Newsletter - November, 2015, part 1

Dear Friends,

Greetings from all of us at MGVS!

We are near to end of this year 2015, and we at MGVS are looking forward to take a break in December for the winter vacation. But it is also time for us to remember all our friends and supporters for their help and prayers throughout this year.

  It is our pleasure to share the progress of the MGVS with all of you.  MGVS is near to completing our three year project based on Outcome Mapping (OM) “Culturally Enriched Networks for Sustainable Change”. MGVS funding partner TEAR Australia organized an Evaluation in October, and we are waiting for the report. I was talking with evaluator, and she was impressed to see positive changes that MGVS able to bring in the life of rural people. The condition of the women and girls has improved; women are getting their rights. Most of the girls are going school and some are going for higher education. The girls’ performance in school is better than boys. This is the impact of the girls resilience program that we are running with 180 girls. We hope you will enjoy reading about some of the highlights of our work during this year below.

MGVS Kaplani High School is making progress every year. After receiving recognition from Government Education Department for the 9th and 10 grades in 2013 -2014, the first group of our 10th grade students appeared for the Board examination in March 2015 as regular students. The result was excellent, thirteen students (8 girls and 5 boys) out of fifteen passed their exams. Three girls got first Division, Six students (3 girls and 3 boys) got second division and four students (2 girls and 2 boys) got third division. It was a great result that our students achieved this year. Another result of the Government recognition is that the number of students in the school has increased from 71 to 84 for the 2015-2016 school session.

MGVS is still running Donk Primary School in Donk village for very scattered families of the Pantrani and Donk villages.

Thank you so much for your continued and invaluable support and for joining us in this effort to improve life for marginalized people living in remote areas of Garhwal.

We invite you to visit us and our projects here in India. Please feel free to write to our office as well, at mgvs1@vsnl.com, or at the postal address below.

Warm regards,

Surender Singh
Coordinator, MGVS
Mussoorie Gramin Vikas Samiti
Sajwan Bhawan, Battaghat
Landour Post Office
Tehri Road, Mussoorie – 248179
Uttarakhand, INDIA

These 3 girls - Parbha, Reeta, and Chandni - got first division in 10th grade exams

TRAINING OF WOMEN SELF HELP GROUP OFFICERS AT BLOCK OFFICE:

MGVS organized a one day training workshop for women Self-Help Group (SHG) officers at Block Office, Kandisaur. The training held on 12th February 2015. All together 20 women officers of 11 SHG’s attended the training along with MGVS field staff. MGVS coordinator Mr. Surender Singh also participated in this training. The Block Development Officers, Mr. Dalbeer Singh Bhandari along with Assistant Block Development Officer Mr. Vijendra Lal were the resource persons for the training. The objective of the training was establish a working relationship of the SHG’s with Block Development office and with the officers. The Block Development Officers talked about the Government Schemes available for the SHG’s at the Block Office such as “Panchsutra” (Five Rules of Income Generating Program).  They also talked about the benefits of the SHG’s for the development of their community and themselves. It was very successful training for the women officers as they had an opportunity to interact directly with the Block Development Officers.  After the training there was time for women officers to ask questions to the Block Officers regarding their group activities.

Self-help members training

Women Self-Help Group members with Block Development Officers

 FIELD VISITS OF BLOCK DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS:

    On 28th May 2015 MGVS organized a training program on Government Schemes in Jamini Village  for the villagers. Assistant Block Development Officers Mr. Vijender Lal and Mr. Satendra  Rana, Assistant Development Officer, Cooperative  attended the training in field. The officers talked about how the women groups can get benefits of the government schemes, and how to file a RTI (Right to Information) if they are not satisfied with the work of the government department in their village. There were 5 women from Koliyana village, 7 women from Mistriyana village and 25 women from Jamni village who attended the training program. It was a happy moment for the villagers as they have met the Block officers in their own village and were able to interact with them directly.

Block officers are providing training in Jamini Village

 
PANCHAYAT RAJ TRAINING FOR PANCHAYAT MEMBERS:

    On 20th March 2015 MGVS organized a Post Panchayati Raj (Local Self Government) training for newly elected Panchayat Members (Pradhan, ward Members and Block Development Committee Members) of the Naugun Patti  at Block office Kandisaur . Mr. I.S. Chauhan, Assistant Development Officer, Panchayat and Mr. R.S. Chauhan , Village Panchayat Development Officer  were the  resource persons for the training. The purpose of the training was to introduce New Panchayat members to Block office and to establish a working relationship with the Block office. To be an effective Panchayat it should have a strong relationship with their Block office. There were 45 Pradhans, 25 ward members and 4 BDC members present.

The members the Panchayat received training of following topics:

•    Panchayat structure and its committees and their function
•    Panchayat’s rights and duties
•    Panchayt’s Records
•    Panchayt Audit (internal and external )
•    Annual and monthly meetings and require Coram
•    RTI ( Right to information)

Panchayat Raj training Workshop for new members

Panchayat Raj training workshop for new members

MOTHER AND CHILD FESTIVALS:

Three Mother and Child Festivals were held in the Naugun Valley in 2015. MGVS helped the Panchayats to organized these festivals in order to provide regular vaccination to under five children, Pre-natal and Post- natal Care to Mothers, and health awareness to the villagers. Three Panchayats  Ghiyakoti,  Gair and Kyarda have organized these festivals in their village on 7th May, 14th May and 15th July 2015.
  
The Government health workers, ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activist) and Anganbadi (preschool) Teachers attended all these festivals and provided the health services. The  Pradhans of all three Panchayats have also  participated in these festivals and shared the cost of the prizes for the healthy children .
  
A total of 55 mothers and 76 children attended these Mother and Child festivals.  The Anganbadi Teachers have given demonstrations on nutritious foods such as Kichiri (a dish with mixed rice, pulses, vegetables and oil) for under five children with the local available food material. Height and weight were measured for each child. Prizes were given to healthy children who have completed  all the vaccinations and are growing well according to the road health chart given by the Health department.

