HUNDRED BLOCK PLAN (HBP)

1. HUNDRED BLOCK PLAN (HBP) Inputs from Site Visits: Govind, VK, Priya, Alka, Nishant, Karunesh, Ravishankar, Rajesh, Srividhya, Sailesh, Thothadri and ….

2. The HBP-An AID perspective • A.I.D. wide effort – with AIPSN • TNSF (Tamilnadu Science Forum) • BGVS (Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti) in Bihar • Geography divided into manageable size (blocks) for chapters • 1 Block = ~60 villages (approx. 1 Lakh population) • Chapter works closely with individual blocks

3. The HBP Health Program • Follows the Arogya Iyakkam model • Objectives: • To improve utilization of existing primary health care services • To make a measurable improvement in child health by training village women activists and by improving community awareness and organization • To organize and empower women around health needs • Initiated program in 13 blocks in TN & 14 blocks in Bihar • Existing program will be sustained/expanded in 20 other blocks in TN

4. The Arogya Iyakkam Model • From May ’99-Feb ’01 in 10 blocks (500 villages) • Regular training camps for state, district and block volunteers (trainers). • Active involvement of local panchayats & government officials • Kalajathas (street-plays) midway in the program to increase community awareness of issues • Measurable improvement in the health of malnourished children – report and analysis available on the web • Voted one of UNICEF’s 10 best programs in the World!

5. The HBP Health Program Details • Follow Arogya Iyakkam model • State training camps once every 3 months w/ follow-up regional camps. • Will be affiliated with self-help groups • Strong volunteer presence – a prerequisite for choosing blocks Block Coordinator Resource person Resource person Trainer Trainer Trainer VHA VHA VHA VHA VHA VHA

6. Arogya Iyakkam Lessons Learned • Savings programs – a key to sustainability • Block full-timers are the most critical part of the program • Motivated volunteers present at the village and block levels • Only holistic development can sustain programs – Health is only one component

7. Overall Program Status • Several discussions among chapters regarding participation & block allotment • Site visits to a few blocks in Bihar and TN • 1st installment of the funds being transferred

8. PROGRAM IN TAMIL NADU Site Visits & Summary

9. Program in Tamil Nadu All blocks taken Blocks available Inactive district

10. Program in Tamil Nadu Status • 1st state camp completed at Vaigai dam (mid March) • Blocks selected by existing activities & participation in the camp • Block coordinators selected by • Ability to conduct projects with minimal resources • Desire to participate in the program (Presence at the 1st camp) • Savings programs started where it does not exist • 1st regional follow-up camps conducted

11. Background - Kanyakumari • Very strong savings program (MALAR) • Model women’s SHO and savings program • 2000+ groups (40,000+ members) • Very strong women’s org. • Health program not very well developed • Focuses primarily on hygiene and women’s health • Has a district health coordinator • Offshoot of women’s SHOs

12. Background Cuddalore • Literacy program (Arivoli Iyakkam) from ’93-’97 • Mixed results in efficacy • Helped create awareness about literacy • Increased school attendence subsequently • 2 year old savings program in Bhuvanagiri block • 37 groups with Rs 2, 04,145 savings and Rs 2,23,200 loans • Competition from other NGOs with more attractive schemes • Health program • Similar to Arogya Iyakkam • 2 years old • In 64 villages with 4 full-timers (from literacy program) • Lot of participation of SC/ST women • Science clubs for school children

13. UPDATES FROM BIHAR Site Visits & Summary

14. Program in Bihar & Jharkhand – Map of Bihar

15. Gyan Vigyan Samiti (BGVS) & HBP BGVS Organization Structure • HBP Blocks (14) – As Classified by BGVS • Strongest - strong literacy program and organization • Saharsa, Begusarai, Supaul, Madhepura, Dhanbad (Jharkhand), Darbhanga, Bhabhua • Medium – strong organization but limited spread • Newada, Jahanabad, Gaya • Weak – no current projects or much of an organization • Rohtas and Purnia • Other Blocks – not yet classified (need to followup) • Kaimur and Kodarma (Jharkhand)

16. Bihar HBP Block Visits • Visits give a better idea of situation in villages/blocks, increase our understanding and role in HBP • Visits so far: • Jahanabad: Dec 27-28, 2001 • Priya Ranjan (MD) & Karunesh Pandey (Austin) • Begusarai & Nawada: April 10-13, 2002 • Alka Roy (Atlanta) • Gaya: May 8-13, 2002 • Nishant Jain (Austin) • Other planned visits this Year: • Shailendra (MD), Samip (Ann Arbor), Mora (Boston) and Karunesh (Austin moved to India)

17. What did we find during our block visits?

18. Current State of Self-help Groups • Organizing platform organizing & training women (more effort in the last 2 years) • Names are different in each District (in 14) • State / District level training and workshop • Along with savings groups have worked on: • Untouchability, Caste, opened libraries for women, ran village registers, held rallies and sit-ins around issues of violence against women, organized exhibitions • In 2001, after 23 years, Bihar finally had Panchayat elections • Over 300 BGVS women members elected (Usha Devi – District Council Vice-Chairman) • Not Enough! • Several Challenges: lack of adequate leadership/training/skills to spread the effort

