Annual Report 2017 - 2018

Marfat 2

VISION

Equity, social justice and eco-friendly sustainable development are the keystones of our vision for a better world – a world that celebrates life in all its myriad diversity; a world where people’s voices make the decisions that shape their lives.

Mission

- To invest in childhood and create opportunities for them to get a healthy start, get adequately educated and skilled, to build their own lives - To enable systems to provide adequate care, support and protection to women and children - To enable people and collectives to realize their rights and role in the society and the broader ecology for initiating affirmative action

Organisation Details

Registration No: S/1L/19998 of 2003-2004 (W.B. Societies Act, 1961), (12AA, 80G) Email: [email protected] Website: www.marfat.in Contact Numbers: +91-9433501217; +91-9831188150

Registered Office: Jangipur Office: Baharampur Office 125/A Swinhoe Sree Bhavan, 2/1, Rabindranath Lane Thakurpara Road, Tagore Road, Flat no: 203 Pin: 742202 (Dhopghati), PO & Kolkata: 700042 Dhuliyan PS – Baharampur, West Bengal, India. Dist.: Murshidabad Pin: 742101 West Bengal Dist.: Murshidabad West Bengal

Photo Credits – Marfat, Masood Sarver, 2017-18 3

CONTENTS

From the secretary ______4 Child protection ______5 Childline ______5 Community Based Creche ______7 Through Child Protection Committees ______8

Education ______9 Mainstreaming 650 out of school children ______9

Youth and Livelihood ______10 Collaboration & Cooperation with Govt. & NGOs. ______12 Our Partners & Collaborators ______14 List of Governing body members ______15 Acknowledgement ______16 List of Abbreviations ______17

FROM THE SECRETARY

Marfat over the last decade has established itself as an organization committed towards welfare and empowerment of youth and children. The organization has worked with multiple stakeholders: governmental bodies, media, private sector, international and national NGOs and multilateral organizations to create a platform and an understanding towards this marginalized and voiceless section of the society.

During the year we intensified our work in Dhuliyan by expanding our out of school support to reach 650 children, mostly from bidi rolling families, and helping them to pursue mainstream education. Along with this we continued to support 2 community creches serving more than 50 bidi rolling families and their children.

Continuing our relationship with the ICDS this year Marfat was chosen as resource organisation for Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY) in Murshidabad. Through KSY Marfat has oriented around 1000 adolescent girls in the district on their rights and entitlement, provided basic life skill and three types vocational skill to 300 girls.

As CHILDLINE Subcenter Marfat handled 172 no of cases in Jangipur Subdivision. Consistent work of Marfat on child protection has been recognised by State Commission for Protection of Child Rights

The CSR bill, which passed the Parliament in 2013, has begun to affect the work of NGOs. It came to us as a significant help this year. As the Marfat’s cost-effective strategies are well- suited to the provisions of the CSR Act, I hope that our work with children will continue to attract corporate organizations in the same manner.

As we move ahead in 2018, we also bid farewell to our governing body member, a great human being and a friend Dr. Dhrubajyoti Ghosh who passed away in February. His exemplary body of work and guidance will keep us motivated for years to come.

Arup Das Secretary August 2018 5

CHILD PROTECTION

Child protection refers to the protection of children from violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect in and out of the home. Marfat works intensively with the Child protection systems in West Bengal, a set of government-run services along with cooperation mechanisms among the civil society designed to protect children through ICPS. The Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) is a centrally sponsored scheme aimed at building a protective environment for children in difficult circumstances, as well as other vulnerable children, through Government-Civil Society Partnership.