Manju Singh measuring weight and height of children under five during Mother and Child Festival

FOLLOW-UP TRAINING OF ANGANWADI TEACHERS AND ASHA’S:

 On 4th June 2015, MGVS organized a follow up training workshop for Anganwadi teachers and ASHAs at the Primary Health Center, Kandisour.  Resource person for the workshop was Dr. Uniyal , Govt. Health Officer,   who is looking after the Govt. health program in MGVS working area. The topics of the workshop were (a) Child  Nutrition, (b) Child Growth, according to Health Chart, (3) Hospital Delivery, and (4)Family Planning.

Rajni Ramola (ANM) gave information on Vaccination and Personal Hygiene. Mr. Subhash Ramola,  National Rural Health Mission officer,  talked about Government Health Scheme for the villagers . 13 Anganwadi teachers and 5 ASHAs attended the training workshop.

Doctor Uniyal is providing nutrition training.

PHC Doctor Uniyal is providing training to Anganwadi teachers and ASHAs

STAFF TRAINING:

    MGVS held a two day training workshop for the MGVS Field Staff on 30th June to 1st July 2015 at MGVS Kaplani Center. The topics of the workshop were Effective Communication, Women Rights, and Right to Information. It was a long standing need of the MGVS staff to update their knowledge in these subject. A team of five women (Dr. Priya Jadu, Rekha Pundeer , Pushpa Bisht , Damini and Laxami Chowdari)  came from a well known, Dehra Dun based organization “RLEK” (Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra)  to give this training. The workshop was very participatory and was based on the experience of both organizations. There were film and games for understanding the problems in these issues. Some of the topics of the workshop was as follows:

•    Effective Communication in group activities
•    Qualities of the good communication
•    Women harassment in workplaces (Act 2013 )
•    Domestic violence against women (Act 2005)
•    Right to education for children
•    Right to information Act 2005
•    Stop giving Dowry Act

MGVS Staff learning by games about family welfare.

MGVS staff training.

PANCHAYAT RAJ TRAINING FOR THE WOMEN REPRESENTATIVES:

On 6th August 2015, a one day Panchayat Raj Training workshop was held for the Women representatives of the Panchayats (Local Self  Government) at Block Assembly Hall, Kandisaur. The Assistant Development Officer Panchayat, Sh. I. S. Chauhan & Assistant Block Development Officer Sh. Vijendra Lal were the resource persons for the workshop. There were 2 women Pradhans and 7 women ward members who attended the training workshop. The purpose of this workshop was to enable women representatives to play an effective role in their Panchayats. There is 50% reservation for the  women in the Panchayats but women still depend on men for decision making.

EXPOSURE VISIT FOR THE PRADHANS:

On 18th August 2015, MGVS organized an exposure visit for Pradhans (President of the local self government)   from Naugun Patti.  The exposure visit was organized to see some of the active Panchayats in RLEK organization’s working area in Dehradun.  8 Pradhans (two women and 6 men) joined the exposure visit.

First of all, the group of Pradhan visited the office of the RLEK organization and met the officers who are working with Panchayats and learned about their work with the Panchayats.

After office visit of RLEK organization the group went to see the Gram Panchayat of the Prohitwala and met the women Pradhan, Ms. Meenu  Chettri  and members of the Panchayat. The Pradhan Meenu Chettri shared her experience about Panchayat and her experience with the Government offices and Non-Government Organizations. She mentioned that it is important to keep a working relationship/network with Government and Non-Government Organizations as well as with the local political leaders such as MLA( Member of Legislative Committee  and MP’s (Member of the Parliament ). She said due to the above relationship, her Panchayat was able to received help from the MLA and MP’s fund, which they used in their Panchayat. She also said her priority is to establish a good working relationship with the members and with the people of her Gram Panchayat so that they can be part of the development process of their village. A good relationship with the Block Office is also very useful for the Panchayats.   The group of Pradhan also visited another Panchayat, Gajwari and met one more woman Pradhan, Ms Leela Sharma. Ms. Sharma has been Pradhan for the last 10 years. During her leadership as a Pradhan, her Panchayat received award of the “Nirmal Gram” and also received award from the Chief Minister and from the President of India. She said she does all her work by herself. The group of Pradhan has also seen the development work of her Panchayat. It was a very encouraging visit for all the pradhans of MGVS working area, and especially for the women Pradhan to be self-reliant.

Prohitwala Panchayat members met the Pradhan group of MGV's working group

Prohitwala Panchayat Members

 COMMUNITY AWARENESS RALLY:

    On 3rd September 2015, MGVS organized a community awareness rally with the collaboration of High School Gair. 60 girls and 40 boys of class 9th and 10th   and 5 teachers participated in the rally. The purpose of the rally was to raise awareness of the  Community towards their Environment, Gender Equality, rights of the disabled people, and Sanitation. The Rally started from Gair High School and went through several villages: Lalori, Kyarda, Dadoli  and Pokhari. MGVS shared the cost of refreshments for the students and cost of the banners and posters. The villagers were looking at rally with interest.

Community awareness Rally starting from Gair School

Community awareness Rally starting from Gair School

 SCHOOL POSTER COMPETITION ON JUSTICE AND GENDER EQUALITY:

 On 10th September 2015, MGVS organized a Poster Competition on Justice and Gender Equality for the 6th to 8th classes students at Gair High School. Two girls and two boys from each School, Vikol Junior School, Ghoan High School, Gair High School and Nagraja Dhar School participated in the competition.1st prize was won by Deepika Nautiyal class 8th of Gair High School. 2nd prize was won by Krishna class 8 of Ghoan High School. 3rd prize was won by Neha Nautiyal class 7 of Gair High School and other students were given consolation prizes who participated in competition. Pradhan of village Pokhari Sh. Bachan Singh, Pradhan of village Gair Sh. Harish Raturi, Panchayat Member Sh. Ram Singh Budan were also present during prize distribution. 260 students and 25 teachers attended the prize distribution ceremony.

