Aatm-Manthan 2: HARIT PRAYAS review meet @ Sagar ( in village) from 24th-26th April 2013

1. Concept

Aatam-Manthan is a ancient Hindi word, first time used by a lord Krishna in Mahabhatha ,while preaching Arjuna in Geeta about realisation of the”truth of the world” so that to move foreward.

Probably with HRIT PRYAS the context of Bundelkhand is tougher than the battle field of Kurukshetra[1] in the form of issues related with poverty, migration, drought and combating on these issues are not few days task.  Few facts about the Bundelkhand region (till 2011) are:

• Sex ratio of all the districts  is lower than the state average
• Highest in Farmers suicide in last 10 years [2]
• The indebtedness among farmers can be understood by the official records that total amount of current outstanding bank debts in Bundelkhand is Rs 4,370.32 crore. This is 21% more than 2010 when the total bank debts stood at Rs 3,613.22 crore.
• 2 severe droughts in last 5 years
• Caste system is on its heights!
• Cost in agriculture is 76% of total income from agriculture
• Still more than 15% of villages are not electrified[3]
• Strong veil system for women
• Migration is up to 48% from villages[4]

With HARIT PRAYAS in last two we have initiated, generated and sensitised a movement amongst the community and different stakeholders to work on the issues and to have a better livelihood and life in the entire Bundelkhand region. Considering this last year we have initiated the concept of AATAMMANTHAN in the form of learning cycle meet along with the LIFE project partners (from Rajasthan) and in continuation with the same AATAMMANTHAN-2 would be a platform to learn and from the process and to see the  development changes brining in Bundelkhand region through HARIT PRAYAS.  It will also give community a scope to be the part of review meetings, share the progress and indeed take the progress further on.

2. Objectives of the Aatam-Manthan-2:

• To learn from the process adopted  and progress in HARIT PRAYAS project till date with special focus on last one year and strategically develop sustainable plan for the last year of the project implementation
• To engage community fully in the review process of the project and to train them on taking responsibilities to mange the project further on.
• To strengthen the partner organisation capacity in terms of new resources, Human resource and financial management

3. Expected outcome from AATAM-MANTHN-2

• Analysis & clarity on HARIT PRAYAS process and progress (including finance) amongst all the participants
• Capacity building of partner and the HARIT PRAYAS team on governance, programme implementation and 12^th 5 year plan
• Finalised concrete 3^rd year plan with focus on strengthening governance and sustain sustainable agriculture with community collectiveness
• Finalised end term agreement
• Partner specific plan for resource mobilisation and human resource capacity building

4. Who all would participate?

All the Directors, HARIT PRAYAS project team ( including Coordinator, Field Coordinator , Accountants and Cluster Coordinators) , along with  one each PRI member would be the part of the AAtam Manthan-2.

