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Proud moment as our Helpdesk & Single Window Forum members received certificate of appreciation from the Women and Child Development Department at the Khishori Mela. CFAR was recognized as the best NGO partner for empowering urban poor communities with health & nutrition services. On the occasion of the 14th National Voters' Day, the District Collector of Ajmer, in collaboration with the District Election Office Ajmer, felicitated CFAR. CFAR received recognition in the "Best NGO" category for its commendable efforts in motivating and facilitating diverse community groups to register themselves as voters of the nation.

VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS

Celebrations to mark the World Toilet Day begin in Bhubaneswar

Launch of Campaign by Dy Mayor: 14 Nov

The banner “Salute the Champions in the Community and WASH system that shaped Inclusive and Climate- Resilient Sanitation, Bhubaneswar” – captured the significance of the event held on Nov 14 at Cluster 6, Ward no 22, Bhubaneswar.

Launching the campaign for the World Toilet Day that falls on Nov 19, Manjulata Kanhara, Deputy Mayor, urged those who do not have access to household toilets to “get in touch with the Sanitary Inspector and apply for the same.” She appreciated the community outreach by Transgender SHGs that are engaged in sanitation work.

The event became a forum for diverse stakeholders in the WASH system to share their experiences and views. Noting that the event coincided with Children’s Day, Khulana Sethi, AWW Supervisor urged families to make children conscious of the use of toilets. Gagan, SDA member, stated that there is a growing involvement of women who promote toilets within their home and community. Rahas Bihari Saha, Sanitary Inspector reinforced the message “Stop Open Defecation”. He also spoke of the importance of waste segregation. Meghna Sahoo, Third Gender Welfare Trust (TWT) talked about the long-standing need for Transgender Toilet, stating that she has raised this issue with the Deputy Mayor.

“Be the Change you want to see in the World”, the inspirational words of Mahatma Gandhi were prominent at the rally that was then carried out to spread the message of inclusive and climate-resilient WASH.

Deputy Mayor, Bhubaneswar kicks off campaign to mark the upcoming World Toilet Day, 19 November

“Those who do not have access to household toilets can get in touch with the Sanitary Inspector to apply for the same. SHG members are proactively reaching out to the community to empty the pits on time. This message should be shared with all others who are not present here in the meeting”, encouraging words by Manjulata Kanhara, Deputy Mayor, Bhubaneshwar in Cluster 6, Ward no 22 as she launched the campaign ahead of the World Toilet Day that falls on 19 November.

The launch saw wide participation – Partners, Ward Officials, Slum Development Association, Swaccha Sathi, Jal Sathi, representatives of sanitary workers and frontline workers. A number of voices raised important issues that intersect with safe toilets. Sudarshan Chottoray Climate Change Expert urged people to use toilets designed for climate related risks. Meghna Sahoo, TWT raised the need for community toilets for transgenders. Periodic de-sludging of pits and tanks with all safety provisions – was stressed upon. And a simple appeal by Rahas Bihari Saha, Sanitary Inspector to stop polluting the environment – Stop Open Defecation.

Protect from Mosquitoes to Prevent Disease: a well-received performance at IITF, Delhi

Visitors at Hall No 4, Pragati Maidan at the opening of the India International Trade Fair, Delhi watched with interest a performance based on disease-spreading mosquitoes and the ways of prevention and treatment. “Machar se Bachein, Rogon se Bachein’ performed under the aegis of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme. had actors enacting scenes that showed patients struggling with different diseases — filariasis, malaria, dengue, chikangunia, Japanese fever and kala-azar. Each segment ended with an effective message by the medical doctor in the show on protection from mosquitoes. ‘Bittu Mosquito’- the charming Mascot flitted around – spreading the same message. Speaking randomly to people in the audience showed that the message had gone down well.

 

 

Empower women to combat violence

Lalita Panicker, HT

Gram sakhis and women’s forums in Kishangarh, Ajmer are promoting helpline numbers to deal with violence against women, covering 33 villages in the district.

Violence against women thrives where a combination of factors ranging from isolation, shame and patriarchy combine to ensure a culture of silence. Change can be effected when women come together to put up a joint front. A perfect example is the coming together of gram sakhis and women’s forums in Kishangarh, Ajmer, promoting helpline numbers to deal with violence. These agents of social change are undaunted by the patriarchal environment they live in, now covering 33 villages in the district.

In a remarkable effort, they have formed survivor support groups, trained themselves to be paralegal volunteers, and are tirelessly working to raise awareness about violence against women. Each gram sakhi is responsible for one gram panchayat with a know-how of legally and socially addressing the issue of violence, empowering those who have suffered and holding the perpetrators accountable.

Saraswati, a gram sakhi from Roopangarh, is also a suraksha sakhi (protection buddy), designated by the Roopangarh police station. She says, “I was able to gain knowledge on laws and redressal mechanisms, which gave me the confidence and motivation to spread awareness in my village. Now, I am sharing information on helplines and providing self-defence training to school-going girls.”

