PROJECT PROPOSAL

Advancing Health and Sexual & Reproductive Rights of Tribal

Women in Odisha

PROJECT PROPOSED TO

Global Fund for Women

PROJECT SUBMITTED BY
WOMEN & CHILD WELFARE SOCIETY
At-Gamhandia New Colony, Po-Buxibazar, Dist & City-Cuttack-753001(Odisha-India)
Branch Office:-
At/Po-Sanbisol, Via-Kaptipada, Dist-Mayurbhanj & At-Badadandasahi, Po-Badamba, Dist-Cuttack

Contact No. 0671-2414810, 0671-2433216, 09337252333,

E-mail: wcws_minati@sify.com, gensecywcws1@hotmail.com
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Project Proposal

Advancing Health and Sexual & Reproductive Rights of Tribal

Women in Odisha

Project Details:

An Area Profile & Need Assessment:

The health infrastructure continues to be inadequate in fulfilling the health demands of the
people especially the women living in the tribal areas. As a result the tertiary care clinics and
hospitals are overburdened and are unable to provide quality care to the patients. The needs of
the area, therefore justify beyond any doubt, that external input in the health system is essential,
as the same is not adequate. The close interaction with the villagers has proved a strong need for
health and development interventions.

Almost all families living in this area are very poor and live just hand to mouth. They struggle
very hard for survival. Their daily earnings are very low and hardly enough to sustain the family.
The sanitary conditions are also very poor in this area. Most of the households don’t have toilets.
All men, women and children are forced to defecate in the open. They go for the nature's call
before the daybreak. At various places, dirty water gets collected which contains human and
animal excreta and emits foul smell. This creates health problems for people, whose nutritional
intake otherwise is also very low because of their low income. Except for few wells and hand
pump, there is no safe drinking water facility here. The water in these wells and hand pumps is
highly contaminated due to pollution by nearby industries. Even these wells and hand pumps are
few and far off. Most of the people here are illiterate.

Majority of the families are marginal farmers. Income from agriculture is not enough to sustain
the whole family. These families are therefore forced to leave their homes for better sources of
living. Cultivation is negligible in the villages as very few own land. Many people usually work
in the fields of landlords from other villages. Animal husbandry is a secondary occupation for the
villagers. It generates extra income and supplements the diet of the inhabitants. But the existing
situation does not seem to be very promising. Land and forest are central to the survival of most
of the population. Since agriculture is limited to single rainfed cropping, the forests have
seriously depleted over the last 50 year. The main reasons behind agriculture failing to sustain
the people are fragmentation of landholdings, decrease in soil fertility and lack of modern
irrigation methods.

Need for an effective health initiative is long overdue. The availability and accessibility to
various services such as health and education is very inadequate for impoverished and
underprivileged masses. A large number of doctors and other professionals are unwilling to work
in the tribal area creating a vacuum which is yet to be filled. There are various health problems,
but the government alone can’t address them all. It needs support from the communities and this
 3

clearly defines the weekly meetings of Health workers with the SHGs for generating health
awareness.

The project is aimed at improving the health and hygiene of tribal community in Mayurbhanj
district of Odisha by setting up women support centre, and building community awareness on
health and hygiene. This is one of the most backward women in this district of the state. Women
in particular suffer from high degree of malnutrition and other diseases, which results from poor
community sanitation and hygiene. Most of the people including women and children go into
field for open defecation which is a major cause of health problems. Due to poor sanitation and
hygiene, people especially women and children suffer from various diseases, which in the long
run leads to malnutrition. Since there is no proper health care system available, people are forced
to spend a major part of their income on health.

Major Objectives:

 To Improve community health and hygiene by setting up community toilet facilities

 To help community realize the importance of sanitation and hygiene and its direct link
with health and overall wellbeing of community.
 Reduction in the incidents of diseases especially maternal and child mortality rates.
 To make community more ready and willing to accept its collective responsibilities
towards community sanitation and health.

Salient Components of the Project

 Building Community Awareness among women

 Imparting Training to women Health Volunteers
 Strengthening Community Networks
 Facilitating outside support for the community
 Helping women fighting for its basic rights to health and hygiene

About the Target Group

The project will target around 500 households comprising an approximate population of 2000
women in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. Though the whole community will benefit from this
project, the major focus will be on women and adolescent girls. The target population is mainly
poor women living in the district. Most of them live near the forest. Their economic status is
very poor. Rate of illiteracy is also very high. Majority of households lack even the most basic
facilities such as toilets, safe drinking water. People are forced to drink water which is highly
contaminated. It leads to various infections. The health facilities provided by the government are
inadequate and non functional in many cases. Maternal and child mortality rate is also very high.

