December 2017 | 12 Pages | for Free Circulation Only |

Cover Story - Pg 6 Lost and Found About SATHI, a national-level NGO working towards rehabilitating street children

Published by P.N.Subramanian on behalf of Manava Seva Dharma Samvardhani, 391/1, Venkatachalapathi Nagar, Alapakkam, ChennaiPublished - 600 by: 116 Mr. and P. N.printed Subramanian by him at Alumni Talk Profile Chit Chat Express Press, Express Gardens, No.29, on behalf of Manava Seva Dharma Samvardhani, Pg 3 Pg 9 Pg 12 Second391/1, Main Venkatachalapathi Road, Ambattur Nagar, Industrial Alapakkam, Estate, Abilities and Learning Curves Sanitation and Dignity “Social silence will no more Chennai -600Chennai 116. Phone: - 600 058. 044-42805365. Editor : Marie Banu Kavitha’s efforts to provide About Environmental be acceptable.” Editor: Marie Banu J medical support and free Sanitation Institute in Phone : 044-42805365 An exclusive interview with health care services to the Ahmedabad Lakshmy Ramakrishnan marginalised 2 Focus Conversations Today •December 2017 Continual Choosing From the Editor Dear Reader,

We act in ways which are considered respectful, and we also feel respect for some. We can also sense when we are respected or not. This is because the feeling of respect is more important than the behavior itself. It is said: “when the feeling is there, the behavior will naturally follow.” Until a few decades ago, respect played a very important role in our society. People who were not respected were considered to have no worth, no importance, and no values. On the contrary, it seems possible to survive today without being respected. You earn the respect of others by the way you respect and treat them. It seems to be like a boomerang where you must send it out before it comes back to you. Respect cannot be demanded or forced. We have our duty to teach our children while they are young the value of respecting others and should lead by example. The changemakers featured in hat is the meaning we give We witness our construction of create expectations and much of the Conversations Today are all noble to life experiences? We run reality when we realize that we living is “in the mind” and choiceless. people who have gained respect or not run our lives, living habitually assign meaning to nearly Practising continual choosing inW the cocoon of the meanings we everything and then operate as if those enables one let go of the meanings. from the society. Their way of life teaches one how to be respectful have derived. These meanings are meanings were “really real”. Why The choosing takes courage and real and be respected. never the absolute. In other words, a stay trapped in something that isn’t work to give up old, unproductive same situation would be interpreted reality at all? ways of being. When we choose —Marie Banu differently by two people. The What if there were no meanings in courage—it creates possibility. It gets meaning we create is drawn from past our minds? Would we move towards made up as we go along. Choosing experiences, our judgments and our possibilities and optimism? Would it sustaining frameworks that offer assumptions. These meanings unleash the mind’s capacity to create possibility, that prompt for giving up generate feelings and in the process versus comply, protect or control? The what doesn’t work, stops the process keep us driven or immobilized. meanings we carry obstruct acceptance, of past forward.

Yours Energetically Editorial Ms. Bhuvaneshwari Ravi is trainer, facilitator and coach of the Positive Energy (PE) program. She is a spiritual seeker with a vision of transforming her own energy state from surviving to being. In this journey she has gathered deep insights and is continuously working towards creating a pathway for more seekers. With years of exposure to spiritual practices like yoga, reiki, and personal development interventions like coaching, she is working in the Organization Development and Leadership Latha Suresh Development space. She can be contacted at [email protected] for arranging Positive Energy training and Marie Banu Coaching sessions. Conversations Today •December 2017 Alumni Talk 3 Abilities and Learning Curves he journey from acquiring knowledge to skill building is a process that is both interesting Tand precarious. “Knowledge and skills result in abilities that allow us to use them in circumstances of our choice. Unless knowledge results in abilities, the choice of application is not in our hands. We then become responsible for the status quo in our society we often question about. Abilities is what can make a difference at an individual level and in an organisation,” says Dr G.Kavitha, Founder of SPOT Healthcare Research and Training Centre in Chennai. As the eldest among four siblings, Kavitha grew up in an austere atmosphere. She could not even choose her favourite subject in graduation. “My father forced me to choose Chemistry for my under graduation while I loved Mathematics. I could not overpower his decision, but promised to just get through and then look at career options of my choice ,” reminisces Kavitha. Kavitha was inspired by both her grandparents who found new ways of engaging in social services as and when possible. “My maternal grandfather belonged to the Communist party. He was a farmer who strongly felt for the emancipation of women and empowerment of the downtrodden. those who were out of “Being amidst people who have always Although no other family member joined school or school dropouts. thought about the disadvantaged who are this party after his demise, his ideals of Every time I trained a inevitably left out of the social welfare equality and respect for labour are still teacher, I felt like drawing system, I couldn’t help but relate to the being practiced. These principles began to the learning curves of new intellectually challenged children who influence my choices in life and were the groups of children and I lead a life of dependency. I was forced bases on which I questioned the state of felt proud about my to reason out why training programmes affairs in our society. Why people still efforts,” says Kavitha. prepared them to face the outer world lived on platforms? Why were so many Kavitha became more while mainstreaming was the need. sleeping hungry despite welfare passionate about working This called for efforts from both sides,” programmes and other initiatives? What with children and decided to she says. could wipe out poverty and the divide prepare herself completely. Kavitha founded SPOT in September between the haves and the have nots?,” She completed her Post 2017 with a two-fold focus. One was to asks Kavitha. Graduate Diploma in provide medical support and free health Kavitha got an opportunity to engage in Therapeutic Education from care services to the