A girl is participating in poster competition

Deepika, Class 8th, receiving her First Prize

MGVS Team Photo

Recent MGVS Team Photo

Newsletter - January 2015

Dear Friends,

Greetings from all of us at MGVS, and a very Happy New Year 2015!

Thank you so much for your help and prayers throughout 2013 and 2014 that enabled us to serve remote communities of the Himalayas of North India. We are sorry we were not able to catch up with you last year about the work of MGVS. It is a joy to finally have this opportunity once again to share with you the progress of our ongoing efforts here in Garhwal.

In May of 2013, MGVS funding partner: TEAR Australia formally evaluated the first three years of the MGVS Sustainable Development Project in Naugun Patti, District: Tehri Garhwal. The in-depth evaluation report appreciated the work of MGVS and the strong relationships our team has fostered with the 710 families of 14 villages of the area since 2010. During the current second phase of the project, MGVS then took on the new approach to development known as Outcome Mapping (OM). We were eager to try out the OM model because we felt it fit with the MGVS approach, which has been holistic, since our NGO’s inception in 1981. And that it would help us further promote a culture of justice in the area. We hope you will enjoy reading about some of the highlights of our work under this exciting and innovative approach, below.

MGVS Kaplani High School and MGVS Donk Primary School have both completed another two years of positive growth as well, with your amazing help. We are especially happy to inform you that in December of 2013, Kaplani School was granted Permanent Government Recognition from the State Education Department of Uttarakhand for Grades Nine and Ten! We had been working toward this goal since 2009. Please read on to learn how this change, and others, have improved the lives of many students and their families in the Kaplani and Suwakholi areas.

Thank you so much for your continued and invaluable support. For joining us in this effort to improve life for marginalized people living in remote areas of Garhwal.

We invite you to visit us and our projects here in India. Please feel free to write to our office as well, at mgvs1@vsnl.com, or at the postal address below.

Warm regards,


Surender Singh
Coordinator, MGVS

Mussoorie Gramin Vikas Samiti
c/o Sajwan Bhawan, Battaghat
Landour Post Office
Tehri Road, Mussoorie – 248179
Uttarakhand, INDIA

AN INTER-SCHOOL DEBATE ON GENDER IN NAUGUN PATTI

On November 13th, 2014, an inter-school debate on gender issues was held in Gaer Village at the Gaer Government High School. District Panchayat Member: Mr. Chaman Prasad, Pradhan of Gaer Village: Mr. Harish Raturi, Pradhan of Village Kyarda: Mrs. Asha Devi and President of the School Management Committee for the area: Mr. Rakesh Notiyal attended. And MGVS funding partner, TEAR Australia’s Program Officer for India: Ms. Thien Nga Nguyen, was warmly welcomed by these local leaders to this event as well, as the Guest of Honour. Nine Students (4 boys and 5 girls) from the two high schools and one inter college of the Naugun Valley area participated in the competition (an inter college provides education up to Class 12). The debate provided an opportunity to the adolescent boys and girls of Naugun Patti to express their views on equal rights for girls and women with their teachers and their peers in a formal setting.

   This debate follows the Women Empowerment Mela, held in 2012, as the first inter-school discussion on this sensitive issue of gender roles in this remote valley. It is part of the MGVS Gender Sensitization program, which has been providing training to both adolescent students of the area, at school, as well as 4 men’s and 13 women’s Self Help Groups since 2010. A common theme among the speeches made by girls was the injustice which starts as early as a girl begins school: that she is expected to do chores while a boy is allowed to play after school. That even if she finds time to attend school and study that she may not be allowed to study beyond Class 12. But that her brother will be encouraged to go on to achieve a B.A.

Gaer High School, Class Ten student, Kavita Notiyal, was awarded first prize. Prizes were awarded for first, second and third places, and appreciation prizes were awarded to the other six students who spoke as well. MGVS organized the event, provided the prizes and refreshments to all. The principal and the teachers of Gaer High School contributed to the event too, by putting up a tent, preparing the stage and the seating arrangements. 

A COMMUNITY GOATRY BEGINS IN KOLIYANA

The Koliyana Women's Self Help Group - 26-Nov-2014

The Koliyana Women’s Self Help Group was established on April 3rd, 2014 by ten women with a strong belief that they could do more to improve their economic status as a group. Koliyana is a settlement of “lower-caste” poor families living on the outskirts of the Kyarda Panchayat. The women deposited Rs. 500/- each as a first instalment and agreed to deposit Rs. 50/- every month. MGVS matched their initial deposits with a total of Rs. 1000/- and with some further guidance, the group now runs an effective savings and loan society. Presently the group has lent Rs. 6000/- out to its members @24% interest, which has helped members pay off debts to moneylenders borrowed @120% interest. After much discussion and planning, MGVS helped this group start a Community Goatry Income Generation Project with 12 goats @Rs. 40,000/- on November 26th, 2014.

THE MOTHER CHILD FESTIVAL THAT BROUGHT THE PHC DOCTOR TO THE AREA

MGVS Social Health Worker, Manju Singh, leading a discussion on balanced diets for 20 mothers at a Mother Child Festival in Vikol Village; she is assisted by [left to right] ANM: Jyoti Bala, Pradhan: Surender Lal and PHC Doctor: Dharmendra Uniyal, NRHM Supervisor: Subhash Ramola [second from right] and TEAR Australia Program Officer for India: Ms. Nga Nguyen [right] – 12/Nov/2014.