‘Women & Child Welfare Society’ will run this project in the selected villages which need our
support the most. A consultative process will begin with women in each village. The problems
related to sanitation, health and hygiene along with the proposed action plan will be discussed.
Women will come forward with opinions and suggestions which will form the criteria of the
selection of beneficiaries. The organization will hold most of its awareness activities and training
 4

programmes in villages. A centrally located village will be identified as training centre, which is
easy to excess by the targeted community. Most of the logistic arrangements including the
accommodation for awareness programmes will be made with logistic support provided by
community itself. It will be done to make the community realize its ownership on the project.

Long-term benefits of the Project:

 This health and hygiene initiative will bring about a positive change in the lives of
tribal women
 The project is based on active community participation at all levels which will ensure
sustainability of the project even after the funding support from outside is withdrawn.
 The project if successful can be upscaled and replicated in other area.
 Improvement in the general health and hygiene of the area.
 Improvement in the health status of women and adolescent girls.
 Women will have access to good sanitation and hygiene
 Women will be more aware of the importance of sanitation and hygiene and its direct
link with health and overall wellbeing of women.
 There will be reduction in the incidents of diseases especially maternal and child
mortality rates.
 It will make community more ready and willing to accept its collective
responsibilities towards community sanitation and health.
 It will contribute directly in improving the livelihoods and well-being of tribal
women.

Project Area:
The proposed project will be run in Mayurbhanj Tribal District of Odisha.

Proposed Activities:

 Formation of Village health committees in village to ensure smooth implementation of

immunization services and other health services with Govt. Involvement
 Proper identification and registration of all ANC women by the VHWs.
 Follow up of these women with respect to outcome of delivery, neonatal and postnatal
care.
 Registration of all births and deaths with details i.e. no of live births, still births, low birth
weights, sex ratio at birth etc.
 Ensuring children’s health check-ups and follow up
 Regular documentation of all activities and maintenance of MIS systems
 Clinical analysis of mortality and morbidity patterns by the Doctors
 Interpersonal communication by VHW’s on routine house visits.
 Focus Group discussions by the health team with women, children, adolescent girls and
boys and men.
 Follow up of the school health program with teachers in the form of regular interaction
with the doctor, VHW’s and project coordinator.
 5

 Coordinating with the Village health committees.

 To reinforce Primary Health Care in the present area and the new areas
 To reinforce Reproductive and Child Health Care Activities in the area
 To improve health awareness and health seeking behavior of the community
 To address the mental health needs of the area.
 To address the development needs of the area.

Methodology of the Project:

‘Women & Child Welfare Society’ has been in active consultation with local community
involving traditional community leaders and members of local panchayats. This has led to
the identification of community’s felt needs. Within the consultation has evolved the action
plan for future intervention. The organization as a facilitator has been helping the community
to form a conceptual framework of the project. The community has crystallized its basic
needs, which centres around community sanitation and hygiene. The community has also
shown its eagerness and willingness to be an active partner in the execution of the project
and provide its full support.

After getting the final sanction for the project, the second phase of consultation will be held
with community wherein all the components of proposed intervention will be discussed and
finalized. This will also lead to identification of beneficiaries.

Project duration
The duration of the project will be one year, which can be extended as per the need.

Sustainability of the Project:

The project is based on enabling community to use and build its own resources to meet the future
challenges. The proposed initiative with initial financial support is only to facilitate a process
which will trigger awareness, and will help tribal women develop a self-driven mechanism to
meet future challenges with collective efforts. The project is based on capacity building of
women, and building and strengthening community efforts to put its resources on optimum level.
Caring for health and hygiene is linked to lifestyle and habits. Thus once the women come to
realize the importance of sanitation and hygiene and its links with overall wellbeing, it will take
care of its future needs on its own without requiring any outside financial support on regular
basis. The project will be run with the active community support, which will ensure its
sustainability even after the funding support from outside is withdrawn. The focus of its
programmes and activities is on building community strength. When women realize how to work
collectively to deal with various problems, they can utilize their own resources to achieve their
objectives.