marginalised, and the social service events during her college YMCA in Chennai and soon well connected with colleagues in the other was to train parents of special days, through the NSS. However, she became the Head Mistress of the Special field, she got an opportunity to work with children to help mainstream their children could not continue taking part in such School at YMCA. All her endeavours the Sri Santhana Krishna Healthcare and to lead independent lives. activities as her father disapproved of were appreciated and she was conferred Research Foundation. Kavitha took on Emphasising that mainstreaming them. One of her experiences from NSS the Best Teacher Award in 2008. Kavitha every challenge in her own stride. She special children is a long term and a days encouraged her to pursue B.Ed. in felt a great sense of responsibility in every practiced Acupuncture and holistic process Kavitha believes to have Special Education (Mental Retardation). step forward. She also studied a one year simultaneously managed time to train made the right start with SPOT’s As her interest in working for the course on Learning Disability to be able to parents, teachers in teaching children with activities. Her past pupil’s visit on the intellectually challenged children grew, train parents of special children learning disabilities. “All my knowledge, inauguration day reaffirms her belief. she went on to pursue a Master Degree in effectively. “Learning is a lifelong process skills and the resultant abilities helped me “My old student, an autistic child from the Psychology. While she was gaining which is not restricted to school, nor are sail through the toughest time in my life. I Special School at YMCA is now studying experience by working with different parents devoid of this responsibility once survived and also managed to help in a regular school and has scored 86 organisations in Chennai and Cuddalore, their children get enrolled in special improve the quality of lives of the few percent in his class ten exams. He the Government of India’s District schools. Unless we see teachers and others, I could. It was two distinct fields presented a memento and wished me Primary Education Programme (DPEP) parents complementing each other’s and a wide range of stakeholders to be success when SPOT was inaugurated. He that was introduced in 1998 helped her work, children’s learning curves can never dealt with. I saw my abilities dictate my is now in class 12 and his development grow as a Resource Teacher. progress positively. This is very critical in decisions and was determined to practice reassures my belief in mainstreaming “It was my responsibility to train the case of children with learning the principles that inspired me,” she says. special children,” shares Kavitha, teachers in identifying learning disabilities,” asserts Kavitha. Kavitha enrolled in CSIM’s Social determined to change the lives of many disabilities in children, teaching new With her heart for children, her family Entrepreneurship Outlook Programme to such special children through SPOT. methods that can enable learning process circumstances forced her to practice learn how to establish her own work —Shanmuga Priya.T for the differently abled and also enrol Acupuncture. Professionally trained and centre, but there was more in store for her.

Centre for Social Initiative and Management (CSIM) is a unit of Manava Seva Dharma Samvardhani. Please visit www.csim.in for more information. 4 Spot Light Conversations Today •December 2017 Down The SILKY Lane,

Ming…ring….ring…theeeti phone ng Selhimself. It had been monthsf since their kept ringing as Padma rummaged faces had seen laughter. her purse to retrieve the cell “Jo jo laali na haduve.. china ninna phoneR frantically as she was getting into muddaduve….” A lullaby came loud the car...”hello, Raghav! What is it? You from Padma’s singing filled with love have called me 3 times already”. “Where and affection. Silk sat cuddled on her lap are you? Come near the school entrance with a contented snooze seemingly well fast”…. Padma’s heart raced in anxiety. set into the familiar arms. It had been Padma got out of the car and ran towards almost two weeks now and SILK had the entrance gate of the school. Raghav found its home. Padma had many battles stood in the middle of the road and his car to fight internal and external and had was parked in the side. “Come, see in the grown to know new sides of herself in car” excitedly he moved to the car. Padma this time. “Why do you need a dog now”? peeped through the window and lo! A “better check if he is fine. You don’t want cute little dog was wagging its tail, trying a dick dog home”; “god knows why to get out of the half raised window, people buy dogs and abandon them like totally confused. “Whose dog is this? this”; “aren’t you just out of all these Looks sooo cute.” Padma was now very home responsibilities and enjoying life? excited. “I don’t know whose this is. I Why do you take on more?”; “just put it was driving past the gate and this dog for adoption and someone will take him; came running and was almost going to get don’t invite headache”; “what will you do under the wheel. I stopped and opened the if you have to go to USA to visit your door and he just jumped into the car. He children? Who will take care of it”; “hey, looks like lost from home. This is a small it may carry some infections and breed variety. Seems very friendly diseases, be careful”; “if you have more though”. She carefully opened the door money and don’t know how to spend give of the car and he jumped onto her like a it to me, why waste on this dog?” … all baby coming to a long lost mother. She questions, annoyed statements, friendly held him and he began licking her face jibes, sarcastic comments, concerned and hands as though saying ‘I found you, advice had all been a part of life. But, I found you’…”Oh! What shall we do Padma had only a smile as an answer for now? You are going for a meeting and you all this. Who else than her could know should rush. But I need to go to office. I better what it means to be welcomed will enquire in the apartments around and home every evening with a thousand watt see if I can find his house. I will message smile, happiness and hundred licks from you. Anyway we will meet at 4 in the a being that had waited patiently for her office”. Next hour went in enquiring with nearly 10 hours and didn’t have a single the security of every apartment on that complaint or expectation. Life had long winding road to see heads shaking in dramatically become full and busy and denial and puzzlement. Padma was thoughts were all about SILK. What if his hungry and tired with the heat of the original parents came and claimed him? summer beating down and the dog was Inspite of all efforts, no