Vol 14, Issue 3, July - Sept. 2011 INDO -GLOBAL SOCIAL SERVICE SOCIETY REPATRIATION OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS A CONSULTATION MEET WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS OF MIZORAM Contents Repatriation of Internally Displaced Persons 1 Urban Citymakers: An Awareness Workshop on the Rights and Development 2 Promoting Affirmative Youth Action for Peace and Development in Kashmir 3 Review Meetings in East and West Zone 4 Emergency Response in Assam 6 The first consultation meet under the project RIDe-B (Repatriation of Internally Displaced Persons) was organized by IGSSS at Aizawl on July 20, 2011. The meet included key stakeholders of RIDe-B project and Civil Society Groups of Mizoram. The main objective of the consultation was to bring all the stakeholders together in the repatriation process on a common platform. It focused on open dialogue and discussion on the road map for repatriation of the displaced Bru community and also the larger issue of displacement rampant in the Northeastern region. A cross section of NGOs comprising the Mizo Zirlaai Pawl (MZP), the Young Mizo Association (YMA), Mizo Uppa Pall (MUP), Church leaders, HRLN (Human Rights Law Network), Bru Coordination Committee (BCC), Media representatives and concerned individuals took part in the day-long deliberations. Padmashree Patricia Mukhim, Vice President, IGSSS was the Chief Guest and Mr. David Lalthangliana, Officer Special Duty, Home Department, Government of Mizoram, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour at the Consultation Meet. Dr. HTC Lalrinchhana, Senior Civil Judge, Aizawl, spoke on Human Rights and the Constitutional Provisions for every Indian Citizen. His speech covered the underlying clauses under the Guiding Principles and Right of IDPs (Internally Creative Contemplation - Photo Gallery 8 It s not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something.may I suggest that it be creating joy for others, sharing what we have for the betterment of person kind, bringing hope to the lost and love to the lonely. Dr. Leo Buscaglia, 1924-1998 American Author, Professor and Inspirational Speaker July - Sept. 2011 1 Vol 14, Issue 3
Urban Citymakers: An Awareness Workshop on the Rights and Development Displaced Persons). He emphasized on the rights to protection, return, resettlement, including the land rights of IDPs as well as other welfare schemes which should be taken care of by the Government. Mr. David Lalthangliana appreciated IGSSS on its role of bringing different civil societies together to discuss such a sensitive issue of Bru-Mizo IDP repatriation. Further, he mentioned that IGSSS may be the first National Level Organization which appreciated the Mizoram Government for repatriation efforts. Referring to the 3 rd Repatriation Road map prepared in 2010, he said the road map cannot be a static one as it changes with different underlying problems. He highlighted the repatriation work and the obstacles the Government was currently facing. He also pointed out that a pragmatic process of identification of those who have been genuinely displaced from Mizoram is important and the State Government is considering both 1995 and 2009 electoral role for identifying the genuine Brus for their return. He informed the house that above 600 families have been repatriated in the 1 st and 2 nd phase. Further, he said that though repatriation is stopped currently, but it will start soon. He mentioned about special development plan for the marginalized communities of Mamit district where maximum families are repatriated. Mr. Mangneo Lhungdim, Head Disaster Risk Reduction and NE Operations, while introducing IGSSS and its work across the country gave a holistic overview of the problem of displaced persons in the Northeastern Region. He urged that there is a strong need for a policy on IDPs in India. Ms. Patricia Mukhim, Vice President, IGSSS and member National Security Advisory Board gave a brief response to the role of civil society in facilitating the repatriation process. Ms Mukhim observed that while state and national governments have mandate to take up the repatriation process, the role of civil society in facilitating the process has to be integrated. She said Civil Society must be a catalyst to promote reconciliation and in helping to reconstruct the lives of Bru people who are resettled in Mizoram or in any other part of the country. URBAN CITYMAKERS: AN AWARENESS WORKSHOP ON THE RIGHTS AND DEVELOPMENT A one day State level workshop on Urban CityMakers was organized by IGSSS Bangalore on June 30, 2011. Recently, the Supreme Court of India, in an order asked states to establish shelter homes for the urban homeless people in the major cities. The workshop was aimed at informing NGOs about the ruling and its various components. NGOs from nine urban areas such as Bangalore, Mysore, Belgaum, Gulbarga, Dharwad-Hubli, Davanagere, Tumkur and Mangalore in Karnataka have been selected for the workshop. Vol 14, Issue 3 2 July - Sept. 2011