Evaluation & Monitoring of the Project

‘Women & Child Welfare Society’ will conduct pre and post project assessments, which would
be bases on quantitative as well as qualitative variables. Towards the end of the project, a
comparative study will be conducted with the help of which, it would be possible to assess the
 6

impact of the project on the lives of targeted beneficiaries and community. If required an outside
agency could also be invited to have an objective impact assessment of the project.

The organization has evolved an effective strategy to monitor the processes and outcome of the
project at all levels. This will be done by a team of trained and experienced professionals.
Midterm evaluations will also be carried out to weigh the effectiveness of various components of
the project. If necessary, required corrective measures will also be taken so that desired outcomes
could be achieved.

Expected Outcomes of the Project

 Increased community awareness on health & hygiene

 Improved Sanitary conditions in the villages
 A perceptible change in the attitude and perception of women towards sanitation and
hygiene.
 Improvement in the general health and hygiene of the area.
 Women looking more willing to take up its responsibilities for collective action.
 Trained health workers will provide safe and aseptic delivery services. They will also
refer complicated cases to the district hospital.
 Village health Committees could serve as pressure groups for ensuring Govt. health
services e.g. undertaking immunization services like measles vaccination.
 MMR and IMR could decrease as a result of proper ANC/PNC services.
 Decrease in the frequency of seasonal diseases amongst children.
 Proper documentation could serve as an effective tool for intervention strategies,
advocacy with the Govt. and NGO’s, future planning etc.
 Improved awareness would lead to a demand for quality services.
 Improved interaction with the community through the village health committee
 Increased awareness would lead to the gradual eradication of certain social malpractices.
 Improvement in the general health and hygiene of the area
 Improvement in the health status of women and adolescent girls
Budget Estimate:
 7

Sr. Components Amount

No requested
(Rs.)

A. Project Activities
Baseline Community Resource Survey 30,000
Training & Demonstration to Beneficiaries 1,95,000
(65000x2)
Orientation & Training to Project Staff 20,000
Workshop with Community and stakeholders 70,000
(35000x2)
Exposure Visits to Women’s groups
30,000
(30000)
B. Consultants/ Resource persons
(1000x10) 10,000
C. Monitoring & Evaluation 30,000
D. Documentation & Reporting 25,000
E. Travel Costs 48,000
F. Salary
(1) Project Director 1,20,000
(1x10000x12)
G. (2) Community Health Workers
96,000
(2x4000X12)
Contingency 25,000

H. Total 6,99,000
 8

ORGANISATIONAL PROFILE

Genesis:
‘Women & Child Welfare Society’ was founded by a group of dedicated and socially conscious
people who wanted to act as catalysts of change in the lives of socially and economically
underprivileged men, women and children to improve the quality of their lives and make their
lives much more meaningful. A large number of volunteers from community also came forward
and landed their support. To plan and holds its activities in a more organized way, and in order to
make them more effective, the group then decided to get itself registered under a legal
framework. Thus Women & Child Welfare Society came into being on 23 rd September, 1995, as
an organization registered under Society Registration act-1860.

Mission & Vision

WCWS envisions the establishment of the long cherished goal of a society full of peace, joy and
happiness, assuring everybody the freedom from poverty, ignorance, hunger, fear and
exploitation where there will be respect for basic human value and humanity. Its mission is to
bring hope, aspiration and joy to everyone by bringing out the best quality out of every
individual.

Major Objectives:

 To help women fight against all types of neglect and exploitations such as domestic
violence, dowry, sexual harassment, rape, gender discrimination etc. by creating social
awareness and their better participation in income generation activities, self-help groups
and micro financing. To provide women training cum employment opportunities, support
in supply of raw material, marketing and promotion of their products.
 To provide training in road safety aimed at reducing the risk involved in road accidents.
Provide emergency relief to victims of road accidents and create community awareness
about traffic rules and first-aid training.
 To create consumer awareness and protects consumer’s rights through holding seminars,
workshops, rallies etc.
 Promote and protect environment through awareness, training and research making the
use of environmentally appropriate technologies.
 To help for the abolition of bonded labour especially the child labour & and their proper
rehabilitation, and run various welfare programmes for workers in unorganized sector.
 To promote, protect and preserve the rich cultural heritage of Odisha through holding
cultural programmes in the field of literary, visual and performing arts, conducting
research, preserving rare manuscripts and and producing books, films and audio-visuals
etc.
 Organize relief camps and rehabilitate people affected by Natural calamities like
droughts, floods, earthquakes, landslides, thunder storms, fire and epidemic etc. and
create disaster preparedness and conduct higher research in the field of disaster
management.
 To promote Ayurveda, Yoga, Meditation & Naturopathy through conducting training,
holding health melas, health camps, growing and distributing of medicinal plants and
encouraging people to cultivate these medicinal plants in their kitchen gardens.
 9