one had neither refusing to leave the car. “Raghav, this recognised nor claimed him. seems to be an abandoned dog. Let’s plan Padma while riding to office with and see if we can trace the owner” Raghav mentioned, “What is so messaged Padma and decided to drive knew Raghav could not keep him in his heavy. It was almost one and half years surprising is that Srinivas is so friendly straight to office. Raghav smiled reading house, but will she be allowed? Will since Padma’s mom’s passing away. Her and loving to him. Silk has totally brought the message. He knew Padma’s ever- Srinivas, Padma’s husband agree? Just Dad had passed away nearly 3 years back. love into the house. I have never seen this receiving loving heart can never be then, she closed her eyes and thought of Their daughter has been studying in USA side of Srinivas so far. I always thought he satiated in life. Every opportunity to love, her state in the house… the previous and son left six months back. That night couldn’t express softness and affection so it only expands and includes. weeks’ regular episodes ran past her like after dinner, as they sat down drinking easily”. It was a big surprise that Srinivas “Hey, what shall we call him”? Padma in a movie screen… their green tea, Srinivas tried to make a had not only allowed SILK to stay in the cuddling the dog, stopped Raghav right Srinivas pushed the main door open conversation with Padma, “I know you house, jump on his bed, but they had now near the staircase as soon as he entered and walked in “Padma, Padma, are you feel a lot empty and alone. But, Amma formed a buddy relationship of watching the office. Grinning widely he added, there? Why no lights are on and what are had to go. If you keep thinking of her and the matches and news together. “Silk, “Softy, so soft as silk…feel his hair… you doing?” “I’m here”, came out Padma crying do you think she will be happy where are you? Come let’s watch TV” wow... SILK!”. “Yes, SILK, my SILKY from the kitchen looking listless. Srinivas wherever she is? The children are was a usual sound in the house as soon as baby, SILK” whispered Padma in its ears. switched the hallway and living room following their dreams and how can we Srinivas came home. SILK would dart SILK lifted his eyes to meet hers and at lights saying “it’s already dark and 6.45. feel sad about it? You are so busy, doing near the bean bag and settle comfortably that moment both a mother and a child Why are you working in the dark”? so many good things in office and next to him. “It’s magical that SILK were born. “Didn’t feel like and I forgot to put the outside. Be happy”. Srinivas voice understands our language. Raghav, it’s The biggest fear was not answered yet lights on. Anyway I am all alone…” sounded strained, tired and helpless. He just like how a child gets adopted and for Padma as they drove back home. She padma’s voice trailed away becoming himself was clueless trying to manage settles down in a few weeks into the new Conversations Today •December 2017 Spot Light 5 house, isn’t it?” added Padma in a thoughtful tone. deep moments could only bring them out. Some of us Raghav only silently looked at his friend with a subtle never show our softer side to the person we love most. smile that said, “I guess I know what’s happening to Deep love resides in deep vulnerability. them”. A year had gone by. Padma looked five years younger. “Oh, Srini look, my sugar level has dropped by 25 SILK had grown healthier, happier and energetic. “Look counts. It’s just 115 now”!! Screamed Padma from her there goes aunty, SILK’s mom. Aunty, where is SILK?” room. “Haha, good. Its SILK being here that is doing this. children in the layout had called out to Padma on the lazy You know Padma, I am seeing you so happy and relaxed Sunday morning. They were known as SILK’s parents after a long time” Srini lovingly remarked. SILK, sat now. Donno if the parents had adopted SILK or SILK watching them, knowing something happy was had adopted them. But things had changed. happening but unaware of its own doing. Strangely, in the “Padma, I am so amazed how you look now. You have last two weeks the sounds in the house had changed. changed and look so happy”, Lalli remarked. Lalli was Padma’s ever excited voice was back again. Many the most famous person in the layout working for evenings Srini had walked into home to squeals of rescuing and fostering dogs in the layout. She was laughter from Padma running around chasing SILK who evergreen looking 25 at 50. She was known as the dog – was jumping in excitement like a little Rabbit. Padma aunty. “The empty space in you which had unspent love routines had changed. Srinivas and Padma took long has found its recipient. And the recipient in need of love walks in the evenings so SILK would be happy going out. has found its source. All of us have that in us. An empty There was a new space bonding that was happening. nest is empty not because children or adults went away. “Sir, after the arrival of this dog my work has only It’s because we don’t know where to deposit all the love increased. This dog is not toilet trained properly. He does that we have in our hearts. If we can become more his potty in various places. You may want to seriously inclusive and expand our hearts, so many animals rethink and give him away”, an upset housekeeper Rina needn’t have to be on roads and I don’t have to beg complained to Srinivas. SILK, while had learnt to love people to adopt or foster”. True. Emptiness and and play was still struggling to find his bearings. He loneliness are always seen as not having something. marked his territory with his frequent urinations. Even a Rarely do we see it as not being inclusive enough to share dog-psychologist had been called over for consultation to the love we have and accept the love we get. check if SILK was depressed. “Don’t be so upset Rina. “While SILK has found a home, I have found myself”, It’s only for the time being. Slowly he will settle down. remarked Padma as she bid good-bye to Lalli and walked Please adjust a little bit. See, how much I have accepted. with SILK pulling her back home. All this for your madam’s sake. She is getting back to life again. Every joy comes with a little sacrifice.” Padma’s True Story dedicated to all people who strive to find eyes were filled with tears and love for Srinivas. She was good homes for the rescued animals. in the kitchen and had heard it all. She always knew there is a softer side to him that he guarded vehemently and —Dr. Kalpana Sampath

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Since its inception in August 2012, till October this year, SOCH has recorded the rescue of 3759 children from vulnerable situations and has boasted of successfully reuniting 2,666 of these children with their families.

