Society of the Good Shepherd Sisters

Public Society Regn. No. 2384/2000

Our Activities Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SOCIETY - 2016

 

We are happy to present our Activity Report for the Year 2016. We are happy to see the development of tribals, children, youth, women and men every year.

 Our main focus was on Education, Health and Nutrition, Community Organisation and livelihood Intervention with the determination to extend the involvement in community realities.

 Educational Programmes:

In Garratola regular coaching classes were conducted for childrenCultural competitions were organized at Festivals, Independence Day, Chidren’s Day and other notable days and festivals .

In Mangalagiri and Amaravathi in Andhra Pradesh

In Mulakalapalli, Telengana State

In Nagpur – Coaching Classes  conducted for the Slum Children, Capacity building and personality development was conducted for young women and Domestic Workers

Jan Shakti Sanchalan Garratola has achieved its goal by its intervention in bringing about holistic development in the lives of the Birsa Block Tribes.

The activities during the year were:-

Education:- 543 Primary school going children have been regularly attending the coaching centers in 15 target villages. The weaker children were given special attention to improve in their studies as well as participate in the extracurricular activities.  This year the parents contributed in kind 2kgs of paddy which was given to teachers as their monthly salary. 41% of children have received distinction, 49% of the children have scored above 75%, 10% scored second division. 

250 Anganwadi children were encouraged as they were given opportunities of explore their talents by organizing sports and picnic.

Children’s Parliament:- There are around 773 members in 26 clubs. Every group has 8 leaders to lead the group and each leader understands his/her roles and responsibility in fulfilling them systematically. The project created a platform to discover oneself through sessions focusing on Personality Development, Public Speaking, Capacity Building which encouraged building confidence.

 Vocational Trainings for Boys: - The project had helped five boys complete the driving course. 

Grahini Tailoring Centre for Girls:- 15 young girls have completed their Grahini Training and were given Sewing Machines. Girls have begun earning Rs. 130 to 200 per day by stitching clothes in their villages. Seven girls after the sewing course were earning and learning and they completed their B.A. Different trainings and sessions were organised from time to time to enhance their talents and capacity. Training on housekeeping and cooking were also conducted for the girls.

                            

 

Community Based Organisation:- There are 26 children’s groups, 8 youth groups, 43 self help groups and 26 farmers groups in 16 target villages. Regular input sessions and trainings were conducted to organize and strengthen the groups. The Village Development Committee plays an important role in implementing the project activities. People’s participation is given importance for planning and implementing of income generating activities and they feel the need of their involvement in the project. The CBOs of every village are preparing to take over the role of the project to work towards community development.

Women’s participation has increased and they are given more opportunities in the decision making process. SHG federation has been formed with 21 members to take over the project programmes, but they need regular guidance to take up the responsibility.

              

Panchayati Raj Institution:-  The women’s participation in the gramsabha has increased, during the year 119 women attended the meeting and 56 women have availed of various government schemes.

Economic Programme:- One of the main objectives is economic development of the Birsa Block tribes. During the year 589 families have been supported through income generating programmes. Their contribution to the activity has enhanced the income of the family. The programmes were goat rearing, piggery, cycle repair shop, crop varieties, group farming, kitchen garden, fishery, poultry, vegetable vending, petty shop etc. During the year 25 women and 5 men were taken for exposure programme to another agency, where they could interact with the women who are the members of SHG and Federation.

 

Watershed Activities:- 58 farmers covered the watershed activities in Land Levelling, Farm bunding and repair of farm bunding in 76.3 hectares, the increase in the crops has been consumed by the family during the 12 months. 667 families are assured food security of having two full meals. The farmers were given training on organic farming which led to a decrease of 35% of the use of chemical pesticides and promote organic farming.

 

Qualitative and quantitative changes that have taken place since the inception of the Project:

a)      85% increase in income and food security through farm and non-farm based livelihood from base year.

b)      70% increase in income for the households.

c)      90% increase in months for which food security is ensured for the target households.

 

d)      88% households from target group covered for soil and water conservation and managements practices (687 families covered)

e)      507 farmers increased water management practices in target villages.

f)       29% increase in agricultural productivity (second crop) in target villages.

g)      70% households from target groups covered for horticulture/plantation.

h)      44 % reduction in seasonal migration against 50% in 2009. 

