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NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PANCHAYATI RAJ Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India No: 285 PRAGATI Newsletter February 2019

Menstrual Hygiene Management in India: Still a long way to go

PRAGATI, February 2019 1 NIRDPR Menstrual Hygiene Management 3 in India: Still a long way to go

CONTENTS

8 17 21 Two-day national interactive International training Library Talks on impact factor of workshop for SIRDs & ETCs under programme on Sustainable a journal and ways to improve it National Action Plan for Drug Agricultural Strategies for Rural Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) Development

9 18 22 Community participation - a Make judicious use of water: NIRDPR, BDL sign pact to raise step towards Swachh Gram Dr. Malini V. Shankar awareness on hygiene in schools Panchayats

12 19 23 Two-day national seminar marks Writeshop on engaging PRIs and NIRDPR organises two-day World Day of Social Justice 2019 SHGs in POSHAN Abhiyaan National interactive workshop on Sustainable Development for SIRDs & ETCs for North- and Social Justice: Issues and Eastern region under National Way Forward Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction

15 20 24 International training on AARDO workshop-cum-training NIRDPR and NABARD organise Empowerment of Women for programme on Water Resource business development Rural Development Management for Sustainable workshop for FPOs of NABARD Development

PRAGATI, February 2019 2 NIRDPR . COVER STORY

Menstrual Hygiene Management in India: Still a long way to go Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

enstruation is a normal biological collect blood that can be changed in is observed as the Menstrual Hygiene Mprocess and a key sign of privacy as often as necessary for the Day worldwide to raise awareness about reproductive health, yet in many cultures duration of the menstruation period, the challenges women and girls face to it is treated as something negative, using soap and water for washing the deal with menstrual cycles and highlight shameful or dirty. The continued silence body as required, and having access to solutions implementable at global, around menstruation combined with facilities to dispose of used menstrual national, and local levels to address limited access to information at these issues. home and in schools results in millions of women and girls having The myths and taboos surrounding MHM and impact on human very little knowledge about what is menstruation need to be broken down development outcomes happening to their bodies when they effectively before schemes and incentives Studies have shed light on menstruate and how to deal with it. make their way to make life better for MHM and their impact on human Further ,the taboos associated with menstruating women development outcomes. In menstruation, limits the ability of Nigeria, for instance, 25 per cent women and girls to fully and equally women lack adequate privacy participate in society, undermining their management materials’ (WHO, 2014). for defecation or menstrual hygiene overall social status and self-esteem Issues and challenges related to management, while in Bangladesh, less (World Bank, 2018). menstrual hygiene management (MHM) than 10 per cent of schools provide Menstrual Hygiene Management in low and middle-income countries are education on MHM, resulting in low (MHM) is defined as ‘Women and gaining increased recognition in the knowledge of menstruation and one- adolescent girls using a clean menstrual water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) third of girls claiming that menstrual management material to absorb or sector globally. Ever since 2014, May 28 issues adversely affect their school

PRAGATI, February 2019 3 NIRDPR . COVER STORY

Women and girls taking out a march to create awareness on menstruation (file photo) Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons performance, (UNICEF, 2016). This problem involves a cycle of neglect. tract infections. Depression and low self- Firstly, there is a lack of involvement from esteem are also found to be high among Although the age for menarche women and girls in decision-making girls and women in areas without MHM. and menopause varies by geographical regarding their own lives, secondly, Further, seclusion of women from the region, race and ethnicity, and other lack of information and awareness public realm during menstruation, also determinants but research evidence regarding menstrual hygiene and why negatively effect outcomes. suggests that the average age of women menstruate, and lastly lack of menarche in Indian female population access to sanitary materials and facilities. Social norms around menstruation is 13.46 years. Similarly, the average age One of the top factors found to be and its effect on girls for menopause is 46.8 years. Rounding negatively affecting menstrual health off these figures, it can be calculated that The landscape for any social and its management in rural India is lack an average Indian female menstruates for development programme is greatly of education. Majority of girls in rural about 2040 days in her lifetime between influenced by social norms. Most areas do not know what happens when menarche and menopause. decisions and behaviours affecting the first time they menstruate and how individuals in the society are governed Despite menstruation being a natural or why their bodies are undergoing that by various social and cultural norms physiological process, lack of menstrual process. Inevitably, this is the beginning that people want to conform to, else feel health management (MHM) is a large- of an endless cycle of poverty for these stigmatised if they fail to do so. Social scale problem for women and girls in India girls as there are many significant defining practices that deny rights to women too, due to social stigmas, socio-cultural consequences of this life-changing event. during their periods continue to be active myths and taboos, scarcity of information One of them is habitual absenteeism of in India even today. or misinformation, unavailability and girls from schools during menstruation, scarcity of toilets and sanitary napkins, which affects their education and ability Menstruating women are and environmental concerns associated to keep up with the schoolwork along considered impure and unclean, and with the disposal of sanitary napkins. with high prevalence of reproductive are systematically excluded from

PRAGATI, February 2019 4 NIRDPR . COVER STORY

participating in everyday activities and religious practices. Taboos and stigmas attached to menstruation lead to an overall culture of silence around the topic. Isolation of menstruating girls and restrictions being imposed on them in the family result in not only limited information on menstruation and menstrual hygiene but also lead to reinforcing a negative attitude towards this phenomenon, which may have severe ramifications on the health and dignity of girls and women. Thus, given the multiple challenges women and adolescent girls face, it is important to understand that promoting menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is not only IV a sanitation matter, but an urgent step towards safeguarding the dignity, bodily Chart indicating hygienic/unhygienic menstrual protection practice in States across India integrity and overall life opportunities of productive and religious activities and, napkins with 48.5 per cent in rural areas women and girls in the society. in some cultures, are even excluded and 77.5 per cent in urban areas. Out of from the home (House et al., 2012). In the women in the age of 15 to 24 years this context, men and boys can certainly in India, 42 per cent use sanitary napkins, It is important to build local support women and girls to manage 62 per cent use cloth and 16 per cent capacities and engage all stakeholders menstruation effectively across different use locally prepared napkins. Women in society in a holistic approach to social domains, including household and using cloth reuse them after washing, raise awareness about the importance community in their roles as husbands, cleaning, and drying. However, these of menstrual hygiene and its linkages fathers, brothers, students, peers teachers, reusable materials are often not sanitised to broader issues of gender equality. employers, etc. Involvement of males can properly with soap and clean water in Role of men and boys generate a more positive environment compelling circumstances or due to lack Research findings indicate that towards sustainable menstrual hygiene of awareness. Social taboos also restrict girls are largely on par with boys up to practices in rural India. Hence, addressing women to dry them indoors, away adolescence, in different aspects of lives, both the practical and strategic needs of from sunlight. Numerous other studies but with the onset of puberty, outcomes women and girls related to menstruation conducted across the country show that for girls begin to diverge and girls face and menstrual hygiene require vaginitis and urinary tract infections were increasing restrictions to their mobility comprehensive programmes that target twice as prevalent among women who and agency. One of the reasons for this women and girls and men and boys as used cloth during menstruation than is gender inequality. Unequal power well. those who used sanitary pads (UNFPA relations between men and women 2012; Padma Das et al., 2015). results in women’s and girls’ voices Menstrual Hygiene Management not being heard in decision-making Owing to the vast inter-State diversity Practices (MHMP) in India within households, communities and in the country, the menstrual hygiene National level studies show that in development programmes. In India, management practices differ from State India, menstruation is thought of as an during menstruation, women and girls to State and are also influenced based on onset of severe disease by many young are often excluded from using water the urban-rural setting of the community. rural girls. NFHS-4 findings show that and sanitation facilities, are unable to Other factors such as affordability of the only 57.6 per cent of women use sanitary participate fully in social, educational, sanitary hygiene product, accessibility to