Three Mother Child Festivals were held in the Naugun Valley in 2014. MGVS organized these festivals together with the pradhans of the Ghoan, Jamni and Vikol Panchayats to encourage the local village councils of the area to take an active part in improving the health status of their communities. The first festival took place on September 3rd, 2014, at the Ghoan ANM Centre in Pipalsari. ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) – Bundi Devi, ANM (Antenatal Nurse Midwife) – Savita Notiyal and Kandisaur PHC (Public Health Centre) Medical Supervisor – Lalchand Yadav, and 2 Anganbadi (preschool) Teachers: Anita Devi and Vimla Devi, were all present to assist 30 mothers and 30 children throughout the festival.

Children were vaccinated. Discussions on nutrition took place and demonstrations on how to make healthy foods for a balanced diet within minimum resources were held for all to see. Kichiri (a mixed dish with rice, pulses oil etc.) was prepared. Height and weight were measured for each child and prizes awarded to children under five who have completed their vaccination programs and showed improvement in weight. Hygiene talks using charts and pictures were followed by question and answer sessions.

ANM Jyoti Bala providing immunization during the Mother Child Festival in Vill: Jamni, Naag Raja Dhaar – 24/Sept/14

Two other festivals were held in a similar manner on September 24th, 2014, at the ANM Centre in Naag Raja Dhaar for 32 mothers and 30 children, and on November 12th, 2014 in the Vikol Panchayat Bhawan for 20 mothers & 35 children.

MGVS has been systematically working toward building an effective health network between the midwives, govt. nurses, mothers, pre-school teachers, the ASHA health workers, the PHC in Chaam and the single doctor who works there: Dr. Dharmendra Uniyal, since 2010. And a doctor has now visited Naugun Patti, for the first time, when Dr. Uniyal participated in the Mother Child Festival in Vikol Village on November 12th, 2014. He reassured the women at the festival about the safety of hospital deliveries and that the PHC is ready to help them. Dr. Uniyal and NRHM (National Rural Health Mission) Supervisor, Subhash Ramola, who was also present for this event, explained how government schemes can be accessed, to the mothers and women present. MGVS aims to continue to build relations between the PHC and health workers of the area.

Pradhan Basudev Khotari hands out prizes at the Mother Child Festival in Ghoan Village through govt. Village Health and Sanitation Committee funds – 3/Sept/14

VILLAGE DAI - ASHA - ANGANBADI TEACHERS CONNECT WITH PHC CHAAM

MGVS collaborated with the Primary Health Centre in Chaam to organize a training workshop on how to improve the health status of the Naugun Valley. The workshop was held in the PHC at Chaam itself, on the 15th and 16th of November, 2013: 21 dais (midwives), 15 Anganbadi (preschool) Teachers and 7 village ASHA workers attended. The training focused on connecting mothers, midwives, and village ASHA workers with their Govt. ANM and the PHC in Chaam. And on how to effectively provide all with easy access to information related to health concerns and government schemes. The PHC doctor, Dr. Dharmendra Uniyal, was the main resource person for the training. He was assisted by NRHM (National Rural Health Mission) Mr. Subhash Ramola and Mr. Mukesh Negi, and PHC ANM: Mrs. Rajni Ramola of Chaam.

PHC Dr. Dharmendra Uniyal [left] facilitating a follow-up on the Nov/13 training on nutrition, vaccination and superstitions around health issues with the Anganbadi Teachers of Naugun Patti at the PHC, Chaam – 28/Aug/14

The workshop focused on nutrition, vaccinations, superstitions, hospital deliveries, hygiene and HIV/AIDS/STDs. The MGVS team was present for the duration of the workshop and helped with all necessary arrangements, including preparation of information charts and other training materials. This two-day interaction encouraged new thinking, behaviours and relationships among all who participated. This was the first time Naugun Patti Anganbadi Teachers, village ASHA workers and midwives had an opportunity to interact with the doctor in Chaam directly and openly. A good understanding was also further established between the PHC doctor and other workers and the MGVS Team – they agreed their objectives are the same. That together, improving the health status of the area was possible.

Anganbadi Teacher Usha Devi is serving rice and daal (lentils) to pre-school children in clean thaliyan (food trays) at Jamni Village – 4/Sept/14

A follow-up of the training was held with 14 Anganbadi Teachers of Naugun Patti on August 28th, 2014 and Dr. Uniyal at the PHC in Chaam. Q&A and discussions on the following topics made up the review: balanced diets, breastfeeding, necessary immunizations, govt. health schemes updates, how to maintain an effective working relationship between Anganbadi Teacher, ASHA and ANM, and how to measure height and weight properly. This follow-up was held with Anganbadi Teachers as they play a key role in monitoring the health of children aged 3-5 yrs: they see these children regularly. MGVS provided each Anganbadi Teacher with a weighing machine at the close of the workshop. MGVS continues to visit with Anganbadi Teachers of the area for further individual follow-ups on the two workshops in November 2013 and August 2014.

SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS & NEW ATTITUDES

Outcome Mapping & MGVS

In May 2013, MGVS moved from being an organization focused on achieving outputs (results) to one that achieves outputs only if they bring us closer to changes in behaviour, attitudes and relationships. This is challenging but one of the major benefits of this new focus is that sustainability is built into this approach that promotes a culture of justice. MGVS has learned behaviour change becomes sustainable for a community when it is supported by new ways of thinking (attitudes), different ways of relating to people, and new networks.

For example, the disability program MGVS has been implementing in Naugun Patti may continue to make change long after our team moves on to another area, if disabled individuals do really value themselves and look at life with hope. If their families look for opportunities for their disabled family member’s growth and well-being. If communities feel enriched when they see disabled community members moving around on pathways the community has specially built for them, rather than accepting disabled persons are to be quietly hidden away in village homes.

We believe that when relationships between individuals, their families, their communities, which include the Panchayat (local councils), the Block Office and perhaps outside NGOs and government organizations, develop, that it becomes easier to support a new culture. And that those same attitudes of shame and discrimination may even fade as a community working for richer lives through inclusion of the marginalized becomes sustainable as a whole.

