CUTS has been selected as the Mother NGO (MNGO) for Bhilwara, Rajasthan, under the ‘Reproductive and Child Health (RCH)’ scheme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India (GoI). CUTS CHD, Chittorgarh, is working as the MNGO in Bhilwara district.
The MoHFW has been supporting NGO involvement in health and family welfare activities, including the Reproductive Health Programme, since the early 1980s. In the ninth Five-Year Plan (1997-2002), the Department of Health and Family Welfare (DoHFW) introduced the Mother NGO scheme, under the RCH Programme. Under this scheme, the DoHFW is identifying and sanctioning grants to the selected NGOs, called Mother NGOs, in allotted districts. These MNGOs, in turn, issue grants to smaller NGOs, called Field NGOs (FNGOs), in the allocated districts. The grants are being used for promoting the goals/objectives as outlined in the RCH Programme of GoI.
The objectives of the Project broadly include
- Utilisation and delivery of heath services for reduction in maternal mortality
- Improvement in maternal health care
- Addressing general health care issues
- Childcare
- Family welfare, through multi-stakeholder involvement and action.
- During the ongoing preparatory phase, CUTS CHD has identified four FNGOs (Mewar Sewa Sansthan, Prayas Sewa Sansthan, Gharib Nawaz Mahila Avam Bal Kalyan Samiti and Viklang Kalyan Sahayata Samiti) out of 11 NGOs who applied for the scheme, in response to an advertisement issued in the leading newspapers. The DoHFW trained CHD staff members responsible for the implementation of the scheme.
- A four-day orientation-cum-training programme for the FNGOs was organised at CUTS CHD campus, during November 20-24, 2007. The purpose of the training programme was to orient the FNGO workers about the MNGO project and facilitate them on the process of carrying out surveys for identifying the gaps in health services in the designated un-served and under-served areas of Bhilwara district. Three workers each from three FNGOs, out of the four FNGOs, participated in the programme. Mewar Sewa Sansthan, Gharib Nawaz Mahila Avam Bal Kalyan Samiti and Prayas Sewa Sansthan attended the workshop. Vikalang Kalyan Shayata Samiti did not attend the workshop. During the training programme, the trainees were asked to conduct a mock survey in Bilola village. The FNGOs will carry out the survey in their designated villages and have been asked to finish the survey by December 25, 2007.
- Mewar Sewa Sansthan, Gharib Nawaz Mahila Avam Bal Kalyan Samiti and Prayas Sewa Sansthan carried out their survey work in their designated areas. CHD staff members visited their field a couple of times. The survey forms were cross-checked with respondents, in the absence of NGO workers, to find out the authenticity of the data collected. A one-day orientation programme was organised at Viklang Kalyan Sewa Sansthan for their workers on survey methodology.
- The field survey was completed with the help of four field NGOs: Mewar Sewa Sansthan, Prayas Sewa Sansthan, Gharib Nawaz Mahila Avam Bal Kalyan Samiti and Viklang Kalyan Sahayata Samiti. The data entry work has been completed.
- A two-day training programme was organised at CHD campus on May 09-10, 2008 for Field NGOs on Project Proposal Development. Two representatives each from Mewar Sewa Sansthan, Gharib Nawaz Mahila Avam Bal Kalyan Samiti, Prayas Sewa Sansthan and Vikalang Kalyan Shayata Samiti attended the training programme. During the programme, participants were enlightened about project proposal concepts. The gaps identified in the survey data analysis on health issues were discussed and the FNGOs were asked to prepare a proposal based on the identified gaps. Issues related to finance and monitoring systems were covered.
- Finally, the participants were requested to submit the first draft of the project proposal. CHD then will prepare a proposal incorporating core issues of all four proposals and submit to District Reproductive and Child Health (DRCH) Society, Bhilwara for its approval. The approved proposal will then be submitted to State RCH Society, Jaipur, for the final approval. RRC-Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) will be consulted form time to time on various issues during the proposal preparation. After getting the approval from the state RCH society, the MoU will be signed between the District RCH Society and CUTS. The field activities will be executed once the project amount is released.