PRAGATI, February 2019 5 NIRDPR . COVER STORY

Source: Ministry of Drinking water and Sanitation Source: National Family Health Survey 2015&16 Chart indicating effective menstrual hygiene management and access to disposable sanitary napkins in India the product, knowledge about availability published operational guidelines to be Despite the range of initiatives taken of such products, correct usage and implemented by State governments, up so far, a myriad of challenges still disposal and even educational status district-level officials, engineers, and remain to be addressed. Ensuring healthy of the individual, mother and family school teachers for improved MHM MHM for women certainly requires a clear altogether also influence menstrual in the country. Ministry of Health and understanding of the intricacies related hygiene practices in India. Though the Family Welfare has also focused MHM as to the problem, the needs, and the most recent National Family Health a priority area in National Health Mission influencing factors that could potentially Survey-4 data show that overall 57.6 and in the RMNCH+A strategy. The SABLA affect the perception and practices of per cent of women are using hygienic programme of Ministry of Women and Indian women. Some of them are as methods for menstrual protection Child Development has incorporated mentioned below: nevertheless, availability and accessibility awareness generation on MHM as an of clean and safe menstrual absorbents important initiative to improve health, The Challenges for all women seem to be a distant dream nutrition, and empowerment for Menstrual hygiene management in the current Indian context. adolescent girls. awareness: Minimising barriers

Menstrual hygiene management UNICEF has also been instrumental 1. Studies from different parts initiatives in India in providing technical guidance and of the country have revealed that As per Census 2011, the number of support towards raising awareness, awareness and understanding of women in the reproductive age group addressing behaviour change, capacity menstruation as a normal biological (15–49 years) is more than 30 crore in building of frontline community cadre, phenomenon is abysmally poor in India. Taking cognisance of the quantum sensitisation of key stakeholders and different sections of the society. of morbidity and poor quality of life creation of WASH facilities, including Prevailing socio-cultural norms, that a woman would have to bear in the safe disposal options. ‘Swachh Bharat: beliefs and practices make it difficult absence of proper MHM perception and Swachh Vidyalaya’ campaign has been for women and girls to talk freely practices in the country, the Government also launched to ensure that every school about menstruation without fear or of India has incorporated MHM into in India has a set of functioning and well- shame. It is such a taboo subject in national policies and programmes as maintained WASH facilities. Efforts are the society that not only girls and part of initiatives for improving health, being made to provide sanitary napkins women feel shy about menstruation, overall well-being, and nutritional status to school-going girls by installing napkin but school teachers, and even health of adolescent girls and women, as well vending machines at schools and to workers also feel uncomfortable as for reducing school absenteeism increase accessibility of environmentally to discuss MHM related issues. of adolescent girls. MHM has been safe disposal mechanisms such as low Therefore, all-out efforts towards made an integral part of the Swachh cost incinerators attached to the girls’ changing the age old social attitude Bharat Mission Guidelines. Ministry toilets in schools for disposal of used towards menstruation and to break of Drinking Water and Sanitation has MHM products. the culture of silence and inertness is

PRAGATI, February 2019 6 NIRDPR . COVER STORY

Photo credit: Save the Children India very much needed. management products at affordable of our culture and society with regards to cost is an important determinant menstruation. 2. Innovative IEC approaches like of healthy menstrual management utilisation of community contact Strong and effective Information, practice. opportunities (e.g. Village Health Education and Communication activities and Nutrition Days) and proactive 4. Male sensitisation at community (IEC) and involvement of social workers involvement of mass media and level to increase their understanding at the village level to dispel the myths social media would further minimise and thereby fostering ingsupportive associated with menstruation should be barriers to MHM awareness. Capacity attitude will have stronger effect in undertaken. building of school teachers and removing discriminatory practices It is important to spread awareness health service providers, including faced by women. on menstrual health and reproductive AWWs, to disseminate timely and 5. Involvement of key community education among marginalised and tribal accurate information to both boys influencers, that is, social and religious girls and women. Open conversation on and girls on the biological and leaders in countering the negative these issues should be a part of the school psychosocial aspects of puberty, myths and misconceptions, would curriculum as well. Sanitary napkins must menstruation, and MHM customised also help to build a support system at be provided to menstruating women to to local contexts, rather than focusing societal level. ensure that they do not fall prey to age only on the practical aspects of old unhygienic traditions of using cloth, managing menstruation, may soil or sand. holistically improve the effectiveness Conclusion of the awareness programmes. Ensuring menstrual hygiene for Last but not the least, there is a need girls and women should be at the top for greater involvement of men and boys 3. Focus on the provsion of of developmental agenda which calls to generate a more positive environment sanitary napkins is just not sufficient. for urgent and intensive action from towards sustainable menstrual hygiene Problems for women, particularly all relevant stakeholders. All mothers, practices in rural India. girls in school, also relate to the irrespective of their educational level access to having an area to change, ,should be counselled to break their Dr. Sucharita Pujari and then dispose of napkins inhibitions over discussing menstrual Assistant Professor (pads) are therefore necessary, but process with their daughters much before not sufficient. Improving access the age of menarche to bring about a CPGS & DE to hygienic menstrual hygiene paradigm shift in the prevailing norms Cover Page Design: Shri V.G. Bhat

PRAGATI, February 2019 7 NIRDPR Two-day national interactive workshop for SIRDs & ETCs under National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR)

Smt. Deepa Kiran, international storyteller demonstrating storytelling strategies for generating awareness on drug abuse prevention during the interactive workshop for SIRDs and ETCs in the presence of Dr. W. R. Reddy, IAS, Director General, NIRDPR, Shri Anand Katoch, Director, NISD, New Delhi and Dr. T. Vijaya Kumar, Associate Professor & Head, CESD, NIRDPR. he Centre for Equity and Social Mr. Anand Katoch, Director, NISD lack of support systems are some of the TDevelopment, National Institute of explained the policy of Ministry of causes for this. It is also responsible for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Social Justice and Empowerment and many serious health related and social (NIRDPR), Hyderabad organised a two- deliberated upon the National Action behavior problems. Global Burden of day national interactive workshop for Plan for Drug demand Reduction and its Disease (GBD), 2010 study finds that State Institutes of Rural Development strategies. substance use disorders accounted for (SIRDs) and Extension Training Centres 0.4 per cent of the global years of life lost Speaking on this occasion, Smt. (ETCs) under the National Action Plan to disability. GBD reported that opioid, Deepa Kiran, international storyteller for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) cocaine and amphetamine accounted said storytelling can be used as a strategy in association with National Institute of for approximately 44000, cause specific in generating awareness about drug Social Defence (NISD), New Delhi on 1st deaths and 7,02,000 excess deaths. Drug prevention in rural areas, especially and 2nd February, 2019. The workshop abuse and alcoholism can have lasting among school children, SHG women and was inaugurated by Dr. W. R. Reddy, IAS, adverse impact on the family members elected representatives of panchayati raj Director General, NIRDPR in the presence leading to mental health problems like system. She also narrated a story with of Mr. Anand Katoch, Director, National anxiety, fear and depression, especially educational implications and ways to Institute of Social Defence (NISD), New in women and children, not to mention connect and motivate the people. Delhi. the financial burden on the family. There Dr. T. Vijaya Kumar, Associate is also the angle of illegal drug trafficking Addressing the participants, Dr. W. R. Professor and Head, Centre for Equity and attendant law and order issues.” Reddy highlighted the role of SIRDs and and Social Development, NIRDPR, who ETCs in organising preventive education “The purpose of the workshop is to was also coordinating the workshop, programmes through trainings of facilitate discussion on awareness and said, “Drug and substance abuse is a Panchayati Raj Institutions and preparing preventive education of drug abuse global health problem and is reaching action for incorporating one or two with reference to framework of National alarming proportion shell over the sessions for addressing the prevention of Action plan for Drug Demand Reduction world including India, both in urban drug abuse menace in order to improve formulated by the Ministry of Social and rural areas. Changing cultural the quality of life of rural people. Justice and Empowerment, Government values, increasing economic stress and of India. This incorporates partnership,

