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Children are the worst sufferers during and post-cyclone FANI. While parents and other adults are busy with salvaging items from the ravage, repairing houses, arranging for food and water – children are neglected and left on their own jeopardizing their security, health and education.

Taking into account the effects of extremely devastating cyclone FANI on children, special care and protection are considered critical during the post-cyclone scenario. Thus, CYSD has initiated 7 transitional space for school children (Child-Friendly Space – CFS) in six worst affected villages of Krushnaprasad block in Puri district with the support of American Jewish World Service (AJWS) for a period of three months.

The purpose of CFS is to support the resilience and well-being of children through structured activities conducted in a safe and child-friendly environment. The primary participants of CFSs are children (3-18 years of age). These spaces will prepare children to go to the formal education system after a certain temporary period. The main activities conducted at CFS are designed in harmony with the local culture like, Playing, Drawing, Painting and Storytelling for children; Provision of play kits, first-aid kits, safe drinking water, learning materials for children; Health check-up,  immunization and Nutritious food supplies; conducting sessions on confidence-building and drawing out children from stress; parents counselling and Trauma counselling of children. For this, community institutions and community-based organizations, especially the women groups & Anganwadi Workers are closely involved in monitoring the CFSs.

In order to enhance the coaching skill capacity of Anganwadi Workers, a 2-day “Trainers’ Training (ToT) on Child-Friendly Space” was organized in association with Pro Sport Development (PSD). A total of 19 women Anganwadi Workers of various villages of Krushna Prasad block participated in the programme. The training was part of the Fani rehabilitation program, especially for children and adolescents. The Anganwadi Workers were provided exposure to sports-based learning and facilitation skills for young children.

CYSD views shelter as one of the major concerns in cyclone FANI affected districts of Puri and Khurda where large populations have lost their shelters in terms of full damage to their houses.

After a few round table discussions on ‘Social Housing’ inviting experts and representatives of Civil Society Organizations, CYSD considered to initiate construction of temporary shelters – “traditional intermediate shelter” for the most affected vulnerable families as a crucial need of the hour. 

Brahmagiri and Krushnaprasad blocks of Puri district being the worst affected, CYSD embarked to provide intermediate shelters to the vulnerable families of the affected blocks. During this critical phase,  the household identification was done based on widow, single deserted woman-headed family, differently-abled person, old age and poorest of the poor families without means. CYSD  adopted the community-led decision approach and worked together with the communities, block and district administration, and local civil society organizations. Fortunately, The Odisha Society of the Americas (OSA) evinced their interest and extended generous support for the proposed d social housing construction.

CYSD made plan for construction of 130 traditional intermediate shelters – 34 numbers in Brahmagiri block and 96 in Krushnaprasad block of Puri district in association with AAINA, Antarang of JAGRUTI and UDYAMA. In this initiative, material support of Galvanized coloured Aluminum sheet, wooden ballah, bamboo, fitting materials, etc are being provided to affected beneficiaries. Besides, while CYSD ensures the support of skilled carpenter, the household provides labour contribution for construction of the shelter. 

Out of 130 proposed shelters, as of now, 53 shelters have been completed and some more are under progress. However, walling of 16 constructed houses is yet to be done by the respective households as incessant rains hindering the progress. However, it is planned to complete the construction work by mid of October.

The present minimalistic housing schemes are not the answer to the long-term needs of the people in disaster-prone areas. Therefore, the policy gear has to radically shift from minimalistic approach to the disaster resilient housing – using innovative means.  Therefore,  a Multi-stakeholder Consultation on Post Cyclone FANI – Rebuilding Odisha  “Habitat for  Odisha, forum to drive the Social Housing Movement” was organized on the 27th  & 28th  of August.

The Key Objectives of the consultation were to share experiences and expertise on appropriate, low cost and disaster-resilient technologies for construction of houses; to develop mechanism of convergence and dovetailing resources including affordable credit for constructing the houses in a time-bound and appropriate manner; and to develop a framework of actions to bring about appropriate policy and guidelines for construction of disaster-resilient houses in disaster-prone areas.

The deliberation of the Consultation was held in three separate Thematic Groups, like (I) Disaster Resilient Housing, (II) Access to affordable Credit for Social Housing, and (III) Dealing with most Vulnerabilities and Vulnerable population.

