Transcript Hundred Block Plan - AID

HUNDRED BLOCK PLAN
HUNDRED BLOCK PLAN
(HBP)
Inputs from Site Visits: Govind, VK,
Priya, Alka, Nishant, Karunesh,
Ravishankar, Rajesh, Srividhya, Sailesh,
Thothadri and ….
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The HBP-An AID perspective
A.I.D. wide effort – with AIPSN
TNSF (Tamilnadu Science Forum)
BGVS (Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti) in Bihar
Geography divided into manageable size
(blocks) for chapters
1 Block = ~60 villages (approx. 1 Lakh population)
Chapter works closely with individual blocks
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The HBP Health Program
Follows the Arogya Iyakkam model
Objectives:
To improve utilization of existing primary health care services
To make a measurable improvement in child health by training
village women activists and by improving community
awareness and organization
To organize and empower women around health needs
Initiated program in 13 blocks in TN & 14 blocks in Bihar
Existing program will be sustained/expanded in 20 other blocks
in TN
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The Arogya Iyakkam Model
From May ’99-Feb ’01 in 10 blocks (500 villages)
Regular training camps for state, district and block volunteers
(trainers).
Active involvement of local panchayats & government officials
Kalajathas (street-plays) midway in the program to increase
community awareness of issues
Measurable improvement in the health of malnourished
children – report and analysis available on the web
Voted one of UNICEF’s 10 best programs in the World!
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The HBP Health Program Details
Follow Arogya Iyakkam model
State training camps once every 3 months w/ follow-up regional
camps.
Will be affiliated with self-help groups
Strong volunteer presence – a prerequisite for choosing blocks
Block Coordinator
Resource person
Trainer
VHA
VHA
Resource person
Trainer
VHA
VHA
Trainer
VHA VHA
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Arogya Iyakkam Lessons Learned
Savings programs – a key to sustainability
Block full-timers are the most critical part of
the program
Motivated volunteers present at the village
and block levels
Only holistic development can sustain
programs – Health is only one component
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Overall Program Status
Several discussions among chapters
regarding participation & block allotment
Site visits to a few blocks in Bihar and TN
1st installment of the funds being transferred
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PROGRAM IN TAMIL NADU
Site Visits & Summary
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Program in Tamil Nadu
District
Thirvallur
Madurai
Virudhunagar
Theni
Kanyakumari
Cuddalore
Pudukkotai
Thanjavur
Vellore
Sivagangai
Ramnad
Madras
All blocks taken
Blocks available
Inactive district
District
Thirvallur
Madurai
Virudhunagar
Theni
Kanyakumari
Cuddalore
Pudukkotai
Thanjavur
Vellore
Sivagangai
Ramnad
Madras
New Blocks Old Blocks Total Blocks Savings Prog
1
0
1
2
0
2
2
4
3
7
6
1
1
2
4
0
10
10
6
2
1
3
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
3
3
0
1
1
0
1
1
1
0
1
13
20
33
Program Name Site Report
Malligai
Deepam
Y
Thulir
Y
Y
Malar
Y
Mullai
Y
Muthucharam
Y
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Program in Tamil Nadu Status
1st state camp completed at Vaigai dam (mid March)
Blocks selected by existing activities & participation
in the camp
Block coordinators selected by
Ability to conduct projects with minimal resources
Desire to participate in the program (Presence at the 1st
camp)
Savings programs started where it does not exist
1st regional follow-up camps conducted
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Background - Kanyakumari
Very strong savings program (MALAR)
Model women’s SHO and savings
program
2000+ groups (40,000+ members)
Very strong women’s org.