PRAGATI, February 2019 8 NIRDPR coalition and collective action by Prohibition Department in tackling the Reduction 2018-2023, preventive involving the Panchayat Raj institutions situation of drug abuse. education strategies by involving women in rural areas,” he added. members of self-help groups, school In total, 30 participants representing children and Panchayati Raj Institutions In the two-day workshop, resource 21 State Institute of Rural Development to address the issue through community persons from All India Institute of Medical and Extensions Training Centres, participation and mobilisation. Sciences, New Delhi, Heritage Foundation including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya and psychiatry experts from Osmania Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Karnataka, The workshop was coordinated by Medical College, Hyderabad interacted Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Dr. T. Vijaya Kumar, Associate Professor& with the participants. On the second Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan had Head, Dr. Satya Ranjan Mahakul, Assistant day, Shri Vivekananda Reddy, Deputy attended the workshop. The event saw Professor, Dr. Rubina Nusrat, Assistant Commissioner, Department of Excise and discussions on various issues like drug Professor and Dr. V. Lalitha, UGC-PDF of Prohibition, Government of Telangana abuse situation in India, salient features Centre for Equity & Social Development, presented the role played by Excise and of National Action Plan for Drug Demand NIRDPR. Community participation - a step towards Swachh Gram Panchayats

Dr. U. Hemantha Kumar, Associate Professor, NIRDPR and NSRC project team interacting with SHG women he project team of National and coastal areas of Nellore district have constructed single pit toilets under TSwachhata Resource Centre (NSRC), during December 2018. The names of the different schemes such as MGNREGS and under the Centre for Rural Infrastructure habitations and Gram Panchayats visited SBM-G. Apart from these schemes, most (CRI) supported by UNICEF, Hyderabad by the team are Venkateshwarapuram of the households spent an additional has taken up a study on the status of the habitation in Devulavellampalli (GP), amount of Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 30,000 towards Open Defection Free (ODF) sustainability Dakkali (M), Thalwayipadu (GP) in Pellakur the construction of slab, tiles and other in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. (M), Naidupeta division and Srirama facilities. These habitations have Over As part of the study, the team Puram habitation in Thummalapenta Head Surface Reservoirs (OHSR) under interacted with the district officials (GP) and Kavali Mandal (coastal area) of the Central Public/Plan Water Scheme of Swachh Bharat Mission – Gramin Nellore district. (CPWS). Most of the households are not (SBM-G) and elicited the primary data. The key observations from the visit having water tap facility in the toilets. To understand the ODF sustainability are narrated below: However, the households kept water in status, the team also visited tribal, plain Majority of the Households (HH) buckets and small drums in the toilets

PRAGATI, February 2019 9 NIRDPR at different levels. The objective of these committees is to encourage the officials to implement the SBM-G successfully. Further, the district officials stayed in the villages during the nights to create awareness among the communities on the importance of toilet usage. As a result of intense awareness drives, there was a huge demand for construction of toilets. Subsequently, there was a dearth of cement rings and other toilet construction materials. To address this issue, the district collector made an effort to take a stock of account (masons materials) and instructed the officials concerned to manufacture the rings at village level. The mandal level officials took villagers’ help and executed Toilets constructed under SBM-G the plan. It helped the villagers to reduce for flushing purpose. Therefore, no water the wet waste to the compost yard. the transportation charges and provided problem was witnessed due continuous It was informed by the key informants employment opportunity to others. usage of toilets. that the former District Collector The district administration has It was informed by some of the Ms. Janaki had attended a residential initiated various innovative awareness households that, except for kids or training programme on Community activities and following are some of the toddlers who have not developed the Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) at Raipur, prominent ones that are lauded by one toilet using practice, the residents are Chhattisgarh in 2016. And subsequently, and all: using toilets. However, parents have she took a lead in conducting similar reported that they used to collect the training programmes for the district School children in Nighrani faecal matter and dispose it in toilets. officials of Nellore district. All the district committees: The students who are part They also expressed that they wash their officials along with the representatives of Nighrani committee start their job at hands after disposing faeces of children. from selected NGOs have undergone 4:30 am and they hide in open defecation sites. They carry a bag full of sand while The research team observed that training on CLTS and rolled out these they are in Nighrani work and they give soap sticks are being glued either to training programmes to the grassroots this sand to the person who defecates in doors or to the walls of the toilets for level officials. the open areas. They make him cover the hand washing purposes. Though it was The district administration has faecal matter with this sand in front of not hygienic, it indicates use of toilet created a brand logo called ‘Aathma them. After three months of continuous and practice of hand washing after using Gowravam’ on 8th March, 2016. Apart efforts, the villagers stopped defecating toilets. It was also observed that the from the logo, they also created a separate in the open areas. households have placed toilet cleaning cell called “Aathma Gowravam cell”. The acids and/or phenyls in the toilets for district administration not only limited Chembuku Samadhi campaign cleaning. Each household reported to be itself to the creation of a brand/logo but (burying the mug): A mass awareness spending around Rs. 200 per month for also, involved all the women officials and campaign called “Chembuku Samadhi” toilet cleaning agents. Another important sarpanches across the district in taking (burying mug), which is used to carry observation is that there was no waste forward this programme. In addition, a water while going for open defecation burnt in open areas and no animal dung workshop was conducted to sensitise the was launched. As part of it, the district found in the vicinity of the households. print and electronic media personnel to officials, political parties and other key members took a funeral procession The team also visited waste to wealth publish/report the best practices of SBM. of the mug and buried it. The officials compost yard in the habitation, which There are various committees from concerned have ensured that the event was constructed on the government district to Gram Panchayats namely, Core is widely covered by the local media to land. They also have a green ambassador Committee, Mandal Resource Committee, spread the awareness among the public who collects waste from door-to-door. task force teams and Nighrani Committee on toilet usage. The green ambassador separates the dry ,etc. These committees are headed by the and wet waste at the source and transfers district collector, MDOs and sarpanchs

PRAGATI, February 2019 10 NIRDPR Green Ambassador - who collects waste from door to door

Government Officials stay at night in GPs by reviewing the progress on daily the district administration has to take villages: As part of the ODF campaigning, basis. With these collective efforts and necessary measures for promoting twin the government officials stayed in the continuous follow-ups by the district pit toilets among the rural households villages during the nights to create officials, Nellore district was declared as and construct community toilets in the awareness among the communities on ‘Swachh District’ in March 2017. rural area. the importance of toilet usage. As told by many, this initiative seems to have had a Key issues Our view on ODF project in Nellore good impact on the toilet use practice of Despite various initiatives, there district: the villagers. were some inevitable teething troubles Overall, the team’s observed that the Waste management: The villages not which one would expect at the initial ODF initiatives have been implemented only participated in construction and stages in any project. Following are few to a great extent in the villages of Nellore usage of toilets but also contributed key concerns observed in the project: district with the support from the local to the objectives of Swachh Bharat Issues with toilet use at schools and district administration. There are few Mission - Gramin. For this, the local and anganwadi centres: The key issue problems faced by the ODF initiative in Panchayats have recruited a person with schools and anganwadi centres is some areas, for instance, prevailing open called “green ambassador” who collects non-availability of funds for hiring staff defecation practices in some schools waste from door-to-door every alternate (like sweeper) for toilet maintenance. and anganwadis due to non-availability day. The green ambassador transports Further, the schools are not provided of water or poor maintenance of toilets. waste in a tricycle to the compost with running water facility, which would However, the innovative awareness, yard and segregates it. The district has improve sanitation practices among monitoring and follow-up approaches been progressing towards “Swachh school children. taken up by ODF implementation at Panchayats”. Issues with individual household: Nellore district are worth appreciation In addition to various awareness Some individual households have and they could be replicated in similar activities, the district administration constructed single pit toilets under socio-cultural contexts elsewhere. also followed up on the progress of different schemes. The pits may get filled the ODF situation. Initially, the district quickly if all the family members use the Sudha Poleni administration has declared 100 GPs as toilet. The women from those households Project Coordinator, NSRC ODF within a span of one month and expressed concerns about the chance of & fixed monthly target to each mandal pits getting filled up soon. Prof. P. SivaRam and GPs. Then, the district has focused In order to sustain ODF in villages, on the underperforming mandals and Head, CRI

PRAGATI, February 2019 11 NIRDPR Two-day national seminar marks World Day of Social Justice 2019 on Sustainable Development and Social Justice: Issues and Way Forward