The consultation was participated by 165 delegates, like officials from Government Departments of Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Supply (PR & DW), Housing & Urban (H&UD);  Odisha Urban Housing Mission (OUHM), Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), Humanitarian Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, Technical Institutions, Aid Agencies, UN Agencies, Financial Institutions—National Housing Bank, Micro Finance Institution and the Corporate sector.

Recommendations

A shift to ownership driven approach was emphasized in order to make the social housing programme a movement. A multi-stakeholder forum “Habitat for Odisha’, as an initiative to drive the social housing movement in Odisha is the need of the hour, said Shri K. Chakrabarty, Chief General Manager, National Housing Bank, the apex housing finance body set up by the GoI.

A holistic housing programme with all necessary facilities exploring opportunities from all possible sources including toilet under Swachh Bharat Mission, electricity under Saubhagya, drinking water under pipe water supply programmes, and labour component under MGNREGS, is the need for rural Odisha, said Shri Jugal Kishore Mohapatra, former Chief Secretary, Odisha in a keynote address.

Different platforms such as Government, bankers, MFIs and CSOs should join hands with each other. Even, awareness among rural mass is crucial regarding the process and accessibility of housing loan, said Shri P. K.Biswal, Special Secretary and Director, Institutional Finance, Government of Odisha. State Cooperative Banks, MFIs with their presence in the rural areas may be linked with to facilitate affordable housing finance, he added. A scheme without collaterals up to Rs 10 lakh may be introduced for Rural Housing Finance for economic weaker sections in the State.

Setting up a chain of housing support services hub to extend handholding support to common people in accessing information on various housing schemes, accessing loan from Banks, complying documents and technical-knowhow on construction

of houses with involvement of civil society organizations is important to further drive the social housing movement in the State, said Shri Jagadananda, the Co-founder of CYSD. This will be a major capacity Building to build a safe housing movement in the State, he added. 

Further, skill training support on a wider scale for construction workers may be linked with the existing skilling programme in order to meet the quality housing service needs. While focusing on reconstruction of disaster-resilient houses, retrofitting and repairing of the houses, with economically viable may also be planned. 

“Habitat literacy focusing on disaster resilient housing schemes, technical knowhow need to be disseminated among the people of Odisha, said Padmashree (Dr.) G. Shankar, Architect and Chairman, Habitat Technology Group, Kerala.  The workshop was attended by a wide range of delegates from different sectors including civil society, architects, officials from the government, bankers, micro-finance institutions and social housing experts across the country.

Dipti Ranjan Mohanty

“My determination and acquired skills have convinced the community members to work for our own village development”, says Damayanti, an outreach worker, associated with CYSD’s Child Development Project for more than a decade.

Gourigada, is a small hamlet of Baliposhi Village under Thakurmunda operational area where Damayanti Mohanta (46) lives. She has put her sincere efforts to illustrate how women are often at the forefront of change and raising their voices and proved herself as an all-rounder in pursuing integrated community development approach, especially for the cause of women development.

In her efforts, Damayanti has effectively built leadership in women and enabled their participation in economic, social and governance spheres at Gram Panchayat level. Her uninterrupted involvement has brought changes in women’s economic condition and enhanced the livelihood status of women through joining SHGs. Being an active member of PRI and Child Protection Committee, Damayanti has ensured child rights and child protection following effective reporting mechanisms to check violations. Her frequent touch with parents, teachers, and pupils in the community and counseling to them has brought the dropout children back to school.

Damayanti has been passionately promoting life skill education for girls focusing on Menstrual Hygiene Management, Hand Washing and career counseling in 4 targeted schools for last two years. With her acquired skills and training knowledge, she has imparted training to hundreds of women in her block. The Block Administration has also recognized her efforts and designated her as GP level Motivator for spreading the message of Swachh Bharat Mission.Thakurmunda, a predominantly tribal and backward block now witnesses drastic decline in child marriage and trafficking through her committed efforts. Her innovation in leading a block level Producer Company involving 500 women producers is really remarkable in terms of enhancing the livelihoods of members.