Target Population

 Women, Adolescent Girls & Children

 Tribal, deprived and marginalized communities
 Unemployed Youths
 Victims of Road Accidents, and people affected by natural disasters

Working Area of the Organization

State : All over Odisha

Districts : Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur,
Khordha, Sonepur

Profile of the Area & Target Population

The organization has been working with tribal communities in Cuttack, Mayurbhanj,
Kendrapada, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Khordha, Sonepur districts of Odisha. Almost all families
living in this area are very poor and live just hand to mouth. They struggle very hard for survival.
Their daily earnings are very low and hardly enough to sustain the family. Majority of the
families are marginal farmers. Income from agriculture is not enough to sustain the whole
family. These families are therefore forced to leave their homes for better sources of living.
Cultivation is negligible in the villages as very few own land. Many people usually work in the
fields of landlords from other villages. Animal husbandry is a secondary occupation for the
villagers. It generates extra income and supplements the diet of the inhabitants. But the existing
situation does not seem to be very promising. Land and forest are central to the survival of most
of the population. Since agriculture is limited to single rainfed cropping, the forests have
seriously depleted over the last 50 year. The main reasons behind agriculture failing to sustain
the people are fragmentation of landholdings, decrease in soil fertility and lack of modern
irrigation methods.

The sanitary conditions are also very poor in this area. Most of the households don’t have toilets.
All men, women and children are forced to defecate in the open. They go for the nature's call
before the daybreak. At various places, dirty water gets collected which contains human and
animal excreta and emits foul smell. This creates health problems for people, whose nutritional
intake otherwise is also very low because of their low income. Except for few wells and hand
pump, there is no safe drinking water facility here. The water in these wells and hand pumps is
highly contaminated due to pollution by nearby industries. Even these wells and hand pumps are
few and far off. Most of the people here are illiterate.

Mayurbhanj is one of the most backward tribal districts of Odisha. The area is inhabited by many
indigenous tribes, which suffer from high degree of malnutrition and other diseases, which
results from poor community sanitation and hygiene. Most of the people including women and
children go into field for open defecation which is a major cause of health problems. Due to poor
sanitation and hygiene, people especially women and children suffer from various diseases,
which in the long run leads to malnutrition. Since there is no proper health care system available,
people are forced to spend a major part of their income on health.
 10

Organizational Strategy
The organization mobilizes people at grass root level. It facilitates them to hold meetings to
discuss their problems, build consensus and find out sustainable alternatives and solutions. It
involves people rights from planning and decision making process to actual implementation of
projects. The organization helps people especially women organize in self help groups and build
their capacities. If necessary, the organization adopts advocacy tools to protect and promote the
interests and cause of deprived people and communities.

Advocacy & Campaign on Child Rights

Women & Child Welfare Society has been working for Child Rights. The organization is
running a programme 'Child First' with on objective to promote immunization, supplementary
feeding, Pre and post natal care and right to education for children. The organization is a member
of ‘Voice for Child Rights’ (VCR) district committee. It launches campaigns from time to time
to make people aware about ‘Child Rights’.

Organization’s Details
1.1 Full Name of the WOMEN & CHILD WELFARE SOCIETY
Organization
1.2 Correspondence Office Gamhandia New Colony,Po-Buxibazar,
Dist & City-Cuttack-753001
1.3 Branch Office At-Badadandasahi,Po-Badamba,Dist-Cuttack &
At/Po-Sanbisol,Via-Kaptipada,Dist-Mayurbhanj
1.4 Telephone No. 0671-2414810
1.5 Fax No. 0671-2433216
1.6 Mobile Number 09337252333
1.7 E-mail Address wcws_minati@sify.com & gensecywcws1@hotmail.com
1.8 Website http://www.wcwsorissa.com