Dignitaries at the inaugural ceremony of national seminar to mark the World Day of Social Justice, 2019 on ‘Sustainable Development and Social Justice’ he Centre for Equity and Social Padma Shri in 2019 for her commendable Institute of Agricultural Extension TDevelopment, NIRDPR, Hyderabad three-decade long service to persons and Management in the presence of organised a two-day national seminar to with disabilities. Dr. Lavu Narendranth Dr. Franklin Laltinkhuma, IAS, Registrar & mark the World Day of Social Justice 2019 was conferred Padma Shri in 2005 for Director (Admin) NIRDPR. on Sustainable Development and Social his admirable work in development of The panel session was Justice: Issues and Way Forward from ultra low weight prosthetic limbs for organised under the chairmanship of 20th – 21st February, 2019. polio-affected persons and amputees Dr. R. R. Prasad, former Professor & and his contributions to Indian Dr. Ravindra Gavali, Professor & Head, Head, NIRDPR and the panellists medicine. On the occasion, NIRDPR Centre for Natural Resource Management, were Smt. Deepa Kiran, international honoured Smt. Droupadi Gimirey and NIRDPR delivered the welcome address oral storyteller from Hyderabad, Dr. Dr. Lavu Narendranath for their valuable and spoke about the significance of such Gangadharan, Director, Heritage contributions. a national seminar and celebrating World Foundation, Hyderabad, Dr. E. Venkatesu, Day of Social Justice 2019. In the inaugural session, Associate Professor, Department of Professor R. Limbadri, Vice-Chairman, Political Science, University of Hyderabad, Speaking on the occasion, Telangana State of Higher Education Dr. Neeraj Mishra, Associate Professor, Dr. T. Vijaya Kumar, Associate Professor delivered a keynote address emphasising Centre for Wage Employment, NIRDPR and & Head, Centre for Equity and Social the need for providing quality education Dr. T. Vijaya Kumar, Associate Professor Development, NIRDPR pointed out to students as education being a vital & Head, Centre for Equity & Social the need to widen the limits of the tool to deliver social justice and plug Development, NIRDPR, Hyderabad. development so as to incorporate social, inequalities. cultural and political aspects. He further The panellists discussed the added that in this context, rediscovering Professor Ramesh Chandra Patel, relevance of social justice advocacy in development for providing equality of Dean, Faculty of Education & Psychology, rural communities. “Earlier people used opportunity, entitlements, accountability M.S. University, Vadodara, Gujarat, to define the concept of social justice but and fair distribution of resources is emphasised on the need for effective now the emphasis has shifted on taking essential. implementation of Kasturba Gandhi action in order to promote social justice,” Balika Vidyalaya scheme with more focus they noted. The uniform viewpoint that The guests of honour were on educating children with special needs emerged out of panel discussion was to Mrs. Draupadi Gimiray, a social worker for bridging the social and gender gaps understand the issues and implications and founder of Sikkim Viklang Sahayata in elementary education. The inaugural of social justice through advocacy action Samiti (SVSS), and Dr. Lavu Narendranth, session was chaired by Smt. V. Usha that are crucial while working with rural an orthopaedic surgeon by profession. Rani, IAS, Director General, National communities. Mrs. Draupadi Gimiray was honoured with

PRAGATI, February 2019 12 NIRDPR One of the panellists, Dr. Gangadharan, Director, Heritage Foundation reiterated that residents of rural communities experience lack of access to resources, high rates of poverty, less formal education, higher illiteracy rates, issues of disabilities, transgender and old age people. In this context, social justice advocacy action is very important. Advocacy of ageing and addressing the issues related to this problem as a part of social justice is very imperative. In 1994, there were around 60 million old age people and nobody knew what Scanned by CamScanner ageing was as discussed today. And as per 2011 statistics, 104 million old age people live in India. Three things - income of social justice action. SDG goal nos. 10 with Prof. C. Madhumathi, Faculty security, health security and caring - are Scanned by CamScanner very significant in taking social advocacy and 16 are focusing on addressing social of Education, Osmania University, action to address the issues of old age. justice. Now, it’s high time to focus on Hyderabad, Dr. K. Ananda Kishore, former

taking action in order to promoteScanned social by CamScanner Director of SCERT, Andhra Pradesh, Mrs. Smt. Deepa Kiran, international oral justice. B. Sunita, Programme Head, Pratham storyteller said stories are the vehicles Education Foundation, Hyderabad, Dr. R. R. Prasad, who was the to transmit ideas and concepts. Acts of Mr. R. Venkatesham Goud, State Working chairman of the panel session, observed exchanging stories offer the space for President, Lawyers Forum for Social that sustainable development goals and critical thinking and cooperative and Justice, Hyderabad, Mr. Ch. Murali social justice given a new acronym that non-judgemental listening. In this way, Mohan, Director, Sadhana Voluntary is just sustainability. It means fairness the storytelling can carry forward and Organisation, Hyderabad and Dr. T. Vijaya and includes all aspects of life, and fair support the purpose of promoting social Kumar, Associate Professor & Head, CESD, treatment with all social group members. justice. NIRDPR, Hyderabad. A total of 300 participants including Dr. Neeraj Mishra, Associate Deliberating on the equity in 70 delegates from 16 States such as Professor, NIRDPR opined that justice is education and strategies to achieve Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Bihar, fairness when you are working for the inclusive and equitable education for Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Nagaland, disadvantaged population in any society. all, the panellists emphasised that etc., students of IASE, DIET, Nalgonda, staff One should have empathy and helping nationalisation of school education could of DDUGKY cell, NIRDPR, faculty and staff attitude to achieve justice, he said. bridge the gap of providing equality of of NIRDPR attended the session. Later, educational opportunities. Dr. E. Venkatesu, Associate Professor, four technical sessions were organised University of Hyderabad said social justice in parallel tracks on various sub-themes Prof. C. Madhumathi, Osmania is a multi-dimensional and universal like advocacy of social justice in rural University spoke about contextualisation concept. The reservation policy becomes communities, policy and plan for poverty of education to achieve equity and one of the instruments for realising the alleviation and social justice, iInclusive equality by linking individual to society social justice, specifically in countries and equitable education for social justice. through education. where there has been historically Thirty papers were presented in four Dr. K. Ananda Kishore said education accumulated social deprivation. technical sessions on first day of the should focus on learning to live The social deprivation reflects in the seminar. form of untouchability, stigma and together. “In Indian society, educational occupation. The rural poor are unaware Second day of the seminar inequalities are prevailing across various of the importance of policies of social proceedings were initiated with a social groups from pre-primary education assistance,” he added. session on Equity, Education and Social to higher education. To address this vital Development involving a six-member issue, progressive public policies are to Dr. T. Vijaya Kumar, who was also panel. Professor Ramesh Chandra be implemented by the government and the seminar coordinator, said achieving Patel, Dean, Faculty of Education and school curriculum should include content sustainable development and social Psychology, M.S. University, Vadodara, on Sustainable Development Goals,” he justice largely depend upon advocacy Gujarat chaired the panel discussion said.

