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Sal Lea Plate Makin
NE WS F R O M T H E F I E L D
DATE: MARCH 2 2 , 2 0 1 1
A QUICK REVIEW OF 2010 - 2011
Dear Friends,
Since the current financial year is reaching its conclusion, we thought it a good time to
share with you the progress our work in Orissa has made. While the numbers given below
represent quantitative achievements, there really is no way of measuring the steady, albeit
slow, process of “people’s empowerment” which is also taking place.
2009-10 2010-11
No. of families covered 95,000 200,000
No. of Jansathis (field workers) 55 71
Average no. of families/Jansathi 1725 2820
No. of families who got/took work 67,000 120,000
Average no. of days of employment 34.7 50+
KEY POINTS THAT EMERGE FROM THIS DATA ARE:
1) There is a substantial
increase in our work
efficiency, reflected in the
number of families
covered per Jansathi
(+60%). This gives us
confidence that we can
raise our earlier
expectation of coverage
from 2000 families to at least 2500 families per
Jansathi.
2) Although accurate and
updated data from the
Government will be
available after 4-6 weeks,
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Roadworks under NREGA
it is clear that the ‘conversion percentage’ of job demands into actual work being
given has declined.
3) There has been a good increase in the average no. of days of employment gained but
we are still at 50% of total potential.
ROADBLOCKS
There are several negative
factors at work that are
adversely affecting our efforts.
Probably the largest and most
widespread of these is the delay
in payment of wages ---- in many
cases the time taken over
payments has exceeded 60 days.
Yet another major hurdle toprogress is the apathy and
inertia of government officials at
the block and panchayat level.
Besides, there is lack of adequate
planning at the block/panchayat
level and when confronted with a
large number of demands for
employment, the response is to
just make these demands ‘vanish’
from records. Vested interests
have also found ways to crack the ‘tamperproof’ system of payments through bank/postal
accounts.
We have decided to revamp our field level strategy in the next year, by ensuring we get
receipts for the job demands made and claiming unemployment allowance where work
orders are not issued.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
We completed a survey of over 150,000 families, and the data from the same is being
collated. The demographics show that 60% of our people are adivasis (tribals), 20% dalit
(harijan) and the balance belong to other backward castes. A very interesting statistic is
that although all of the rural communities we cover represent the poorest of the poor yet
only 37% are classified as being Below Poverty Line (BPL), a classification that entitles one
to subsidised rations. This village-wise data will be extremely useful when the National
Food Security Bill is passed as it will enable us enlist those currently left out of the food
safety net.
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Ruchi from Atmashakti being greeted by a Koraput Village
We also took a small step by
encouraging people’s
participation in the panchayat
level planning process. Unlike
other areas, Orissa has a system
of palli (village) sabhas andanything up to 30 villages could
comprise a gram sabha. Our
Jansathis worked on awareness
generation and training in over
50 gram panchayats, the results
of which will be reported in our
next newsletter.
RESOURCE MOBILISATION
We received a small grant from Oxfam India in the last quarter of the year but the bulk of
our funding has come from individuals, with generous contributions from members of
‘Caring Friends’, Mumbai, and we look forward to your continued support to grow our
activities in the next fiscal year.
AS ALWAYS
Funds continue to be a problem and unfortunately, the situation doesn’t seem to be getting
any better. Once again thanks for your invaluable support and now that we’ve got some
numbers to display please try and garner support from your friends and associates.
We look forward to your continuing support, as also spreading the word and assisting us in
garnering additional resources for this venture. Donation details are outlined at the end of
the report.
With best wishes,
M.M. (Koko) Singh
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APPEAL FOR DONATIONS
You are requested to support one or more such workers each of whom will cost only
Rs.6,000/- per month.
We will provide regular updates that fully account for your donations and detail the
work that has been executed through various means such as the website, emails,social networks etc.
Cheques can be made out to “Atmashakti Trust”
Please pass this on to friends who may be interested in supporting us.
Donations enjoy exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act
CONTACT DETAILS
Koko Singh
The Atmashakti Trust
101A Friends ColonyNew Delhi – 110065
Ph.: +91-11-41627576
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.atmashaktitrust.com