Promoting Affirmative Youth Action for Peace and Development in Kashmir These areas have a population of about 5 lakh homeless people. During this workshop the concept of Urban Homeless and its related issues were shared among the participants. The workshop was attended by 10 urban homeless people and 30 leaders from 27 NGOs. CityMakers representatives highlighted causes leading to migration and urban homelessness, discussed Article 21 of the Indian Constitution in relation to protection of life and personal liberty and Government s responsibility to protect the urban homeless by ensuring their right to dignity. It was shared that the urban homeless constitutes construction labourers, street vendors, rag-pickers, domestic maids, Poura Karmikas, etc. IGSSS calls them CityMakers as they contribute to the daily lives of the city. The participants expressed that they gained knowledge regarding the rights of CityMakers and role of the Government and the NGOs. They found the workshop very useful and informative and felt that initiatives like these from IGSSS will go a long way to make people aware that urban homelessness is a social problem and it needs proper attention and intervention. The participants appreciated IGSSS for giving importance to the cause of CityMakers. Everyone at the workshop felt the need of an action plan to generate awareness. NEW PARTNERSHIP IGSSS has entered in a partnership with the Ford Foundation to support developing capacities of young community leaders from urban slums of ten cities in India and also to build national coalition on urban housing rights. The project will begin from October 1, 2011. IGSSS SUPPORT TO INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION CAMPAIGN The CityMakers team participated in the protest march on August 17, 2011 from India Gate to Jantar Mantar in support of India Against Corruption campaign led by Anna Hazare. Throughout the campaign at Ramlila Maidan, our team has been active and two of our team members Mr. Indu Prakash Singh and Mr. Bipin Rai addressed the campaign supporters highlighting issues of homelessness due to state policies. PROMOTING AFFIRMATIVE YOUTH ACTION FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT IN KASHMIR The youth of urban Kashmir are faced with many challenges; they have been on the forefront of an unending conflict, unemployment, lack of socio-economic development and restricted social interaction. According to a study by Action Aid the conflict in Kashmir has had an adverse impact particularly on them as they are plagued with psycho-social disorders like stress and loneliness. With several of the youth being unemployed, they are seeking solace in drugs to overcome stress and anxiety. IGSSS aims to contribute towards lessening the conflict through promoting affirmative youth action for peace and development by reducing the gap between stakeholders in Kashmir. It mobilises and organises vulnerable youth for increased awareness towards services, entitlements, rights and duties through capacity development and promotes multi-stakeholder dialogue between youth, activists, intellectuals, Government officials and representatives from Civil Society Organizations on Peace, Democracy, Human Rights and Entitlements. IGSSS is working in partnership with Caritas Italiana under the banner of Youth Action for Peace in Kashmir from year 2011. July - Sept. 2011 3 Vol 14, Issue 3
Review Meetings In East And West Zones EAST ZONE Review Meetings In East And West Zones In July 2011 joint Review Meetings of Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Eastern UP and Orissa partners were held. The Chief functionaries, Project Coordinators and Accountants participated in the meet. The agenda, the need and importance of the review and the objective of the programme were shared with the participants. The review was imperative not only to know the work done but also to share challenges faced and to find solutions for better working methods. The Coordinators of the implementing organization presented reports highlighting the Phase II pending and completed activities, innovative activities done and planned to take up in Phase II, challenges faced in the field, village cadres and CBOs status, grain banks and its functioning, referrals and linkage with Government and other agencies etc. Inputs on perspective of Grain banks community sustaining system and process to monitor were given. In-depth interaction was on strengthening and forwarding CBO by overcoming challenges. The roles and responsibilities of the staff during village visits, linkage with media and importance of media coverage were discussed. Few points on forwarding network were discussed, such as finalizing of representative in the network, role of partner NGOs, sustainable plans, activities to be taken by the network etc. Partners prepared their Phase II budgets and LFA based on the baseline study findings and the ERO team gave their comments on the Phase III activities. WEST ZONE Yearly review meet and inputs on alliance building for Karnataka partners was organized on August 25, 2011 at Belgaum. 14 participants of Pearl Partners participated in the meeting. Vol 14, Issue 3 4 July - Sept. 2011
Review Meetings In East And West Zones The Field visit The PEARL Team of West Zone, Baroda, Mr. K.O. Mathai, Manager- West Zone, Mr. Basant Panigrahi, Programme Executive, and Mr. Darsht Thaker, Executive Accountant conducted annual project visit to Karnataka PEARL Partners: Spandana, Vidyaniketan, Reach and Vikasa and assessed the progress of the PEARL second Phase intervention in Belgaum and Bagalkot districts of Karnataka. Board Member visits MP partners Ms. Bernadette, Board member of IGSSS visited Madhya Pradesh PEARL partner s organization and field area to learn the impact of PEARL intervention. Regional Network and Advocacy Meet, Udaipur The Regional Network and Advocacy Meet was organized at Astha Training Center, Udaipur. About 33 representatives of People s Organisation, NGOs and Civil Society Organizations turned up including PEARL partners - Rajasthan for the two consultations. Consultations were aimed at building alliance for Regional level network with cluster partners and likeminded NGOs for sustained campaign and advocacy on people s rights especially in the context of PEARL Project intervention. This two-day consultation resulted in the formation of a Regional Network named Rajasthan Jan Adhikar Andolan with mission, vision, objective, structure, steering committee of the network. Regional network and advocacy follow up meet, Udaipur Regional network follow up meeting was organized at CASA Resource Centre, Udaipur. 15 persons from the Steering Committee and PEARL project coordinators of Partner organizations participated in the meeting with a view to plan out roles and responsibilities and develop six month activities of RJAA (Rajasthan Jan Adhikar Andolan). We can be lights for each other, and through each other s illumination we will see the way. Each of us is a seed, a silent promise, and it is always spring July - Sept. 2011 5 Vol 14, Issue 3