PRAGATI, February 2019 13 NIRDPR Justice V. Eswaraiah speaking at the seminar in the presence of other dignitaries Ms. B. Sunita of Pratham Foundation essential for ensuring the delivery of casteless and classless society only can deliberated on quality issues of education. quality education, he opined. help in achieving sustainability. To achieve equitable quality, one should Prof. R. C. Patel said that to Smt. Radhika Rastogi, IAS, Deputy focus on the foundational years of child provide equity in education, classroom Director General, NIRDPR chaired the schooling by adopting different models transactions should be improved session and highlighted the importance of teaching to improve learning levels along with other linkages like physical of humanist society where children and among the children. development of the children by providing women are the most vulnerable sections Referring to the infrastructural nutritive food through mid-day meals. of exclusion in every sphere of life. She facilities of government schools, Mr. Ch. Strong institution-building in educational stressed the need for an attitudinal Murali Mohan of Sadhana Organisation sector by appointing required number of shift among people to promote women mentioned that schools are lacking number of teachers, teacher educators empowerment. basic facilities even after 18 years and educational officers can only address While presenting the seminar report, of implementation of Sarva Shiksha the equity issues of school education, he Dr. T. Vijaya Kumar said that a total of 52 Abhiyan and other programmes. There noted. research papers were presented in seven is a need to build the capacities of school Further, three technical sessions technical sessions on various themes management committees through were organised on sub-themes and 21 such as advocacy of social justice in rural trainings for effective implementation of papers were presented. Altogether, 52 communities, policy and plan for poverty school activities and utilisation of school research papers were presented in all the alleviation and social justice, inclusive funds. seven technical sessions of this national and equitable education for social Mr. R. Venkatesham Goud, working seminar. justice, gender equality, empowerment president of Lawyers Forum for and social justice, social justice and Prof. Jyothis Satyapalan, Head, CWE, Social Justice said that rules are not empowerment of disadvantaged groups NIRDPR delivered the welcome address at implemented in true spirit. “Accordingly, and social determinants of health and the valedictory session and was followed government schools are paid no proper social justice. by a brief report of the seminar presented attention. Stringent action should be by Dr. T. Vijaya Kumar. Hon’ble Justice V. Smt. Draupadi Gimirey also graced taken against poor performance of Eswaraiah, former Chairman of National the occasion along with the other teachers. Then only, equitable education Commission for Backward Classes dignitaries. Dr. Sonal Mobar Roy, Assistant can be achieved,” he said. (NCBC) delivered valedictory speech on Professor, CPGS&SD, NIRDPR proposed Dr. T. Vijaya Kumar said the social justice and development from vote of thanks of the seminar. weak interrelationship among three constitutional perspective. The seminar was coordinated by social agencies - family, school and Justice V. Eswaraiah stressed on Dr. T. Vijaya Kumar, Associate Professor & community – is adversely affecting the importance of preamble to the Head, CESD, Assistant Professors Dr. Satya the quality of learning of children. Constitution and stated that Constitution Ranjan Mahakul, Dr. Sonal Mobar Roy, Strong linkages should be established safeguards the people below the bottom Dr. Rubina Nusrat and Dr. V. Lalitha, UGC- through community participation and of the pyramid against social exclusion PDF, CESD, NIRDPR. mobilisation at the village level is very and discrimination. He added that

PRAGATI, February 2019 14 NIRDPR International training on Empowerment of Women for Rural Development

Smt. Radhika Rastogi, Deputy Director General, NIRDPR (1st row, 4th from right), Dr. N. V. Madhuri, Head i/c, CGSD (1st row, 5th from right) and Dr. Ruchira Bhattacharya , Assistant Professor, CGSD (2nd row, 4th from right) with the participants of the training programme

he Centre for Gender Studies and were introduced to interventions and Apart from the classroom sessions, TDevelopment, NIRDPR, Hyderabad programmes addressing gender gap two field works – first, a week long field conducted a month-long training in India such as NRLM, MKSP, initiatives visit and the other a half-day study visit on ‘Empowerment of Women for on SHG and federations, skilling were organised by the course team. For Rural Development’ for officers and programmes, etc. Different sessions ere the week long field visit, participants development practitioners of low and held on non-governmental initiatives that were taken to Bala Vikasa organisation in middle income countries with the address gender issues such as MAKAAM Warangal district. For the short-term visit, sponsorship of Ministry of External – an initiative which works towards the participants were taken to ALEAP Affairs from 4th to 31st January 2019. empowerment of women farmers; industrial area where they interated with The programme was responded with another initiative Mahila Samakhya successful women entrepreneurs. good enthusiasm as 25 participants which unionised women into community Field Visits from 17 developing countries across groups. The linkages of gender to three continents attended the training. different sectors such as nutrition, water Participants were taken to Bala Participants from Burundi, Cote D’ivoire, and sanitation, labour issues, agriculture, Vikasa, a non–profit professional and Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mauritius, trade, food security, etc., were discussed community development organisation. Mongolia, Niger, South Sudan, Sri in detail over the next week with the help It was established by Mrs. Bala & Mr. Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Trinidad & of a few internal and external resource Andre Gingras in 1990. The motto of the Tobago, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia, persons. The participants were also organisation is ‘Helping communities and Zimbabwe attended the training introduced to the technical concept of help themselves’. During the field visit at programme. creating a gender budget. In a half day Bala Vikasa institute, the participants had session, participants were trained in detail an opportunity to take part in various The programme was inaugurated of how to make a gender budget and use community development activities. by Dr. N. V. Madhuri, Associate Professor it in their respective departments. & Head i/c Centree for Gender Studies, The main objective of Bala Vikasa is NIRDPR on 4th January, 2019. The Other than the sessions involving to promote community development first two days after the initiation were lectures, panel discussion or group activities and empower destitute women utilised to train the participants about exercises, the participants were also who are vulnerable and live in extreme the concept of gender and its linkages given time to present the development poverty. Bala Vikasa strongly advocates with development issues by the faculty scenarios of their respective countries at that women should play a decisive role in of CGSD. The technical sessions started the end of each day in the presence of an community driven development. Hence, on 7th January, 2019. The participants internal observer from NIRDPR. the women integrated development

PRAGATI, February 2019 15 NIRDPR by Bala Vikasa for eradicating socially constructed beliefs. Participants had the opportunity to interact with the kids and learn what they have achieved in terms of education and skills.

Participants also visited Gangadevipalli village which has a history of approximately of 200 years and is currently viewed as a model village due to the major developments and advancements initiated by the visionary Kusam Rajamouli in collaboration with Bala Vikasa. Smt. Radhika Rastogi, DDG, NIRDPR delivering a talk at the seminar programme empowers the poor rural used as a revolving fund to pay the wages Other than the study tour, women to drive social change from the of poor and destitute women who are participants were also taken to the frontlines. It promotes integration of the recruited for the operation of the ATW. industrial area of ALEAP in Hyderabad vulnerable women in the mainstream where they observed how women Given that in rural areas as most society. The community development entrepreneurs are supported through women are engaged in activities like programmes which the participants small incubation units and seed funds agricultural, farming and livestock, observed and participated are as follows: by the government. Participants visited they were empowered to take the lead three initiatives of dry medicine making Participants learned about the through several training programmes unit, We-hub (assembly line production main pillars of Community Based to grow crops organically. An initiative unit) and sticker printing unit within Organisational development and Asset has been taken to promote a pesticide- ALEAP. Based Community Development. Under free cropping system with lower input these schemes, around 15 to 20 women investment. Government of Andhra The Training programme received are assembled, whereby they engage Pradesh (erstwhile) had earlier supported a good feedback from the participants in internal saving and lending activities. the women by giving them one acre with an average effectiveness score of 88 The Self Help Group (SHG) is a financial of land for cultivation and they are per cent, with 96 per cent in knowledge intermediary committee. The mission constantly being trained so as to become creation, 98 per cent in skill development was to empower the most vulnerable independent and empowered towards and a 100 per cent score in attitudinal group and women empowerment. The decision-making. change. The participants had come to structure of the SHG consisted of three the training with varied backgrounds ZPHS, Ontimamidipalli was closed in teams, comprising of three coordinators and different levels of understanding 2009 due to its poor functioning turning and each coordinator was responsible for about women’s status in India, but the away approximately seventy to eighty 500 women from 21 villages. Their task is training programme, especially the field pupils enrolled at that time. The school to empower women. The total number visit to Warangal was a major exposure reopened in the academic year 2014- of villages covered by the coordinators is to Indian society for them. With the 2015 with an enrollment of four hundred 150. The number of women involved in expectation that the participants will use and fifty students from kindergarten this programme is 2,50,000.The activities the knowledge gained at NIRDPR in their to tenth grade. This model school was are standardised in all SHG groups and own respective countries, a session on reopened by the memebrs of the villages constant follow up is made and feedback action plan was conducted on the final with assistance from Bala Vikasa. is given to the group members. day. Many of the participants expressed The solidarity programmes for interest in holding training programmes In order to promote sanitation and women and orphan children were an in their own countries. A few participants access clean water to all household, the emotional exposure for the participants were from newly formed countries and Bala Vikasa initiated a water purification to the grassroots level problems of submitted an action plan for widows in development programme. Participants women in India. The programme their respective countries. The program were taken to water purification centres has helped the widows to be more was coordinated by Dr. N. V. Madhuri, whereby the water is distilled and is confident and independent. The widows Associate Professor & Head i/c and made available through the ATW kiosk are empowered to integrate in the Dr. Ruchira Bhattacharya, Assistant at a rate of Rs 1 for 20 litres of water. The mainstream of the society though a Professor of Centre for Gender Studies beneficiaries hold a card to access the fierce sensitisation campaign conducted and Development, NIRDPR. water services and this money collected is