5. Plan schedule:

1st Day: 24th  April 2013 (Wednesday) in Project Panchayat
Timings	Plan	Remark
9.00- 9.15 am	Welcome by MVSS-Director, lightening lamp and	Probably in one of the gram Panchayat of HARIT PRAYAS at Sagar
9.15-9.30 am	Sharing of purpose and scope of AATAM MANTHAN-2	By Caritas India team
9.30-10.00 am	Theme Presentation by JCSS-Jhansi HARIT PRAYAS team (Read Notes)	Facilitation by Caritas India Team
10.00-10.40 am	Project Presentation by JCSS-Jhansi HARIT PRAYAS team
10.40-11.00 am	Discussion on both the presentation
11.00-11.20 tea break and visit to HARIT PRAYAS Fair
11.20 am-11.50	Theme Presentation by SSSS-Satna HARIT PRAYAS team (Read Notes)	Facilitation by Caritas India Team
11.50 PM-12.30 PM	Project Presentation by SSSS-Satna HARIT PRAYAS team
12.30-12.50 pm	Discussion on both the presentation
12.50-2.00 pm: Lunch Break and visit to HARIT PRAYAS Fair
2.00-2.30 pm	Theme Presentation by MVSS-Sagar HARIT PRAYAS team (Read Notes)	Facilitation by Caritas India Team
2.30-3.10 pm	Project Presentation by SSSS-Satna HARIT PRAYAS team
3.10-3.30 pm	Discussion on both the presentation
3.30-3.40 pm tea break and visit to HARIT PRAYAS Fair
3.40-4.10 pm	Combined analysis of all presentation	Caritas India team
4.10-5.00 pm	Visit and discussion at HARIT PRAYAS mela	Facilitation by MVSSS-Sagar, SSSS-Satna and JCSS-Jhansi
After 5 discussion with community and community meetings
2nd day: 25th April 2013  (Thursday) Field Visit to 2 project villages –three team  and caritas India team members would be divided in to two teams. Field visit will start from 8.30am till 2.00 pm.
2.00-3.00 pm	Lunch
2.40-4.00 pm sharing by both the team members , their experiences
4.00-5.30 pm	Session on Micro-planning	By Caritas India West Zone manager
7.00-8.00	Cultural evening with community
3rd Day: 26th  April 2013 (Friday) in MVSS-Sagar meeting hall
9.00-10.00 am	Session on 12TH 5 YEAR PLAN AND  HARIT PRAYAS	By Caritas India team/Expert from NABARD/other
10.00-10.50	Data collection, End term agreement of Project and scope for sustainability	By Caritas India project team
10.50-11.10	Tea break
11.10-12.30 pm	Working with each team on third plan	With Support from Caritas India
12.30-1.00 pm	Presentation of plan by JCSS-Jhansi team
1.00-1.15pm	Discussion on plan
1.15-2.15 pm	Lunh break
2.15-2.45 pm	Presentation of plan by MVSS-sagar team
2.45-3.00 pm	Discussion on plan
3.00-3.30 pm	Presentation of 3rd year plan by SSSS-Satna team
3.30-3.45 pm	Discussion on plan
3.45-4.00 pm	Tea break
4.00-4.30 pm	Sharing on learning & open discussion forum	Facilitation by Caritas India
4.30 Vote of thanks	By Zonal team  west Zone Caritas India

---

[1] A place now in Haryana state

[2] http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bundelkhand-519-farmer-suicides-in-5-months/167604-3.html  & http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bundelkhand-519-farmer-suicides-in-5-months/167604-3.html  & http://www.indianexpress.com/news/farmer-commits--suicide--in-bundelkhand/818639

[3] http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-21/lucknow/31082097_1_bundelkhand-separate-state-poverty-levels/2

[4] Planning commission report 2011 

Watch Try not to die! Zero farmer’s suicide!

Just read this….

“The official figures for farmers’ suicides in UP Bundel­khand are 568 (2009), 583 (2010) and 519  (January-­May 2011). In MP, the corre­ sponding figures are 5,838 (2006-­10) and  348 (January­-May 2011) with a large  number from Bundelkhand” ( Source: Report of Mr. A k Verma on Farmers suicide in Bundelkhand; A K Verma teaches at Christ Church College, Kanpur)

Now watch a non-edited promotional film of HARIT PRAYAS by HARIT PRAYAS project team of JCSS-Jhansi & Caritas India and see how with HARIT PRAYAS we approach farmers and reduced farmers suicide in 3 districts of Bundelkhand region to ZERO!

Watch Try not to die! Zero farmer’s suicide!

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=szLAVyC6EhA&feature=youtu.be 

Caritas India with its development initiative in the form of HARIT PRAYAS in Bundelkhand region has able to reduce farmers suicide up to “zero” in 64 villages of Sagar, Chatarpur and Jhansi with concept of sustainable and profitable agriculture….now input cost in agriculture has gone down to 80% , where as average production has increased to 35%!

To do all this Caritas India has adopted a unique platform in the form of farmers club where in farmers from all caste and religion and gender are part of it. It also decreased the caste dynamics in Bundelkhand region.

Watch the promotional film on how a Dalit farmers are taking the approach of HARIT PRAYAS in the form of farmers collectiveness and sustainable profitable agriculture in entire Bundelkhand region. The film is been made with the support from JCSS-Jhansi team. An is with out any editing! It took almost a day to work on this and it is one of the initiative to promote Caritas India development initiative HARIT PRAYAS almost 100% result achievement (under sustainable agriculture able to reach to more than 7000+ farming households with low cost  organic cultivation) in  within 23 months of project implementation.