This is why MGVS has now modeled our project around the Outcome Mapping approach to sustainable development, (first established by the IRDC in Canada). The vision our current efforts aim to promote in the Naugun Valley is: Transformation in how individuals, groups and organisations think, act and relate in Naugun Patti bringing human well being, justice, inclusion of the most vulnerable, and diverse opportunities for everyone to realize their potential. An understanding of the human-environment connection and practical skills in protecting and enriching both will be part of the new culture. We are extremely happy to inform you that MGVS field work, which was always holistic, has accelerated under this approach. Outcome Mapping has encouraged our team to work with anyone interested in the development of remote Naugun Patti, from the youth and the most marginalized in the Naugun valley itself, to Block Office representatives who are often removed from the happenings of their own people.

MGVS WELCOMES NEWLY ELECTED VILLAGE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES

The MGVS Team shared our new mission and vision with the ADOs of each department at the Block Office in a joint meeting in their main hall. MGVS answered many questions about each area of our project work over the past 3 ½ years in Naugun Patti. Block Officers became especially interested in working together after we explained our new focus would be on behaviour changes, including addressing superstitions – 15/May/13

MGVS organized a meeting with the newly elected (June 2014) representatives of the Naugun Patti village councils, on August 14th, 2014 at Inter College Naag Raja Dhaar. Ten Panchayat representatives attended: 4 pradhans (village council chiefs) and 6 ward members. The purpose of this very special meeting was to establish a friendly relation- ship with these key players in the development of the area, as most government schemes come to villager families through their respective Panchayat and pradhan.

The MGVS Team congratulated the new leaders and representatives and shared the new MGVS Vision and Mission with them. MGVS Coordinator, Surender Singh, explained MGVS’s sustainable development strategies for 2013-2016 and assured the Panchayat members that MGVS was here to help. Not to criticize their work. That together MGVS and the Panchayats can make a difference. The meeting was a success, with much discussion. The Jamni pradhan, Surender was keen to start a new sewing and knitting centre in Jamni Village for women and girls. The BDC (Block Development Committee) Member of Kyarda Village expressed a wish to develop the forest. Others suggested working with progressive farmers and exposure visits to introduce newer farming techniques. Tea and refreshments concluded the meeting.


HIGHLIGHTS OF MGVS SCHOOLS 2013-2014

In December 2013, Kaplani School became a fully government-recognized school under the Uttarakhand Government Education Department. This means Kaplani School students no longer need to be registered with other government schools. And we can provide our students with transfer certificates when they leave Kaplani School. As a direct result of government recognition the number of students has increased from 60 to 71 (29 girls and 42 boys) for the 2014-2015 school session. A total of 60 students (30 girls and 30 boys) have passed their Tenth Grade examinations through MGVS Kaplani High School since 2008: 28 graduates (12 girls and 16 boys) are completing their B.A./B.Sc. degrees and are enrolled in professional training programs, and 12 of these graduates (9 girls and 3 boys) are receiving financial help for their continued education. The Mid-Day Meal (rice and daal) continues to be served at both Kaplani High School and Donk Primary School. Which has resulted in a great increase in attendance.

Healthy teeth are also now part of the MGVS Donk Primary School experience after SAPHARA of Northern Ireland organized a dental educatiion visit at Donk Primary School in February, 2014.

SAPHARA, Northern Ireland Dentist performing a dental exam at MGVS Donk PS - Feb/2014

SAPHARA dental hygiene training

And this year, remote Donk Primary School celebrated Christmas for the first time with a Christmas tree!

Christmas celebration at Donk PS

MGVS in Action - Photo Highlights 2013-2014

18 schools receive water filters

Adolescent Health  Program

Aelam Singh Vikol TOILET

Bindalkoti PS boys planting trees

Cooperative Meeting on Marketing

CORSTONE Bhuwna Devi of Ghoan

Health & Sanitation Rally 2013

Kaplani Class 8 students

Sunderi Devi and Flour Mill

Vimla Devi planting trees

Newsletter - December, 2012

December 17, 2012

Dear Friends,

Greetings from MGVS!

It is our great pleasure to share the news of progress of MGVS efforts out here in the Himalayas in North India with all of you. With the collaboration of your support, we have come a long way, and looking back even just this past year, we are deeply grateful to you for your help, which has made changes in the lives of marginalized persons of this area possible. We have provided some of the highlight stories of the year in this newsletter for you. 

The main area of our development project continues to focus on fourteen villages of the Naugun Valley, located in a remote part of Tehri Garhwal, while MGVS Donk Primary School and MGVS Kaplani High School are still running well on the outskirts of Mussoorie. If you would like to learn more about the details of any aspect of our work, please write to us at mgvs1@vsnl.com  We welcome you to visit us here in India, to share our work with you in person as well.

On behalf of the MGVS team of teachers, community workers and volunteers, I would like to let you know that your continued support, mean so much to us. Thank you for your interest in our work and your prayers of encouragement.

We, all of us here, wish all of you the very best for 2013!

Yours faithfully,

Surender Singh
MGVS Coordinator

Health Awareness in Action

 MGVS Health Social Worker, Raj Kumar assists Govt Auxiliary Nurse Midwife, Mamta Kaushal, during a Mother Child Health Care Day in Jamni Village, in explaining the importance of proper nutrition, hygiene, and immunization.

MGVS Community Health Workers arranged a total of sixteen Mother Child Health Care Day events and three Mother Child Festivals this past year to improve villager awareness about the benefits of immunization, nutrition and hygiene, and to celebrate improved child health. Regular immunization is taking place and superstitions are fading as a result. Understanding the connection between flies and illness is also on the rise and toilet construction is increasing. Consistent awareness follow-ups with the government health workers and midwives of the area have also helped them bring the mother mortality rate down from 7 in 14 villages per year for 2009, to zero for this year.