“Because of CYSD, I have been a successful outreach worker and able to facilitate inclusion of 160 women in SHG programmes; sensitized 1157 families to avail benefit of Swachh Bharat Mission; eased completion of 940 individual latrine construction, strengthened Village WASH Committee in 13 villages under ODF initiatives; sensitized 441 young mothers on MCH Care and Nutrition through video shows and facilitated observance of 24 Village Health Nutrition Day at the village level; mobilized resource of Rs.15000/- per each SHG member for 30 SHGs under Mission Shakti program; provided handhold support to 150 women members for commercial pumpkin cultivation; facilitated meetings of Palli Sabha, Gram Sabha and SMCs and child protection committee at regular intervals, etc.”, says Damayant proudly.

Prafulla Kumar Maharana

Kusa, a budding young arts graduate of 22, realizes that education forms the foundation of any society. Quality education is one of the most important means of the development which transforms a backward community to a developed one. Despite, the existence of a primary school in his village and a high school 2 km away from the village, quality education for children of his village has become a dream.

Kusa Kurami who belongs to Pakanaguda, an interior tribal village having 45 households of Nayakguda GP in Mathili block of Malkangiri district has created a ray of hope among the parents of Pakanaguda children for quality education.

In spite of many special educational programmes and policies implemented for backward areas, it seems the education in Pakanaguda is yet to bear the fruits.  Kusa being the first graduate in his village often dreams a developed village by imparting quality teaching to the children.

Without taking a single money from parents he is running a coaching centre in the evening at 6 pm for two hours in village Anganwadi Center. Kusa teaches all the children of Class-I to Class-VII tirelessly, assisted by Madhab Badami, a Class-X student of his village. “I am trying to illuminate small lamps to brighten my village”, says Kusa.“Around 30 – 35 children are regularly coming to the coaching centre. Their parents promptly send them to classes and without wasting time they study properly under the guidance of Kusa”, said father of Lachman Gouda, a student of Kusa.

Due to lack of electricity connection in Anganwadi Centre, Kusa uses charged lantern and mobile light during his coaching class. He is planning to arrange electricity to the room and has made a request to CYSD Project for support. Also, he has initiated to collect a token contribution Rs. 20/- from each household for electricity connection to centre ensuring community participation.

“Normally the teachers in government schools do not give sufficient time for doubt clearing of students. Rather they remain busy in other activities of the school, like Mid-Day Meal, etc. instead of focusing on education. As a result students do not get quality teaching in school. Further, language is a big barrier for tribal children. That’s way I have started this coaching centre”, said Kusa.

While imparting lessons to children, he always advises, “If you do not study well, you will not get admission in better government schools for quality learning. But, I want to see you all as good educated human being to make our village educationally developed.

Besides running the coaching center, Kusa also assists his father in rice milling and earning a pocket money Rs.200/- per day. “I feel proud that my son is providing free teaching support to our village children. Gathering of children in a common place in the evening for learning makes me really happy”, says Kusa’s father Laxminath Kurami.

Nevertheless, Kusa has made his career plan to become a teacher for which he will pursue Bachelor Degree in Education along with acquire computer application knowledge. Definitely, Kusa is an inspiration for the village school children.

Ramesh Ch. Swain

Migration to nearby city of Vishakhapatanam in search of livelihoods had been a regular phenomenon for the inhabitants of Naranga, a small village of 40 families with 650 population. Due to less cultivable land, they were struggling to meet their daily requirements. Naranga is a tribal village located in Panchada GP under Dasamantpur block of Koraput.

With the intervention of CYSD, few developmental works were initiated in the village. The community people had no rights over forest land.  After submitting land right applications and with rigorous follow ups, the villagers were entitled for forest land under Forest Rights Act for the purpose of living, cultivation and collecting forest produces.

Taking into account the resources available in Naranga, a comprehensive participatory village planning was prepared and approved in Gram Sabha. Then in convergence with line Departments the land was developed for enhancement of livelihoods of the poor families. Under OTELP programme, input support for vegetable cultivation and mango plantation in WADI programme were provided to them. The broad interventions in the areas included land usage planning, soil and water harvesting measures and improved farm based agro-forestry practices. The capacities enhancement of community cadres, collaboration with block and district administrations have resulted in mobilizing all families to join the MGNREGS works for earnings. Involvement in MGNREGS helped them mostly to get 100 days of employment in last year. Successful implementation of MGNREGS in the village resulted in checking the villagers’ migration, provided them employment at critical period and ensured alternative livelihood options like, trading, tailoring, cattle rearing, handicrafts, collection and selling of forest produces and running grocery shops. 13 SHGs have also been formed and strengthened for their collective development.