Registration Details
2.1 Registered Under the Registered under section XXI of Society Registration Act 1860
Act
2.2 Registration No. 19815/43 of 1995-96
2.3 Date of Registration 23.09.1995
2.4 PAN Number AAATW0620Q
2.5 12 A & 80 G Income Tax Act 1961,Regd.No-12A/481-37/2009-10,dt-
31.03.2010
2.6 FCRA No. Registered under section 6(1)(a)of the Foreign
Contribution(Regulation)Act-1976,FCRA Regd.No.104860173
of 2009-10,dt-22.09.2009
NGO Partnership with Unique ID No. OR/2009/0003055,Dt-24.07.2009
Govt. of India (Planning (www.ngo.india.gov.in)
commission)
 11

Contact Details
3.1 Main Functionary of the Smt.Minati Bindhani
Organization
3.2 Designation General Secretary
3.3 Address of the main Gamhandia New Colony,Po-Buxibazar
Functionary Dist & City-Cuttack
3.4 Phone Numbers: 0671-2414810
3.5. Fax Number: 0671-2433216
3.6. Mobile: 09337252333
3.7. E-mail Address wcws_minati@sify.com

FCRA details:
3.1 FCRA No. FCRA Regd.No.104860173 of 2009-10,dt-22.09.2009
3.2 FCRA Bank Account No. 124701000003080
3.3 Name of the Bank Indian Oversease Bank
3.4 Branch Address Jobra Branch, College Square, Cuttack-753003
3.5. Branch code 1247
3.6. SWIFT CODE IOBAINBB159, Bhubaneswar (Main)
3.7. IFSC CODE IOBA0001247

Accounts/Audit
The financial year of the organization is from April to March every year. The organization has
annual audit system at the end of each financial year. The accounts of the organization are
audited by an experienced authorized Chartered Accountant, which is presented for approval in
General and Governing body of the organization every year. The details of the organization are
as below

Name of the Chartered Accountant : Shri R. K. Dash,

Address : Dash & Associate, Chartered Accountants,
Chauliaganj, Cuttack-753004
Registration No : M.No-53024
 12

Banking Details
3.1 Name of the Bank Indian Oversease Bank
3.2 Address of the Bank P.K.Parija Road,Opp.Howrah Motors,
Po-Buxibazar,Cuttack-753001
3.3 Branch code 022
3.4
3.5. 2nd Bank Account
3.6. Name of the Bank Union Bank of India
3.7. Address of the Bank Bhima Ice Factory,College Square,Cuttack-753003
Branch code UBININBBBNW
IFSC CODE UBIN0540714

Organization Structure:

List of Governing Body Members:

Sl. No. Name Address Designation

01 Smt.Amita Behera W/O-Prasanna Kumar Nath President
At/Po-Sriramnagar, Badambadi
Dist-Cuttack
02 Smt. Minakshi kar W/O-Bijay Kumar Kar Vice-President
At/Po-Manglabag(Neogicolony
Dist-Cuttack
03 Smt.Minati Bindhani W/O-Keshab Chandra Maharana General Secretary
Gamhandia New Colony,
Po-Buxibazar,Dist-Cuttack
04 Smt.Kalpalata Prusty W/O-Rabi Prusty Asst. secretary
Manglabag,Nuapatna
Dist-Cuttack
 13

05 Sabita Dash D/O-Surendra Nath Dash Treasurer

Gamhandia New Colony(Sadhana
Kutira)Po-Buxibazar,Cuttack
06 Sanjukta Maharana D/O-Phagu Charan Maharana Member
Buxibazar,Badheisahi,Cuttack
07 Jogamaya Mohanty D/O-Prahalad Ch.Mohanty Member
Samantasahi,Canal Road,Cuttack
08 Sudharani Giri W/O-Gopinath Giri Member
At-Kumari,Po-JarakA,Dist-Jajpur
09 Sailabala Das W/O-Jaladhar Das Member
Gopalpur,Prathamkhandi,Dist-jajpur
10 Snehalata Maharana D/O-Phagumani Maharana Member
Buxibazar,Badheisahi,Cuttack
11 Sanjukta Dei W/O-Arjun Kumar Biswal Member
Mahanadivihar,Cuttack
12 Pratima Sahu W/O-Alekh Ch.Sahu Member
Manglabag,Cuttack

A Brief Profile of Organization Head

The organization is headed by Smt. Minati Bindhani, who is a well known social worker.
She has been actively involved in promoting the cause of deprived communities in the
most backward areas of Odisha. She has received various prestigious awards for her
contribution to public welfare and social cause. She is personally involved in the
implementation of the projects and provides her guided supervision from time to time.
The organization has an advisory committee consisting of prominent and distinguished
personalities from all walks of lives who give their valuable advice and support to our
programmes from time to time.