Call for Papers: International Conference

On  

 Cooperatives in Transition in the Era of Globalization

 

TISS-Mumbai & IIM-Khoziakode, in collaboration with Uralungal labour Contract Co-operative Society Ltd ( India’s 1^st cooperative ) has Call for Papers for International Conference on - Cooperatives in Transition in the Era of Globalization. The themes proposed for the papers are:

·                     Cooperatives: Kerala experience;

·                     Politics of co-operativisation;

·                     Neo-liberal reforms and cooperatives in India;

·                     Success stories on cooperatives in India;

·                     Accumulation, technological change and cooperatives;

·                     Experiences with credit cooperatives;

·                     Experiences with production cooperatives;

·                     Experiences with consumer cooperatives;

·                     Marketing challenges for cooperatives;

·                     Cooperatives and frontier technology sectors;

·                     Forms of ownership and cooperation;

·                     Management and participation in cooperatives;

·                     Legal frameworks for cooperatives;

I

As many of us have worked with Cooperatives or its similar forms and institutions in the form of CBOs, we could think on translating our experiences and submitting paper. Also this will give a platform to share our caritas experiences at larger platform.

 

Last date of submission of abstract is 15^th April 2013. for more log on to http://tiss.edu/call-for-papers-proposals/call-for-papers-international-conference-on-cooperatives-in-transition-in-the-era-of-globalization/call-for-papers-international-conference-on-cooperatives-in-transition-in-the-era-of-globalization

 

HARIT PRYAS in relation with strengthening GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) of the country

 HARIT PRYAS in relation with strengthening GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) of the country

The share of agriculture in Gross state domestic product (GSDP) has declined significantly during the last tow decades.  The agriculture sector in India accounted for 17.57 % of the GDP (at constant 2004-2005 prices) in 2010-11 compared to 18.9 % in 2004-05.  Like wise agriculture sector witnessed a growth of 2.1 %ccc during the Tenth plan.  The sector registered a growth of 5.8 % in 2005-06, 4.5% in 2006-2007 and 4.5%in 2007-08.  However, there was a slow down in agriculture growth in 2008-09 to 1.6 %.  Plan-wise growth rate of GDP and agriculture[1]

The impact of HARIT PRAYAS on sustainable agriculture can be easily visualize that  in last 18 months , 64 villages of HARIT PRAYAS  able to influence more than 200 village in the region (50 plus villages in Jhansi, 40 plus villages in Sagar and 100 plus in Chatarpur villages).  And not only this even community members from other districts are also visiting HARIT PRAYAS to see the impact on agriculture  where input cost has gone down by 90 per cent and  production has increased from 10-15%.  The journey of sustainable agriculture with low input cost to of HARIT PRAYAS approach has brought about recognition that future agriculture growth and productivity will not depend on market rather would be individual farmer driven  also this movement of HARIT PRAYAS will move to  strengthen the GDP of country through generating more interest amongst the farmers and  making agriculture a profitable occupation

---

[1] Source: Kurekshetra April 2012 issue

Every Child has a Right to Her/His Father.

Gauri Shankar used to be a daily labourer. He spent most of his time outside his village and away from his family, looking for livelihood in the cities like Delhi and Chandigarh.

Although, he was a natural singer and a musician,he could not afford the luxury, with worries of bread and butter weighing him down. 

His growing children would soon need more than he thought he could provide.

Less than two acres of ancestral land was not even enough to provide food for his seven member family. Clothe and education stood in line. 

The Land's fertility was affected by excessive use of chemical fertilizers. In addition, the increasing price of fertilizers and pesticides brought an end to Gauri's wits.

This was a time, where India saw most of its farmers committing suicides, Madhya Pradesh being one majorly hit states.

The farmers had inadvertently lost trust in agriculture and began looking towards bigger cities for survival and livelihood. More than fifty percent of villagers from the region were forced to migrate.

It was at this crucial juncture in January 2011, Caritas India's Harit Prayas made an entry into Bundelkhand region (MP and UP), where Kota was the farthest and one among the twenty villages to be covered under the program.

Today, we have a different picture! 

Gauri Shankar lives with his family. He sings and plays music to communicate and motivate. He is a community leader. 

He is a CIA (Caritas India Agent) of change. He is successfully practicing total organic farming and influencing many others. Under his leadership, we proudly called Kota, a hundred percent organic village.

No, the struggle has not come to an end. But we have been able to restore the lost confidence, trust and hope.

The villagers have new ideas, new support system, strengthened panchayat, farmers club, micro finance system, women farmers, village tourism, major financial back up from NABARD and KVKs, information centers and round the clock support of Caritas India officers.

