Orientation-cum-Training Programme for FNGOs
The orientation-cum-training programme for Field NGOs (FNGOs) was organised at CUTS CHD campus from November 20-24, 2007. The purpose of the training programme was to orient FNGO workers about Mother NGO project and facilitate them on method of carrying out a survey for identifying the gap of health services in designated unserved and underserved areas of Bhilwara district. Three workers each from three FNGOs out of four Field NGOs participated in the training programme.
Mewar Sewa Sansthan, Gharib Nawaz Mahila Avam Bal Kalyan Samiti and Prayas Sewa Sansthan attended the workshop. Vikalang Kalyan Sahayata Samiti did not attend the workshop. Reproductive and Child Health Officer, Bhilwara, Yashpal Singh and District Programme Manager, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Bhilwara Neeraj Jha visited CHD on November 20 and talked with trainees.
During the training programme, trainees were asked to carry out a mock survey in Bilola village and problems faced during the survey were sorted out later. After the training, FNGO representatives went back to their field area and started the survey work. Three NGOs (Mewar Sewa Sansthan, Gharib Nawaz Mahila Avam Bal Kalyan Samiti and Prayas Sewa Sansthan) have finished their survey work. Madan Lal Keer and Ganga Dadhich from CHD visited field areas and provided technical inputs FNGOs.
Eliminating Violence against Woman
A seminar was organised on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Woman at CUTS CHD on November 24, 2007. Speaking on the occasion, Prasanna Khameshara, Additional Superintendent of Police, Chittorgarh said that social evils like conservatism, abortion of female foetus, Nata Pratha (a system of illegal marriage in rural Rajasthan) can be eliminated through collective efforts. There is also need for the establishment of awareness committees on local levels to check violence against women, so that problems could be solved at the local levels.
Calling the need for a greater role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and voluntary organisations, Khameshara said that whether it is the police or the NGOs, the focus should always be saving the family problems rather than breaking it. He further added that women have to pay the price due to lack of knowledge about the ground realities related to Nata Pratha in the state. He called caste panchayats to come forward to put an end to this social evil.
In his speech, RC Dad, General Secretary of Kishore Nyaya Board, Chittorgarh said that family tradition transfers from generation to generation and people have received family tradition since time immemorial following which they can reduce violence against women. Piyush Trivedi, President District Congress Yuva Morcha, Chittorgarh opined that due to communication gap, disagreement among members do crop up, which lead to strained relationship. Hence, the people should work towards ending the communication gap.
Amit Chowdhury pointed out the importance of education for women and said that an educated woman educates the whole family and works to ward off the possible atrocities through intellectual acumen. Arti Joshi, the president of Anubhuti Sira, called for the establishment of a pressure group of women in the society. She also emphasised the need for discussion and counselling on issues of violence against women.
In this seminar, 37 participants, which included representatives of NGOs, social activists and women Self-Help Groups (SHGs), took active part.