Childline Marfat, operates as the Jangipur CHILDLINE Sub Centre in Murshidabad (covering 6 Blocks of Jangipur), and is responsible for providing immediate response to all distress calls originating in Jangipur Subdivision. This year Marfat served 172 children through the Childline 1098 service. Among the cases Child Marriage and Missing Children were the two most common complaints (82%). Followed by some cases of physical abuse, need for shelter and medical care. Campaigns – and Capacity Building under CHILDLINE

In September 2017, Marfat conducted a special campaign during the Durga Puja Festival in Farakka and Dhuliyan towns to reach as many people as possible. It was an opportunity to reach out to and make both adults/parents and children aware of Child Rights and CHILDLINE 1098 and also to initiate a culture of child centric social services among festival organisers. 6

Additionally, Marfat conducted FGD with adolescent girls (14-18 years) to assess the preparedness of combating child marriage. These Girls were selected by AWWs from two GPs, Pratapganj and Chachanda of Samshergunje Block who were not pursuing formal education and are from low income families. The girls selected were considered as prone to early marriage.

The discussions captured the perception of participants about early marriage and possible ways of preventing it socially. It was found that poverty and lack of awareness are no longer prime movers behind drop outs and early marriages. Unemployment problem and the age old social practices also play a vital role. Engaging men and boys in such discussions in future has been prioritized to address this problem.

In February 2018, Marfat organized awareness camps on preventing Early Child Marriage and Child Trafficking in 5 Gram Panchayats reaching over 300 individuals (senior members of Panchayat, Anganwadi workers, Health workers (ASHA), members of some SHGs, Kanyashree champions and teachers and students from local schools). The 5 Gram Panchayats (GP) of 3 blocks , Raghunathgunj I , II and Samshergunje are Jorur, Jotkamal, Mirjapur, Kanchantala and Pratapganj. During these camps besides promoting the VLCPC, Marfat actively engaged in building awareness about the health related hazards of Child 7

marriage and discussed the steps to be taken to prevent the early marriages and report to CHILDLINE 1098.

Community Based Creche

From unhealthy living conditions to exploitative wages, the situation of bidi workers involves violation of their rights and freedoms on many levels. Children of bidi rolling families hardly get the necessary care required for normal growth and development. Due to incomplete coverage of ICDS and inadequate number of Anganwadi Centres in Dhuliyan, many children are deprived of basic services (and entitlements) of the government support system. Through 2 community- based crèches (rent free space provided by residents) Marfat accommodates around 50 children of 2-5 age group, whose mothers are working mainly as bidi rollers.

Through these Creches Marfat • Keeps children away from hazardous toxic domestic atmosphere for 3 hours everyday • Promotes healthy and better nutrition practices among the families and caregivers of these children • Imparts proper hygiene and sanitation habits training to the children, and their families • Imparts knowledge and technique of child care to parents • Provides skill and knowhow of low cost nutritious food to parents

The children receive supplementary nutrition (cooked food) brought in from nearest ICDS centre. The Crèches also provide training on Nutrition and Early Childhood Care to the care givers through weekly demonstrative program. The children needing institutional care are referred to the nearest Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre.

Through Child Protection Committees

Marfat works with all the tier of Child Protection Committees including State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR). Marfat is a member Murshidabad District Task Force for Child Protection under District Child Protection Unit (DCPU). Marfat as a CHILDLINE Subcenter is member of all the Block Level Child Protection Committees of Jangipur Subdivision as well as many Village and Ward Level Child Protection Committees (VLCPC and WLCPC).

Recognised as resource organisation, Marfat provided support to DCPU in campaign, formation and training of BLCPC and VLCPC. In 2017-18 Campaigned in 5 GPs selected by district administration for early /child marriage free village and provided resource person trained by District – State resource team in 5 BLCPC training.

EDUCATION

Mainstreaming 650 out of school children

Education is the fundamental right of every children. It is the foundation of a person’s development as it increases one's awareness of life, appropriate social behaviour, earn livelihood and evolve as a better citizen. Marfat works closely with the local primary schools, training institutes and runs community based supplementary education programmes to reach laggard and drop out children to send them back to formal schools. Marfat has collaborated with Rotary India Literacy Mission of Rotary South Asia Society for Development and Cooperation, through its programme Asha Kiran to promote education for 650 out-of-school children aged between 7 to 14 years.