PRAGATI, February 2019 16 NIRDPR International training programme on Sustainable Agricultural Strategies for Rural Development

Dr. W. R. Reddy, Director General, NIRDPR (1st row, 4th from right), Dr. Ch. Radhika Rani, Head i/c, CAS (1st row, 4th from left) and Dr. Nitya V. G. , Assistant Professor, CAS (1st row, 3rd from right) with the participants of the training programme he International training programme development to the member countries of Agriculture (CSA), Project Directorate Ton ‘Sustainable Agricultural Strategies ITEC. Poultry (PDP), National Institute of Plant for Rural Development’ sponsored by Health Medicine (NIPHM) and Veterinary the Ministry of External Affairs under The programme was covered University. International Technical and Economic in four modules. In the module on Cooperation (ITEC) was conducted from ‘Implementation of RD Programmes in As a follow up of classroom sessions 21st January to 17th February, 2019 for India’, the sessions on rural infrastructure pertaining to all the three modules, the senior practitioners and policymakers and sanitation, local self-government participants were taken for a four-day of member countries of ITEC at NIRDPR. institutions, MGNREGA, SHG concepts study tour to Auroville, Puducherry, where A total of 25 international delegates and implementation, and linking their they visited various projects of Auroville representing 15 developing countries livelihoods through NRLM were covered. pertaining to sustainable agriculture attended the programme. The main In the module on ‘Sustainable Agriculture viz., integrated farming, organic farming, aim of the programme was to promote in India – Concepts and Processes’ the sustainable input production, sustainable cross learning experiences and translate sessions on rainfed agriculture situation value chain activities, community them to country-specific action plans in India, watershed programmes in supported forest development, Bamboo on sustainable agriculture and rural India, dryland agriculture innovations Resource Centre, etc. development. and technological developments, role of gender in agriculture mechanisation, The participants were divided into Agriculture is the sector on which value chain analysis were covered. four groups and were made to analyse/ majority of the rural households depend In the third module on ‘Institutions compare and present the Indian situation on, but its contribution to the aggregate for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural with their respective countries on every GDP is less compared to industry and Development’ the focus was on best practice they have witnessed. A service sectors. Ranging from climate community-based institutions such compilation of all their presentations to market, the risks that farmers have to as farmer producer organisations, helped them to come out with a report face are multiple. The scenario is similar cooperative societies, water user on an action plan specific to their in almost all the developing countries. associations , farmer clubs, etc. The country, which they submitted at the However, there have been incidents of participants were taken on an exposure end of the programme. The programme successful cases in the country embracing visit to the Institutions of government was concluded with the feedback from good governance, inclusiveness and and non-government institutions such the participants. The programme was equity while promoting agriculture- as the Central Research Institute for organised by Dr. Ch. Radhika Rani, based livelihoods. The training Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Centre of Associate Professor and Head I/c and programme was designed to disseminate Excellence, Telangana State Horticulture Dr. Nithya V.G. Assistant Professor, CAS. the success stories in agriculture and rural Department, Centre for Sustainable

PRAGATI, February 2019 17 NIRDPR Make judicious use of water: Dr. Malini V. Shankar

Dr. Malini V. Shankar, IAS (retd.) delivering a lecture on drinking water at NIRDPR, Hyderabad special lecture on “Drinking on bifurcation of Telangana State from to be eternal by people and they assume Awater” by Dr. Malini V Shankar, Andhra Pradesh, the guest highlighted to have a right over it. Because of this IAS (Retd.), was held on 11th February, that one of the major reasons for the very mindset, people do not like to have 2019 on the premises of National Institute Telangana agitation is regarding usage of a limit on the amount of water they use of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj water. Both Krishna and Godavari rivers and also not pay for the use of water. (NIRDPR). It was presided over by Smt. originate in Maharashtra, pass through She also, pointed out that rural people Radhika Rastogi, IAS, Deputy Director the region of Telangana and finally join are very much aware of the conservation General, NIRDPR. the sea in Andhra Pradesh. Though the techniques and it is the urban crowd that rivers majorly pass through the Telangana needs to be sensitised. Dr. Malini referred Dr. Malini V Shankar is a Maharashtra State, they hardly got to use the water. to an example of Delhi government cadre IAS officer, who served as the She also said, Maharashtra is 70 per cent which came up with a solution for such former Director General, Shipping, drought-prone and 7 per cent flood- attitudes towards the usage of water. The Government of India. She noted that she prone. Also, not to forget there are issues Delhi government gives 30 litres of water spent about one-third of her life in sectors over drinking water vs irrigation water per day (which is considered to be the related to water – from lakes to irrigation too. minimum for daily usage) for free of cost to drinking water and finally shipping. In and the rest is payable. This was proved her lecture on drinking water, Dr. Malini Few examples that the speaker to be successful. The speaker gave an very well-articulated the professional sited on retaliation of local people on example of Malkapur Town Panchayat, application of the laws and other aspects grounds of water are – how Cocacola which also followed a similar procedure to of policymaking that revolve around Co. was precluded to setup a bottling that of the Delhi government in charging water. plant in Plachimada, Kerala. And Tamil for usage of water. The Panchayat also Nadu, which was a pro-industry State, Talking about water security, Dr. spent on purchasing of metres and precluded the Company from setting up eventually collecting it from the users Malini noted that water is not just a a plant, just on the question of water. common good but a political as well as over certain period of time. This is one of an emotional good. “Wars were fought The speaker also spoke extensively the success stories on water conservation over water, States have demanded on conservation of water. She mentioned and usage of water. a separate statehood on the basis of that water is lost in various stages due to In no other sector except water, the water”, she observed. Addressing water various reasons. Be it be through leakages government handles everything. Right level depletion as one of the major in the pipelines, or evaporation in open from planning, building, to usage and concerns, she said that, next world war canals, and majorly because of people’s maintaining. The speaker stated that we would be for water. Reiterating the facts attitude, water is lost. Water is considered

PRAGATI, February 2019 18 NIRDPR always fall into the trap of “build – ignore Answering to the questions of a policy that is conjunctive in nature. She – rebuild”. Rather we should focus on students and faculty in the audience. Dr. also mentioned that solutions for all the giving the responsibility of maintaining Malini opined that piped water system, current problems with respect to water the structures to the people, which would along with compulsory metering would can be found in the ancient architecture reduce the burden on government. She solve many of the issues relating to of India. “Many such methods should be said, “people spend Rs. 250 per month on water. To check water usage, surveys explored and imbibed into our practice a mobile phone, but are not ready to pay conducted on willingness to pay must today”, she added. Also, the conference be considered, workshops should be threw light on possible solutions that can Rs. 100 per month for water. As a held for the engineers, source of water be found in heritage, ignited minds and matter of great concern, men make, must be identified and usage beyond involvement of women. execute and follow decisions on water. certain depth of that source should be Sharing her experiences as a civil servant, banned. The speaker also mentioned that On the whole, everyone among the the speaker put forth that women are there are lot of reforms to be taken up in audience were sensitised to the use of never consented in issues of water supply. water sector. Water harvesting-friendly water, its conservation and other areas In reality, it is the women who go and architecture should be encouraged, and of concern regarding water. Dr. Malini V collect the water from wells, common indigenous ideas, and other cultural Shankar’s experience over the years in the taps, rivers and canals. Women fail to go methods of water conservation should service has helped to raise awareness and to work (both in rural and urban areas) as be revived. Sharing her experience, the motivate to be an active participant in they have to collect the water, which is guest referred to an area in Mumbai, policymaking. The lecture was attended not released at a specific time. This is also where extraction of groundwater beyond by the faculty members and the students one of the reasons for girls dropping out certain level was prohibited. Over the of PGDRDM and PGDM. The lecture was of school. Therefore, women must also years, the level of groundwater increased co-ordinated by Dr. Debapriya, Associate be considered while formulating policies and was obstructing other sectors of Professor, Centre for PG Studies and regarding water. They should be asked if development like construction. Thus, it is Distance Education, NIRDPR. they want to pay for water. very important in policymaking to make a policy that is suitable to the local area and - CDC Initiatives

