Nidan facilitates Registration and Licensing of Food Vendors in Bhopal

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated the process of Registration and Licensing of Food Vendors in India. The process of Registration and Licensing of Food Vendors is being implemented by the Food and Drug Control Administration Madhya Pradesh. For a fruitful implementation of this process, Nidan Madhya Pradesh facilitated in organizing camps in its different interventions areas at various locations of Bhopal. A total of 16 camps were organized by Nidan to facilitate this process.

The food vendors, who have the turnover of more than Rs 12 Lakhs in a year, were given License while others were given the registration certificates. Around 1500 Food Vendors applied for the registration and most of them have received it. The highlight of this process was that Food Vendors applied with the minimum documentation and that too without getting themselves into chaos of making Bank DDs and other formalities.  The most important aspect of this program was that it was facilitated by Nidan through organizing the camps at food vendors’ doorsteps.

Nidan facilitates Registration and Licensing of Food Vendors in Bhopal

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated the process of Registration and Licensing of Food Vendors in India. The process of Registration and Licensing of Food Vendors is being implemented by the Food and Drug Control Administration Madhya Pradesh. For a fruitful implementation of this process, Nidan Madhya Pradesh facilitated in organizing camps in its different interventions areas at various locations of Bhopal. A total of 16 camps were organized by Nidan to facilitate this process.

The food vendors, who have the turnover of more than Rs 12 Lakhs in a year, were given License while others were given the registration certificates. Around 1500 Food Vendors applied for the registration and most of them have received it. The highlight of this process was that Food Vendors applied with the minimum documentation and that too without getting themselves into chaos of making Bank DDs and other formalities.  The most important aspect of this program was that it was facilitated by Nidan through organizing the camps at food vendors’ doorsteps.

Angana conducts consultation programme on ‘Improvisation of livelihood of home-based workers’

Angana, supported by Nidan, organized a consultation programme on ‘Improvisation of livelihood of home-based workers’ at Patna on 14th June. The programme was attended by several dignitaries of the state government as well as policymakers, administrators, experts, bankers and representatives of home-based workers from different parts of the state. The chief guest of the programme was state’s industries minister Bhim Singh. Speaking on the occasion, Bhim Singh said that the state government plans 10 lakh self-help groups (SHGs) in the state by 2017-18. At present we have 1.18 lakh SHGs.

The minister appreciated the work done by Angana for the uplift, development and empowerment of women in the state. “The state government will provide all possible financial and strategic help to these women,” he promised.

Singh also advised the members of Angana to extend their area of expertise. He said, “Instead of just focusing on garment, try to get involve in other business also.” He suggested the members to either extend themselves in the business of eatables like SHGs in Kerala or in cosmetics like SHGs in Rajasthan. He said, “The women entrepreneurs working with SHGs in the state are talented but their skill needs sharpening. Also, they need to improvise their marketing links.” However, states and even the central government have adopted this model for women empowerment. Besides, the state government also provides women reservation in different sectors. The government is providing subsidized loans and electricity to these women. Commending Angana, he said that such NGOs could be of great help in providing linkages to the schemes and welfare policies of the government. The state government will take all possible measures to encourage such organizations.

Welcoming the guests, Executive Director of Nidan Arbind Singh said,” Women of the state are feeling empowered through the efforts of Angana. Now they are moving ahead and have become independent.”  Arbind Singh further said that Nidan has taken the task of making women of the state economically sound through Angana. He stressed that Nidan aims to reach to the poorest lot of women.

Experts present at the programme discussed various issues regarding access to market, finance, and quality of the finished product, social security and poor implementation of schemes.

Principal Secretary of industries department, Naveen Verma, inaugurated the programme. He regretted that the NGOs were not utilizing the government services.

Gender Resource Centre (Nidan) organizes Health Camp at Om Vihar, Delhi

As we all know Nidan is working in partnership with the Delhi Government under Mission convergence, Samajik Suvidha Sangam (GRC) from September 2012 at Uttamnagar, Delhi. Basic objective of this program is to converge various welfare entitlement schemes and services with the objective of making entitlements reach the poor through a single-window system in a hassle-free manner.  In this regard Nidan has taken another initiative to provide health services for the underprivileged and marginalized section of the society.

We conducted a Health Camp on June 13, 2014 at Om Vihar, Delhi. Before taking this initiative, we conducted a need-assessment survey to identify the actual health related problems in the Catchment area of Delhi’s Om Vihar, Phase 1 to 5. After using standardized tools of the survey, we got the final data of Diabetic patients who had the same symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy. Right from providing full care and support to the community, we made links with the team of well experienced experts of the particular problems from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) through Swami Sradhanand Memorial Institute (SSMI).