More than 650 such kids were identified by Marfat staff and enrolled for the RILM training. Repeated home visits and group meetings with guardians were conducted by Marfat staff to sensitise and consequently motivate them to send their children to school and spare them from household or other work during RILM centre time.

Marfat identified 13 primary schools from 13 different wards in Dhuliyan where TLM and other facilities like Television / Computer etc. were established. After the initial in-house training of the teachers by Marfat Staff and Resource Persons a meticulously designed training on Language (Bengali, English and Mathematics) was conducted by Sikshamitra, an organisation having lots of experience in teachers training and teaching children of underprivileged community/families. More than 25 teachers attended this training.

YOUTH AND LIVELIHOOD

Kishori Shakti Yojana

Kishori Shakti Yojana is a central government supported program which seeks to empower adolescent girls (Age 11-18 years) to enable them to take charge of their lives, in the 3 Blocks of Raghunathgunj 1 & 2, Samshergunje. Engaged by the local implementation agency (ICDS) as a Resource Organisation, Marfat has carried out programs with 900 adolescent girls (mostly Bidi workers) and 150 Anganwadi workers. The Anganwadi workers were trained to make the government programs more effective and more responsive to the needs of adolescent girls. The focus of Marfat’s activity was to sensitize the key influencers of a girl’s life – for example her family, teachers and community gatekeepers for them to help the girls to reach their true potential in life and not get married off early.

A 3 day Orientation program was arranged in 3 blocks on LSE/ARSH etc. including exposure visit to important government offices (BDO, BPHC/PHC, CDPO office, Police station) and Gram Panchayat office to motivate and familiarize the girls with each other. More than 600 girls attended these trainings. Girls were provided with information of different government programs and projects meant for adolescent girls and CHILDLINE 1098 services. Emphasis was given on ill effects of early marriage. They were also provided with key phone numbers to contact in necessity. AWWs were oriented on KSY- its aim, objective and process of implementation. They were taught how to measure BMI of adolescent girls and how to keep track of KSY beneficiaries using the family register.

About 150 adolescent girls took vocational training for beautician course 100+, food processing 25 and ornament making 25. These trainings play a major contributor to the socioeconomic enhancement of the girls in this age group as they expose the participants to various learning and possible non-hazardous livelihood opportunities so that they can judge and decide which way they want to go. These efforts by Marfat have created a ripple among the adolescents, especially those who took Vocational Training. Most of the girls participated are bidi roller. Many showed interest by asking for direction to take next steps.

COLLABORATION & COOPERATION WITH GOVT. & NGOS.

Marfat is a founder member of National Forum for Bidi Workers, which came into being in 2017 during a National Consultation on Concerns of Beedi Workers. Marfat participated in a Planning meeting in February 2018 in New Delhi. The meeting was conducted by Vaagdhara, an NGO based in Rajasthan working for rights of vulnerable population. Around 50 participants from Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Delhi prepared a road map for initiating capacity building and leadership development among the tobacco and bidi workers in various states. The main agenda of this meeting was to develop a strategic plan for advocating for the welfare, dignity and justice for the communities involved in the informal sector of Beedi rolling, especially women and children.

In May 2017 National Forum for Beedi Workers - West Bengal chapter organised the state level consultation on the Rights of Beedi Workers in Kolkata, with representation from Trade Unions, Labour Rights activists and Beedi workers from 4 districts of West Bengal. This meeting helped to develop a strategic plan for advocating for the welfare, dignity and justice for the communities involved in the informal sector of Beedi rolling, especially women and children.

As a part of Bidi Workers Welfare Marfat, with financial support from Centre for Health and Social Justice (CHSJ), has conducted 5 Focus Group Discussions in Jangipur Subdivision of Murshidabad and from Kaliachak 3 in Maldah, two adjoining districts in West Bengal. The objective was to identify the key concerns of bidi workers with a focus on (but not limited to) labour, livelihood, health, social security and gender based exploitation. After the discussions 10 case studies were developed based on their experience/challenges/harassments faced in accessing their due rights (registration, wages, welfare schemes etc.) and cases of poor health as consequence of their work. These case studies were later used for the national publication.