Writeshop on engaging PRIs and SHGs in POSHAN Abhiyaan

Dr. Gyanmudra, Professor & Head, CHRD (1st row 4th from left) with the participants of the training programme

two-day writeshop to develop the organised by CRU-NIRDPR with support under POSHAN Abhiyaan. Aproposal and plan of action for NITI from UNICEF, was held in continuation to The writeshop was held with thetwin rd Aayog for involvement of Panchayati a meeting on 3 January, 2018 between objectives of developing draft plan Raj Institutions and self-help groups in NIRDPR, NITI Aayog and Ministry of of action with budgets and timelines, Jan Aandolan for POSHAN Abhiyaan Women and Child Development. Purpose define roles and responsibilities of key th th was organised on 7 and 8 of February, of the meeting was to discuss how stakeholders for involvement of PRIs 2019 at NIRDPR, under the guidance of NIRDPR, MoWCD, NRLM and NITI Aayog and SHGs, and listing of IEC materials, Programme Director Dr. Gyanmudra, can work together to engage PRIs and training outline and tools for training Professor & Head, CHRD. This writeshop, SHGs to improve nutritional outcome and monitoring of 19 participants

PRAGATI, February 2019 19 NIRDPR from the Ministry of Women and Child importance of PRI and SHG members collaterals can be designed and uploaded Development, National Rural Livelihood in POSHAN Abhiyaan. “As local leaders, on the NIRDPR website and MoWCD and Mission, NITI Aayog, NIRDPR, NRLM Cell they can influence the behaviours of the NITI Ayog can issue a line of instruction at NIRDPR, Department of Women and people towards the outcomes of POSHAN to all the concerned to utilise these Child Development-Telangana, and Abhiyaan”, he said. resources”, he said. UNICEF Raipur and Hyderabad offices. The DG asked the group to develop At the end of two-day write shop, the The participants, in plenary and in groups, a one-hour training capsule and make participants developed and presented deliberated upon the opportunities, it available to all SIRDs so that they can the suggested strategy, models and limitations, challenges and solutions. integrate it into the ongoing trainings of estimated costs for involvement of PRIs Attending the workshop, Dr. W. R. PRIs, especially in their induction trainings. and SHGs in a systematic manner by Reddy, Director General, NIRDPR joined “A complete package of three-hour NIRDPR. the writeshop and emphasised upon the training along with the communication AARDO workshop-cum-training programme on Water Resource Management for Sustainable Development

Smt. Radhika Rastogi, DDG, NIRDPR (1st row, 4th from left) and Dr. Ravindra S. Gavali, Head, CNRM (1st row, 3rd from right) with the participants of the training programme ater is a finite resource that is become a fatal constraint to sustainable Raj (NIRDPR), Hyderabad from 4th-17th Wfundamental to human well- development. In some developing February, 2019. A total of 20 participants being and only renewable if well countries facing water scarcity, from 13 countries (Bangladesh, Egypt, managed. Smart water management especially those in arid and semiarid Jordan, Taiwan, Malawi, Mauritius, is a pre-condition of sustainable areas, sustainable development strongly Malaysia, Namibia, Oman, Sri Lanka, development. Managed efficiently,depends on the availability of water Syria, Tunisia and Zambia) participated water plays a vital role in strengthening resources for both society and nature, in the training programme sponsored the resilience of social, economic and and the manner of water resource by the Ministry of Rural Development, environmental systems in the face of management. It is necessary for these Government of India. The programme rapid and unpredictable changes. Water developing countries to seek theoretical, began with the welcome address by Smt. is fundamental to the three dimensions methodological and technological Radhika Rastogi, IAS, Deputy Director of sustainable development, including support to ensure their sustainability. General, NIRDPR and the inaugural social needs, economic development and For achieving the sustainable water address by Dr. Manoj Nardeo Singh, ASG, environmental limits, and a cross-cutting resource management and to train AARDO. driver. Moving from a sectoral approach the different stakeholders, the Centre The objectives of the training towards a holistic one, which captures for Natural Resource Management programme were i) to train the inter-connections between foods, energy, organised an international workshop- participants for efficient management health, trade, the environment and water cum-training programme on Water of water resource for sustainable are necessary. resource management for sustainable development through conservation and In certain parts of the world, development at National Institute of development of water resources; ii) to water scarcity has been and will likely Rural Development and Panchayati teach the linkage between poverty and

PRAGATI, February 2019 20 NIRDPR environmental degradation and role of understand their functions in governance know about the watershed development water resource management, and iii) to and water resource management in activities. During a visit to VC Farm in impart knowledge on local institutional practical manner. The programme Mandya, participants interacted with mechanisms for efficient utilisation of addressed different issues of sustainable the scientists of the agriculture college water resource for optimum benefit water resource management under and witnessed different agricultural with three broad contents viz., 1) surface various sessions viz., water resource activities undertaken by the college. irrigation- improving the efficiency management, GIS application for water Participants had a practical exposure 2) groundwater conservation: resource management, traditional water to natural ecosystem at BR hills which conservation and development harvesting system, enhancing water use is located at the confluence of Western 3) participatory irrigation management. efficiency in water scarce region, impact Ghats and Eastern Ghats. Natural farming

Eminent speakers from different of land use practices on water resources, under five layer principles was also organisations - Central Research Institute community mobilisation in natural shown and explained in the field visit to for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Solapur resource management, watershed ‘Amruthabhumi’. University, NGO and faculty of NIRDPR planning, impact of climate change on The programme was appreciated addressed and shared their knowledge water resource management, water by the participants for addressing with the participants. Apart from management for sustainable agriculture the relevant issues of water resource classroom sessions, the participants and participatory irrigation management. management practices and visits to visited various institutions viz., Jawaharlal The programme team organised a institutes to explore practical knowledge Nehru Technological University (JNTU), four-day field study to Karnataka. During on water resource management. Centre for Good Governance (CGG), the field visit, participants interacted Dr. Ravindra S. Gavali, Dr. K. Krishna Reddy, Rural Technology Park (RTP) and with the watershed farmers and visited Dr V. Suresh Babu and team from the International Crops Research Institute sustainable livelihoods created under Centre for Natural Resource Management for the Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to watersheds in Chikkaballapur district to coordinated the Programme. Library Talks on impact factor of a journal and ways to improve it

of the frequency with which article in a journal has been cited in a particular year. It is used to measure the importance or rank of a journal by calculating the times its articles are cited.

Dr. P. Krishnan spoke extensively on impact factor – how has this metrics for a journal come into existence, how is it calculated and some of limitations. Impact factor helps us to know the importance of a journal. The higher the impact factor, the more highly ranked the journal. It is calculated based on a two-year period and involves dividing the number of times articles were Dr. P. Krishnan, Principal Scientist, NAARM, Hyderabad delivering a lecture on improving cited by the number of articles that are impact factor of a journal during the ‘Library Talks’ citable. “Citations and publication are a

he Centre for Development on 15th February, 2019. The key speakers different ball game”, says Dr. P. Krishnan. TDocumentation and Communication were Dr. P. Krishnan, Principal Scientist, Dr. P. Krishnan put forth some of at NIRDPR had launched Library Talks NAARM and Dr. M. V. Ravibabu, Associate the limitations of impact factor. He as an initiative to organise academic Professor, C-GARD. mentioned that it includes only 4-5 per cent of the world’s journals. There discussions and debates on various topics Dr. Akanksha Shukla, Head, CDC, are some cases where the author or that can benefit the faculty members, introduced the guests and welcomed the the article influencing a research but staff and students of various centres. As audience comprising faculty members, it is not effectively captured. Also, the part of the initiative, a talk on impact staff and students of NIRDPR. factor and ways to improve it was held impact factor cannot be used to compare The impact factor (IF) is a measure different fields. The software that is used

PRAGATI, February 2019 21 NIRDPR cannot distinguish between similar enrol themselves in SCOPUS database. Journal of Rural Development, published but different names. One of the major This would give a better visibility to the by NIRDPR, Dr. M. V. Ravibabu said that drawbacks of the impact factor is that it researchers in various fields. Similarly, by editorial strength of the journal must is available only for journals in English enrolling in Google Scholar, which gives be increased. “Online reviewing process language. access to reports, books, conference must be done. Also, giving an open access

Dr. M. V. Ravibabu detailed on some papers, etc., one can help new researchers to the journal will improve its visibility of the facts about impact factor. He asked in a particular field. and help more and more researchers in all the faculty members, researchers Talking about ways to improve the field”, he said. and students present during the talk, to impact factor of a journal, particularly the CDC Initiatives NIRDPR, BDL sign pact to raise awareness on hygiene in schools

Dr. R. Murugesan, Head, CSR,PPP&PA exchanging the MoU with BDL officials

n 5th February, 2019, an MoU was in classes 6 to 10 in 421 Government implementation of the project.