Now, the villagers have got requisite skill to manage their earnings from vegetables cultivation. WADI intervention has also impacted the economic upliftment of the villagers through sustainable agriculture, social empowerment, improvement in quality of life including health, women empowerment, increase in food and nutritional security.

With available sources and noticeable livelihoods enhancement, the villagers have changed their mindset not migrate further. Following which migration rate has declined drastically as the tribal people can adjust to a particular way of life in their own village.

The interventions have reduced the vulnerability and Naranga has become a self-sustained village. Now, the residents are looking forward to community development with bigger plan to address their secondary needs.

Bikash Dandasena

Rakhi, the winner of Junior Judo Championship at state level – Silver Medal in 2015 and Gold Medal in 2017 is aspiring to be in Civil Service. She is one of the luckiest girls in her village who could showcase her talent in state level forums. She loves dancing, singing and marshal art too.

Rakhi Baka, is a Bhumia tribal girl of 16 years, lives in Chalanguda village of Mathili Block in Malkanagiri district. From her childhood she has lost her father. Her family includes her mother, elder sister and brother. Her mother being a daily labourer manages the four- member family with much difficulty. However, her elder sister is now supplementing her mother’s income working either in construction sites or collecting Sal leafs.

Chalanguda being the intervention village of CYSD,  Rakhi was enrolled as sponsored child when she was studying in Std. V. As one of the talented students, she was selected by the district administration to study in a better school with hostel facility. She was admitted in Sishu Mandir at Malkangiri and stayed in Anwesha Govt. Hostel. This year, she has completed her High School Certificate examination successfully securing 54% marks and with the support of her cousin pursuing +2 Science.Meanwhile, she has got an opportunity to learn advance level marshal art and aiming to take part in National Junior Judo Championship-2019 and win the Gold medal.

CYSD has made effort to promote Adolescent Group in Chalanguda village where Rakhi  is an active member. She has received different trainings on ARSH, WASH organized by the organization and could become a peer educator and imparting orientation to her friends on the subject. She was nominated to participate in “Odisha Vikash Conclave-2018 held in Bhubaneswar and gave a stimulating speech on issues of children of her district.  “The intervention of CYSD in my village has created a platform for each girl child to ensure equal participation in different activities”, says Rakhi.

Though talented, Rakhi has bit sympathy for others. She likes to utilize her leisure time in providing teaching to low performer children.  With the initiative of CYSD, she was engaged impart teaching to 32 children of Std. I to Std. X during last summer vacation in her village primary school building.  While teaching, she tries to explore the hidden talents of those children.  Normally, all students study in residential Ashram Schools and come to village during summer and winter vacations.

“My family is struggling to overcome the financial crisis due to lack of livelihood opportunity. My brother who is doing his last year B.Sc. can get a good job in coming year and hopefully, our financial crisis will come to an end. My elder sister is determined not to get marry now and continue supporting my mother’s income until we complete our education”, shared Rakhi with emotional tearful eyes.Mathili is one of the most interior tribal pockets of Malkanagiri where development is still a dream.Despite all the bottlenecks, Rakhi has never stopped dreaming. “After graduation or so, I want to join Civil service and work hard to improve the standard of living of people below poverty line and develop quality education for children of my district” says Rakhi.

Rudrashish Mandal

Draupadi Girls’ High School of Nishaposi in Thakurmunda block of Mayurbhanj district is the only high school girls in the Tribal dominated area. The school has well nurtured a team of 21 enthusiastic and sportive Girl Guides, who were determined to take part in a National Competition of Beating the Drum.The school has limited resources to support the team either for undergoing parade training or procuring quality dress codes and instruments. Still the team has never lost their hope, rather expressed their concern with CYSD’s Child Development Project. Following which the education team of CYSD encouraged the girl guides and assured to support their mission.

The inspired Girl Guides made rigorous practices of beating drum. The School Committee felt the need of an external Coach for which they also sought financial support from CYSD. But it was difficult on their part to find an external coach within such a short notice.