Emergency Response in Assam National Workshop on Collective Learning for Programme Planning for People s Empowerment for Accessing Rights to Livelihood -Pearl III The revised budget formats and the structure and issues of state alliance program were also discussed. Each cluster unit presented their alliance plan and its monitoring mechanism. Mr. Indu Prakash Singh the Head of Urban Poverty shared his valuable experience on the importance of networking and advocacy with the groups. Emergency Response In Assam This year floods have affected more than 9 lakh people in 12 districts of Assam. The incessant rainfall both in Arunachal hills and plains caused floods in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji. The rivers that caused floods in Lakhimpur district are Subansiri and Ranganadi and in Dehmaji are Gai and Komotia. IGSSS, in collaboration with Innovation Unlimited Delhi supported six Innovative Toilets - three each in Alichiga Patnawala village, Lakhimpur and Kechukhana Kachari Gaon Dhemaji District. Toilets were constructed at road side where people are taking temporary shelter. A three-day PEARL National Planning Meet was organized with 24 PEARL programme participants in Daman and Diu. The workshop began with sharing the objectives of the workshop and included the findings and recommendations of the Mid-Term Review and the proposed key strategic areas of PEARL-III. The workshop concluded on a significant note to make PEARL III a success as its previous two Phases. IGSSS, in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity India, Delhi and the District Administration Lakhimpur, has extended rehabilitation support to 169 families. The beneficiaries were selected from severely affected four villages of North Lakhimpur Revenue circle and were below the poverty line. There are two big forces at work, external and internal. We have very little control over external forces such as tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, disasters, illness and pain. What really matters is the internal force. How do I respond to those disasters? Over that I have complete control. Dr. Leo Buscaglia, 1924-1998 American Author and Professor Vol 14, Issue 3 6 July - Sept. 2011
ED s Desk It was a historical moment when IGSSS CityMakers Programme flagged off The National Caravan on August 17, 2010. The CityMakers National Caravan, over a period of 5 months covered 22 States and 155 Cities and conducted approximately 270 awareness sessions across the country. The overall objective of the Caravan was to develop the network and bring in more civil society awareness on the issues related with Urban Poor in General and specifically the CityMakers (The Homeless in Urban areas). The goal of course was to enhance more involvement of the different stakeholders in Citymakers interventions. I am happy to note that within a year of our National Citymakers Caravan, we not only have enhanced involvement of the civil society but have also been able to bring in more support from our long standing partners and new partners. MISEREOR is supporting a three city direct intervention project, which will enable IGSSS to continue and also enhance the interventions in Delhi and Bangalore and initiate a new program in Bihar. IGSSS has now entered in a partnership with Ford Foundation which is supporting capacity building of young community leaders from urban slums of 10 cities of India. IGSSS has also had a new donor - Caritas Italiana. The project Youth Action for Peace in Kashmir is a model that IGSSS is trying to evolve in Jammu and Kashmir in involving youth towards sustained peace. It was a break and rejuvenation time for the larger IGSSS community when all staff got together at Mt Abu. Apart from personality growth and reflection sessions, there was night trekking and early morning walks. The best part of the trip was how the team who are spread across 12 offices of IGSSS jelled. It was a time when individuals were able to let go the intense work that each of them do and unwind to sway to the music of Mother Nature. I congratulate all the team members for a wonderful time together. As always we at IGSSS are obliged to the unstinting support that each of our stakeholders in Government, Donor Organisations, large Civil Society and the people whom we work with provide us. In gratitude, Smiles Joseph July - Sept. 2011 7 Vol 14, Issue 3
Creative Contemplation - Photo Gallery Annual Staff Retreat at Mount Abu INDO-GLOBAL SOCIAL SERVICE SOCIETY 28, Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003 Phone No. 011-45705000, Fax No. 011-24626259, Email: doc@igsss.net, Web: www.igsss.org Vol 14, 9, Issue 43 8 July -- August Sept. 2011 2010 Designed & Printed at: Bosco Society for Printing & Graphic Training, Okhla Road, New Delhi - 25, Ph: 011-26910729