BAREFOOT COLLEGE TILONIA ANNUAL REPORT 2008 – 2009 BAREFOOT COLLEGE, TILONIA, 305816, (VIA) MADANGANJ, AJMER DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN TEL NO : + 91(0) 1463-288204 FAX : + 91(0) 1463-288206 E-mail : [email protected] Web Site : www.barefootcollege.org SUMMARY The Ministry of External Affairs Government of India has recognised Barefoot College, (BC) Tilonia in 2008 as a Training Centre for illiterate, semi-literate and literate rural women as Barefoot Solar Engineers (WBSEs) from Least Developed Countries (LDC) of Asia, Africa and Latin America. The first batch of WBSEs from Tanzania, Uganda, The Gambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Bhutan have after completing their 6 month residential training during 2008 – 2009 in Tilonia, since, returned to their respective countries to solar electrifying their villages. A Special Cover was released on Barefoot College through video-conferencing by Sri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister for State, Communication and Information Technology, Government of India from Delhi and simultaneously for the Chief Post Master General, Post and Telegraph in Tilonia on 16th December 2008. Community members, BC staff as well invitees including the Sarpanch, Tilonia Panchayat, were present during the function organised in the BC campus. A wide – screen was put up for the video – conference release and viewed at the open- air stage. This is possibly for the first time that a video – conferencing has ever been organised in a village in Rajasthan. A two day photo exhibition titled: Solar Lighting - the Barefoot Way was organised by the members of the Barefoot Solar Engineers' Association of Bhutan in collaboration with the Barefoot College, Tilonia, Rajasthan. This first ever exhibition put up by the Association was inaugurated by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. The exhibition held at the Druk Hotel was attended by many ministers, representatives and heads of international organisations and relevant agencies. A ten minutes clip prepared by BC was screened for the occasion on the process of demystifying solar technology wherein illiterate village women assembled and made circuits as well as charge controllers in six months. The second batch of semi-literate and literate rural women from Mozambique, Mali, Ethiopia, Senegal, Sudan, Siberia and Djibouti are trained as WBSEs in Tilonia. Two women from Siberia are undergoing training in SWRC, Leh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir. The Tata Jagriti Yatra representing more than 400 youth, men and women (aged 25-45) from different walks of life and states in the country visited Tilonia in 9th January 2009. They arrived at Tilonia Railway Station in a special train and went around visiting Barefoot College (BC) campus and knowing more about BCs initiatives. The youth group after visiting many places in the country concluded their one-day visit with an hours’ open interactive session with the Director, Barefoot Collage and senior staff. The Climate Solutions Road Tour organised by the India Youth Climate Network consisting of 15 youth drove down from Kanyakumari to Delhi in electronic REWA cars. The group discussed Climate Solutions with organisations, civil society and educational institutions on their 6 weeks tour across the country. The Tour stopped and visited Barefoot College, Tilonia on 2nd February 2009. There was a jugalbandl between Rajasthan folk singers Langas and Manganiars with a solar powered rock band amongst the tour members which sang and played on the cause and theme of climate change and solutions. -1- “Come summer and Rajasthan faces acute drinking water scarcity in villages. Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) tanks in rural schools are the only low-cost alternative.” -A barefoot architect DRINKING WATER All villages in Rajasthan face acute security drinking water the during summer months every year. Women have to walk for far more distances every year to fetch water. Children, men, women and animals all need them. All existing and available drinking water sources in villages are exhausted during 6 months in a year and if there is very little rainfall the ensuing 6 month poses a far worse scenario. Barefoot Architects have during 2008-2009 constructed 20 RWH tanks in 3 districts of Rajasthan including Ajmer, Nagaur and Barmer. The tanks have a total capacity of collecting 700,000 litres of rain water annually. Before the actual construction of the RWH tanks take place, a series of village level meetings are organised after which Village Water Communities (VWCs) are formed. Joint bank accounts are opened in the name of VWCs and 2 of its members including 1 woman member operate the joint accounts. 1. VILLAGE LEVEL MEETINGS, TRAINING CAMPS AND WORKSHOPS During 2008-2009, thirty training camps and workshops were organised each of a duration of 1 day wherein community members and field staff were trained in maintaining simple financial books of accounts. More than 1275 person had participated in the meetings, training camps and workshops. 