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DA Digest
July 2017
UPCOMING
TARAgram Yatra 2017: 20th to 22nd September, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi
EVENTS
CANSA General Assembly at Nepal
The annual CANSA General Assembly was held at Nagarkot, Nepal, from 11th to 13th July 2017, supported by 'Bread for the World' and 'Christian Aid'. About 50 people participated in it, including Zeenat Niazi, Gitika Goswami and Syed Abdul Aziz Farhan from Development Alternatives (DA). The main focus of the Assembly was on developing the vision and strategy for CANSA for the next three years, until the Paris Agreement enters into force by 2020. Four groups were divided to address the main focus areas for CANSA's strategy: Climate Resilience, Climate Finance, Loss and Damage, and Low Carbon Development. The CANSA Secretariat also discussed the past activities of the network, its future prospects, and important dates and platforms for showcasing its work. The session concluded on 12th with the CANSA Board election, Zeenat Niazi being selected as the co-chair. On the last day, a workshop including a brainstorming session was conducted in response to the report 'Climate Induced Migration'. A session was also held to identify the issues, objectives, research, advocacy and stakeholders for the next report.
HISER International Conference on Advances in Recycling and Management of C&D Waste
Delft University of Technology organised the HISER International Conference on 'Advances in Recycling and Management of Construction and Demolition Waste' from 21st to 23rd June 2017 at TU, Amsterdam. The Conference aimed at sharing experiences of experts around the world, on the given theme. A paper titled 'Construction and Demolition Waste Management in India - A Case Study of Ahmedabad City' was presented by DA. The Conference witnessed participation from 46 people, including researchers from many universities in EU, China, Japan, India and Mongolia. The three-day programme included paper presentations at the Science Department of TU and two field visits to recycling facilities - Ballast washing unit of 100 TPD capacity and C&D washing and crushing unit of 500 TPD capacity at Delft. DA's presentation was highly appreciated since its involvement in this sector was inclusive of technical research, policy intervention and pilot level implementations, which was quite unique.
Working Group Session on Promoting Rural Entrepreneurship in Bundelkhand
A working group session was conducted at TARAgram Orchha on 6th July 2017. With about 60 participants, it aimed at bringing together entrepreneurs, practitioners and policy makers in the local economy to identify synergies and pathways for promoting integration and inter-linkages of enterprise and job creation initiatives. The working group included moderated sessions that focused on identifying barriers - poor business motivation, lack of handholding support, etc. - and opportunities - using sectors such as horticulture, dairy, weaving, rural services, and water and sanitation, and schemes such as multi-stakeholder supported branding and marketing platform, mechanisms to ensure timely financing of entrepreneurs, capacity building initiatives, etc. - to create a positive ecosystem for budding and existing entrepreneurs. After this event's success, the way forward would be to develop a methodology document, as process protocol, as a learning document based on the event carried out, with frequent follow up meetings.
TARA Akshar+ Providing Literacy Solutions to Empower Lives
The 'Gift Her Education' project is going on in full swing at the Delhi centre of TARA Akshar+ programme located at New Sanjay Amar Colony, Kakrola Village, J.J Colony, Bharat Vihar. Gyan Chaupali has been running in 4 centres of East and West Delhi. Regular Guest Speaker sessions are being organised on themes such as digital literacy, health and nutrition, government welfare schemes, etc. Additionally, the Health Literacy Package is being simultaneously piloted at the centres. It covers themes like: importance of good health, good health habits, care required for different age groups, sex education, women's health, environment and health, government health schemes and programmes, and health care in emergency situations. Currently, 5 centres are running in the 12th teaching cycle of TARA Akshar+ in Bundelkhand. TARA Akshar+ learners of Birguan village were interviewed by Radio Bundelkhand in the first week of July, on the impact of the programme and the changes it has brought in their lives. These women were also trained by the team on the usage of radios.
De-briefing Session on Water Campaign in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh
A de-briefing session on 'Water campaign' was conducted at Vikas Bhawan, Jhansi, on 10th July 2017. The objective of the session was to exemplify and concretise the learnings deliberated by Jaldoots during the water campaign conducted in the Jhansi District. The Chief Development Officer of Jhansi, DGM of NABARD, DDM, various officials of line departments, bankers, CSO partners and 37 Jaldoots participated in the session. The officials of CEE also provided their inputs on various activities conducted under the banner of 'water campaign'. The Jaldoots shared their feedback and gave a presentation on water conservation, their block-wise planning and action plan.