To tackle the seasonal disease and other health related problems, we hired some other experts of different fields also such as general physician, gynecologist, pediatrician etc. All the doctors treated the present patients in a friendly manner and counseled them about several health tips.

Achievement : Health Camp

Date:- 13th June 2014

Theme  Diabetic Retinopathy

Covered  areas :- Om Vihar Phase-1 to 5, Hastsal Vihar

Total Patients treated:- 307

Outcome:- 4 patients found serious and referred for operation of Retinopathy

BRAC team visits Nidan Samastipur

A five-member delegation from BRAC, Bangladesh, visited Samastipur office of Nidan on 14.5.2014. State programme coordinator of Nidan Mr Ratnish also accompanied the BRAC delegation. The purpose of this visit was to let the delegation know how Nidan is working with PACS focusing on SCs, STs, Muslims, women, children and persons with disabilities and how the programme works to assist the groups to claim their rights and entitlements while addressing issues of differential access. The delegation was appraised of Nidan’s role in implementing the PACS programmes in Samastipur. District coordinator of Nidan Samastipur Mr Raj Kishore informed the delegation how Nidan works for the socially excluded group, through PACs programmes, especially in the field of health and livelihood. The delegation was told how Nidan helps them become aware of the schemes initiated by the government and subsequently avail them.

They were told how Nidan is providing free trainings on skill development for livelihood through government agencies like: MSME [Micro Small Medium Enterprises], Animal Husbandry, Bank, DIC. Nidan appraised the delegation of the problems faced by the communities and how we solve these.

BRAC delegation visited the slum areas of Ward no 2 where a large number of people belonging to SC and minority community reside. They keenly observed the progress done in this regard. The delegation met women workers who make bidies for their livelihood. These women were told about the benefits of working as a community which ultimately would help them improve their standard of living.  BRAC officials also met construction workers of the area. Women members of Nidan apprised the delegation how they help community members in coordination with officials of labour department and hospitals. Members of the BRAC delegation are – Istiyaq Hussain, Sandrul Hasan, Majumdar, James Ward and Jhantu Bordan.

Interface Meeting with Government Officials on Health and Liveihood

On 23rd May, 2014, Nidan organised an Interface Meeting on Govt schemes with Govt officials at Vidya Bhawan, Aarah. Around 150 Community members from 45 wards participated in this meeting.  The program was inaugurated by chief guests Dr. R.N. Prasad (District T.B Officer), Dr. B.K. Verma (Civil Surgeon) and R.K. Upadhyay, General Manager, District Industries Centre..

Dr R.N. Prasad gave a detail account of health schemes of government like Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY), Janani Suraksha Yojna and schemes under social security  i .e. Bihar Shatabdi Yojna.” After that community members were asked to discuss their problems which they put before the government officials.

Dr B.K. Verma said that you have to fight for your rights if you are not getting help from hospitals or from any other dept. He also said there are so many schemes of government but we neither are aware of it nor we stand for our rights.

Mr. Shailesh, DRDA, Bhojpur informed about the government schemes and said community members should stand for their rights. He answered questions put by the community members.

Mr. Diwakar Dubey, Labour Superintendent, answered the questions put by the community members on certification of ‘Ashrit Praman Patra.’ After that he briefed on Bihar Shatabadi Asngathit Kamgar Evam Shilpkar Samajik Surakasha Yojana. Mr. Dubey also informed how the labours can be benefited from his department under various schemes.

Mr. R.K Upadhyay, GM, DIC said about the schemes under skill development for community members and how members can take benefit from these schemes. He also said about various schemes under small industries, and how one can approach for it.

Ms. Supriya Verma, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, encouraging the women asked to prepare a skill-wise list and approached her organisation. They are ready to support any members of Nidan.

Programme Manager of Nidan Mr. Sanjay Kumar, briefing about the schemes, gave many examples of how people have been benefitted when they have fought for their rights.

Mr. Sunil Kumar Pandey, RSBY coordinator, elaborating on RSBY, said how one can get a smart card, use it, what are its benefits and who are the beneficiaries. He also answered questions of community members.

Mr. Bhaskar Mishra, Yatharth, told about B.P.L. like who and how one can be listed in it. He also informed about other pension plans.

Mr Amitesh Kumar Singh gave a detail account of B.P.L, Jananni Suraksha Yojna and Bihar Shatabdi Yojna.