Details of Major Projects run by the Organization:

 Agrasar Lecture and Demonstration programme on Climate Change: Challenges and

Opportunities
 Agrasar Lecture and Demonstration programme on Scientific Awareness of Emerging Adolescent
Problems
 Environment Awareness And Education
 Petroleum Conservation and Renewable Energy
 Road Safety Education and Awareness
 Placement Linked Skill Training Programme for BPL Youths(MORD)
 Placement Linked Training Programme under STEP-UP of SJSRY(SUDA)
 MCY(Mahila Coir Jojana)Training Programme,Coir Board
 National Child Labour Special School(NCLP)
 Promotion of Yoga and Naturopathy
 Consumer Awareness
 Legal Awareness
 Capacity Building Training Programme for PRI Members
 14

 Popularization of Science and Technology

Major Awards & Achievements

 Best Social Activist

Mrs.Minati Bindhani, General Secretary of Women & Child

Welfare society received ‘Akhayatrutia Samman’ for the Best
Social Activist for the year 2009 for her dedicated work for women
empowerment and upliftment of deprived and most marginalized
social groups. The award was a recognition of organization’s
achievements.

 District Level Road Safety Award

‘Women & Child Welfare Society’ received the best organization

award for Road Safety Awareness for the year 2008. Mrs. Minati
Bindhani, General Secretary, WCWS received the award from
Hon. Minister of Industries and Law, Sri Biswa Bhusan
Harichandan on the occasion of Independence Day 2008. She was
given a shield and a certificate of merit.

 Nyaya Jyoti Award, (for Legal Awareness)

On the eve of 27th Foundation Day of Committee for Legal Aid to

Poor (CLAP), General Secretary Mrs. Minati Bindhani was awarded
Nyaya Jyoti Award (2008) for the organization’s outstanding
contribution to CLAP and it work with community for the
promotion of Human Rights and the Role of Law.

 Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhawana Award (for Environment Awareness)

On the eve of 16th Death Anniversary of Former Hon’bel Prime

Minister of India Late Rajiv Gandhi, the General Secretary Mrs.
Minati Bindhani was awarded ‘Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhawan Award’
for popular Women Organizer for Environment Awareness from
Rajiv Gandhi Forum, Odisha.

 14th Godphrey Philips Bravery Award (for Child Labour and Child Rights)

WCWS has honored with ‘14th Godfrey Philip Bravery Award’

for social act of courage from Godfrey Philip India Ltd, New
Delhi. The organization honored for the sincere work for the
cause of environment protection, elimination of child labour,
women and children belonging to the marginalized section. In
the form of a Bronze Medal and Certificate the award was
 15

received from Hon’ble Minister of Urban Development Mr. Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo.

 Sevaratna Samman 2009

General Secretary of WCWS, Mrs.Minati Bindhani was awarded ‘Sevaratna Samman for
the Social Work’ by Manaswini, Paradeep

 Akhayatrutia Samman 2009

General Secretary of WCWS received ‘Akhayatrutia Samman for the Social Work’ by
Krusak Sambad, Cuttack.

 Road Safety Appreciation Award 2008

WCWS has awarded by the Hon’ble Minister of Transport Sri. Jayanarayan Mishra on
the occasion of 19th National Road Safety Week for the area of Road Safety work in the
state of Odisha with certificate of appreciation.

 Prakruti Bandhu Award 2007,(for Environment Awareness)

On the eve of World Environment Day, the General Secretary Mrs. Minati Bindhani has
awarded by ‘Prakruti Bandhu Award’ for the excellent work in the field Environment,
Education, Conservation, etc. from the Department of Forest and Environment, Govt. of
Odisha.

 Best Organization Award for Environment Awareness 2006

On the eve of Republic ay, WCWS was awarded by Hon’ble Chief Minister Sri. Nabina
Pattnaik in the presence of Collector, Cuttack and S.P., Cuttack. Certificate of Merit and
Shield was also given to the General Secretary.

