NIDAN and ANGANA at the Launch of National Mission on GeM, New Delhi

The National Mission on Government e Marketplace (GeM) was launched on September 5, 2018 to accelerate the adoption and use of GeM by major central ministries, state governments and their agencies extending for next six weeks. ANGANA through Nidan got an opportunity to be a part of the one day event held at New Delhi which was inaugurated by Industry and commerce Minister Mr. Suresh Prabhu .Other dignitaries of the event were Ram Mohan Mishra ,Alok Chaturvedi ,Anil Khaitan. 

Placed at stall no. 1 the program started with a very precise visit of Mr Suresh Prabhu along with GeM ‘s CEO Radha S Chauhan to Nidan’s and other connected stalls A short interaction about Nidan and ANGANA was shared with the duo. An elaborated address was given by Shri C.R Choudhary (MoS Commerce and Industry ) and followed by a launch session by Suresh Prabhu where he also emphasized on women startups and SHGs coming up as entrepreneurs on GeM online portal. We also had a brief interaction with Ram Mohan Mishra about Nidan’s role in Angana where he also suggested for creating a specific website for Angana products. A lot of visitors were attracted to our vibrant stall with curiousity for the Madhubani printing. 

Most highlighted and attention grabbing product amongst all was the our unique printed folder bags .The event was wrapped up with the media interaction where Suresh Prabhu also stressed upon women artisans also from all over India could easily be able to sell their products on GeM portal. ANGANA’s stall was highly appreciated by the visitors mainly the GeM officials. Nidan in association with GeM is looking forward for such more corridors of interaction.

NIDAN is working with low income communities in Delhi

Since April 2017, NIDAN is working with low income communities in Delhi, where potential self workers were identified and were given business development training according to their work and promote formal business and a sense of entrepreneurship among them to take their business to another level, which will help them increase their business profits through bank transaction , book keeping and latest techniques of social media marketing .

NIDAN celebrated such Self workers through a celebration event called ‘Celebrating Self Workers’ at Aiwan- E – Ghalib Auditorium in Delhi on 15th March, 2018. Many renowned graced occasion by showing their participation like K.K. Varshney, Finance Officer from Bharti Yuva Shakti Trust, Anubha Prasad, General Manager from SIDBI Bank, Arvind K Malik, CEO, from Udyogini , Chani Raj, Analyst from NSDC, Rajendra Tripathi, Senior Program Manager from ORACLE and Gaurav Joshi from UNDP.

The event gave a platform to our Self Workers to create a better market linkage during the experience sharing session and got benefitted by it.

NIDAN is presently following up with the self workers and helping them overcome their further challenges by proper hand holding with the project

ICDS inspected Decentralised Fortified Food Production

ICDS inspected Decentralised Fortified Food Production Unit at Bochan, Muzaffarpur.

A three member committee has been constituted by Sri R.S.P. Defter Director ICDS, Government of Bihar in the light of Direction given by Sri Atul Prasad, Principal Secretary, Department of Social Welfare, Government of Bihar to observe and inspection of Decentralised Fortified food unit established by Nidan and BRLPS in Muzaffarpur before giving the work order for supplying Fortified food to ICDS centers.

One representative from ICDS Directorate, Govt. of Bihar, Concerned Child Development program Officer (CDPO) and one state representative of BRLPS becomes member of this committee. The committee members visited the Decentralised Fortified food production unit at Bochahan in Muzaffarpur on 7th September 2017.

Ms. Sweta Sahay, in-charge ECCE & Training, ICDS Directorate from State, Ms. Onam Kumari, CDPO- Bochahan, Ms. Chandani Kumari, lady Supervisor of ICDS, Mr Raibahadur representative of Care India (supports in the work of ICDS), Ms. Somya, State Health and Nutrition Manager from BRLPS, Mr. Santosh Kumar Sonu, District Program Manager Muzaffarpur, Mr. Ranjan Kumar, District Health and Nutrition Manager, Mr. Manish Kumar, Block Program Manager – Bochahan, Ms. Munni Kumari Community coordinator, Ms. Nilam Sharma President of Deepmala Cluster federation, Mr. Rakesh Tripathi, State Manager- Nidan Mr. Nilesh Kumar program coordinator- Nidan were present during the visit.