We are not just talking, we believe in showing it to you. Write to us to see the change as it happens now. Join us in a visit to the village.

You may start with this video now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY5dS9YpI-o

The following poster (also attached) narrates the joy of Gauri Shankar with his children.

In our joy of service to the nation, we take the joy of giving back 

Eevery children, their father,

Every wife, their husband,

Every parents, their son and daughter,

Lets unite India by uniting families!

By Mr. Amrit ( Communication Officer, Caritas India, get back to him @ amrit@caritasindia.net 

AATAM MANTHAN-2 :…a learning platform with community

“AATAM MANTHAN-2 would be a unique platform to have a project review meeting with the community rather than in a meeting hall it would be in a village”

From 25th-27th April 2013  at Sagar

“दिखा गई पथ, सिखा गई हमको जो सीख सिखानी थी,
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी”

These are the few lines of Poet subhadra Kumari Chauhan who wrote this poem on the first freedom revolution in India started from Bundelkhand region in 1857. the lines describes how the queen of Jhansi fought with the east India company soldiers to save the Bundelkhand from the slavery….in the same way from 2011  HARIT PRAYAS has become a movement and revolution in the Bundelkhand region to combat underdevelopment in the 64 villages of Bundelkhand region…

1. Concept

Aatam-Manthan is a ancient Hindi word, first time used by a lord Krishna in Mahabhatha ,while preaching Arjuna in Geeta about realisation of the”truth of the world” so that to move foreward.

Probably with HRIT PRYAS the context of Bundelkhand is tougher than the battle field of Kurukshetra[1] in the form of issues related with poverty, migration, drought and combating on these issues are not few days task.  Few facts about the Bundelkhand region (till 2011) are:

• Sex ratio of all the districts  is lower than the state average
• Highest in Farmers suicide in last 10 years [2]
• The indebtedness among farmers can be understood by the official records that total amount of current outstanding bank debts in Bundelkhand is Rs 4,370.32 crore. This is 21% more than 2010 when the total bank debts stood at Rs 3,613.22 crore.
• 2 severe droughts in last 5 years
• Caste system is on its heights!
• Cost in agriculture is 76% of total income from agriculture
• Still more than 15% of villages are not electrified[3]
• Strong veil system for women
• Migration is up to 48% from villages[4]

With HARIT PRAYAS in last two we have initiated, generated and sensitised a movement amongst the community and different stakeholders to work on the issues and to have a better livelihood and life in the entire Bundelkhand region. Considering this last year we have initiated the concept of AATAMMANTHAN in the form of learning cycle meet along with the LIFE project partners (from Rajasthan) and in continuation with the same AATAMMANTHAN-2 would be a platform to learn and from the process and to see the  development changes brining in Bundelkhand region through HARIT PRAYAS.  It will also give community a scope to be the part of review meetings, share the progress and indeed take the progress further on.

2. Objectives of the Aatam-Manthan-2:

• To learn from the process adopted  and progress in HARIT PRAYAS project till date with special focus on last one year and strategically develop sustainable plan for the last year of the project implementation
• To engage community fully in the review process of the project and to train them on taking responsibilities to mange the project further on.
• To strengthen the partner organisation capacity in terms of new resources, Human resource and financial management

3. Expected outcome from AATAM-MANTHN-2

• Analysis & clarity on HARIT PRAYAS process and progress (including finance) amongst all the participants
• Capacity building of partner and the HARIT PRAYAS team on governance, programme implementation and 12^th 5 year plan
• Finalised concrete 3^rd year plan with focus on strengthening governance and sustain sustainable agriculture with community collectiveness
• Finalised end term agreement
• Partner specific plan for resource mobilisation and human resource capacity building

4. Who all would participate?

All the Directors, HARIT PRAYAS project team ( including Coordinator, Field Coordinator , Accountants and Cluster Coordinators) , along with  one each PRI member would be the part of the AAtam Manthan-2.

---

[1] A place now in Haryana state

[2] http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bundelkhand-519-farmer-suicides-in-5-months/167604-3.html  & http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bundelkhand-519-farmer-suicides-in-5-months/167604-3.html  & http://www.indianexpress.com/news/farmer-commits--suicide--in-bundelkhand/818639

[3] http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-21/lucknow/31082097_1_bundelkhand-separate-state-poverty-levels/2

[4] Planning commission report 2011