Marfat, a State Secretariat Member of West Bengal Education Network, advocates for improvement in teaching and learning outcomes. This Network operates in 10 Districts of West Bengal.

Marfat , an active member of District NGO Forum (Murshidabad) , a platform for collective action of CSOs and maintaining linkage – coordination with district administration and govt. departments.

Marfat’s has earned respect for its work from the community, support agencies and the local administration, for its decade long association with Murshidabad, a district synonymous with poor Human Development Indicators plus a large minority, migrant population. This year Marfat received a Commendation from the District (DCPU) and State Commission for protection of child right in West Bengal (WBCPCR).

OUR PARTNERS & COLLABORATORS

We wish to thank the organisations and the individuals who supported Marfat.

LIST OF GOVERNING BODY MEMBERS

2017 - 2018

Sri. Nripen Bandopadhyaya (President) - Economist & Social Scientist, Kolkata

Sri. Arup Das (Secretary) - Social worker/Activist, Kolkata

Sri Ashis Biswas (Jt. Secretary) - Development Sector Professional, Kolkata

Sri. Meghendranath Bandyopadhyay (Treasurer) - Development Sector Professional, Kolkata

Sri. Monish Kumar Das - Communication Consultant, Kolkata

Smt. Nirmala Bannerjee - Economist & Gender Activist, Kolkata

Smt. Samrajnee Dutta - College Teacher, Kolkata

Dr. Anupam Basu – Professor, Educationist, Kolkata

Sri. Dhrubajyoti Ghosh - Ecologist, Author, Retired Govt. Officer, Kolkata

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Ahead Initiatives Assistant Labour Commissioner-Jangipur SD BDO – Samshergunje Block. BMOH - Samshergunje Block CDPO-ICDS, Samshergunje Block Centre for Health and Social Justice, New Delhi Chairman, Primary Education, Murshidabad Chief Medical Officer- Tarapur Central Hospital CMOH- Murshidabad District Child Rights and You-CRY, Kolkata Childline India Foundation District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Murshidabad DI Secondary, Murshidabad DM, Murshidabad Deputy Welfare Commissioner, Tarapur District Labour Commissioner, Murshidabad Dhuliyan Municipality: Chairperson & Councilors, Ward & Borough Committee members, Bidi- DPO (ICDS), Murshidabad DSW, Murshidabad Labour Unions Loka Kalyan Parishad (LKP) Medical Officer- Nimtita Dispensary Murshidabad Zilla Parishad Neogirat Aikatan Gram Unnayan Samity (NAGUS), 24-Parganas (South) NGO Forum, Murshidabad Primary and Secondary – HS Schools in Dhuliyan Municipality PR Sinha & Co. (Auditors) Rotary India Literacy Mission SDO, Jangipur Sikshamitra, Kolkata St. John’s Ambulance Brigade, Berhampore West Bengal Education Network (WBEN), Kolkata.

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

AWW Anganwadi Workers BDO Block Development Officer BLCPC Block Level Child Protection Committee BPHC Block Primary Health Centre CDPO Child Development Project Officer CPC Child Protection Committees CRC Child Resource Centre CRY Child Rights and You DCPO District Child Protection Officer DCPU District Child Protection Unit DPO Development Project Officer ICDS Integrated Child Development Scheme ICPS Integrated Child Protection Scheme IEC Information Education Communication IM Infant Mortality PRI Panchayati Raj Institution RILM Rotary India Literacy Mission RTE Right to Education SB Still Birth SC Sub-Centres SCPCR State Commission of Protection of Child Rights SHG Self Help Group SMOKUS Sripur Mohila O Khadi Unnayan Samity TBA Trained Birth Attendants TLM Teaching Learning Material WBEN West Bengal Education Network