Osigned between NIRDPR (National upper primary and secondary high the project strategies are to raise Institute of Rural Development and schools. In Phase III, the scheme would be the awareness level through training Panchayati Raj) and BDL (Bharath implemented in a successful way based programme and create mechanisms Dynamics Limited) under Corporate on the findings and learnings form the to ensure supply and use (proper Social Responsibility (CSR), to support Phase I and Phase II, to all government disposal) of sanitary napkins among and raise awareness among the schools in all districts of Telangana adolescent school-going girl children adolescent girl children at the school State in a sustainable model. As per the and their parents and to give training level on their health and hygiene, MoU, BDL is the finance/ fund provider on manufacturing of sanitary napkins to particularly on menstrual hygiene. In a under its Corporate Social Responsibility the local women or self-help groups, and pilot project mode as Phase I, the scheme (CSR), and NIRDPR-CSR, PPP&PA is the installing the units of production and is implemented for girls from class 6 to implementing agency of the programme distribution of sanitary napkins to the 10 in 77 government upper primary and by manufacturing and distribution school going girl child in a sustainable secondary high schools, of five mandals of sanitary napkins and promoting mode at every district level. (Rajendranagar, Moinabad, Gandipet, awareness on health and hygiene among This initiative was raised by Shamshabad and Serlingampalli) in the school-going adolescent girl children Dr. R. Murugesan, Professor and Head, Ranga Reddy district, Telangana State. in project area. In addition to these two Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, In Phase II, within three to four months agencies, the State and district education Public Private Partnership and Peoples time span, this initiative would be department of Telangana State official Action (CSR,PPP&PA). extended to the whole of Ranga Reddy will help technically at the field level by district, covering 37,248 girl students supporting the two agencies for better

PRAGATI, February 2019 22 NIRDPR NIRDPR organises two-day national interactive workshop for SIRDs & ETCs for North-Eastern region under National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction

Mr. Anand Katoch, Director, NISD, New Delhi along with Dr. T. Vijaya Kumar, Head, CESD delivering a talk during the workshop

entre for Equity and Social Welcoming the guests and formulated by the Ministry of Social CDevelopment, NIRDPR, Hyderabad participants, Dr. T. Vijaya Kumar said that Justice and Empowerment, Government organised a two-day national interactive “drug and substance abuse is a global of India. This incorporates partnership, workshop for State Institutes of Rural health problem which has been reaching coalition and collective action by Development (SIRDs) and Extension alarming proportion and shell over the involving the Panchayati Raj institutions Training Centres (ETCs) of North-Eastern world including India, both in urban and in rural areas. region under the National Action Plan for rural areas.” He added that, changing In total, 25 participants representing Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR). The cultural values, increasing economic four States including Assam, Meghalaya, workshop was organised in association stress and lack of support systems are Manipur and Tripura, attended the with National Institute of Social Defence some of the causes for this trend. He said workshop. Discussions were held on (NISD), New Delhi during 15th – 16th that drug abuse is also responsible for various topics like drug abuse situation in February, 2019. many serious health related and social India, salient features of National Action behaviour problems. “Drug abuse and The main objective of the workshop Plan for Drug Demand Reduction 2018- alcoholism can have a lasting adverse was to deliberate on the ways to enable 2023, preventive education strategies by impact on the family members leading the functionaries to generate awareness involving SHG women, school children to mental health problems like anxiety, and preventive education in rural areas and Panchayati Raj Institutions, to fear and depression, especially among by actively involving Village Panchayats address the issue through community women and children, which eventually through SIRDs and ETCs in North-Eastern mobilisation. During the workshop, the leads to financial burden on the family. region of the country. Zonal Director of Narcotics Control Bureau There is also an angle of illegal drug of Assam interacted with participants and The workshop was inaugurated by trafficking and attendant law and order explained the drug abuse situation in Mr. Anand Katoch, Director, NISD, New issues”, he said. North-Eastern region along with myths Delhi, in presence of Dr. T. Vijaya Kumar, The purpose of the workshop is to and reality of drug abuse. The workshop Associate Professor and Head, Centre for facilitate discussion on awareness and was coordinated by Dr. T. Vijaya Kumar, Equity and Social Development, NIRDPR preventive education of drug abuse Associate Professor & Head, Dr. Rubina at Guwahati, Assam. with reference to framework of National Nusrat, Assistant Professor, Centre for Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction Equity & Social Development, NIRDPR.

PRAGATI, February 2019 23 NIRDPR NIRDPR and NABARD organise business development workshop for FPOs of NABARD IRDPR in partnership with NABARD, and empower the members to influence handling. NGovernment of Andhra Pradesh the policies that affect their livelihoods. As an outcome of the workshops, the conducted three two-day business However, they have been facing many participants representing 21 FPOs with development workshops for FPOs of issues in promoting themselves from the help of their 17 POPIs representatives Andhra Pradesh during February 4th- an institution of farmers into a full- prepared a detailed action plan. In the first 5th, 6th-7th and 11th-12th, 2019. The fledged business entity. Hence, business and third workshops, the CGM of regional participants of the workshops were planning of FPO is a strategic financial office, NABARD, AP, graced the inaugural board members of FPOs, CEOs and intervention to enable the FPO to work session and addressed the participants. also representatives of their Producer to full potentiality within a short period He emphasised the need for enterprise Organisation Promoting Institutions of time. A robust business plan, preceded development through value chain and (POPIs). A total of 70 participants by a value chain development plan, appreciated the efforts made by some of attended these workshops. The key endeavours a complete metamorphosis the POPIs in the region. He promised all objectives of the workshops were to from dependency on government help in nurturing the FPOs of the region. impart skills of basic business planning subsidies and grants to an enterprise- In the second workshop, to FPOs and sensitise the participants driven revenue model. representative from NABARD, Shri. about model DPRs and business plans for In the workshop, the board members Nagesh Kumar, DGM, FSDD, RO, NABARD, different commodities and activities. of the FPOs were given hands-on training AP, spoke about the initiatives of NABARD Farmer Producer Organisations on how to check their compliance status for strengthening the FPOs. He also are the emerging institutions in the with the website of Ministry of Corporate informed that they can apply for the agriculture sector that have been Affairs, based on their CIN number. The Economic Development Assistance receiving both policy and funding core values that each FPO should follow Fund of NABARD provided they meet support. The institutional model of FPO is were shared with the participants. The the eligibility criterion and advised the believed to provide the small farmers, the participants in groups and FPO-wise have participants to use the learnings from the benefits of aggregation and bargaining worked on value chain development workshop for implementation at the field power in the market place, enable cost plans, marketing plan and financial plan level in letter and spirit. effective delivery of extension services for the commodities they have been

OIGS Book Post (Contains Printed Matter)

Dr. W.R. Reddy, IAS, Director General, NIRDPR Smt. Radhika Rastogi, IAS, Deputy Director General, NIRDPR NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RURAL Editor : Dr. K. Papamma DEVELOPMENT AND PANCHAYATI RAJ Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India Asst. Editors: Krishna Raj K.S. Karra Sahitya Divya Rajendranagar, Hyderabad - 500 030 Victor Paul Phone: (040) 24008473, Fax: (040) 24008473 E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.nirdpr.org.in Published By: Dr. Akanksha Shukla, Associate Professor and Head, CDC on behalf of the NIRDPR, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad - 500 030.

Printed at:

PRAGATI, February 2019 24 NIRDPR