LOST AND FOUNanoj Kumar SwainD grew up at a small difficult backgrounds (Project Pankh).” Railway Protection Force (RPF). Vendors, village in Odisha. On graduating Since its inception in August 2012, till October autorickshaw drivers, cleaning staff and watering college, Manoj went to the Tata Institute this year, SOCH has recorded the rescue of 3759 staff are potential stakeholders too. “All these Mof Social Sciences where he pursued a course in children from vulnerable situations and has individuals are vital in tracing and identifying Child Rights and Social Entrepreneurship. Soon boasted of successfully reuniting 2,666 of these such children owing to their regular presence at after, Manoj joined SATHI, a national-level NGO children with their families. Working in stations and platforms,” he adds, “They are working towards rehabilitating street children. A coordination with CWC, GRP, RPF, Railway instrumental in referring missing cases.” few years later, in 2012, Manoj would go on to Authorities and other government bodies, SOCH In Manoj’s experiences with resettling children, start the Society for Children (SOCH) with the is currently engaged in the rescue and resettlement he says that 80% of the reasons that these children help of like-minded people. “We began in July of about 80 to 100 children from various difficult come up with for leaving home, are trivial. 2012, and are operational in three locations of situations. “When we began, we had just one “Among the more serious reasons for running Odisha — Bhubaneswar, Berhampur and Puri — room for an office,” Manoj recalls. away from home are Peer Influence, attraction of In the last half-a-decade, SOCH has managed the city, child labour, education, child abuse and to cause quite the impact among NGOs in the child trafficking,” he says. “Running away from same space. Such has been its success in a homes in search of work tops the list of reasons relatively short span of time that the while ‘city attraction’ and ‘escape from scolding organisation has been acknowledged as Best by parents’ follow in at a close second and third,” Children’s NGO for 2015 at the Giving Back Manoj adds. The table below lists out these Awards held in Mumbai. SOCH also bagged reasons, with their frequencies. top honours at the CSR Implementing What happens when a child is “discovered” at a Agency Challenge at the India CSR Summit railway platform? Surely, once SOCH and its 2016, in addition to being recognized as a stakeholders zero in on an abandoned child, there “Punya Utkal” organization for its role in must be an SOP that is followed? “Yes,” confirms social contribution. Manoj, “Many a time, the child himself or herself As on date, statistics suggest that SOCH volunteers to part with information, and comes up re-settles 70% of the children it rescues. “The with the parental address. This usually happens key words to the work we do are ‘outreach’ and when the child in question shows a basic will to ‘networking’,” explains Manoj, “Outreach is all return home, after counselling sessions.” But by about policing railway platforms, observing Manoj’s own admission, the challenge almost every child, taking note of their activities, always arises when the child is adamant and ends behaviour and their company.” This process is up not parting with any contact details. “There usually followed by an informal interaction to might also be a situation where parents are confirm the authenticity of the suspected abusive or unfit to take care of the child due to runaway, missing, abandoned, abducted or poor financial conditions,” he says, “Then there are the cases where either the child is an orphan or is too young to remember their address, or even situations where parents are not fit enough to receive the child.” When reunions do occur though, it usually happens under the jurisdiction of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), which in turn refers these children to Government-sponsored shelter homes like Home Shelter (usually done on a temporary basis) or Child Care Institution (done until the child attains the age of 18) on a case-by-case basis. At present, SOCH finds itself in three locations around Odisha, but Manoj admits that there is scope for expansion. “Based on our surveys, there are plenty of prominent railway stations like Khordha Road, Cuttack, Rourkela and Angul to name a few, where there is scope of expansion.” Donations are often the bedrock of any NGO, and so is the case with SOCH. “Our Rescue to Resettlement process for each child accounts to Rs 4,000, and on an average we rescue 80 to 100 children per month,” says Manoj, “This accounts to a budget of Rs 4,00,000 per month.” For a while up until date,” says Manoj, “The main focus of trafficked child as the case may be. “Network- now, SOCH has been working through support of SOCH is child rights, our core activity being building then ensures that through awareness individual sponsors and also the fact that rescue and resettlement of runaway, missing, meetings and sensitization drives with key Behrampur is supported by the Tata Trust. Both abandoned and abducted children (Project stakeholders present at rail way stations, the cases underline the importance that donation Rakshyak). We at SOCH also work towards process of resettlement occurs smoothly and plays in the day-to-day functioning of the NGO, behaviour modification of street children (Project efficiently,” says Manoj. In this case, stakeholders and the work it does. Punarjivan) and mainstreaming of youths from may range from porters at the station to the 8 Social Audit Conversations Today •December 2017 SOCIAL IMPACT REPORTING AND MARKETING: A HAZY DIVIDE? “Marketing is manipulation and deceit. It tries to turn people into something they aren’t – individuals focused solely on themselves, maximising their consumption of goods that they don’t need.” Noam Chomsky