Networking Saves a Life 

Pushpa Devi at home

MGVS efforts to establish a sustainable network between the three govt. nurses (ANM), seven government-appointed village health workers (ASHA), fifteen village midwives, school teachers of eighteen schools, the one doctor at the public health centre (PHC), seven village council chiefs, and the emergency vehicles and jeep taxi drivers of the Naugun Patti (valley) area, have been ongoing for over two years now. It was this network that saved Pushpa Devi’s life. Her midwife, Chanda Devi, had referred Pushpa’s high risk delivery case (involving extreme anaemia) to ANM Kaushal in July 2011, when she noticed that Pushpa was suffering from extreme anaemia. Dai Chanda Devi vaguely remembered that symptoms of swelling during pregnancy were not good from the five-day Dai (midwife) Hygienic Deliveries Training in March 2011, which you may remember reading about in last year’s newsletter. So she decided to check with the Government Nurse. ANM Kaushal made subsequent visits to check on Pushpa in her village, Jamni. It was during one of these visits, that ANM Kaushal then arranged for emergency transportation through a combination of vehicles, including the MGVS jeep, and Pushpa was rushed to the Public Health Centre. Thankfully, there was then enough time to request a couple of young boys from Class Eleven and Twleve at the Inter College in Naag Raja Dhaar to donate blood that matched with Pushpa Devi’s blood type. Pushpa delivered her baby normally three days later on 7th August 2011 – a sister to her two and a half year old brother.  Pushpa was amazed at the effort put out to save her life, and she thanked everyone.

Women Working Together to Increase Income and Reduce Workloads

Sunderi Devi was elected preseident of the Women Farmers Organic Cooperative in April.

In November 2011, MGVS helped six Self-Help-Group (SHG) women farmers of Village Vikol get started on working together to make life easier through the use of a hand-powered rice threshing machine, which saved them time. The twenty-one women of the SHG also took an interest in learning about PSB (photosynthetic bacteria) and organic farming methods from MGVS. Soon, more women from the SHG worked together to prepare, and sell, 38/40 bottles of Rhododendron Squash at Rs. 5,300/-, after and MGVS squash-making training in March of 2012. Today, eleven of these women have formed a Women Farmers Organic Cooperative, with a little more help from MGVS.  At first the women farmer members had plans in April, 2012, to earn together through apricot oil extraction and masala mixing machines, and they worked out electricity costs, located raw materials, and they set up a centre, and a joint cauliflower and eggplant seed nursery for a start. They also held their own election. However, in November 2012, they are now working on a wheat grinding business, which the Co-op farmers have decided would be a more reliable business. The women farmers are connecting with the farmers of the area to collect grains from the harvests in the spring. If their plan works, it will be a win-win situation for all the farmers of the valley: their grains will be milled locally and the women farmers cooperative will do the marketing outside the valley for an income that would have otherwise fed a middleman. The eleven members of the Co-op continue to encourage the other women of their SHG and the rest of the valley to join them and they are looking into other food processing ventures.

Enabling Persons Challenged by a Disability

Kumari Saru of Village Pokhri

The MGVS Team has been working carefully with sixty-six persons challenged with disability and their families across fourteen villages of the Naugun Valley since 2010. Through many meetings with these families, collection of detailed data, connections made with other NGOs and government offices and camps in the area and in Dehradun, MGVS is beginning to help these families access pensions they are entitled to and in some cases changes in quality of life are taking place, through toilet construction and an effort to connect disabled persons with their communities. Kumari Saru of Village Pokhri is a young girl who belongs to a very poor Harijan family. Kumari Saru also has polio. She was able to attend PS Pokhri where she completed 5th Grade, but she could not make the 2.5 km mountainous walk to Gaer HS. Her education was therefore discontinued 7 years ago. She remembers her school days fondly, saying that although she could not play games with the other students, the teacher and students were very helpful to her. She also says that she is happy the “Mussoorie Sanstha” (MGVS) has found her in her village, so that she can be involved in learning again. Kumari Saru says that at first she felt very shy, but meetings with MGVS Staff have encouraged her, and now she would like to find a way to continue her studies: “You people have changed my thinking, and I feel hope to do something with my life,” she said to MGVS IGP Trainer Mrs. Shashi Joshi. Kumari Saru has recently starting participating in a stitching program organized by MGVS 7th February 2012 onwards, 6 days a week, in her home. Trainer Anil of Gaer visits three times a week and MGVS Staff visits her house the other three days. “I can now do hemming and make button holes, and I enjoy learning about stitching,” says Kumari Saru, “because one day I won’t be dependent on others. I will earn an income.”

Women Empowerment Fair

Pramukh, Mrs. Rajni Sajwaan speaks at the Women Empowerment Mela in May.

From April, 2011 to January, 2012, MGVS had assisted with holding many village meetings to organize an empowerment fair for women, with four pradhans (village council chiefs) and fifteen SHG (Self-Help-Group) officers, but progress was slow. Meetings are tricky things in the village setting, as everyone seems to have animals or farm work to tend to. It does not help that the villages of the Naugun Valley are so scattered. However, seven more meetings took place and a Mela (Fair) Committee was formed on 21/Mar/12 under the chairmanship of woman pradhan Mrs. Barna Devi, with 40 members: 27 women & 13 men from 11 villages of the area (3 out of 5 committee officers are women). Letterhead was also created and used to help arrange the event and local politicians were thereby also invited to what was in the end a grand success.