Health program not very well developed
Focuses primarily on hygiene and
women’s health
Has a district health coordinator
Offshoot of women’s SHOs
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Background Cuddalore
Literacy program (Arivoli Iyakkam) from ’93-’97
Mixed results in efficacy
Helped create awareness about literacy
Increased school attendence subsequently
2 year old savings program in Bhuvanagiri block
37 groups with Rs 2, 04,145 savings and Rs 2,23,200 loans
Competition from other NGOs with more attractive schemes
Health program
Similar to Arogya Iyakkam
2 years old
In 64 villages with 4 full-timers (from literacy program)
Lot of participation of SC/ST women
Science clubs for school children
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UPDATES FROM BIHAR
Site Visits & Summary
Program in Bihar & Jharkhand –
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Map of Bihar
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Gyan Vigyan Samiti (BGVS) & HBP
BGVS Organization Structure
HBP Blocks (14) – As
Classified by BGVS
Strongest - strong literacy
program and organization
Saharsa, Begusarai, Supaul,
Madhepura, Dhanbad
(Jharkhand), Darbhanga,
Bhabhua
Medium – strong organization
but limited spread
Newada, Jahanabad, Gaya
Weak – no current projects or
much of an organization
Rohtas and Purnia
Other Blocks – not yet
classified (need to followup)
Kaimur and Kodarma
(Jharkhand)
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Bihar HBP Block Visits
Visits give a better idea of situation in villages/blocks,
increase our understanding and role in HBP
Visits so far:
Jahanabad: Dec 27-28, 2001
• Priya Ranjan (MD) & Karunesh Pandey (Austin)
Begusarai & Nawada: April 10-13, 2002
• Alka Roy (Atlanta)
Gaya: May 8-13, 2002
• Nishant Jain (Austin)
Other planned visits this Year:
Shailendra (MD), Samip (Ann Arbor), Mora (Boston) and
Karunesh (Austin moved to India)
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What did we find during our
block visits?
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Current State of Self-help Groups
Organizing platform organizing & training women
(more effort in the last 2 years)
Names are different in each District (in 14)
State / District level training and workshop
Along with savings groups have worked on:
Untouchability, Caste, opened libraries for women, ran
village registers, held rallies and sit-ins around issues of
violence against women, organized exhibitions
In 2001, after 23 years, Bihar finally had Panchayat
elections
Over 300 BGVS women members elected (Usha Devi –
District Council Vice-Chairman)
Not Enough!
Several Challenges: lack of adequate
leadership/training/skills to spread the effort
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Self – help (Savings Groups)
Total Amount Number of
Groups with
# of Members Saved
Saving Groups Bank Account
District
Group Name
Nawada
Dhanbad
Kodarma
Jahanabad
Begusarai
Darbhanga
Madhepura
Saharsa
Supaul
Bhabhua
AWARD
Sanchay
Karma
Maksad
Sambal
Sakhi Bahipana
Sakhi
Sahmat
Sanesh
Sangrah
1,500
4,000
700
50
10,500
3,500
1,500
900
1,600
2,000
366,000
600,000
42,000
1,000
1,100,000
450,000
100,000
100,000
50,000
125,000
85
350
50
4
680
200
100
60
100
150
61
117
14
0
600
200
70
20
15
40
10 out of the 14 HBP blocks have some savings group activity
The above data is as of end of year 2000
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Nawada – Workshop & Pachamba
•Contrast to Baank in Begusarai
•Poor Sanitation
•250 homes and 2 units, each caste has its
own tola, over 50% population is Muslim
•5 savings group, Rs 1600 in 1 year
• A lot of effort to mobilize women
volunteers
•UNICEF funded workshop in
Kauakool, Newada (April 11-17)
for Bihar and Jharkhand
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Nawada
Unique Issues for Nawada:
Fluoride content in water is too high
Naxalite Activity (esp in Rajawli HBP Block)
Communal Issues
Caste Dynamics
High Muslim Population
Organizing Women
Women on Cycles
Self-help group: AWARD (Association of Women for
Awareness and Rural Development)
Primary Education Project – discontinued due to lack
of funding
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Begusarai District – A Strong Presence
Use plays, songs, art to spread the
message
Literacy work and other social
issues that came up
BGVS would like more resources to
do survey and collect data
Villagers contribute through
food/lodging
Healthcare
Facts:
18 Blocks
600 Savings group- 10-12K
members
Education Non-existent – focus on
pills
Infrastructure & doctors lacking
(only 2 of 18 female doctors)
Very high in vaccination of
children though (100%)
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Dandari Block (HBP in Begusarai)
Chosen because it needs most help/resources in
Begusarai
30 Villages, 60,000 population (25% SC)
About half are small or for-hire farmers / another 50%
are laborers
37.68 % literacy rate overall (28% for women)
Poor government provided health infrastructure
No other NGO (other than BGVS ) is currently very
active in this area
Poor transportation options – Esp during rainy season
An issue with access to health care and organizing
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What the Dandari Block Wanted?