t is a powerful quote from Chomsky and sell that product in the market. outcomes of differing strategies, and so on. reporting and does not pass judgement. The and not one that I entirely agree with as Arguably, organisations with a central It is about reporting and accounting and not judgement about performance and impact is I feel that businesses have to promote social objective should by definition not just a way of providing marketing left to stakeholders and the report should be andI sell their products in the competitive need to spend as much on this, as they information. openly disclosed to them. They then make a environment which is part of our prevailing should be responding to a social need and Social Accounting and Audit takes judgement about the organisation. economic system. through their activities provide for that need organisations through a process that asks Some organisations going through The whole idea of marketing reminds me to those that benefit from their work. for a regular review of the mission, values regular social accounting and audit consider of a time I was wisely told by a colleague The area where social impact reporting and objectives alongside an analysis of the final report as of huge importance. I that there is often a difference between what and marketing meets manifests itself in stakeholders (all those individuals and would argue that going through the process people say they are doing and what they are Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) organisations that can affect an organisation is equally important. actually doing. This brings me to the main reporting. It is admirable and to be and are affected by it). It requires an It would be a mistake to think of social thread running through this blog which is encouraged that businesses report more ‘impact map’ identifying outputs and impact reporting only in terms of how it can the relationship between ‘marketing’ and holistically and include the positive impact outcomes to emerge from the activities of be used to market the organisation. ‘social impact reporting’. that they are having on the environment, on an organisation. This is followed by The quote from Chomsky at the start of In some ways it comes back to why people and on the wider culture. But this is collection of quantitative and qualitative this blog reflects the cynicism around should social and community enterprises basically philanthropy. Their core business, data that is brought together in an annual set marketing – claiming that it is only about regularly report on their performance and if you like, is to maximise profit for their of draft social accounts. The social businesses trying to persuading people to their impact on people, the environment and owners or founders. They also have wider accounts should seek to accurately reflect spend their money.Social and community on the society in which they exist. They do impacts but they remain secondary to their the performance and impact of the enterprises are more about responsibly and not have to. So why do they? core purpose. organisation during the past year. This regularly reporting on how they have Often social enterprises will say they are Social enterprises, on the other hand ‘account’ then is subject to an independent effected change that contributes to benefits doing it in order to market what they do and should be reporting regularly on their core audit and the revised draft becomes the for people and the wider society. In social to be able promote and ‘sell’ what they can business with is positive social change. social report. The process runs parallel to reporting what an organisation says it does provide – ‘selling’ it to investors or funders Social enterprises should be assessed and the financial accounting and audit process. should be as close as possible to what it and other stakeholders. This is quite judged on how well they are achieving their A social report for social and community actually does. legitimate and to be applauded but I would central purpose and the impact they are enterprises is about proving what your Telling people about what an organisation argue should not be the sole reason to report having. organisation has achieved – backing up the does is one thing; but doing this in order to on social impact. Social impact reporting should not only claims with evidence; improving as an sell more and more products and services is The last few decades have shown a huge be used for marketing but also to contribute organisation as inevitably decisions on the another… and pervading expansion and emphasis on to planning, to the management of the future will be based around hard facts; and …and never the twain should meet. ‘marketing’. Entrepreneurs starting out or whole organisations, to review what has finally, and this is of increasing importance, wanting to expand will come up with a worked and what has not, to understanding about being accountable to all stakeholders. —Alan Kay, Co-Founder, ‘product’ and then spend an inordinate priorities, to involve processes that listen to It is important to recognise that the audit Social Audit Network , UK amount of time, resources and energy to try stakeholders, to understand costs and checks the thoroughness and veracity of Conversations Today •December 2017 Profile 9 Sanitation and Dignity anitation is a complicated issue education. In the evening, a gram sabha is both in rural and urban areas. called and pictures of the village before Management of human waste is and after the cleaning exercise is shown. aS huge concern, that has always “We also show pictures of the children suffered neglect due to different playing with us. The team talks only reasons. Our social structure has about that day’s experience and the designated a section of the village’s plight. The discussion always population to manually handle moves around the context of the human waste and this community concerned village. Hence, building a continues to remain the most bond with the villagers becomes possible disadvantaged. and we get to see a few get convinced “The root cause of all these problems about the cause. We then encourage them is the disrespect we are habituated to to talk to others in the village and associate with toilet behaviour. As a influence their attitude towards toilets. It result, it is not even normal to discuss