2. SOCIAL AUDIT MEETINGS OF THE RWH TANKS Once RWH tanks are completed, the entire rural community along with VWC members participate in social audit meetings wherein all documents related to construction of the tanks until completion is displayed for public scrutiny. The documents are also accessible at BC. The RWH tanks are formally handed over to the community after the construction and VWC members are responsible for its future maintenance as well as upkeep. 720 persons from 19 villages had participated in social audit meetings organised during the year. More than 5250 men, women and children are able to access drinking water all through the year in 19 villages of Ajmer, Nagaur and Barmer districts of Rajasthan. NEER JAAL Between January 2008 to March 2009, samples and data were collected from all existing water sources in 32 panchayats and 39 villages of Dudu and Silora block respectively. A workshop was jointly organised by Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) New Delhi and Barefoot College on 29th – 30th January 2009. All participants discussed the progress and status of Neer Jaal – a web – based water portal at the workshop which was attended 40 persons including representatives from DEF as well as Programme In – charges, Co-ordinators and senior staff of BC. - 2 - “Never in my whole life time have 1 taken home Rs 1500 as fortnights’ wages as I did this year.” -A wage labourer in a work site DISEMMINATION OF NATIONAL RURAL EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE ACT (NREGA) 2005 One of the latest community – managed initiative of BC has been dissemination of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 through training camps and workshops. In this context, Barefoot College had organised training camps for Mates (sponsors) of NREGA work sites. Details of the training camps are given in the table below: S. no Name of Trainees Women Men Total Date Vewve Paileynt 1 The Role of Mate in NREGA 2 12 14 1.7.08 to Brijpura village 2.7.2008 2 Training Workshop for 2 12 14 8.8.08 to Tilonia village Mates 9.8.2008 3 Training of Mates 0 16 16 17.8.08 to Tilonia village 18.8.2008 4 Role of Mate in NREGA 4 15 19 30.8.08 to Chhota Narena work sites 31.8.2008 village 5 Training of Mates 5 28 33 2.1.09 to Kakalwada 31.1.2009 village 6 NREGA Documentation 0 3 3 19.8.08 to Vijaypura 20.8.2008 village 7 Training of Mates 0 1 1 21.8.08 to Bhindr, Sarada, 23.8.2008 Ballabhanagar village 8 Training of Mates 0 1 1 4.7.08 to Delhi 6.7.2008 9 Training of Mates 0 3 3 7.1.09 to Kushalgrh, 9.1.2009 Bagidhora village 10 Training of Mates 0 4 4 15.1.09 to Sjjanagrh, 21.1.2009 Kasarvadi village 11 Training of Mates 0 1 1 27.1.09 to Badisaraidi, 1.2.2009 Chotisarvan village 12 Training of Mates 1 4 5 2.11.08 to Vijaypura, 7.11.2008 Rajsamand village Training camps on Social Audit were organised by BC between 11-9-2008 to 25-09-2008 in villages Vijaypura, Kumbalgadh, 5 Panchayats in Srinagar Block and 8 block in Ajmer District. The training camps were for a duration of 2 and 3 days respectively and participated by a total number of 91 persons including 14 women and 77 men. - 3 - “Can semi-literate, literate rural women be trained as barefoot dentists?” -A visitor Barefoot College COMMUNITY HEALTH It has been 2 years since Barefoot College had taken up the initiative of involving illiterate, semi- literate, literate rural women in being trained as women barefoot dentists. Conceptually the initiative draws its experience of training Women Barefoot Solar Engineers since 1986. Dental Hygiene is an area of health concern that necessitates attention as rural communities have no access to information regarding preventive measures in dental care especially women and children. During the 2008-2009, a Dental Unit equipped with a Dental Chair has been established and 2 rural women are being trained in basic dental care. An Italian team of 2 dentists including a lady dentist began the initial process together with another lady dentist from nearby town Kishangarh. Two women were selected and have begun their training. Children attending BC’s pre-school education centres and night schools as well as women from nearby villages around Tilonia have during this year undergone regular dental check-ups. The table below provides details of the mobilisation of communities, men, women and children in Community Health: S.no. Programme Details Total 1 OPD Number of Patients 2189 New Patients 1344 Old Patients 845 No of Patients Admitted 86 No of Patients Referred 48 2 Mother and child welfare New Expectant Mothers 746 Old Expectant Mothers 441 Total no of Deliveries 842 Deliveries in Hospital 494 Deliveries at House 348 Deliveries performed by trained midwives 275 Deliveries performed by un-trained midwives 64 No of Midwives 48 3 Family Welfare No of Women undergoing sterilisation 109 Programme No of Men undergoing Vasectomy - No of Men using contraceptives 454 No of women using contraceptive Pills 379 No of Women using Copper T 2 4 T.B.