On the 20th of May, 2012, approximately one thousand villagers from the valley and the surrounding areas, attended the Women Empowerment Mela in the remote valley. Many families and schools participated. Government officers operated two stalls at the fair as well. Thauldhar Block Pramukh (Head Chief), Mrs. Rajni Sajwaan, was chief guest and the previous Pramukh, Mr. Jyot S. Bisht, attended the event as a special guest. The mela was the largest community event held in the valley til date. The community was encouraged to own the process all the way, and this may have been why all seven pradhans of the area jointly contributed Rs. 7,000/- toward financing the mela! Local Block officers were surprised at the organizational skills of the people of the Naugun Valley, and soon after the mela, the Veterinarian doctor for the area, finally made a visit to check on the animals in the villages and provide training on goat and livestock care, after multiple requests over two years.

Income Generation Projects Bring an End to Poverty

Sugam Das in his shop

In July, 2011, Sugam Das of Bayar was assisted by MGVS in starting up a Tailoring/Barber Income Generation Project (IGP) in centrally located Naag Raja Dhaar in the Naugun Valley as part of the IGP program for the poorest families that helped eight other families with goat businesses and one family with opening up a Drum-making Steel/Tin shop, this year. Sugam had lost his ability to earn when the shop keeper he was renting from, decided to “renovate” his shop, but then never allowed Sugam to return. With a little bit of social networking, MGVS was able to help Sugam start up his business again in a different location. MGVS also provided him with one pedal sewing machine, two stands, one board for cutting, a chair, barber accessories and one Interlock (Pico) Machine. As a result, from September 2011, to March, 2012, Sugam Das has earned at least Rs. 2000/- to Rs. 2500/- per month from barber work and tailoring school uniforms for the local schools etc. over and above the shop rent of Rs. 400/- per month. The first major changes he made to his lifestyle then came with the double-burner table-top gas stove he purchased and pipefitting he invested in to bring water from the village tap to his doorstep.

Natural Liquid Fertilizers are Doubling Yields

From April to September of 2011, natural Liquid Fertilizer and PSB (photo-snythetic bacteria) trainings were provided on five farms in Lalori, Ghaon Malla and Ghaon Talla villages in one agricultural pocket of the valley where pesticides and chemical fertilizers are also being used. PSB training and follow-ups were also provided in Village Vikol. A total of 32 girls, 85 women and 30 men participated in the trainings and follow-ups. A handful of villagers of the area took the training on as an experiment and continued to connect with MGVS right up to November 2011 with questions and reports on progress. The liquid fertilizer was made from cow-dung & cow urine, bitter grasses, walnut leaves and veggie peals etc. and water. Training on organic farming methods was also provided during farm demonstrations.

Liquid Fertilizer Training in Lalori Village provided by MGVS Coordinator

In July, 2011, the liquid fertilizer was ready in Lalori and it was used by six women farmers on their rice field: in November, 2011, Vimla Devi’s rice was of excellent quality with an increase of twice as much in production. Vimla Devi then prepared another batch of liquid fertilizer, and she continues to use it. Her son, Harish Kotari, has since become interested in growing organic Japanese Rice (similar to a local Garhwali rice) after witnessing the results of his mother’s efforts and hearing about the benefits of organic farming at the Women Empowerment Mela on 20/May/12 from MGVS and Special Guest, Block Pramukh, Mr. Jyot Singh Bisht. Mahavir S. Budan of Village Vikol claims that he has been farming for 10 years and that this year his potato production increased threefold after using PSB. Sunderi Devi, president of the Women Farmers Organic Co-op in Vikol, also used PSB on her rice and found an increase in production from 20 kg to 30 kg. Three other villagers in Vikol have also been using PSB as an effective spray against pests where needed.

Adolescent Total Health

Gender Training with 9th & 11th Class at Naag Raja Dhaar

From 21/Jul/11-22/Sept/11, a total of five participatory Q & A Reproductive Health & HIV/AIDS/STDs follow-up workshops were held in the two high schools and one Inter College: 243 adolescents (97 girls & 146 boys) participated. Discussion was encouraged. The MGVS Adolescent Total Health program focuses on the dynamic connection between the physical health of a teenage/pre-teen girl and boy and their emotional and social well-being. Therefore, MGVS also provided six Gender Training Workshops in the three schools above up to March 2012: 218 adolescent children (109 girls & 119 boys) took part. MGVS also provided opportunities to girls to increase family income this past year through beautician trainings, sewing and knitting centres, which may create income one day. In December, 2012, computer training has also started. These trainings are designed to increase a girl’s pride in herself. An interesting outcome of the gender and health workshops were questions related to determination of sex of the fetus. Students began to ask why the mother is blamed when a girl is born when she is not in control of the biology of fertilization. In February 2012, MGVS interviewed boys and girls of the area at random, and consistently found the boys were very serious in their responses about encouraging girls to study and that they have stopped teasing them. Instead they are helping them to study when they miss school.

Kaplani School Furthers Education Dreams 

Seven Kaplani School Graduates join MGVS scholarship programs for further studies

Ten more students of Kaplani School passed their final Board examinations this year in June (2012) making a total of forty-nine students who have acquired the Tenth Grade Certificate since 2008 when Kaplani School started teaching students up to Grade Ten. Sixteen of these students are studying at the university level now. In July, MGVS initiated a scholarship program for seven Kaplani  School   graduates,  who sincerely wanted  to  further  their  studies  but did  not  have  the financial  support  to  go on.  Four of these students are girls. Currently fift-nine students are enrolled at Kaplani School.

Kaplani School Gains Recognition 

In June, 2012, Kaplani School acquired permanent government recognition for classes up to the Eighth Grade, and MGVS has since applied for permanent government recognition for Classes Nine and Ten. A formal inspection of the school campus is also complete and the Chief Education Officer of Dehradun has sent his recommendation to the state office in Ramnagar for final approval. We are praying the process will be complete soon and that Kaplani School will then be able to provide our own students with transfer certificates. We are assuming that the Heidi Parker Memorial Building, which Mr. Robin Parker so generously gifted to the community, will help us to meet government criteria. Words cannot describe the hope Mr. Parker’s contribution has brought to Kaplani School students in this regard.