These women feel that despite comprehensive laws to protect women, many still face violence. One reason is the lack of knowledge of the available redressal mechanisms. “We have launched an intensified door-to-door awareness campaign to inform women about the helpline for violence against women. This helpline serves as a crucial resource for women who may be experiencing violence or abuse. By spreading the word about this valuable tool, we hope to empower women,’’ says Sakina, member of the women’s forum and a survivor of violence from Chundari village. “We were unaware of any mechanisms to lodge a complaint or reach out at the time of need or in trouble, and if we are told verbally, we forget the numbers. But now that they are pasted on the walls of our houses, it is easy to remember,” says Lali Rao, a Scheduled Caste woman from Roopangarh.

To its credit, the government has established various resource centres to provide justice to women, such as the district legal services authority, one-stop sakhi centres, women’s safety centres, and the state women’s commission. However, these can only be effective if the women are aware and have access to appropriate mechanisms.

Are the women worried about a backlash? Not at all, is their resounding answer. The women’s group was set up to create a narrative around preventing violence against women. This group has taken up the responsibility to educate every woman in the village about the legal framework and helplines established by the government. They are diligently going door-to-door and putting up posters outside each house that contain vital information regarding all available services, including helpline numbers that can be utilised in the event of any violence against women. This group hopes to empower women to seek support through the helplines in case of violence against them or their female peers. It’s a commendable effort to create a safer and more informed community.

The campaign, which has been jointly mounted by the district legal services authority, department of women and child development, one-stop crisis centres, gram panchayat, and suraksha sakhi groups with support from the Centre for Advocacy and Research in Kishangarh, has reached 3,210 households. If this becomes a movement, as it should, the message will go out that there really is strength in numbers and in creating wider ownership both within the government as well as in civil society.

Monitoring of Faecal Sludge Management Services in Informal Urban Settlements in Odisha, India

KEY MESSAGES

Giving numerical value to demand, supply and existing challenges in providing safe emptying of pits persuade the urban local body and other stakeholders to take measures for expediting the safe empty of pits

Community engagement and participatory monitoring results in securing safe sanitation and ensure service inclusion of last-mile population.

Tracking slum-wise demandwithin a Wardreduced the waiting time of desludging of pits and instilled a sense of dignity in the women headed households

Sukumari Rout- Turning adversity into opportunity

The story of Sukumari Rout, an elderly artist with disability traces her day to day predicaments as an elderly disabled woman, who faces multiple barriers of gender, age, weak financial situation and is forced to compromise her sense of personhood at various levels. Undoubtedlythe support fromWater for Women Project team and the key stakeholders has enabledher to both cope and come out of the worst. There are many like Sukumariwho are struggling everyday to deal with multiple problemsand need the unflinching support of government, private sector agencies and communities to livea life ofdignity.

Gopi Devi – I can lead a life of dignity

The story of Gopi Devi etches out clearly the challenges that disabled personsface.In this case a disabled person is a woman, who experienced four-fold barriers of gender, disability, poverty,and last but not the least low educational attainment and skill. In the context of the pandemic, these challenges became even more life threatening. However,it is at this stage that the Water for Women Project played a very important role. Not only did Gopi get the unflinching support of the Community Management Committee (CMC) and the project team but also a platform to speak up and reach out to and sensitise many key stakeholders and leverage the much-needed opportunity to ensure that the WASH system commits itself to disability inclusion in ways that has never happened before. It is in this context that this case study based on Gopi’s testimony assumes significance.

From No Service to Accessing ServiceA Year Long Journey of the Single Window Forum Members

I am a migrant from Bihar living in this settlement for over 30 years. We are 14 members in the family. All the members areweavers. Our household is connected with the borewell water pipeline, butsince the past four months the water looks like sludge. A white coloured layer is seen on the surface of stored water, even the water containers change theircolour. Many people are facing severe health issues after drinking this water. -Baby, 49 years, SWF member

Engaging men and boys: Case Study of Male Forum, Jaipur

This case study must be viewed in the context of informal settlements or slums in the city of Jaipur. These habitats are densely populated and have areasoften at the rear end or in designated blocks where marginal communities such as transgender, persons with disabilities, SC, ST, OBCs, minorities and tribal reside.In these settlements, the Slum Development Committee (SDC), which comprises men and local leaders who act as gatekeepers often in active collaboration with political leaders cater largely to the needs and priorities of the more influential section. They pay no attention to the needs of women, girls and other vulnerable groups. But soon the situation changed.

Low-cost handwash stations help people stay safein the time of pandemic

Bhubaneswar/Jaipur:This unique handwashing station is helping people stay safe and healthy during the pandemic. It costs little, made entirely of locally available material, and serves the needs of community members of slums in Bhubaneswar and Jaipur. The design for affordable and self-assembled handwash stations was developed in Barabhuja basti in Bhubaneswar’s ward 63, and has, since, served as a model for other community-led innovations.

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