Start Your Business Training in Bhagwanpur, Uttarakhand
TARA Livelihood Academy conducted a two-day SYB training in Bhagwanpur on 23rd and 24th June 2017. 20 women were enrolled in this programme aimed at building and upgrading entrepreneurial skills. Brainstorming sessions were conducted on business ideas, assessment of personal strengths, weaknesses, entrepreneurial characteristics; and decisions were made regarding business plans and personal action plans such as marketing, costing and start-up capital. There were also sessions of personal sharing wherein the trainees discussed how they learnt not only business management skills, but also underwent personality development in terms of self-confidence, public speaking and exposure to wider range of market for better business ideas.
Sustainable Water Project in Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh
The Sustainable Water Project is being implemented in the Bundelkhand region of India. The goal is to improve the health and quality of life of about 200 households, by installing water-supply infrastructure for access to safe and regular drinking water, with active participation from the rural community. The technology is proven and is powered by solar (renewable) energy. Awareness creation and community mobilisation are the key components of this project. The community is being provided information about hygiene and sanitary practices, and sustainable water use. This project will result into improved livelihoods, quality of life, and health of the community in Bundelkhand.
Foundry Waste Management Activity in Samalkha, Haryana
DA, in association with FMC, organised a pilot demonstration of the technology for utilisation of foundry slag in non-structural building products, on 15th July 2017, in and around Samalkha, Haryana. The intervention was conducted by Atheeque Ahmed.K (DA), Sohan Kumar Ghosh (DA) and Rishiram (FMC) at 4 different enterprises. The entrepreneurs were enlightened about the technology to be adopted for the fabrication of various products (such as I-shaped and interlocking paver blocks, tiles and man-hole covers), which could be pursued by installing a crusher unit in the enterprise facilities. Entrepreneurs' queries regarding economic and technological aspects were discussed and resolved. In order to generate interest and awareness, consultative meetings with potential clients were held, such as with Joginder Singh, who was apprised about the probable applications of the slag based products and the benefits that can be reaped out of this technology on the economic, social and environmental fronts. The project succeeded in expanding and accelerating the adoption of this technology - being pursued by 3 entrepreneurs - in the foundry cluster of Samalkha.
Water Quality Monitoring Drives for Paani Panchayat (Water Council Training), Rajasthan
DA, along with UNICEF Rajasthan, aims to increase climate and disaster resilience of children, adolescents and women through strengthening people's participation in local development process. The goal of this project is to ensure water sustainability and clean and "efficient usage of water resources". Two-day sessions were held on 18th and 19th July 2017 in the selected Gram Panchayats (Selana, Jhadol and Bagpura) in Udaipur District, Rajasthan. About 100 people attended the training, including Ramesh Solanki (BDO, Jhadol), Dr. Urvashi and Ms. Kamini (UNICEF), Sanjay Seth (Resource Person), and Gitika Goswami, Pramod Kumar, Syed Abdul Aziz Ishaqi Farhan, Roopali Gupta and Utkarsh Sethia (DA). The task was to involve the community from the beginning and to establish a WATSAN committee that would be trained on 'water quality monitoring' to look into water, environment, sanitation and hygiene practices. Awareness was also created regarding different parameters for assessing the water quality (such as pH, fluoride, TDS, nitrate, hardness, chloride, taste and turbidity).The programme was a huge success, with 3 JAL TARA Water testing kits being placed in the Gram Panchayats.
Video
Zeenat Niazi at the Green Economy Academy 2014
Zeenat Niazi, Vice President, DA, defines her idea of 'Green Economy' as a "bridge between human well-being and planetary well-being". She elaborates on DA's initiatives for greener economies, the challenges faced in this endeavour, and the need for better standardised norms, behaviour change and support systems. She also raises important questions on the condition of village enterprises. Watch here
DA in News
A women-led initiative ensures access to water, better sanitation: Grassroots (Press Trust of India), Volume 9 Issue 7, July 2017.
This story is of Punawli Kalan Village in Uttar Pradesh where a community, with the support of a women-led federation, solved its water woes by developing a community-owned water supply system. The collective effort made by the community backed by the federation has resulted in increased accessibility to safe water for households. In addition to the improved accessibility and quality, the endeavour has also reduced drudgery for women.
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