 Best Social Worker 2003

Mrs. Minati Bindhani was honored by Ex-collector Mr. Aswini Kumar Vaishnaw, I.A.S
as a Best Social Worker with certificate of appreciation in the year 2003 for her sincere
work and contribution in Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Baliyatra, etc.

 Best Social Worker 2002

Mrs. Minati Bindhani has been honored from the organization ‘Sabhyata’, Auli,
Kendrapara, as Best Social Worker in the year 2002.

 Naba Krushna Choudhury Samman 2001

In the context of International Year of Volunteer (2001), Mrs. Minati Bindhani awarded
by Naba Krushna Choudhury Sanmman for outstanding contribution as a volunteer by
Bikash Yatra Confers with shawl and certificate.

 Shikshya Yatra Appreciation 2001

Mrs. Minati Bindhani has received the ‘Siksha Yatra Appreciation’ certificate from
Bachpan Bachao Andolan (South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude), L-6, Kalkaji, New
Delhi, for participating in the Nationwide march for free, compulsory, meaningful and
equal education for all the children in the year 2001.
 16

 Bikash Yatra Recognition 2001

In the International Year of Volunteer (2001), WCWS was awarded by Bikash Yatra as
Best Voluntary Organization with Certificate of Appreciation.

Our Supporters

 Ministry of Shipping Road Transport & Highways, Govt. of India

 Ministry of Environment & Forest, Govt. of India
 Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation, Kolkata
 State Transport Authority, Orissa
 Department of Environment & Forest, Govt. of Orissa
 National Child Labour Project Society, Cuttack, Orissa
 Petroleum Conservation Research Association, New Delhi
 Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India
 National Institute of Naturopathy, Pune
 National Foundation for Communal Harmony, Govt. of India
 National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)
 National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD), Bhubaneswar, Orissa

Alliances & Networks

 Founder Member of ‘FORCES’ (Odisha) the Forum for Creach and Child Care Services
 Member of District Road Safety Committee
 Member of District Level M.T.P Committee
 Member of District Vigilance Committee under SC & ST
 Member of District Vigilance Committee under Bonded Labour
 Member of State Medicinal Plant Board
 Nominated Member of SWARUPA (SHG Federation)
 Member of District Rogi Kalyan Samiti
 Member of Mother & Teachers Committee in Gamhandia U.G.M.E School, Reserve
Police Line U.G.M.E School and Nilakantha Primary School, Cuttack, Orissa.
 Member of Task Force on Providing Facilities to Persons with Disabilities
 Member of Red Cross Society, Orissa
 Member of Youth Award Selection Committee of NYKS and District Administration
 Member of International Naturopathy Organization, Orissa Branch
 Member of Voice for Child Rights-Orissa, Cuttack District Chapter

Training to Women in Animal Husbandry

‘Women & Child Welfare Society’ is encouraging tribal women to be involved in agriculture,
dairy production and livestock management activities. Traditionally, women are responsible for
the activities such as giving feed and water to the animals, cleaning and bathing of animals,
maintenance and cleaning of cattle shed, fodder collection, collection of cow dung and
preparation of cow dung cakes, and preparation of milk products. They also participate
frequently in talking care of sick animals, care of pregnant animals, care of newborn calves,
milking and grazing of the animals.
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The organization is providing training to tribal women in the field of livestock care,
management, feeding and processing of livestock products. This has improved their participation
in animal husbandry activities. They are now playing an important role in taking decision
regarding livestock production. The organization is trying to develop educational and training
programmes in appropriate livestock production technologies for farm-women which would be
duly supported by input agencies and credit facilities for increasing the productivity of farm
animals. Special attention is being given for improving existing skills of tribal women. Majority
of the farm women take decisions on number of animals kept, quantity of milk to be sold,
feeding and general management of the animals.

Campaigns against Gender Discrimination

‘Women & Child Welfare Society’ is actively engaged in launching an awareness campaign
against gender discrimination and violence against women. Its volunteers organize several group
meetings with women living in rural and tribal areas. Many issues of gender discrimination are
discussed with people. They freely share their views and experiences. Many women complain
about their husbands being alcoholic or drug-addicts. They often misbehave and physically
assault them. Some of the women want to share their problems on one to one basis. These
women have long been subjected to continued physical and mental torture. They don’t know
with whom to share their feelings.