19. Self – help (Savings Groups) 10 out of the 14 HBP blocks have some savings group activity The above data is as of end of year 2000

20. Nawada – Workshop & Pachamba • Contrast to Baank in Begusarai • Poor Sanitation • 250 homes and 2 units, each caste has its own tola, over 50% population is Muslim • 5 savings group, Rs 1600 in 1 year • A lot of effort to mobilize women volunteers • UNICEF funded workshop in Kauakool, Newada (April 11-17) for Bihar and Jharkhand

21. Nawada • Unique Issues for Nawada: • Fluoride content in water is too high • Naxalite Activity (esp in Rajawli HBP Block) • Communal Issues • Caste Dynamics • High Muslim Population • Organizing Women • Women on Cycles • Self-help group: AWARD (Association of Women for Awareness and Rural Development) • Primary Education Project – discontinued due to lack of funding

22. Begusarai District – A Strong Presence • Use plays, songs, art to spread the message • Literacy work and other social issues that came up • BGVS would like more resources to do survey and collect data • Villagers contribute through food/lodging • Healthcare • Education Non-existent – focus on pills • Infrastructure & doctors lacking (only 2 of 18 female doctors) • Very high in vaccination of children though (100%) • Facts: • 18 Blocks • 600 Savings group- 10-12K members

23. Dandari Block (HBP in Begusarai) • Chosen because it needs most help/resources in Begusarai • 30 Villages, 60,000 population (25% SC) • About half are small or for-hire farmers / another 50% are laborers • 37.68 % literacy rate overall (28% for women) • Poor government provided health infrastructure • No other NGO (other than BGVS ) is currently very active in this area • Poor transportation options – Esp during rainy season • An issue with access to health care and organizing

24. What the Dandari Block Wanted? • More information on HBP - Format for data collection and reporting • Need to improve local Health Care infrastructure • Focus more on education and mobilization • Want to have an approach that provides short-term and long-term benefits to keep the villagers engaged • Ensure that any health care training would be regionally tailored so it can address local issues • More focus on Sanitation – increase use of bathrooms – government schemes • Education: • Children currently get 1 Rupee a day for attending school and some wheat (poor quality) – 35% increase in attendance on paper • Locals wanted food for children and better teachers

25. Literacy Workers in Dandari

26. Panchayat Meeting in Baank (Dandari) • 40% population is Harijan • Challenges facing healthcare • economic & lack of awareness • Poor nutrition • Difficulty in getting clean drinking water • Lack of sanitation • Limited access to facility and medicine (expensive) – health works don’t show up • Literacy & Gender Dyanmics • Active Savings group • A lot of effort from BGVS on literacy and social movement in the last few years

27. Gaya Visit • Manpur (HPB Block ) – 68 villages • 50 village committees (Buniyadi Sabha)-Grass-root level organization of BGVS • Three types of villages- volunteer base everywhere • Strong literacy and BGVS presence • Awareness but no strong programs • No Savings Group

28. Updates of BGVS’s Activities? • Communication: • Working on email • Contacting District is the best (instead of state office) • Documentation & Profiles: • More effort needed on documenting accomplishments and challenges • Very limited information shared across districts. • HBP Structure for the blocks: • Planning to select volunteers in May • Training – waiting for funds • June 15-17 2002, State Level Meeting in Bihar

29. Summary of Issues for Bihar • Diversity in Blocks: BGVS has a very strong organization in several blocks and committed volunteers but need training and resources in most blocks • Visits were encouraging to BGVS volunteers • Districts support “honorariums” for volunteers. • Need details about HBP and A.I.D. – standard formats • BGVS, Bihar needs to document accomplishments • Have deployed creative ways to reach the villagers that could be useful to other blocks and states as well • More communication across blocks – sharing challenges and successes • Asked for help with documenting, translating, distributing • PHCs role appears unclear so far in blocks visited • Interaction with government and other NGOs • Each Chapter must understand the unique situation in each block!!!

30. What is our role in HBP?

31. What are we-1 Motivators! Talk to our blocks! Keep abreast of the program Outside interest in their program spurs volunteers Active contacts with volunteers keeps their enthusiasm up Site visits tend to excite participants

32. What are we-2 Documentation is also our job Record progress of the entire program in the block Be realistic! Provide resources to support the program • Analysis • Documentation/printing etc. We have access to tools and networks blocks do not have

33. Chapter Responsibilities • Chapters must have initiated contact with your blocks/districts • Chapters have to know • Current health state of the block • Info about their participants/block • Existing savings program • Who are the health/savings coordinators? • Periodic site visits to your blocks • Volunteers are responsible for arranging site visits • HBP coordinators, state & district workers can assist in planning site visits Your block is your responsibility!

34. Chapter-Chapter Responsibilities • Must share existing information between chapters (HBP mailing list/website) • Share “What’s working/what’s not” in blocks • Help each other with site visits • Questionnaire templates • Write prompt site visit reports • Read site reports – interesting information! • Excellent opportunity to involve buddy chapters!

35. UPDATES AND MORE INFORMATION at Web info: Contact Gopal (ksrg@hotmail.com) Aid_aipsn@yahoogroups.com http://aidindia.org/aipsn/