 

ACHIEVEMENTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIVITIES:-

 

Ø  70 houses who did not have electricity supply have been illuminated by solar lanterns. Children were excited and are happy to complete their school homework and mothers cooking in the evenings

 

 

 Ø  The project has purchased 40 low usage wood stoves with solar energy and distributed to the families

 

 

Ø  Training on cropping methods with Crop  rotation, intercropping and  agro-forestry and weed and pest management

Ø  The community believes in the green finger of the children in their vicinity. According to the monitoring report 85% of the plants have been well taken care of by the community.

 

 Ø  65% women are involved in protecting the community’s natural resources specially excess use of water and fuel for cooking

 Health Programme: - With the help of the project for health, we were able to help 2000 sick people. We were able refer them to other hospitals as far as Nagpur for the further treatment. Timely health Camps were organized with the help of Doctors from Balaghat and Birsa and about a 1000 people were attended to.

 

Health Awareness programme: Health awareness programmes on HIV/AIDS, T B, Reproductive Health Problems of women, were organized for women and young adolescent girls. Besides talks on the above topics, awareness was created through Street plays, Songs, Posters in 20 villages, which helped the people understand the dangers of the sickness in a clearer and better way.

Health Workers Training: 30 Health workers were trained during the year. They were given training on Herbal medicines and how to make them., They were also taught how to identify sickness and bring them to the Dispensary and were further referred to the Hospital, if needed.

 

Herbal Medicines/Herbal Garden: With the help of the health workers Herbal medicines were made for cold and cough, malaria, scabies, massage oil for pain, balm, Iron Tonics, cough syrup, Tonic for TB.

Also a small Herbal garden is made with about 50 plants which are taken care of and we have made medicine from them.

Ante natal and post natal camps were organized twice during the year and iron supplements and vitamins were distributed to 500 mothers. Some of them, 50 mothers, had to be referred to hospital as their cases were special.

 

Milk Co-operative in Mangalagiri and Amaravathi – Andhra Pradesh

100 families - 50 families each in Mangalagiri and Amaravathi - owning milch buffaloes were identified by the staff. Each of these families receives fodder for livestock. Before supplying this awareness programmes were conducted on Capacity Building, life skills, group dynamics and functioning of Self Help Groups, initiative and strengthening of co-operative structure and initiation and strengthening of men’s support groups. Exposure visits were organized to existing dairy co-operatives to learn about dairy farming and co-operative structures.  

Cultivation of Cotton

50 selected farmers were given support to buy cotton seeds and were given training of like skills, capacity building, health, agronomy process exposure visit to a model agricultural farm, initiating and strengthening SHGs and men’s support group. These 50 farmers will in turn help another 50 farmers in the coming year.             

Prison Ministry

Being the second capital of the state of Maharashtra Nagpur houses a Central Jail with an accommodation of about 2000 inmates. Hardcore criminals are assigned to this jail for incarceration. Our ministry is initiated to extend to the inmates of this prison to both women and men by visiting the prison once a month. We are planning to offer skill training, value education, counselling, motivational talks and health programmes.We conducted dental check up for the Women prisoners on 25th September 2016. Dr. Nithin gave a short talk on health and Hygine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Empowerment of Women Domestic Workers

We reach out to the women in Nagpur which are very far away at a distance of 5 to 30kms away from our centre. They are not recognised as organised workers and so they are exploited and are paid very low salaries. We conduct sessions for them on Leadership, Personality Development, Savings, Health and other topics. Through continuous representations to the Government we have succeeded in getting them recognized as unorganised workers through rally and Dharna.

                                   

We have registered about 1500 women with the Government and are helping many more to understand the need for registering themselves in order to get the benefits due to them from the Government. They are also able to voice the injustice done to them by their employers and can solve their own problems as a group. They have become aware of the need of educating their children and some have even sent them for higher education. Their children are poly technicians, teachers, health workers, computer educated and doing well for themselves, which has given them dignity.

 

We are grateful to all our benefactors who generously contributed to in our efforts to reach out to the people and make them worthy citizens of our country.

Sr. Cecilia Goveas

Secretary

 

 

 

 

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SOCIETY FROM 1st APRIL, 2014 to 31st March, 2015

 It is with great pleasure that we share the report of our Activities. We were able to complete the yearly planned programmes successfully in the target areas. This has helped in the development of Tribals, children, youth, women and men.

 Our focus was on Education, Health and Nutrition, Community Organisation and livelihood Intervention with the determination to extend the involvement in community realities.