is such an overt focus on attitudes over the characteristics of the waste we construction that has led to 90 percent of produce on a daily basis. We are too the toilets constructed being in use”, he embarrassed to talk about an existential explains, adding that ESI began to problem”, says Mr Kishan, a volunteer devote more time on changing people’s at the Environmental Sanitation Institute attitudes towards sanitation since the (ESI) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. launch of Swach Bharat Abhiyan, as The story began from the time of many entities came in to focus on India’s struggle for independence construction of toilets. when Mahatma Gandhiji ESI’s campus is an example of expressed his concerns over the say attitude, we are not only talking about sustainable architecture and zero waste sanitation situation in the country. people who defecate in the open. We are structures. Waste from all the toilets in the Gandhiji’s claim that sanitation is also talking about bureaucrats who campus, along with food waste enters a pit as important as independence neglect the work, policy experts who fail where microbes work to produce methane motivated Shri Ishwarbhai Patel, to realise the social practices, taboos gas that powers the two bio gas plants. popularly known as the ‘toilet man associated with toilet behaviour in Remaining sludge is used as manure for of India’, to dedicate his life to different contexts. There are women who the garden. A notable feature of the study and implement low cost, feel shy to use a toilet when men are campus is the toilet garden developed in sustainable solutions for human present in the house. The humiliation 1967. Showcasing different models waste management. they feel is a big social burden we must designed by Ishwarbhai, the garden is a Shri Ishwarbhai Patel had write off to change their attitude wealth of information about that corner in travelled extensively to understand towards hygienic toilet behaviour. a house that hardly goes through all details – physical, social and Therefore, the need of the hour was a meticulous planning. Taking the cultural - pertaining to toilet behaviour decentralised model that could strike a sensitisation further, is the toilet café in and developed multiple designs of toilets which held no value until people’s attitude chord with common people, officials, the campus, built by Jayeshbhai Patel that suited Indian context and needs. towards sanitation, which he called the safai karamcharis, village leaders and (Ishwarbhai’s son and Director, ESI) in Every such design explored details like ‘software’ component, was aligned in the others who influenced practices and 2010, where everything from chairs to nature of soil to learn its percolation right path. In commemoration with attitudes at an individual and community tables is modelled on toilet designs to capacity, local materials that could be Gandhiji’s centenary birthday celebration, level. Such an approach allowed us to create awareness on sanitation. used for construction, locally available Government of Gujarat enacted laws on study social behaviour when people “Basically, a positive outlook on those water resources, other local resources that liberation of manual scavengers. Thus, moved out to defecate. Women disliked who clean the toilets is what the café tries could be used for human waste came a shift from use of dry latrines to toilets as it restricted their personal space to create. They are an equal part of the management and promoted the wet/flush latrines, preventing the need for with friends, so the design for women’s society”, adds Kishan. knowledge to ensure people’s removal of night soil from the latrines. toilets had a small window and also a Besides the training and sensitisation participation. This approach eventually Ishwarbhai was appointed as the Advisor small community space in the front that programmes, ESI also assists in the led to the initiative being owned by the to Government of Gujarat and allowed them to indulge in their private implementation of programmes for the people themselves. Besides the new Government of India to supervise the conversations. Every detail about a toilet welfare of children from this community designs he developed, he also came up implementation of programmes that was worked out diligently in every of cleaners. With the help of the with design modifications in the models followed the enactment. Thus, Safai construction we took up”, he elaborates. residential hostel facility instituted by the then used to make them efficient and Vidyalaya became a key resource centre Whenever a toilet is constructed, a Sabarmati Harijan Ashram Trust in sustainable. He also won the Padma Shri to the state and central governments, that grand inauguration with a traditional Gandhi Ashram, more than 6000 girls Award for a design that uses only 1.5 litres trained officials from sanitary inspectors ceremony is organised to reiterate the have completed Diploma in Education to flush. “He was a visionary who thought to cleaners with the municipalities. importance of the ignored corner of the and are now teachers in schools across of ergonomics for toilets. Studying the Ishwarbhai’s conviction to the cause house. Beginning with one resident, the Gujarat. The journey of this eminent composition of human waste, he and his leadership led to the cycle of change resonates throughout the training institute continues beyond our advocated that each one of us were construction of more than 500,000 village. An interesting approach used by borders, reaching out to more than 20 producing rich fertilisers, every day. He toilets by Safai Vidyalaya and also ESI is the introduction of Nandini Van. An countries, including South Africa, then found a way to harness this utility enabled more than 100 organisations exemplar for space management, this van Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Germany, Japan from our waste and our campus that work tirelessly to improve the moves to villages with an equipped and Netherlands. “There is still a long way demonstrates just that, effectively, on a