Social Awareness Campaign

‘Women & Child Welfare Society’ organizes street plays based on the problem of dowry and
against the increasing incidents of bride burning. These shows receive overwhelming response
from every section of community. People not only appreciate these performance but also request
for more shows on other social issues as well. In its social awareness programme, the
organization extensively makes use of traditional forms of mass communication such as
puppetry, storytelling, and folk theatre, group dances etc. with tremendous success. It also
organizes workshops for young people from the area, and provides them some elementary
knowledge of acting and direction for organizing street plays.

The organization also conducts awareness campaigns and offers advocacy through teachers,
Panchayat institutions, parents and students. Health education, savings and credit schemes,
income-generation schemes for women are also on its agenda. It organizes meetings to create
awareness among people for their active participation in programmes and activities. It also
organizes campaigns against socially detrimental malpractices such as child marriage and dowry
system.

Community Health Programme

The organization is actively engaged in providing basic health services to people at grass root
level. The health services provided during health camps include general health check-ups,
distribution of medicines and referral of cases to other agencies. Under its health programme, the
organization also holds health talks, in which people are told how to protect themselves from
various diseases. They are advised to drink clean water and keep their surrounding neat and
clean. The organization also holds film shows on various health issues.
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The organization is also planning to identify a select group of young women from tribal area, and
train them as voluntary health workers. With the help of other NGOs, the organization also holds
free health camps, in which a team of doctors give talks on various issues related to community
health. The organization has a very good team of doctors who offer their voluntary services to
the organization for the welfare of underprivileged sections of society. The organization also
holds special health camps for school children in which teachers and parents are also involved
and given health counseling.

Nutrition Education Programme for Young Girls

‘Women & Child Welfare Society’ also holds Nutrition Education Programme for young girls,
the aim of which is to make the girls understand the importance of food in order to improve their
nutritional status and prevention of various diseases through consumption of nutritious food.
During these programmes, the girls are taught about basic food groups, their functions, their
source and their deficiency along with their fads and fallacies. They are also taught about
balanced diet, dietary requirements of different age groups as well as special diets during
illnesses like diarrhea, typhoid, jaundice, influenza, etc.

These camps enable the girls to learn about various cooking techniques as they are taught
different methods of cooking food and their importance. Practical sessions are also taken to make
them prepare nutritious recipes related to the topics covered during theory sessions.

Counseling to Women on Reproductive Health

‘Women & Child Welfare Society’ conducts health training camps for women. Women in large
number participate in these training programs. Another target group covered by the organization
in these training programs comprise of adolescent girls. Since a comprehensive education
package on reproductive health and sexuality do not find favor with the education department of
the government, interactive sessions are held with the adolescent girls on personal hygiene,
female sexuality and sexual abuse. Representatives from other NGOs working on these issues are
also invited to participate in these trainings as resource persons.

The programmes cover various topics such as first aid, personal hygiene, community sanitation,
and prevention of diseases and treatment of various common health problems. Group
discussions, debates, essay competitions, exhibitions etc. are held to create health awareness.
Film shows on health issues are also organized. With the help of posters and charts on health, the
organization conducts counseling sessions with people in which important information is given
to the people on various health issues. The cultural group of the organization holds street plays
on ‘Safe Motherhood’ on these occasions. At the end of the plays, a discussion is also held on the
subject.

Counseling sessions are also held with community leaders in which problems related to
children’s health are discussed. The team of medical staff supported by community health
workers provides them counseling on relevant health issues. The community leaders are
encouraged to take care of community health, which sometimes is ignored leading to serious
health problems. Despite being educated, many local leaders have very little knowledge about
preventive health care system. Quite often people take their health issues very casually and don’t
pay proper attention to address those problems on urgent basis.
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Women Empowerment through Self Help Groups

‘Women & Child Welfare Society’ has helped women form self-help groups in Odisha. The
objective of this programme was to make these women economically self dependent. The women
who have joined these self-help groups are now saving money and helping each other. They feel
more confident to face all types of challenges in life. This has given them a sense of pride and
dignity. Women are exploited because they are economically dependent on others. Without
economic empowerment, social awareness has no meaning at all. Keeping all this in mind, the
organization has kept its focus on capacity building of community.

The organization has mobilized a large number of women belonging to low-income groups to
form their self-help groups and engage in various income generating activities. The organization
helps them by providing information, training and other supports. The project will soon come
into full swing when these women start earning for themselves and their families.

Asia Pacific: asiapac@globalfundforwomen.org