 Educational Programmes:

In Nagpur and Balaghat about 100 children were helped to complete another year of studies. Regular coaching classes were conducted for the children

Cultural competitions were organized at Festivals, Independence Day

Capacity building and personality development was conducted for Domestic Workers

 JSS, Garratola has striven to bring about holistic development in the lives of the Birsa Block Tribes. The activities conducted during the year were:

Education: - 543 Primary school going children have been regularly attending the coaching centers in 15 target villages. Every child has been given special attention to improve their studies and extra-curricular activities. 27% of children have received distinction, 59% of the children have scored above 75%, 13% scored second division. Parents feel good about the performance of the children.

 

 250 Aganwadi children are encouraged as opportunities were created to explore their talents by organizing drawing and games competitions. The attendance in the school and Early Childhood Centers has increased to 95%.

   

 

 Vocational Trainings for Boys:- The project had helped two young men to complete the driving course and three young women in computer course. One of the young men got a job and the rest are continuing their graduation.

Grihini Tailoring Centre for Girls:- 18 young girls have completed their Grihini Training and were given Sewing Machines. Two girls are already settled in married life just after completing Grihini course and other girls are earning about Rs. 130/- to 200/- per day. Seven girls after completing the course are continuing B.A. studies while stitching clothes at home. Different training programmes and sessions are organised from time to time to enhance their talents and capacity. Training on Housekeeping and cooking also was conducted for the girls.

 

Health Programme: - The people are well aware of the services of Primary Health Centres and are able to avail the service through Village Health Workers and ‘Asha’ the midwife.

 Community Based Organisation: - There are 26 children’s groups, 8 youth groups, 43 self help groups and 26 farmers groups in 16 target villages. Regular input sessions and trainings are conducted to organize and strengthen the groups. The Village Development Committee plays important role in implementing the project activities. The people’s participation is given importance for planning and implementing of income generating activities and they feel the need of their involvement in the project. The CBOs of every village are preparing to take over the role of the project to work towards community development.

Women’s participation has increased and they are given more opportunities in the decision making process. The women who are in the local government are raising their voice for equality and justice. Women have been prepared to form a Cooperative Society. 

 

  

 Income Generating Activities for Women

 

Panchayati Raj Institution:- Session on PRI was conducted at village level. There were about 85 participants and 89% of the people attended Gram Sabha this year. Awareness on the importance of attending Gram Sabha has spread.

Economic Programme: - One of the main objectives is economic development of the Birsa Block tribes. Every group has benefitted out of income generating programmes such as goat rearing, piggery, cycle repair shop, mushroom cultivation, crop varieties, group farming, pump sets for irrigation, kitchen garden, fishery etc. Micro enterprise activity has made our youth, women and men to take up activities like poultry, vegetable vending, petty shop etc. During the year 45 women have been taken for exposure programme where they could interact with the women who are the members of Cooperative society. Besides these farmers, 587 families have benefitted by the income generating (on farm and off farm) activities this year.

 Watershed Activities: - 102 farmers benefited from Repair/Farm Bunding and Land Levelling land treatments on 92.44 hectares.  The increase in the crops has been consumed by the family throughout 12 months. One check weir dam has helped the farmers to stop water getting wasted and diverted water to the field.

 

 Climate Change

The rural marginal farmers are the most vulnerable to the impact of Climate Change as they fully depend on the rain water which affects their health and livelihood. The vulnerability will create low standard of living where women and children are deprived of their rights. They are not able to either address or cope with the impact of the changing climate. To some extent the people are adapting to mitigation actions such as forest protection in every village, Watershed Activities and Plantation Programme with the help of CFCD and Panchayat.

 The project focus is on plantation, plastic free nature, saving natural resources by using Solar Lanterns, Promotion of improved stoves (low use of fire wood) etc. The children have formed 15 Eco Clubs and they organize rallies to create awareness in the community.

       

 Trainings on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation through Natural Resource Management were organized in 16 target villages with adults, SHG members, youth and children. Farmers are well aware of the change taking place and its impact on their crops. This year the people and children planted 8500 fruit and shady saplings.

 

 

 

 In Nagpur the focus is on Domestic Workers and their children. We have around 1000 women in our Association for whom we conduct Personality Development Programmes, Health Awareness, Legal Awareness and other training programmes. Of the 1000 women, around 750 are registered with the Government in order to avail of the available schemes and facilities. They have become self reliant and are able to manage their families single handedly. They are also able to voice the injustice done to them by their employers and can solve their own problems as a group. They have become aware of the need of educating their children and some have even sent them for higher education. Their children are poly technicians, teachers, health workers, computer educated and doing well for themselves, which has given them dignity.

 

 We are grateful to God for his guidance and protection and we extend our thanks to all those who co-operate in our efforts to reach out to the people and make them worthy citizens of our country.