These officers has tested the products and found well, they observe the hygiene issues, costing of the product, packaging line of the product, Training to the workers, required licenses to run the factory, capacity of production etc. We started all the machines and show them – how the production process being completed and what are the protocols we are maintaining during the production. The representative of ICDS has given some direction to the Manager of factories regarding the maintaining hygiene and production parameters. They also calculate the production cost and suggested to provide good quality of packaging. They also informed us that central Government has planning to revise the cost of THR very soon.

We observed that the team feels good and happy to see the initiative as Mr. Shweta Sahay given direction to the CDPO and concerned team of ICDS to be prepared and complete entire necessary works to smooth supply of WHEATAMIX at the ICDS centers. She also asked nidan and BRPLS to provide training to Anganwadi workers regarding the probable recipes by this product.

She also advised us to meet again to the Director and Principal Secretary in this week. She will probably submit the inspection report by 13th September 2017.

Primarily Nidan works for the informal workers and their children

Nidan believes that every individual has potential to show their credibility. In the Indian society, people have different kind of talent, but they don’t realize their capacity. Here the Nidan playing a role as a catalyst to make change in their lives by proving business development training which will help to build their capacity.

Primarily Nidan works for the informal workers and their children. Currently Nidan is supporting the potential entrepreneurs from informal sector in Delhi/NCR with the support of Orcale Indian by providing them business development training so that they may able to take a step ahead in their livelihood and provide a basic living standard to their family. This training helps them out to understand the basic fundamental of business like Marketing techniques, Communication & presentation, Book Keeping, Quality standard and other legal registration as well as knowledge about financial linkages and business development schemes which will help to accelerate their knowledge and business. 

After training, the trainees get guidance, support form Nidan for their current issues and make a bridge between need and resources.

State-Level Consultation on Restructuring of ICDS

Nidan, the convenor organisation of Bihar Forces, organised a state-level consultation on the issue of restructuring Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) at Patna, Bihar. The programme was started by a presentation on Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) by Mrs. Savitri Roy, National Coordinator, National Forces. After the presentation she addressed the programme stating that 80% of the children are malnourished, even though we have so many programmes/schemes running for children as we still lack quality. She further said that budget allocation is very important to focus on problems associated with Children, especially in Bihar & U.P. Mrs. Savitri highlighted few points which need to be included in the Mission, such as — Vibrant ECD centers, Facility of safe drinking water and supplemented nutrition, Capacity building of staff, and Infrastructure. She emphasised that the major challenge that lies ahead is to get it practically implemented.

Other dignitaries who addressed the programme included — Ms. Ruby Singh, CDPO-Phulwarisharif, Mr. Arbind Singh, Executive Director, Nidan; Mr. Ganesh Pd Singh, President, Forces; Mr. Rafey Khan, State Manager, Save the Children; Mr. Rakesh Kr Sharma, District Consultant, IMNCI, Unicef Patna; Mr. Shailesh Kr, State Manager, Aga Khan Foundation and Mrs. Sangeeta Singh, Convenor, Bihar Forces.

Major discussions:-

Mr. Rajeev (Nidan) shared his experience from Samastipur Aganwadi centers, which are facing the problem of sanitation and they do not have enough resources.

Mr Shailesh Kr (Aga Khan Foundation) said that percentage of malnourished children in India is 48% while in states like MP, Jharkhand and Bihar the percentage is 50. He elaborated how we can improve the impact of our work by planning carefully and implementing it properly. He also said that we usually work for children of 3- 6 yrs but a child’s first thousand days after birth are very important as 90% of a child’s mind gets developed in this period. He also said that a strategy should be made for how we can accomplish such goals.

Mr. Manoj (AIPAD Nidan, Bhagalpur) mentioned some drawbacks found during the survey in Bhagalpur district where the focus is given only on THR and dress material (Poshak Yojna). He also said that gram panchayats do not support Anganwadis; they are only present on the day of THR.

Dr Rubi (CDPO, Phulwarisharif) said that in Bihar out of 38 districts, 19 districts are taken in first phase. During the survey it was observed that people are not getting THR, and children are not getting admission in the Aanganwadi.

Dr Rubi suggested that each and every ward should have at least one Aanganwadi, mini Aanganwadis should be there at wards with less population; Anganwadis should have their own buildings. She also laid emphasis on Human resource development and said that they should be trained for capacity building; even changes are required in selection process along with regular monitoring and supervision.