More information on HBP - Format for data collection and
reporting
Need to improve local Health Care infrastructure
Focus more on education and mobilization
Want to have an approach that provides short-term and longterm benefits to keep the villagers engaged
Ensure that any health care training would be regionally
tailored so it can address local issues
More focus on Sanitation – increase use of bathrooms –
government schemes
Education:
Children currently get 1 Rupee a day for attending school and
some wheat (poor quality) – 35% increase in attendance on
paper
Locals wanted food for children and better teachers
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Literacy Workers in Dandari
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Panchayat Meeting in Baank
(Dandari)
40% population is Harijan
Challenges facing healthcare
economic & lack of awareness
Poor nutrition
Difficulty in getting clean
drinking water
Lack of sanitation
Limited access to facility and
medicine (expensive) – health
works don’t show up
Literacy & Gender Dyanmics
Active Savings group
A lot of effort from BGVS on
literacy and social movement in
the last few years
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Gaya Visit
Manpur (HPB Block ) – 68 villages
50 village committees (Buniyadi Sabha)Grass-root level organization of BGVS
Three types of villages- volunteer base
everywhere
Strong literacy and BGVS presence
Awareness but no strong programs
No Savings Group
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Updates of BGVS’s Activities?
Communication:
Working on email
Contacting District is the best (instead of state office)
Documentation & Profiles:
More effort needed on documenting accomplishments
and challenges
Very limited information shared across districts.
HBP Structure for the blocks:
Planning to select volunteers in May
Training – waiting for funds
June 15-17 2002, State Level Meeting in Bihar
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Summary of Issues for Bihar
Diversity in Blocks: BGVS has a very strong organization in
several blocks and committed volunteers but need training and
resources in most blocks
Visits were encouraging to BGVS volunteers
Districts support “honorariums” for volunteers.
Need details about HBP and A.I.D. – standard formats
BGVS, Bihar needs to document accomplishments
Have deployed creative ways to reach the villagers that could
be useful to other blocks and states as well
More communication across blocks – sharing challenges and
successes
Asked for help with documenting, translating, distributing
PHCs role appears unclear so far in blocks visited
Interaction with government and other NGOs
Each Chapter must understand the unique situation in
each block!!!
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What is our role in HBP?
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What are we-1
Motivators!
Talk to our blocks!
Keep abreast of the program
Outside interest in their program spurs
volunteers
Active contacts with volunteers keeps
their enthusiasm up
Site visits tend to excite participants
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What are we-2
Documentation is also our job
Record progress of the entire program in
the block
Be realistic!
Provide resources to support the program
Analysis
Documentation/printing etc.
We have access to tools and networks
blocks do not have
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Chapter Responsibilities
Chapters must have initiated contact with your blocks/districts
Chapters have to know
Current health state of the block
Info about their participants/block
Existing savings program
Who are the health/savings coordinators?
Periodic site visits to your blocks
Volunteers are responsible for arranging site visits
HBP coordinators, state & district workers can assist in
planning site visits
Your block is your responsibility!
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Chapter-Chapter Responsibilities
Must share existing information between
chapters (HBP mailing list/website)
Share “What’s working/what’s not” in blocks
Help each other with site visits
Questionnaire templates
Write prompt site visit reports
Read site reports – interesting information!
Excellent opportunity to involve buddy
chapters!
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UPDATES AND MORE
INFORMATION at
Web info: Contact Gopal ([email protected])
[email protected]
http://aidindia.org/aipsn/