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 4 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. 8 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. 9 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