Mr. Rafey Khan (Save the Children) said that NGOs are playing a pivotal role in running AWCs. He focused on Capacity Building training of PRIs to improve the quality of program. He said 10% Aanganwadis will be managed by NGOs and PRIs (GOVERNMENT NEEDS NGOs AND NGOs NEED GOVERNMENT).

Mr. Rakesh (IMNCI, Unicef) said that for restructuring of ICDS we need to observe and give weightage to each and every point. He said that in UNICEFF they are having a training course of IMCC (integrated management of childhood care) for diseases which are occurring in children under 3 years and to refer them to nearest hospital for checkup and treatment.

Ms. Parul (UNICEF) said they are going to start early childhood education wherein children under 3 yrs will be linked to school. She highlighted the challenges of Aanganwadi centers and suggested that pre-school education should be like that of private schools  and ratio of children to teacher should be 60 :1 and condition of government schools needs to be improved.

Ms Geeta (ECE) said that children of 3-6 years should be given education. She explained how surveys are being done, wherein they select 2 blocks and from each block one panchayat is selected and observed. Some findings of the survey, which she shared, are — All AWCs were opened timely and functioning, children were available at the centers, and the teachers present were also skilled, food is also being served at Aanganwadis. She said that these findings prove that progress has been made.

Mr. Tushar (PLAN) said that work analysis of Aanganwadi sevikas needs to be done as their time is not properly utilised. He said encouragement of Community participation is required and we should focus on 0-3 years of children and monitor whether THR (Take Home ration) is being disbursed timely or not. He also said that infrastructure development is an important problem that needs to be dealt with.

P.K. Praveen (Oxfam India) highlighted some important points like –Job description issues needs to be covered, to rationalize number of supervisions, how to link malnourished children with NRC and language barrier. He also supported the idea of linking centers with private organizations.

Mr. Ganesh Pd. Singh (President, Bihar Forces) said that child protection and manpower should be taken care of and facilities provided during first thousand days of children needs to be enhanced.

Dr. Chandani (Assistant Director ICDS) explained how restructuring can be implemented in a better way in 19 districts of.  She further explained the newly adopted procedures of new MISSION MODE, such as:-

i) Rates have been revised.

ii) On the state level ICDS’s director will be there

iii) On the district level with the district  programme officer there will a assistant district programme officer for support

iv) With CDPO there will be an assistant CDPO

v) And also many supervisors will be there

Anganwadi buildings will be made at every place

Many of the Anganwadi buildings are completed, and around 45000 constructions are going on

One additional sevika will be appointed for each Aaganwadi.

Budget for uniform will be increased.

Fund flow has been increased and it will now come directly from govt. of India

In this reconstruction all the information will be provided and maintained online.  There are 10 to 11 types of register in the centers which will be of same name and color in all Aanganwadis across the country which are :-

i) Family detail register

ii) THR register+ Poshahar

iii) Immunization register

iv) Vitamin A register

v) Attendance register

vi) Referral services register

vii) NHE Register

viii) Tikakaran register

ix)    Summary register

Summing up the session, convenor Sangeeta Singh shared her experience of Bihar Forces. She mentioned that in a decade of functioning of Anganwadi centres, it has improved a lot. In 1998-2000 when Bihar Forces had done social audit of ICDS centres, situation was very pathetic as most of the centres used to be locked but now it’s not the case. She said we can   not blame AWW; system needs to be strengthened. Restructuring or mission mode should be implemented in the same spirit.

ACTION PLAN AND STRATEGY:-

1- Wherever a Gram Sabha is being held, an exposure visit should be organized for all the Forces partners.

2- Wherever the Mother Committees are Proactive, an exposure visit should be organized for the less active Mother Committees.

3- Preparation of Micro planning at the Panchayat level and will be submitted to DPO level for further action.

4- In the Anganwadi register a column should be included which will represent the malnourished children identified at the Anganwadi.

5- To maintain a record of refusal cases.

6- The immunization program ICDS (Vitamin A) should be given same priority like NPSP, including Mobilization of resources.

7- PRI Members should be sensitized.

8- Capacity building of the PRIs should be done.

Arbind Singh, Executive Director of Nidan gave the vote of thanks.

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.