situation of sanitation in our country. cleaning team and a pre-set exhibition on to go. Unless we see the poorest of poor routine”, says Kishan. In 1985 Ishwarbhai established ESI to health, hygiene and sanitation to create living in hygienic conditions, fully Ishwarbhai founded Safai Vidyalaya disseminate the learnings from research awareness among the children. The acknowledging good sanitation practices (Sanitation Institute) in 1958 to carry his and practical experience at Safai cleaning team, comprising of volunteers, and until we see people, rich and poor, mission forward and work for the removal Vidyalaya. Based on the Gandhian goes on with the work while also engaging respect sanitation and the pertinent work, of manual scavenging. He often principles of environmentalism and in play with children in the village. ESI will continue its march, unhindered”, mentioned that construction of toilets was up-liftment of poor, ESI was dedicated to Customised games help the team to open asserts Kishan. the ‘hardware’ component of this mission, the task of changing people’s attitude discussion on hygiene and then the —Shanmuga Priya.T towards health and hygiene. “When we exhibition completes the process of 10 Events Conversations Today •December 2017 Connecting local social programs to the Global SDGs

he global sustainable development goals In the beginning, participants discussed all 17 (SDGs), spearheaded by the United SDGs and learnt about alignment of their Nations, are a universal call to action to program goals with specific SDGs. endT poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace Subsequently, the discussions focused on Recognition for CSIM’s Work and justice for all. For achieving these inspiring Goal 16 (Peace, justice and strong goals by the year 2030, NGOs and inspired institutions). change agents have a big role to play. Also, Change makers like Bhagirath (Tata Trusts), NGOs should sensitize youth in communities for Mayur (Nirmaan), Neha (Rubaroo) and Rubina their productive engagement with SDGs. (SAFA) inspired and guided the participants by Keeping these points in view, Centre for sharing their work on SDGs and explaining the Social Initiative and Management (CSIM), role of youth participation in these programs. Hyderabad; Vishwa Yuvak Kendra (VYK),New This was followed by a lively panel discussion Delhi; and Surge Impact Foundation (SIF), involving 5 panelists who discussed methods for Hyderabad jointly organized a training ensuring peace, justice and strong institutions in workshop in Hyderabad on 10th and 11th society (Goal Number 16). The panelists were: November 2017 for preparing NGOs and other Mazher Hussain, Mamatha, Shyamala, Shobha change agents from Telangana for their and Sanjay. engagement with SDGs. Over 50 participants The workshop included video session, group attended this workshop. exercises and team presentations dealing with Inaugurating the workshop, Jayesh Ranjan, SDGs and youth mobilization. Principal Secretary, Govt. of Telangana The workshop concluded with a resolve of emphasized the crucial role of NGOs in participants to adapt these global goals for local n 17th November 2017, the World CSR Day recognized mobilization of people and inclusive contexts and work for empowering and assisting the contribution of CSIM as a strategic change maker and development of communities. He lauded the the poorest of the poor in communities for a impactful organization in NGO sector. OMr. K.L.Srivastava received the NGO Leadership Award 2017 in efforts of CSIM, VYK and SIF for organizing better tomorrow. this workshop. —K.L.Srivastava Hyderabad on behalf of CSIM.

Centre for Social Initiative and Management

entre for Social practices and yet retain Initiative and their social mission. Contact Persons: CSIM also facilitates Management It also offers training and Social Accounting and (CSIM)C is a unit of Manava hand holding support to Audit for social Seva Dharma prospective social Ms. Marie Banu, Mr.K L Srivastava, enterprises, CSR projects, Samvardhani. It is a entrepreneurs and enable Director, Chennai Director, Hyderabad and NGOs through Social learning centre that them to launch their social @ 9884700029 @ 9912656112 Audit Network, India (SAN promotes the concept of initiatives. India). social entrepreneurship. For more information, Mr. Ramesh Dr. Madhuri. R, CSIM offers training please visit our website Balasundaram Head, Coimbatore, For further information, and consultancy to social www.csim.in Director, Bangalore @ 9840222559 please contact: enterprises – for-profits @ 9845211311 Ms.Latha Suresh, and non- profits – to Mr. Sandeep Mehto, Director, SAN, India facilitate them to apply Head – Hosangabad , @ 92822 05123. successful business @ 96696 77054 www.san-india.org Conversations Today •December 2017 Events 11 Celebrating Social Entrepreneurs

elebration is a kind of food we all need in our lives, and each individual brings a special recipe or offering, so that together we will make a great feast. Celebration is a humanC need that we must not, and cannot, deny. It is richer and fuller when many work and then celebrate together. This was the underlying theme during the Sadguru Gnanananda Awards 2017 instituted by Manava Seva Dharma Samvardhani. Held on 25th November at the Swami Vivekananda Rural Community college near Puducherry, the Chief Guest, Dr.Kiran Bedi, Governor of Puducherry paid a fitting tribute to Mr.P N Devarajan, founder-MSDS, by lauding his idea of celebrating social change and transformation. It was an unforgettable day for the three aspiring Social Entrepreneurs – Ridhi Aggarwal, Karthikeyan and Medha Shah- who received their first fellowship amount from Dr.Kiran Bedi, a social entrepreneur herself. Mr. P N Subramaniam, Managing Trustee, MSDS and Mr.G V Subramaniam, Founder, SVRCC were also present. Dr. Kiran Bedia also launched the CSIM centre at SVRCC and issued certificates for the first batch of participants. —Latha Suresh 12 Chit Chat Conversations Today •December 2017 “Social silence will no more be acceptable.” Lakshmy Ramakrishnan shares with Marie Banu her passion for social issues.

