these sectors. Prabodh Gadkari, Project Manager of Energy and Waste Management at Tata Centre For Technology and Design, IIT Bombay, and Samarth Gupta, Senior Manager, DA Group, conducted the sessions and shared information regarding the support services offered by TARA under the i-STED programme. Vishakha Rao, an existing entrepreneur who runs a paper recycling enterprise, employing 50 more women from her SHG, shared her experiences and motivated the participants.
#GreenEnterprises
For further details, contact: Samarth Gupta
Strengthening the Capacity of SHGs, Uttar Pradesh
DA is working with NABARD on the project, 'Providing access to sustainable banking services to poor households by formation and nurturing of SHGs in Bundelkhand'. Under the initiative, capacity building activities for women SHGs were conducted on 19th December 2017 in Bamraulli Village of Jhansi District, Uttar Pradesh. About 50 members from 8 SHGs participated in these capacity building activities. The objective was to motivate them to strengthen their groups through regular saving and inter-loaning activities. They were also provided information on personal insurance, benefits of bank linkages and government schemes. Representatives from NABARD, Bank of Baroda, Moth, SBI and UP Gramin Bank informed the members about the various schemes available, and encouraged them to take advantage of these.
#GreenEconomy
For further details, contact: Mahua Tripathy
Training on 'Wadi Plantation and Management, Health and Nutrition Value', Uttar Pradesh
A one-day training programme on 'Wadi Plantation and Management, Health and Nutrition Value' was organised on 13th January 2018 in Badiya village of Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh, under the Tribal Development Fund – Wadi Project. The objective was to train small and marginal farmers of the Scheduled Tribe communities on developing agro-horticulture models. The sessions also discussed how growing fruits and vegetables using the fringe land near homes can help include nutrition in the daily diet. About 30 people participated in the training.
#SDGs
For further details, contact: Omkar Gupta
'Suhana Safar' - Training and Awareness Programme for Truck Drivers, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh
'Suhana Safar', a programme of the DA Group, aims to improve the quality of life of truck drivers and helpers through training and awareness interventions focusing mainly on road safety, WASHH (Water, Sanitation, Health and Hygiene), financial literacy and personality development. Two health camps were conducted on 29th October at Tughlakabad depot and 5th November 2017 at Dadri depot, benefitting over 200 truck drivers and helpers. Till date, the initiative has helped 3980 truck drivers in becoming more productive and efficient in their work.
#CleanIndia
For further details, contact: Tanvi Arora
Workshop on Women's Participation and Leadership in Local Governance, Gujarat and Maharashtra
DA and UN Women have collaborated for the project 'Advocating for Change: Promoting Women's Political Participation and Leadership', to review the current policies and norms which impede or promote the political involvement of women. Workshops on 'Women's Participation and Leadership in Local Governance' were conducted across Maharashtra and Gujarat, on 21st-22nd and 25th-26th December 2017, respectively. These were aimed at building the capacity of 30 community radio reporters in collation of live evidences from ground for policy advocacy.
#SDGs
For further details, contact: Ganesh Kumar
Training on Mushroom Cultivation technology,
Madhya Pradesh
A training session on the cultivation of mushrooms was conducted by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Datia, Madhya Pradesh, from 9th to 16th January 2018, in which 27 members from Farmer Producer Organisations participated along with DA field staff. The objective was to learn about mushroom cultivation technology and undertake its farming as an alternative farming option, especially for the landless and marginal farmers. Information on the care and management, as well as economic investments required for cultivation, was provided to the trainees.
#livelihoods
For further details, contact: Gunjesh Kumar Gunjan
Exposure Visit of Indian Railways Staff at TARAgram Pahuj, Uttar Pradesh
Staff members of the Indian Railways visited TARAgram Pahuj on 22nd December 2017, to understand the Agro-forestry model and Renewal Energy activities of the centre. TARAgram Pahuj is a Sustainability Resource Centre for innovation, action, training and outreach of DA, aimed at providing efficient development services, located in village Ambabai, Uttar Pradesh. About 20 members visited, gaining knowledge on the eco-friendly models, agriculture plantations and rainwater harvesting structures developed by DA with participation from the community.
#sustainability
For further details, contact: Shobhit Pratap Singh
Training of Trainers for TARA Akshar+ Programme, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh
The TARA Akshar+ programme organised two sessions for Training of Trainers (TOTs) between 13th November 2017 and 6th January 2018 in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haridwar, Uttarakhand, respectively. These trainings aimed at streamlining the innovative techniques and unconventional pedagogy of this ICT based programme, and familiarising the potential instructors, supervisors, block coordinators and CSO coordinators with the steps, logic and delivery mechanism of the programme. More than 70 community members were a part of these sessions.
#literacy
For further details, contact: Divya Mehrotra
DA at the Capacity Building Workshop by UN World Urban Forum, Delhi
Zeenat Niazi, Vice President, DA, was invited for a capacity building workshop for media persons, organised by UN Information Centre and UN Habitat, New Delhi, at the UN World Urban Forum, on 18th January 2018. The workshop consisted of discussions on how sustainable development can protect the planet. Zeenat Niazi, with her extensive experience in habitat, was one of the resource persons in the session on 'Cities for All and Housing at the Center'. She contributed her views on how sustainable building technologies, together with the right scale of the industry through network of SMEs, can keep a pace with the growing need of affordable housing in India under the "Housing for All" Mission.
#resourceefficiency
For further details, contact: Zeenat Niazi
Webinar on 'Valuing Natural Capital'
DA organised its second webinar in series, on "Valuing Natural Capital: Opportunities for a Green and Fair Economy in India", on 17th January 2018. The discussion during the webinar emphasised on the significance of valuing natural capital to support the transition of Indian economy to a green, fair and inclusive one. The webinar witnessed participation from 52 stakeholders. Mr. Pavan Sukhdev, President, WWF International, and Founder - CEO, GIST Advisory, discussed about various sectoral initiatives which could support India's smooth transition to a green economy. Some key sectors suggested by him were agriculture, fresh water, forests, fisheries, energy, waste and building. Zeenat Niazi, Vice President, DA, moderated the discussion that witnessed active participation from the diverse set of attendees. Various aspects related to the valuation of natural capital, ranging from empowering communities to zero budget natural farming to certification, were discussed.
#GreenEconomy
For further details, contact: Shruti Issar
Publication
India Green Economy Barometer 2017 Issue 5: Managing Natural Systems
The brief highlights the state of natural systems in the country. It tracks public and private initiatives and funds for conservation and restoration, resource governance, sustainable production systems and consumption patterns.
Video
Jobs We Want
Development Alternatives and "la Caixa" Banking Foundation recognise the complex challenges surrounding entrepreneurship. Work 4 Progress was born out of the need for a multi-faceted and innovative approach to creating systemic solutions that unleash entrepreneurship - not only creating enterprises in tens of thousands, but more importantly, enabling them to create 'dignified' and 'attractive' jobs - the jobs 'we' want.
The 'Jobs We Want' film connects the voices of existing and aspiring rural entrepreneurs with stakeholders as they put forward the problem of jobless growth. Each personal story brings about the factors that enable and challenge a rural entrepreneur from Jhansi and Varanasi.
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