Class 7 students participate in English skits directed by students from N. Ireland

Grade Six students from Woodstock School and Kaplani School, who had engaged in a debate on climate change last year, joined together during the monsoon in a tree planting activity at Kaplani School.  However, the highlight of this year’s cross-cultural experience for the students at Kaplani School was a moving skit exercise, which Kaplani School students   from all grade levels performed in English, as part of a three-week long educational program with senior students from Northern Ireland through the NGO, Saphara. Finally, we’d like to share the happy news with you of a different kind of recognition: two students from Kaplani School: Aman Bisht in 6th Grade and Priyanka Bisht in 7th Grade, were selected last week, from within the local Raipur Block,  to compete at the Dehradun District level in a National Science & Poetry & Drawing Competition.

Newsletter - November, 2011 - Part 2

Traditional Birth Attendants participate in training, 2011

Safer Deliveries - A Safer Place for Women in Naugun Patti

All fifteen of the practicing traditional birth attendants (Dai) of the MGVS working area attended a training workshop on safer delivery practices from March 21st–25th, 2011 at the ANM Centre in Naag Raja Dhar. Permission was obtained by MGVS from Govt. Dr. Rana at the PHC in Chaam to hold the workshop with the help of area Govt. ANMs: Mrs. Mamta Kaushal and Mrs. Pushpa Chauhan. Six Govt ASHA health workers of the area also joined the five-day event, where the MGVS Team worked together with the participants on how to reduce emergency situations and the mother mortality rate in their community.

Training was hands-on and participatory: two local pregnant ladies in their ninth month very kindly offered to take turns acting as model patients. A baby doll and a plastic pelvic structure were also used for demonstration, along with numerous other audio and visual aids. The workshop focused on hygiene and infections, risk pregnancies, risks in conducting deliveries away from a hospital as well as assessing risks in time, practical details about getting to the hospital and where to obtain extra gloves in advance of delivery dates etc. The workshop also covered topics related to the health during pregnancy and post natal care of mother and child.

Village midwife (right) learns how to check if baby has turned in the 9th month

The village midwives especially appreciated learning about the physiology of the uterus: Mr. Das is a 75-year old midwife who has been performing deliveries for over 50 years, but like the other women Dais, he had not seen a “map” of the uterus before. The importance of having a birthing place fully prepared before the delivery was discussed by all the participants at great length with MGVS Staff and Kyarda Panchayat pradhan (village council chief) and Chief Guest for the final day of the workshop, Mr. Kirti Dutt Nautiyal. Participants talked enthusiastically about their new understanding of why the birthing place needs to be clean: that it should not be pasted with cow dung, which may contain tetanus, but with clay only, that hot water should be prepared ahead of time for washing hands and arms etc. Delivering babies in a completely different place from the cowshed was also explored by midwives practicing in villages where this is still taking place. Each Dai and ASHA worker was presented with a Dai Kit from MGVS and a certificate  at the  completion of the workshop.

Overcoming Vaccine Fears

Immunization of children under five has increased from 40% to 70% this year in seven Gram Panchayats (village council areas) of the Naugun Valley and ANC/PNC (Antenatal Care / Postnatal Care) for pregnant mothers have increased from 20% to 60%. Immunization and ANC/ PNC are currently taking place regularly in twelve villages of the area. Govt. ANMs: Mrs. Chauhan and Mrs. Kaushal explained that MGVS assistance has improved villager response to government health services, especially in helping villagers overcome fears about government medical help and vaccines. Villagers are also visiting the ANM centres more frequently as a result.

ASHA Pooja Devi administers Oral Polio Vaccine at Mother Child Health Care Day -
Gaer Aanganbari (Pre-School): 7

 MGVS organized five Mother Child Health Care Days, and four follow-up village visits, together  with Govt. ANM and ASHA workers, across  the  valley from October 6th – November 24th,  2010.  Women  and  children  from eleven  villages participated in these events, at which check-ups and immunization of children <5yrs,   pregnant mothers and adolescent girls are performed. Only thirteen mothers and eleven children attended the first Mother Child Health Care Day, held in their own village: Kyarda. By mid November, however, up to forty-three women and forty-nine children from three and four villages were attending these events. One mother walked three hours from her village Bindalkoti (of the far-off Panchayat: Ghiyakoti) to reach an MGVS Mother Child Health Care Day held at the Gaer Aanganbadi (Govt. Playschool) on November 17th, 2010. Twenty-one more immunization events have taken place in 2011, and at least half of these events were organized by Govt. ANM and ASHA workers, independent of MGVS assistance.

Fruit Trees

Bayaar: Chattar Singh cares for apricot tree

In an effort to increase incomes in the long term, MGVS assisted seventy-seven poor farmers in August, 2010 and February, 2011 in obtaining and planting 604 fruit and nut trees. Trees have been planted in villages: Jamni, Bayaar, Gaer, Ghoan Malla, Ghoan Talla, Lalori, Pokhri, Kyarda, Dadoli, Sensari, Vikol and Ghiyakoti. At the time of planting, MGVS Staff provided training to the fruit tree farmers on how to make a “Thawala” (water-holding funnel-shaped depression in the soil surrounding tree sapling) and the proper spacing and planting/care of fruit trees. MGVS also provided pruning training to the farmers in April, 2011. Trees planted in the monsoon include mango, sweet lime, orange, lime, guava, jackfruit, pomegranate, maalta, grape vines, leechi and papaya. Trees planted in the winter include apricot, plum, peach, walnut and apple. Mr. Chattar Singh of Village Jamni is the most enthusiastic of the fruit tree farmers. In May, 2011, 24 of his saplings were doing well, and in August of this year, he  planted twelve new saplings, when MGVS assisted seventy-one poor farmers, in obtaining and planting 441 more fruit trees.