akshmy Ramakrishnan is a unique The role of women in Indian cinema? larger screen either a personal problem reunited her with her family. She delivered filmmaker, talented actor, reality In Tamil cinema, about 20 years ago, we or an accusation which is totally private. a healthy baby and my team visited her at show presenter and a social activist. had very meaty roles and women oriented Whether these issues should be the hospital. The doctors disclosed that she LA Graduate in Commerce, the films. Of late, say 10 years, Tamil films are discussed by counsellors or psychiatrists had a brain tumour which needs to be entrepreneurship bug bit her when she not portraying their female lead as good as or lawyers and not with the media is a operated. On hearing this, one of our pursued a course in Fashion Designing at before. Apparently, Bollywood films have debatable question. leading movie star came forward to Kothari Institute in Chennai. more women involved in production work Domestic violence is not a private affair, support her medical expenses. She made her debut in the Malayalam and there is a lot of progressive thinking but rather an offence against the state. Like this, there are many more people film Chakkara Muthu (2006), and has content wise. Today, issues like stalking Many times, people do not intervene to who have been benefited from appeared in over 40 films in South Indian and wrong portrayal of women, have resolve family disputes or street fights as Solvathellam Unmai. Rotary Clubs and languages and one in Hindi. She also hosts been taken up by the media very they feel that they do not have a role here. Lions Clubs approaches the affected a Tamil reality show in Zee Tamil titled seriously and they are raising their Through the reality show, we are trying to people and supports them directly. Out of Solvathellam Unmai which has crossed voices. This is a good sign! address this issue by directing the affected 1500 episodes, I can say that not all have over 1500 episodes. When you talk about an inclusive person to a counsellor or a police station or been successful. Although, much change She has won the Asianet Film Awards in society, we should also talk about women. a lawyer with the help of the media. cannot happen within two to four hours of 2007 for Best Character Actress; Edison It is sad to see some movies portraying Media has the power to influence people interaction with the affected persons, it has Award for Riveting Performance in issues related to women or disability in a over a period of time. We were certain that given us the platform to create a dialogue. 2012; and Filmfare Award for Best melancholic tone. Why cannot they show there will be a change in the mindset of Most media are used to shutting up Supporting Actress – Malayalam in them as contributors to our society? The people, and we are witnessing it now. women, not allowing them to talk about 2017, besides several others. She has future will see more women in Indian Were you able to resolve many cases their grievances, disparity or the violence been recognised for her contribution for cinema and social silence will no more through this reality show? against them as we always attach a stigma the Welfare of Omani women by become acceptable. The term ‘resolve’ is very relative. In to it. On the contrary, Solvathellam Unmai Ministry of Heritage & Culture, iGovt of one instance, a 19-year-old girl was is braving people to talk about their Oman & Omani Women’s Association. Why do you choose socially relevant abandoned by her family and a passer-by problems. We lend a hand, a timely help, In an exclusive interview, Lakshmy issues as your movie themes? on noticing her sitting at Koyembedu but it is up to the affected persons to make Ramakrishnan shares with Marie Banu I do not make movies for the sake of it. market for over four days brought her to the best use of it. This show has created a her passion for social issues. Whether it is Arohanam or Nerungi Vaa or our studio. lot of awareness amongst people which in Ammani – I only choose socially relevant She was found to be pregnant and itself is a great achievement. About your journey as an issues. I do not wish to sacrifice a year of suffering from fits. Her husband had entrepreneur? my personal life in making a movie which deserted her and she had Who do you think plays a larger role in I started with fashion designing and is not socially inclined, even if you would no place to go. While the issues faced by women? Women moved to event management. All my give me crores of rupees for that. discussing her themselves or men and why? ventures have been entrepreneurial and I wish to be socially responsible and do story at In most of the cases, I find that co-producing the film Aarohanam has not want to compromise on the bigger Solvathellam although a man would have made me a social entrepreneur. When I left cause for the sake of becoming popular. I Unmai, she inflicted the pain on a woman, India and joined my husband at Muscat, I am not saying that I am a social worker, as said that there is a woman who has been ran a vocational camp called ‘Kids Camp’ I do have financial goals and personal people should the cause for it. There are only as there was very little scope for fashion ambitions. I balance and find a way where learn from certain sections of the society who designing here. I found a lot of children my work gives me the scope of giving her life and are more empowered and have sitting in their homes either watching back to the society in some way. This is should not liberal thinking. In others, it has television or playing computer games as what social entrepreneurship is all about, commit the been set deep down in their DNA they did not have much scope to play in the isn’t it? mistake of that women are conditioned in a open as the summer months were very hot. Arohanam addressed an issue like early marriage, certain manner, are insecure, have I joined six other women who were bipolar disorder, which most of us would which she did. inferiority complex and low self-esteem qualified, but did not have a work permit, already know. But, there is another section We traced her which makes her react in a certain way and started a small activity for our own of the society who think that any mental husband and with other women. This children. We started with 15 children, and disturbance is mental illness. I found should change! by the time I left Muscat, we had 5,000 cinema to be a beautiful medium to children every year from different parts of address this issue. the world enrolling for the camp. Whenever we conducted an activity, we What motivated you to be part ensured that it focused on a social issue. of the reality show We had the support from Toyota, Genteco, Solvathellam Unmai? Pizza Hut and National Bank of Oman Solvathellam Unmai is not who sponsored our events for children. We my brain child. The show was also hosted fashion shows for children already popular when I came where the theme was either world peace, in. In fact, when I was or water conservation, or tree planting. In approached first, I could not 2001, at Coimbatore, I organised a road accept the offer as I was busy show against plastic menace where we shooting for the movie distributed more than 5000 jute bags with Arohanam. When I was the help of women. approached again. I Till now, nothing has been planned in thought that there must be my life. At the same time, I have not some reason for me to missed out on any opportunity that has keep receiving offers for come my way. Having come from a this programme, hence conservative family, I am thankful for the agreed. Till now, I have support of my husband and my three hosted over 1200 episodes. daughters who have been with me all At Solvathellam Unmai, through my journey. we are discussing on a