The entire journey starting from preparation till participation in the competition was quite exciting for the guides. The team participated in the District level Inter School Competition and qualified for the State level Competition and finally was eligible for the Zonal level beating the drum competition.

Subsequently, the Girl Guides team left for Ranchi to take part in the Zonal level Inter school Competition in December 2018. Their smartness, disciplined parade, dress code, command, cleanness and regular practice added value to the competition. Fortunately, the team secured second position in the zone level competition where Girl Guides from five States participated.

“On behalf of my team, I tender my heartiest gratitude to CYSD for their wholehearted support in each and every step of our success without which our dream would have not been achieved”, said Harapriya Mohanta, the Troop Commander of the Girl Guides.

“We missed little margin due to comparatively poor dress quality and instruments. But next time we will definitely win the race which is our future plan” said Bhagabati Mohanta the Second Troop Commander.

Padma Patnaik

It is estimated by the Government that the cyclone Fani has damaged around 1,159,000 coconut trees in 6,625 hectares of land in Puri district. The worst affected are the major coconut producing areas of Sakhigopal, Brahmagiri, Nimapada, Delang and Pipili, thereby causing the maximum damage to the sector. Example Jaypur village of Satyabadi Block has lost 90 per cent of coconut trees.

Coconut tree loss has affected the coir industries and has become sick without required raw materials. This has also affected the livelihood of many women artisans engaged with the coir industry, artisans’ clusters, especially the Pattachitra Artisans around Chandanpur and coconut coir artisans around Satyabadi.In this context, CYSD team along with “Kala Aur Katha”, led by Pankaja, a designer cum social entrepreneur and SWAD, a local NGO visited the severely affected villages of Satyabadi block with the specific objective to explore the existing potential artisans; assist the artisans in revival of artisans cluster especially coconut products; explore the opportunities on value additions to coconut waste as part of circular economy; and find possibilities of youth led entrepreneurship to generate assured income to minimize distress migration.

After Interaction with women groups and village heads of different villages of Satyabadi block regarding the development and recycling of the coconut waste, it was observed that most of the women groups trained on coir, making various products like doormats, decoration items and flower pots with coconut wastes were limited in design and its attractiveness to generate sustainable livelihood income.

Ground Reality

A team of 14 women members formed a SHG namely, Saraswati Self Help Group in 2007 in Jaypore village of Satyabadi Block. They had started one coir industry engaging women members and was making different coir products. As the industry was running well, the women artisans engaged in it were substituting to their family income in a dignified manner.

“The cyclone FANI has not only blown away the workshop roof, it has taken away the livelihoods of many women engaged in our coir industry”, said Ms. Surekha Dash, the Secretary of SHG.

“Now the group is not able to make any coir products due to shortage of coconut coir & stick. Though marketing is a big issue for us, still we are enthusiastic to revive the coir industry and make coir products to sustain our livelihood”, added Ms. Surekha.

Niladri Sahoo

Foundation for Rural Entrepreneurship Development (FREND), a organisation promoted by Tata Trusts and supported by Google, has been working as a vehicle for other like-minded organizations to leverage the power of the Internet Saathi network for socio-economic development of rural India. This would also enable sustainability for the Internet Saathi network, opening up avenues of economic opportunity for them.

In April 2019, CYSD entered into an agreement with FREND to implement an eight-month Internet Saathi programme with an objective to extend digital literacy knowledge to the rural women in 6 districts of the Odisha State, like Khurda, Puri, Cuttack, Jajpur, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj.

The programme aims at imparting digital literacy training to more than 1.8 million rural women and helping them understand the benefits of internet. Also, this programme has an agenda to address the digital divide and technology discrimination, specifically, bridge the online gender divide in rural India” The programme would reach 8000 villages in 77 Blocks of these 6 districts through Internet Saathis. For the purpose, the Saathis are equipped with two android cell phones with internet connectivity and modules to learn the programme curriculum. The digital literacy programme will later-on followed with the livelihood enhancement interventions for the Internet Saathis. FREND is monitoring the project implementation with periodic visits to the project locations.

A group of personnel comprising of one State Coordinator, 6 district coordinators, 77 block coordinators and 2286 Internet Saathis are engaged for smooth implementation of the programme. By end of July, the Internet Saathis have trained around 1,43,128 women in six districts